Camponotus festinatus

Identification
This species is part of a complex that Snelling (2006) characterized as follows: defined by the following combination of features that will separate it from all other Nearctic species complexes: (1) the clypeus bears a well defined median ridge ("carina"); (2) the anterior margin of the clypeal median lobe is broadly transverse or shallowly concave; (3) the lateral margins of the head, as seen in full face view are evenly beset with short, stiff erect setae that extend from the base of the mandible to the posterolateral corner of the head (limited to the malar area in one species); (4) antennal scape shaft with at least a few erect setae, at least in major workers and queens; (5) side of pronotum of major workers often with standing setae above ventral margin; (6) appressed pubescence of gastral terga short and widely scattered, adjacent hairs separated by much more than their lengths; (7) head and body light yellowish brown with varying degrees of darker brownish infuscation.

Distribution
This name represents a complex of cryptic species that ranges across the southwestern United States, from central Texas to southern California, and south into central Mexico.

This taxon was described from U.S.A.

Nomenclature

 *  festinatus. Formica festinata Buckley, 1866: 164 (w.q.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 312 (s.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1970: 651 (l.). Combination in Camponotus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 231; in C. (Myrmoturba): Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 561; in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 80. Subspecies of fumidus: Wheeler, W.M. 1902f: 22; Creighton, 1950a: 376. Revived status as species: Snelling, R.R. 1968b: 350. Senior synonym of pubicornis: Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 312; of spurcus: Creighton, 1950a: 376; of †juliae: Snelling, R.R. (pers. comm., unpublished). See also: Snelling, R.R. 2006: 85.
 * pubicornis. Camponotus fumidus var. pubicornis Emery, 1893i: 670 (s.w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of festinatus: Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 312.
 * spurcus. Camponotus fumidus var. spurcus Wheeler, W.M. 1910d: 315 (s.w.q.) U.S.A. Combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 80. Junior synonym of festinatus: Creighton, 1950a: 376.

Worker
Snelling (2006) Mandible of major worker microreticulate on basal half between scattered piligerous punctures; anterior half of malar area with numerous coarse elongate punctures; scape of major worker with a variable number of fully erect setae, but pubescence fully appressed, that of minor worker with fewer than 3 fine suberect setae (usually none) and pubescence fully appressed; both subcastes with suberect to erect setae along entire head margin in frontal view.

major (n = 12). Measurements (mm): HL 2.75 - 3.00; HW 2.45 - 2.75; EL 0.60 - 0.70; SL 2.50 - 2.70; ML 3.55 - 3.85. Indices: CI 84 - 93; HFI 109 - 116; OI 22 - 24; SI 88 - 95.

Medium-sized species in the C. festinatus complex. Head wedge-shaped, broadest at or slightly above level of eyes, evenly tapering to base of mandibles. Mandible microreticulate basad, becoming smoother and shinier apicad, with scattered piligerous punctures, rarely with a few weak longitudinal rugae near base; masticatory margin with six teeth, the first five (counting from apex) acute; proximal tooth larger than preceding teeth and slightly offset, acute to truncate or weakly bifid; subtended by an offset small tooth on inner basal margin (sometimes sufficiently strong that mandible appears to be seven-toothed). Head at least slightly longer than broad, sides weakly convex and divergent behind and broadly rounded into concave posterior (preoccipital) margin. EL about one-quarter of HL; in frontal view outer margin of eye separated from head margin by about 0.50 × EW; ICD 0.58 - 0.63 × HW. Disc of clypeus distinctly subangulate along midline; anterior margin truncate, transverse to very weakly concave in middle. Scape long, its apex distinctly surpassing posterolateral angles of head; scape base subcylindrical. Frontal carinae separated anteriorly by about one-fifth HW, flaring out posteriorly to about one-third HW. Entire head slightly shiny and coarsely microreticulate between sparse piligerous punctures; anterior half of malar area with coarser elongate punctures; gena slightly shiny below eye, coarsely microreticulate between mostly elliptical piligerous punctures. Mesosomal dorsum moderately convex in profile; metanotum usually distinctly defined by anterior and posterior unimpressed lines (mesometanotal line sometimes weakly impressed); dorsal face of propodeum broadly rounded into declivitous face and about one-third longer than declivitous face.

Petiole simple, scale-like in profile and summit distinctly convex in posterior view. Legs relatively short, metatibia 2.75 - 3.20 mm long.

Body moderately shiny and weakly microreticulate; head duller and more strongly microreticulate; with sparse to scattered moderately coarse piligerous punctures; anterior malar area with conspicuous coarse elongate punctures.

