Camponotus oxleyi

Identification
McArthur and Leys (2006) - Camponotus maculatus group species share the following distinguishing characters: 1. The most striking character is the distinct occipital carina in minor workers (see the dorsal head view of the minor worker in the caste images of Camponotus crozieri). This forms a ridge externally and probably serves to strengthen the anterior parts of the head (Snodgrass 1935), it is absent in major workers. 2. Strong dimorphism, i.e., workers encountered are mostly either major or minor, medium workers are non existent or very scarce. 3. The sides of the heads of major workers taper strongly to the front (Fig. 2) while in minor workers, the sides are mostly parallel and taper to the rear. 4. The vertex in major workers is concave or flat, in minor workers it is convex. 5. The scape and tibiae have plentiful short setae, raised up, more so in Australian than in African species. 6. Biology: (a) mostly nocturnal, (b) nests are at honey bait, (e) quickly scatter when disturbed by torch light.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  oxleyi. Camponotus oxleyi Forel, 1902h: 501 (s.w.q.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in C. (Myrmocamelus): Forel, 1914a: 270; in C. (Myrmophyma): Emery, 1920b: 257.

Description
Worker major Length 9 to 12.5 mm. Mandibles short, thick, moderately curved, armed with 6 teeth, glossy, punctate,with a few striations. Clypeus with a feeble keel, without anterior lobe, anterior border tridented; the median indentation is a little less deep than the laterals but followed by a moderate impression in front of the keel. The sides of the clypeus diverge weakly. Frontal area distinct and frontal groove distinct. Frontal ridges sinuous, quite diverging. Head trapezoidal, moderately widened and excavated behind, sides moderately convex. Eyes a little in front of the posterior third. Three fossets in place of occelli. Scapes only slightly exceed the occiput. Thorax moderately convex from front to back, with the dorsum a little subbordered; anterior angles of the pronotum are edged. Pronotum is wider than long. Sutures glossy, strongly impressed. A distinct intermediary segment. Basal face of the metanotum (= propodeum) sub flat, in profile almost straight, 2.5 times longer than wide.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Forel A. 1902. Fourmis nouvelles d'Australie. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 405-548.
 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.