Colobopsis aruensis

Identification
Klimes and McArthur (2014) - The colour of workers is black with contrastingly light brown appendages and this colour pattern is consistent within colonies and is the same for the type specimen from Aru island. In side view, the mesosoma dorsum of the minor worker of C. aruensis is similar to that of the related species Camponotus conicus but the latter has a pointed rearward projection on its node whereas in C. aruensis node is rounded and taller. In front view, the head in workers of C. conicus is nearly circular whereas the head sides are only weakly convex in C. aruensis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea.

Castes

 * Minor Worker

Nomenclature

 *  aruensis. Camponotus (Colobopsis) aruensis Karavaiev, 1933a: 317, fig. 5 (w.) INDONESIA (Aru I.).

Worker
Klimes and McArthur (2014) - Major Structures: in side view, neck attached to head lower down than with most Camponotus, and in that respect back of head resembling Camponotus saundersi. Pronotum strongly convex, mesonotum weakly convex, metanotal groove deep, with protruding spiracles, propodeum flat on top and meet thick and tall, with parallel sides, when viewed from behind summit nearly flat. Front femora almost double the thickness of mid and hind femora. Integument glossy, finely reticulate. Head in front view: sides nearly parallel and very weakly convex, vertex strongly convex. Eyes large, touching lateral cephalic outline in upper third of head. Frontal carinae wide, with distance between them almost two thirds of head width. The anterior part of head including clypeus and mandibles quite flat, separated from the posterior part of head by a distinct angle of about 150°. Head integument glossy, finely punctate on frons. Clypeus and the surrounding frontal parts of head are deeply sculptured, on clypeus two distinct longitudinal carinae, anterior margin of clypeus narrow (one fourth of head width) and mostly straight, mandibles with six or seven teeth.

Pilosity: erect setae extremely sparse, mostly confined to mandibles and funiculus, short indistinct adpressed setae plentiful.

Colour: head and mesosoma mostly black, except for light brown frontal third of head, and coxae. Scapes, tibiae and tarsi lighter yellow.

Minor (in support of Karavaiev's description): Structures: in side view, neck attached to head lower down as in major worker, pronotum and mesonotum convex, metanotal groove deep with protruding spiracles, propodeum strongly convex on top, forming a distinct blunt tooth that meets with the concave declivity at protruding 80° angle. Mesosoma with distinct reticulation, glossy. Node tall, sides parallel, wide when viewed from behind, summit nearly flat; gaster with a few short setae on dorsum. Front femora double the thickness of mid and hind femora. Head in front view: sides nearly straight, weakly tapering to the front, vertex weakly convex. Eyes, frontal carinae and integument similar to major. Clypeus rounded, transversely without sculpture and glossy, its anterior margin wide (three fourth of head width), weakly convex, mandibles appear to have six or seven teeth.

Pilosity: sparse, with a few short erect setae at front of head and gaster, a few adpressed on gaster.

Colour: mostly black, with contrastingly light yellow appendages with exception of femora which are brownish.

Queen
Klimes and McArthur (2014) - CI = 88, EL = 0.42, FCD = 0.60, HL = 1.12, HW = 0.99, ML = 1.93, PW = 1.12, SI = 80, SL = 0.79.

Structures: in side view, mesosoma dorsum mostly flat, pronotum convex, propodeal angle rounded, declivity mostly straight, node small and thick, convex summit. In front view, head similar to major worker, with straight and parallel sides, vertex convex, front of head and clypeus with deep parallel longitudinal grooves. Eyes only slightly larger than in major workers.

Pilosity: sparse.

Colour: dark brown with whitish-yellow femora and suture of gaster; otherwise similar to major worker.

Male
Klimes and McArthur (2014) - CI = 81, EL = 0.32, FCD = 0.22, HL = 0.62, HW = 0.50, ML = 1.3, PW = 0.75, SI = 104, SL = 0.52.

Structures: in side view, mesosoma dorsum mostly weakly convex, propodeal angle rounded, declivity mostly straight, node similar to gyne. In front view, head sides straight and strongly tapering to the front, vertex semi-circular, eye length about half of head length.

Pilosity: sparse.

Colour: yellowish-brown.