Camponotus sholensis Dhadwal & Bharti 2023, sp. nov.

Camponotus sholensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9616BD81-025B-4484-8390-074245286F80

Figs 3–5

Diagnosis

The distinguishing characteristics of C. sholensis sp. nov. are as follows: the head is as long as broad, mesosoma is broad and compact; petiole node is thin and anteriorly convex but flat posteriorly; tibiae are cylindrical and lack spines beneath them; the body is black and entirely microreticulate, gleaming and densely pilose, covered with long erect or suberect setae.

This species resembles C. lamarckii Forel, 1892 and can be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics: in C. sholensis sp. nov. (major worker), the head is as long as broad; the clypeal margin is straight; the tibiae are cylindrical; the vertex of the head has a few short erect or suberect hair and a row of hair present beneath the head; the mesosoma and the gaster are covered with few standing hairs. While in C. lamarckii (major worker), the head is longer than broad; the clypeal margin is medially carinate; the tibiae of the legs are compressed; the body is covered with very short and appressed pubescence; the mesosoma and the gaster are densely covered with yellow, erect, long setae.

Etymology

The species has been named after the Shola National Park.

Type material

Holotype

INDIA • major worker; Kerala, Pampadum Shola National Park; 10.1266° N, 77.2581° E; elev. 1700 m; 25 Jan. 2017; T. Dhadwal leg.; hand picking method; PUAC T27.

Paratypes

INDIA • 15 workers, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; PUAC T30 to T46.

Measurements

Holotype major worker

HL 2.41; HW 2.05; EL 0.43; SL 2.14; PW 1.34; WL 2.86; MTL 1.55; HTL 2.29; PL 0.58; PH 0.69; GL 3.05; TL 8.90; CI 85; SI 99; REL 17; PrI 65.

Paratypes major workers (n = 5)

HL 2.21–2.62; HW 2.13–2.58; EL 0.41–0.45; SL 2.09–2.17; PW 1.43–1.47; WL 2.66–2.95; MTL 1.47– 1.80; HTL 2.25–2.37; PL 0.57–0.61; PH 0.65–0.77; GL 2.25–3.36; TL 7.69–9.54; CI 96–98; SI 84–98; REL 17–18; PrI 56–67.

Paratypes minor workers (n = 5)

HL 1.34–1.51; HW 0.90–1.11; EL 0.40–0.41; SL 1.55–1.85; PW 1.02–1.21; WL 1.76–2.17; MTL 1.22– 1.43; HTL 1.51–1.84; PL 0.45–0.49; PH 0.57–0.65; GL 1.27–1.96; TL 4.82–6.13; CI 67–73; SI 166– 172; REL 27–29; PrI 109–113.

Paratypes gynes (n = 2)

HL 2.35–2.41; HW 2.10–2.17; EL 0.60–0.62; SL 1.98–2.23; WL 3.90–3.96; MTL 1.92–1.95; HTL 2.66– 2.72; PL 0.80–0.86; PH 1.24–1.30; GL 4.52–4.65; TL 11.57–11.88; CI 89–90; SI 94–102; REL 25–25.

Description

Major worker (Fig. 3)

HABITUS. In full-face view, head as long as broad (CI 96–98), posterior margin almost straight and shallowly concave in the middle, lateral sides of the head converging anteriorly; anterior margin of the clypeus virtually straight and feebly carinate; mandibles elongate, triangular and masticatory margin with 7 teeth; eyes are small, placed distinctly above the mid-length of the head; antennae short and 12-segmented; scape short (SI 166–172), almost reaching the posterior margin of the head. In dorsal view, mesosoma broad and compact, pronotum anteriorly narrow (PrI 56–67); pro mesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct; mesosoma form a single convexity with mesonotum somewhat higher than the pronotum and propodeum in lateral view; propodeal declivity almost straight; propodeal spiracle is oval in shape and placed below the margin of propodeal declivity; petiole node thin, anteriorly convex and flat posteriorly; tibiae cylindrical; gaster elongated.

SCULPTURE. Head and mesosoma microreticulate and entire body gleaming; with gaster silky smooth.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. A few short erect or suberect hairs on the vertex of the head and a row of hair present on the ventral region of the head; clypeal margin with a row of setae, a few short setae present on the mandibles; pronotum and mesonotum coated with a few long erect setae; propodeum, petiole and gaster with a few standing hairs; hind tibia densely setose, without a row of spiny bristles on ventral margins in addition to 3–4 suberect setae close to the apical spurs.

COLOURATION. Head, mesosoma and gaster are black; legs reddish brown to dark brown, with a paler trochanter and tarsi.

Minor worker (Fig. 4)

With characteristics of a major worker except: comparatively smaller head, longer than broad (CI 67–73), rectangular in outline with posterior margin rounded and lateral sides are almost parallel; masticatory margin of mandibles with 6 teeth; scape distinctly long (SI 166–172) surpass posterior margin of head by more than half of its length; mesosoma short and form a smooth curve; legs of minor workers lighter in colour.

Gyne (Fig. 5) Similar to the major worker with few modifications depicting the caste and the following differences: head smaller (CI 89–90) with lateral edges subparallel and posterior margin convex; cephalic dorsum with 3 prominent ocelli; mandibles with 7 teeth; parapsidal lines present; petiolar dorsum strongly emarginate; propodeal dorsum forming a right angle with propodeal declivity.

Male

Unknown.

Habitat

The workers were collected from the forest area of Pampadum Shola forest, where a nest was found inside the wooden log covered with soil and grass. Workers started coming out after creating a disturbance as no worker had seen around the wooden log before it was disturbed or lifted. The region is characterized by thick evergreen forest and has an average daily temperature of 28°C.