Key to Camponotus maculatus species complex in the New World

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This worker key is based on: Mackay, W.P. & Delsinne, T. 2009. A new species of carpenter ant from Paraguay, with a key to the New World members of the maculatus species complex. Sociobiology. 53:487-498.

The following key will separate the majors and often the minors of the New World members of the maculatus species complex:

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1

  • Cheek and shaft of scape lacking erect or suberect hairs (rarely 1 or 2 may be present on cheek near base of mandible, and even on shaft of scape, especially in specimens from the Carribean) . . . . . 2
  • Cheek with erect or suberect hairs, at least near base of mandible; shaft of scape often with erect hairs . . . . . 6

2

return to couplet #1

  • Antennal scape of major extending well past posterior lateral corner; widely distributed and common . . . . . 3
  • Antennal scape of major barely reaching posterior lateral corner; known only from type locality in Rondonia, Brasil . . . . . Camponotus abunanus
Camponotus abunanus casent0911885 h 1 high.jpg
Camponotus abunanus casent0911885 p 1 high.jpg

3

return to couplet #2

Camponotus maculatus casent0055753 head 1.jpg
Camponotus maculatus casent0055753 profile 1.jpg

4

return to couplet #3

  • Head of minor (above it is written that the key will allow to separate majors. not noticeably narrower posteriorly (except posterior to eyes); widely distributed from Florida south to southern Brasil, not reported from Paraguay . . . . . 5
  • Head of minor noticeably narrowed posteriorly; known only from Paraguay . . . . . Camponotus taniae

5

return to couplet #4

  • Mostly brown, gaster usually with lateral yellow splotches or transverse bands on each tergum; USA (Florida) south to Brasil, Caribbean . . . . . Camponotus zonatus
Camponotus maculatus casent0055753 head 1.jpg
Camponotus maculatus casent0055753 profile 1.jpg
  • Concolorous very dark reddish brown to black; Mexico south to Brasil and Bolivia . . . . . Camponotus indianus

6

return to couplet #1

  • Shaft of scape without erect hairs (few present at apex) . . . . . 7
  • Shaft of scape with at least a few erect hairs, often with abundant erect hairs . . . . . 9

7

return to couplet #6

  • Side of pronotum and dorsum of gaster moderately smooth and glossy . . . . . 8
  • Side of pronotum and dorsum of gaster sculptured and dull to weakly shining; Mexico south to Guatemala . . . . . Camponotus pullatus
Camponotus pullatus casent0915800 h 1 high.jpg
Camponotus pullatus casent0915800 p 1 high.jpg

8

return to couplet #7

  • Areas between punctures on mandibles finely striated and dull; Mexico south to Argentina, Cuba, Aruba . . . . . Camponotus coloratus
Camponotus coloratus casent0173405 head 1.jpg
Camponotus coloratus casent0173405 profile 1.jpg

9

return to couplet #6

  • Shaft of scape with more than 20 erect or suberect hairs . . . . . 10

10

return to couplet #9

  • Area between punctures near base of mandibular teeth weakly sculptured, smooth and moderately shining; Bahamas . . . . . Camponotus inaequalis
Camponotus tortuganus casent0103716 head 1.jpg
Camponotus tortuganus casent0103716 profile 1.jpg
  • Area between these punctures striated and sculptured; Hispaniola, Bahamas . . . . . Camponotus lucayanus

11

return to couplet #9

Camponotus fuscocinctus casent0905259 h 1 high.jpg
Camponotus fuscocinctus casent0905259 p 1 high.jpg
  • Clypeal carina poorly defined, dull and interrupted; Caribbean Islands . . . . . 12

12

return to couplet #11

  • Propodeum at same level and continuous with mesonotum . . . . . 13

13

return to couplet #12

  • Mesonotum and dorsal face of propodeum flattened, in nearly same plane; Cuba . . . . . Camponotus santosi
Camponotus santosi casent0910016 h 1 high.jpg
Camponotus santosi casent0910016 p 1 high.jpg
  • Mesonotum and dorsal face of propodeum broadly arched; Mexico south to Argentina, not reported from Cuba . . . . . Camponotus substitutus
Camponotus substitutus casent0173454 head 1.jpg
Camponotus substitutus casent0173454 profile 1.jpg