Camponotus sericeiventris

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay.

Mimicry Complex
Hespenheide (1984) has published on a weevil mimicry complex: Abstract: Three new species of neotropical Zygopinae are described: Cylindrocopturinus hainesi from Mexico, Copturus mimeticus from Brasil, and Copturus paschalis from Costa Rica. The first two appear to mimic ants of the genus Zacryptocerus and the last one mimics the ant Camponotus sericeiventris. Relationships of Cylindrocopturinus are discussed, and a brief summary given of other beetle mimetic of Camponotus sericeiventris.

Castes
Camponotus cf. sericeiventris worker from Yucatan. The conspicuous golden color of the gaster has vanished in 70 % ethanol, and it did not reappear when the specimen was dried.

Nomenclature

 * cuneata. Formica cuneata Perty, 1833: 134, pl. 27, fig. 1 (w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of sericeiventris: Smith, F. 1858b: 46.
 *  sericeiventris. Formica sericeiventris Guérin-Méneville, 1838: 205 (w.) BRAZIL. Mayr, 1862: 667 (q.); Mariano et al. 2001: 272 (k.). Combination in Camponotus: Mayr, 1862: 667; in C. (Myrmolophus): Emery, 1920b: 256; in C. (Myrmepomis): Forel, 1912i: 92; Emery, 1925b: 171. Senior synonym of cuneata: Smith, F. 1858b: 46. Current subspecies: nominal plus holmgreni, otoquensis, pontifex, rex, satrapus.

Worker
Wheeler 1931 - maxima Length 15-16.5 mm.; head 5-5.7 mm. long; 4.5-5.2 mm. wide; hind tibia 5.6 mm.

Head with rather straight sides, without swollen cheeks; subopaque except the sides and gular surface which are reddish and shining, but covered with minute punctures; antennal funiculi dark brown. Spines of pronotum rather sharp, longer than broad. Superior border of petiole sharp, entire and broadly rounded, angulate on the sides. Appressed pubescence not very abundant and not completely concealing the integument on the head, meso—and epinotum, petiole and sides of pronotum; denser on the gaster where it strongly converges at the posterior borders of the segments. Hairs rather long, black, often with white tips; posterior borders of gastric segments with whitish or yellowish hairs.

Workers major, media and minor Length 7-13 mm.

Resembling the maxima, except in the smaller head and longer and more acute pronotal spines.

Queen
Wheeler 1931 - Length 17-19 mm.; hind tibia 5 mm.; fore wing 17 mm.

Head smaller and narrower than in the worker maxima, with narrower posterior corners and less convex sides, nearly as broad in front as behind. Color and sculpture similar, but in some specimens the anterior half as well as the sides is red. Pronotal spines reduced to two small teeth. Mesonotum and scutellum smooth and shining, often reddish, the former as broad as long. Epinotum with short, rounded base and long sloping declivity. Petiolar border notched in the middle, its angulate corners more pronounced and acuminate than in the workers. Pubescence and pilosity similar, short on head and thorax, absent on anterior portion of pronotum and on the scutellum. Wings distinctly brownish, with brown veins bordered wilth darker brown.

Type Material
Wheeler 1931 - Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, type-locality (Thayer Exped.; J. C. Bradley; C. O. Loven)