Camponotus daraina

The distribution of C. daraina is generally limited to the northern and western slopes of Madagascar. The species occurs in dry forest habitats, transitional forests, and rainforests of the Daraina region, transitional forests of Montagne d’Ambre and the Ampasindava Peninsula, and rainforests of RS Manongarivo (Fig. 51D). Camponotus daraina is strictly terrestrial; its workers forage mainly on the forest ﬂoor and through leaf litter, while its nests have been found in rotten logs and under stones.

Identification
In full-face view, lateral cephalic margins converge posteriorly towards eye level, area posterior to eye level covered with erect hairs; two apical teeth of mandible closely spaced; body color reddish orange.

Camponotus daraina looks similar to Camponotus bemaheva and Camponotus roeseli but C. bemaheva lacks erect hairs from the lateral margin of the head posterior to the eye level and in C. roeseli the integument is either entirely reddish black or the head and the gaster are reddish black and the mesosoma is yellowish orange to reddish orange.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus daraina Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 74, figs. 14A, 51 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker. MADAGASCAR: Province Antsiranana: Forêt de Binara, 9.1 km 233° SW Daraina, -13.26333, 49.60333, 725 m, rainforest, ex rotten log, 03 Dec 2003 (B.L. Fisher et al.) collection code: BLF09678, specimen code: CASENT0077433 (CAS).
 * Paratypes. 1 major worker of same data as holotype but with specimen code: CASENT0809930 and 5 minor workers of collection code BLF09664 and the following specimen codes: CASENT0077671, CASENT0835653, CASENT0077673, CASENT0077670, CASENT0077673 (NHMUK, MHNG, MSNG, PBZT, CAS).