Camponotus benguetensis

Only known from the type locality in northern Luzon. Most likely restricted to the Philippines.

Identification
Minor worker: Black species with orange scape and first funicular segment. Long white standing setae abundant all over dorsum. Clypeus basally almost straight. Flagellum of normal length. Pronotum with distinct sculpture, but somewhat shiny. Dorsal outline of mesonotum and propodeum slightly convex, propodeum rather abruptly downcurved. Petiolar node high and narrow in lateral aspect.

Major worker: Colour as in minor, except anterior part of head and mandibles medium to light brown. Head with scattered medium-sized punctures, denser on genae and clypeus. Clypeus with 6–8 groove-like punctures, base with deep medial impression.

This species is very similar to Camponotus paracolobopsis. The major workers are well separable by structure and sculpture of genae and clypeus (see key and Figs. 53 and 61), whereas the differentiating characters for minors are more subtle: In Camponotus benguetensis, the basal margin of the clypeus is straighter, the propodeum more abruptly downcurved, and the apex of the petiole less acute than in C. paracolobopsis. Differences in the colour of the antenna (see key) are not very reliable due to considerable variation in both species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Worker
Major

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus (Myrmamblys) benguetensis Zettel & Balàka, in Zettel, Balàka, et al. 2018: 165, figs. 57-63 (s.w.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon I.).

Description
Minor

Holotype: HW 1.30; HL 1.39; SL 1.39; SW 0.13; EL 0.41; ML 1.89; HaL 0.32; FeL 1.63; CI 94; SI 107; EI 32; FeI 125. Ward’s Indices: ASM/HWex 0.28; ASM/CLW 0.61; CLW/CLL 1.40. Paratypes (n = 9): HW 1.17–1.43; HL 1.41–1.54; SL 1.41–1.52; SW 0.14–0.17; EL 0.43–0.46; ML 1.76–2.15; HaL 0.30–0.39; FeL 1.61–1.74; CI 79–95; SI 98–128; EI 31–38; FeI 118–142. Ward’s Indices: ASM/HWex 0.28–0.33; ASM/CLW 0.59–0.67; CLW/CLL 1.29–1.45.

Structures: Head roundish, uniformly reticulated and matt dorsally and laterally, ventrally with slightly reduced microsculpture and somewhat shiny. Lateral outline of eye and head contiguous. Vertex moderately raised, not domed. Frons with hardly discernable shiny midline. Clypeus with an almost straight, slightly angular basal margin, with distal margin slightly protruded in middle, with reduced shiny midline at base. Mandible scarcely punctured, with five teeth. Mesosoma slender and low, entirely reticulated, but with a silky shimmer; dorsal outline convex, on pronotum and propodeum moderately convex, without distinct indentions. Petiolar node posteriorly high, its anterior and posterior face parallel, apex obliquely truncated. Gaster tergites entirely with dense reticulation, including very narrow translucent margins on tergites 2–4.

Pilosity: White long standing setae abundant all over dorsum, longest on mesonotum, propodeum, gaster tergites 1 and 4. Subdecumbent pubescence short, thin, whitish, extremely sparse and inconspicuous on head, dense and distinct on mesosoma, petiole, and gaster.

Colour: Trunk, palpi, and legs black. Mandibles brown. Antenna black; scape orange, brownish infuscated towards apex; first funicular segment entirely orange or pale brown, strongly contrasting with black second segment. Tergites 3–4 with very narrow translucent margins.

Major

Paratypes (n = 4): HW 1.72–1.96; HL 2.00–2.25; SL 1.17–1.28; SW 0.20–0.22; EL 0.50–0.56; ML 2.15–2.54; HaL 0.21–0.31; FeL 1.53–1.63; CI 86–90; SI 60–72; EI 25–29; FeI 78–91.

Structures: Head squared, longer than wide. Eyes small, laterally not reaching sides of head. Ocellar scars absent. Frontal carinae prominent, curved. Entire head with reticulate microsculpture, ventrally more superficial and slightly shiny. In addition, vertex, frons, clypeus, and temples with two types of punctures, medium-sized and large, the latter bearing the standing setae; number of large groove-like punctures on clypeus 6–8. Genae only with moderately large punctures bearing no setae. Clypeus moderately narrow, about 1.3 times as long as wide; base slightly elevated over frontal triangle and deeply incised along midline; anterior margin strongly protruded, but hardly surpassing genae. Mandibles with fine, widely spaced punctures and very fine micropunctures. Mesosoma similar to minor regarding microsculpture and dorsal outline, slightly higher and somewhat broader at pronotum. Node of petiole similar to minor, but apex less acute in lateral view and straighter in anterior view. Gaster similar as in minor.

Pilosity: Similar to minor, except that white setae on head, pronotum, and mesonotum comparatively shorter; short pubescence absent from head.

Colour: Black, similar to minor, except head anterior of antennal grooves medium brown (laterally less far); mandibles reddish brown, except black teeth, and orange colour of funiculus more extended.

Type Material

 * Holotype (minor worker #1799; NHMW) from the Philippines, Luzon, Benguet, W Baguio, Asin Hot Springs, 17.II.1999, leg. S. Schödl.
 * Paratypes (NHMW, CZW, NMNH): 4 minor workers (#85, 1796–1798), 2 major worker (#86, 240), same label data; 5 minor workers (#1800–1804), 2 major workers (#1805, 1806), from Benguet, W Baguio, Asin Road-km 7, 17.II.1999, leg. H. Zettel.

Etymology
Named after the province of origin, Benguet.