Camponotus donnellani

Camponotus donnellani has been encountered a limited number of times in Western Australia, north-western South Australia and south-western Northern Territory. It has been collected from a sand hill in association with Triodia spp. in the Great Victorian Desert of southern Northern Territory. Little else is known of its biology.

Identification
Propodeum with at most 4 elongate erect hairs near the angle between the dorsal and posterior faces. Pronotum and mesonotum flatly convex, metanotal grove indistinct, anterior region of propodeal dorsum feebly concave, straight posterior. Petiolar node broadly rounded above, its anterior face at most only slightly shorter than the posterior face. Tibiae and scapes lacking erect setae. Anterior clypeal margin feebly projecting, broadly convex across its whole width.

Camponotus donnellani is similar to Camponotus arenatus in overall colour pattern but differs in the smaller size of the minors and the flatter mesosomal dorsum with a less distinct metanotal groove. It may also be confused with smaller, paler workers of Camponotus ceriseipes, but differs in having fewer erect hairs on the propodeal dorsum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  donnellani. Camponotus donnellani Shattuck & McArthur, 2002: 72, figs. 17-19 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Minor worker
Pronotum and mesonotum gently convex, metanotal grove indistinct; anterior region of propodeum feebly concave then straight, lacking an angle between the dorsal and posterior faces, ratio dorsum to declivity about 3. Anterior face of petiolar node about as long as dorsal face and separated from it by a moderate convexity; dorsal face weakly convex and separated from the posterior face by a broad, rounded angle; posterior face flat. Elongate erect hairs scattered on all surfaces of head (including underside), mesosoma, node and gaster, absent from scapes and tibiae. Anterior clypeal margin convex broadly angular. Head, mesosoma and petiole red with upper surfaces of head, pronotum and sometimes mesonotum infuscated with dark red-black, legs redblack basally, red distally; gaster dark red-black.

Measurements
Holotype. CI 0.89; HL 1.58mm; VW 1.40mm; ML 2.58mm; MTL 1.78mm; SI 1.32; SL 1.85mm.

Etymology
Named after Dr Steve Donnellan of the South Australian Museum, the collector of this species.