Pilosity moderately abundant on dorsal surfaces of head and body, setae apically acute and yellowish; malar area and margins of head with numerous short standing setae, longest setae c. 0.20 mm long; underside of head with numerous standing setae, ranging from 0.13 - 0.30 mm long; side of pronotum with several standing setae above ventral margin; the following numbers of medium length to long standing setae present on indicated structures: scape shaft (15+), ventral margin of profemur (10 - 19), pronotum (18 - 26), mesonotum (9 - 14), propodeum (10 - 16), petiole (5 - 12), disc of gastral tergum I (14 - 18), premarginal row on gastral tergum I (11 - 14). Fine appressed pubescence absent, or nearly so, from most head and body surfaces (conspicuous only on scape shaft).

Body and appendages yellowish brown, head more brownish; gastral segments darker brownish, at least at base, sometimes largely brownish.

medium and small workers (n = 20). Measurements (mm): HL 1.65 - 2.00; HW 1.05 - 1.40; EL 0.40 - 0.55; SL 2.20 - 2.45; ML 2.60 - 3.15. Indices: CI 61 - 70; HFI 137 - 235; OI 25 - 28; SI 121 - 133.

Mandible shiny and weakly microreticulate and with scattered piligerous punctures; masticatory margin with six or seven teeth, proximal tooth robust and subtruncate, remaining teeth acute. Head distinctly longer than broad, lateral margins subparallel anterior to eyes, slightly convex and narrower behind eyes, preoccipital margin transverse (Note: The head shape of the minor worker is grossly distorted in the figure – no. 346 – by MACKAY & MACKAY 2002). Eye situated behind midlength of head; EL about 0.25 × HL; in frontal view outer margin extending slightly beyond margin of head; ICD 0.60 - 0.70 × HW. Clypeus and scape as in major worker, but anterior margin of clypeus consistently transverse. Frontal carinae separated anteriorly by about 0.40 × HW, widening posteriorly to about 0.30 × HW.

Mesosoma similar to major worker but propodeal profile more evenly rounded and metanotum not defined.

Head and body moderately shiny; head shinier than that of major worker and less conspicuously microreticulate, especially on malar and genal areas; malar area with scattered fine round punctures.

Pilosity about as in major; the following numbers of medium length to long brownish standing setae on the followng structures: scape shaft (0 - 2), profemur (8 - 13), pronotum (11 - 15), mesonotum (4 - 7), propodeum (5 - 7), petiole (4 - 8), disc of gastral tergum I (6 - 10), premarginal row on gastral tergum I (6 - 10).

Head, body and appendages yellowish brown, gastral terga with varying degrees of darker brownish at base.

Queen
Snelling (2006 - (n = 3), measurements: HL 2.56 - 2.72; HW 2.00 - 2.31; EL 0.72 - 0.77; SL 2.36 - 2.72; ML 4.51 - 4.92. Indices: CI 78 - 90; HFI 120 - 146; OI 28; SI 92 - 104.

Head about as in major worker but less strongly narrowed anteriorly and preoccipital margin slightly convex. Eye margin slightly exceeding head margin; ICD - 0.74 × HW. IOD about 4.5 times and OOD about 3.5 × OD.

Pilosity about as in media and minor workers.

Color about as described for major workers, but gaster more extensively infuscated.

Type Material
Snelling (2006): Because no type material of Camponotus festinatus, the pivotal species in the complex, is known to exist, its identity is here stabilized by the designation of a neotype worker: United States of America, Texas, Travis Co., Austin, 150 m (37.53° N, 097.74° W), 6.VIII.1954, leg. A.C. Cole, # T46, under stone. In case of destruction or loss of the neotype specimen, a replacement neotype can be designated from: a series of workers, same locality, 13. 14.IX.1942, leg. W. F. Buren; series of workers and queens, Ozona (17 mi S), Crockett Co., 24.VII.1955, leg. A.C. Cole, # T117, in soil under several large stones (, LACM,, , ).

Determination Clarifications
This species, and this species name, is a poster child for taxonomic confusion. Snelling (2006) best summarized the problem: "The prevailing concept of Camponotus festinatus (Buckley, 1866) beginning with Wheeler (1902) up to and including that of Mackay and Mackay (2002) has always been uncertain. In part, this has been due to the lack of a proper description of this taxon; the original description was hopelessly vague and subsequent descriptions have done little to improve matters. A further difficulty was that over its entire range, extending from central Texas to the Pacific Coast and south well into Mexico, C. "festinatus" displayed a bewildering array of variant forms."