Camponotus judithmorrisae

The type material was collected from pitfall traps.

Identification
McArthur (2008) - A member of the C. ephippium group (McArthur 2007a), with the form of the mesosoma of minor workers in lateral view appearing between Camponotus ephippium and Camponotus capito. Its vertex is convex, its propodeal dorsum nearly straight whereas in C. ephippium it is flat and concave respectively. Its colour is distinctive - mostly bright red with a darker gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus judithmorrisae McArthur, 2008: 121, figs. (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia, New South Wales).
 * Status as species: McArthur, 2010: 104; McArthur, 2014: 66.

Worker
Measurements: HL = 0.82HW + 0.53 (R2 = 0.98, n = 26); PW= 0.49HW + 0.55 (R2 = 0.98, n = 26); CW= 0.33HW - 0.01 (R2 = 0.99, n = 26).

Major: Mesosoma: Dorsum of pronotum, mesonotum, metanotum and propodeum evenly convex, angle well rounded 135° declivity straight, ratio propodeal dorsum / declivity about 2, metanotum bounded by two distinct sutures about 0.3mm apart; > 20 long erect setae scattered on mesosoma, with indistinct very fine white short setae; integument on side of mesonotum and propodeum very finely reticulate. Node: anterior surface mostly straight and parallel with posterior, posterior straight, summit blunt. Appendages: tibiae with flat-lying short setae, rows of about 10 spines on inside surfaces; scapes setae indistinct. Head: underside in lateral view with a few long straight erect setae, a few long curved setae near mouth; in front view a few erect setae on sides; sides mostly straight, tapering to the front; vertex nearly flat swollen; frontal carinae width < 1/3 HW; maximum head width occurs at eye centres; clypeus anterior margin projecting with a shallow concavity between two blunt teeth at corners. Colour: red, gaster black.

Minor: Mesosoma: dorsum of pronotum straight, mesonotum convex, propodeum mostly straight, angle well rounded 135°; declivity straight; ratio propodeal dorsum / declivity about 3; > 20 long erect setae scattered on mesosoma, with indistinct very fine white short setae; integument on side of mesonotum and propodeum very finely reticulate. Node: thick, anterior and posterior surfaces nearly straight and parallel, summit feebly convex. Appendages: tibiae with flat-lying short setae, rows of about 10 spines on inside surface; scapes setae indistinct. Head: underside in lateral view with a few long erect setae, a few long curved setae near mentum; a few erect setae on sides in front view; sides feebly convex tapering to the front; vertex feebly convex; frontal carinae width <1/ 3 HW; maximum head width occurs at eye centre; clypeus anterior margin projecting, convex, crenulate. Colour: red, gaster black.

Type Material
Holotype: One minor worker pinned in “S.Aust. Hallett Cove 35°05’S 138°30’E pitfalls 16-23 Nov 97 A J M cArthur”. Paratypes: Three minor workers with same data pinned in each of SAMA, and.



Etymology
Named after Judith Morris, a benefactor of the South Australian Museum.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * McArthur A. J. 2008. New species of Camponotus (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. B, Botanik, Zoologie 109: 111-129.