Camponotus tafo

This species is known from the rainforest of Ankerana and the PN Masoala. In Masoala, individual workers have been collected only from the moss and leaf litter of the canopy while at Ankerana one worker was collected from a Malaise trap, suggesting a preference for canopy microhabitat.

Identification
Rakotonirina et al. (2016) - A member of the Camponotus edmondi species group. In profile, anterior and posterior margins of petiolar node convex; in profile, propodeal dorsum and declivitous surface separated by blunt angle; in dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long; mesopleuron with propodeal surface together distinctly wider than lateral portion of pronotum; in profile, propodeal dorsum roughly as long as declivitous margin; dorsum of head and mesosoma densely and finely reticulate punctate; erect hairs lacking on dorsum of pronotum; distance between meso-metapleural suture and dorsolateral margin of propodeum largest near the junction of dorsolateral carina to declivitous surface; in dorsal view, lateral margins of mesonotum convex and strongly converging posteriorly; width of propodeum at metanotal groove greater than half the maximum width of mesonotum; in full-face view, anteromedian margin of clypeus triangular.

Camponotus tafo is very similar to Camponotus edmondi, but the latter is characterized by a mesonotum with lateral margins that are roughly straight and gradually converge posteriorly in dorsal view. In C. edmondi, the width of the propodeum at the metanotal groove is less than half the maximum width of the mesonotum; with head in full-face view, anteromedian margin of clypeus is truncate.

Camponotus varatra and Camponotus zavo can be separated from C. tafo by their sculpture and nesting sites. In the two former species, the dorsum of the head and mesosoma is smooth and shining or imbricate. Their colony nests are built in dead twigs or branches slightly above the forest floor but never in the canopy. Thus, the separation of C. tafo from both species is sustained.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  tafo. Camponotus tafo Rakotonirina, Csősz & Fisher, 2016: 137, figs. 10D, 13A, 16B, 30, 45 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Minor. In full-face view head about as long as wide (CWb/CL: 0.91–0.97), lateral margins roughly straight and slightly converging anteriorly; posterior margin broadly convex. Eyes located on posterior fifth portion of head (PoOc/CL: 0.19–0.22). Anteromedian margin of clypeus triangular; posterior margin weakly notched medially. Mandible triangular, apical margin armed with six teeth reducing in size towards basal angle of mandible. Antennal scape long, roughly the apical half of its length surpassing posterior cephalic margin. Pronotum flat dorsally, anterodorsal margin projecting anteriorly into narrow ridge; dorsum and sides of promesonotum separated by margination. In dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long, posterodorsal corner rounded. In lateral view, propodeum not strongly compressed anteroposteriorly; propodeal dorsum strongly sloping posteriorly; junction to declivity marked by blunt angle; in dorsal view, mesonotum longitudinally narrow, less than twice as broad as long; width of meso-metapleuron and side of propodeum together distinctly much greater than width of side of pronotum; dorsolateral portion of propodeum bluntly marginate; propodeal spiracle located on declivitous surface. Maximum width of coxa of foreleg larger than width of meso-metapleuron. In profile, anterior face of petiolar node convex, posterior face sloping posteriorly and then descending vertically to posteroventral angle. Constriction between abdominal segments III and IV absent.

Dorsum of head and mesosoma finely and densely reticulate punctate. Imbricate sculpture on gastral tergites. Mandible finely and densely reticulate superimposed with scattered large punctures. Pronotum without whitish hairs; few pairs present on head dorsum from clypeus, and edge of frontal lobe to posterior portion of head; one pair on mesonotum; several pairs scattered on propodeal dorsum; petiolar node with whitish hairs arranged near lateral and dorsal borders of posterior face; scattered and much shorter erect hairs organized transversely on anterior and posterior portions of each gastral tergite; pubescence reduced. Body color black; antenna brown basally and dark brown apically; femur and tibia dark brown, trochanter and tarsi light brown.

Major. Unknown.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Madagascar, Toamasina Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, –15.71, 49.97, 200 m, rainforest, canopy moss and leaf litter, 28 Nov-3 Dec 2001 (B. L. Fisher, H.J. Ratsirarson) collection code BLF04700 specimen code CASENT0763608. Paratypes. 4 workers same data as holotype.