Camponotus aureus

A weaver ant that uses silk in its nest construction.

Identification
A member of the subgenus Karavaievia. This group of Camponotus species is known for their monomorphic workers and their nest weaving behavior.

Dumpert et al. (2006) - worker Relatively small to fairly big ants with intermediate polymorphism in size (TL 3.9 ± 0.9). Preoccipital margin straight. Color uniformly light yellowish brown; whole body shiny.

The light yellowish color of Camponotus aureus, is very similar to the color of Camponotus micragyne, Camponotus weissflogi, Camponotus belumensis, and Camponotus asli. Unlike in C. micragyne and C. weissflogi the preoccipital margin is not concave but straight. The head of C. aureus is much wider than long (CI 110.8 ± 4.8). This differs from C. belumensis (CI 104 ± 2) and from C. asli (CI 100 ± 3).

queen The frontal area of C. aureus is as wide as high. In this respect C. aureus is equal to Camponotus melanus, Camponotus orinus and Camponotus gombaki. The color of C. aureus is different from C. melanus (yellowish brown instead of blackish brown). Unlike in C. orinus and C. gombaki the posterior clypeal margin of C. aureus sp.n. is not excised.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Thailand.

Biology
A colony of C. aureus was found in the Khao Sok National Park (Peninsular Thailand) on two neighboring trees, both about 4 m in height. The colony consisted of 94 inhabited pavilions. Most of them were woven on the undersides of leaves while less than 1 % was built between leaves. All pavilions were built of silk and carton material, had only one chamber and one entrance with diameters of about 2 mm. Inside all occupied pavilions trophobionts were found, belonging to one (unidentified) coccid species. The mean length of the pavilions was 6.49 cm and the mean width 1.48 cm, the ratio of nest length to nest width: 4.3 to 1. The interior floor of the pavilions was not covered with silk. In addition to many adult workers, we found one functional queen, 15 winged females, numerous eggs, larvae, and pupae (not enclosed in cocoons), but no males. Ten females and 15 workers were taken for the description. (Dumpert et al. 2006)

General details about the biology of species in this subgenus can be found on the Karavaievia webpage.

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus (Karavaievia) aureus Dumpert, in Dumpert, Maschwitz & Weissflog, 2006: 70, figs. 1-4 (w.q.) THAILAND.

Worker
Holotype: TL 4.80, HW 1.29, HL 1.13, CI 114.15, OD 0.32, SL 1.37, SI 106.2, PW 0.76. Paratypes (n = 14): TL 3.9 ± 0.9, HW 1.23 ± 0.06, HL 1.11 ± 0.06, CI 110.8 ± 4.8, OD 0.31 ± 0.012, SL 1.25 ± 0.125, SI 101.74 ± 9.2, PW 0.72 ± 0.035.

As in all Karavaievia species, head trapezoidal with rounded posterolateral corners; preoccipital margin straight and not at all concave. Head sides strongly convex. Head wider than long (CI 114 - 115). Eyes situated behind midlength of head sides; maximum diameter 0.32 mm or nearly 0.25 × HW. Frontal carinae nearly straight, only slight projection behind antennal insertion. Carinae slightly divergent and extend to about midlength of head. Anterior clypeal margin slightly concave. Mandibles short, lateral borders strongly curved and five subequal teeth on each masticatory border. Antennal scapes projecting beyond preoccipital margin by about one third of length. Pedicel longer than following flagellar segments; apical flagellar segments slightly thickened.

Mesosoma with deep metanotal groove and two elevated spiracles at deepest point of groove. Promesonotum, seen in profile, broadly rounded and higher than propodeum. Dorsal part of propodeum convex, descending part straight and considerably steeper. Petiolar scale triangular in profile, with broad base tapering to a crest. Crest pointed when seen from front or behind.

Color uniformly light yellowish brown. Surface of head, mesosoma and gaster shiny with densely located weak punctures. Decumbent pubescence on all body parts as seen on mesosoma. Additional longer erect and suberect yellowish white hairs on all body parts.

Queen
Paratypes (n = 10): TL 11.02 ± 0.34, HW 2.08 ± 0.07, HL 2.08 ± 0.05, CI 100.01 ± 4.8, OD 0.64 ± 0.03, SL 1.87 ± 0.14, SI 89.90 ± 8.3, PW 1.82 ± 0.075.

Head as long as wide (CI 100.01 ± 4.8); sides of head nearly straight. Preoccipital margin straight. Eyes situated behind midlength of head sides. Frontal carinae extend about to midlength of head. Carinae almost straight and only slightly divergent. Anterior clypeal margin with specially pronounced semicircular excision and very strong indented edges. Posterior clypeal margin without median excision. Frontal area as wide as high, clearly delimited and shiny in contrast to opaque surrounding head parts. Mandibles strong, rounded on outside and 5 subequal black teeth on inside. Petiolar profile with broad base tapering to transverse crest. Petiolar crest rounded when seen from front or behind. Color uniformly light yellowish brown, gaster slightly darker. Head, mesosoma, antennae, and legs opaque, frontal area and scutellum shiny. Decumbent pubescence on all body parts as seen on the mesosoma. Additional longer erect and suberect yellowish white hairs on all body parts.

Type Material
Holotype worker : Thailand, Khao Sok Park, 25.XII.1998 leg. U. Maschwitz. Paratypes with same data as holotype, 14 workers (2, 2 , 2 , 3 , 5 CKD), 10 queens (2 MCZ, 2 FRIM, 2 MCSN, 2 SMNK, 2 CKD).

Etymology
The name is derived from the light yellow color of the females and workers of this species.