Camponotus heidrunvogtae

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Camponotus heidrunvogtae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Subgenus: Myrmentoma
Species group: lateralis
Species: C. heidrunvogtae
Binomial name
Camponotus heidrunvogtae
Seifert, 2019

Camponotus heidrunvogtae major P .jpg

Camponotus heidrunvogtae major D.jpg

The species was found in open xerothermous habitats which showed much surface coverage by rock or scree. Nests were also found at open, sunny spots within broad-leaved forest (Quercus, Carpinus, Fraxinus). Nests under stones, in rock crevices, and in soil. According to Adi Vesnic, the species is more thermophilic than sympatrically occurring Camponotus piceus. This assessment on the microclimatic scale is in agreement with macroclimatic data.

Identification

Seifert (2019) - A member of the Camponotus lateralis species group. This is the most easily identifiable species of the species group. Its diagnostic characters are a combination of a very long scape, a narrow dorsal propodeal plane and a blackish head (see key). The major workers achieve a size larger than in any known species of the C. lateralis group.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

The species seems to be restricted to the W Balkans, with a known geographic range covering only 120 000 km². Most of the known sites are along the Dinaric coast and the western slope of Dinaric mountains and all are situated below 1000 m.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 45.186° to 39.741°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Bosnia and Herzegovina (type locality), Croatia, Greece, Montenegro.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Habitat

Borowiec and Salata (2022), for Greece - Thermophilous species collected mainly in olive plantations and oak forests on shrubs, or on rocks surrounded by Mediterranean shrubs. Collecting sites showed a range in altitude between 170 and 900 m.

Biology

Castes

Worker

Camponotus heidrunvogtae minor H holotype.jpgCamponotus heidrunvogtae minor P holotype.jpgCamponotus heidrunvogtae minor D holotype.jpg
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Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • heidrunvogtae. Camponotus heidrunvogtae Seifert, 2019b: 29, figs. 17-22 (s.w.) BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype major and minor workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype Bosnia: Jablanica, 43.5978°N, 17.7272°E, 210 m., 22.viii.2013-54 (A. Vesnik); paratypes: 2 workers with same data, 3 workers with same data but 22.viii.2013-55.
    • Type-depository: SMNG.
    • Status as species: Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2022: 89.
    • Distribution: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Minor (data of 22 specimens): Larger than related species, CS 1140 ± 122 [979, 1427] μm. Head and scape relatively long, CL/CS 1.144 ± 0.021 [1.084, 1.170], SL/CS 1.113 ±0.051 [0.999, 1.167]. All surfaces of head, mesosoma and gaster with long erect setae. Extension of large scape diameter near to scape base strong, ScI 1.235 ± 0.041 [1.167, 1.341]. Dorsal plane of scape with occasional semi-erect or erect setae, nSc 0.9 ± 0.6 [0.5, 2.5]. Mesosoma rather narrow, MW/CS 0.759 ± 0.021 [0.707, 0.781]. Mesonotum and propodeum with, in terms of the Camponotus lateralis group, many semi-erect to erect setae, nMn 6.5 ± 1.3 [4.0, 8.5], nPr 7.4 ± 1.6 [5.5, 11.5]. Dorsal propodeal plane narrow, PrW/CS 0.252 ± 0.016 [0.229, 0.284], in lateral view moderately convex, its median part a little higher than at level of its lateral edges (a difference to Camponotus atricolor, Camponotus piceus and Camponotus dalmaticus). Metanotal groove moderately deep, MGr/ CS 0.056 ± 0.006 [0.045, 0.076]. Surface of head capsule and mesosoma moderately shining, with clinker-like microsculpture, appearing at smaller magnifications as microripples with reticular component. This microrelief is deeper on dorsal propodeum and flatter on gaster. Distance of micro-ripples on dorsal area of 1st gaster tergite relatively small, RipD 8.35 ± 0.46 [7.44, 9.15] μm. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster blackish, pronotum occasionally reddish on its lateral or entire surface. Coxae and femora usually dark brown. Mandibles, antennae, distal part of femora, metatarsae and tarsae usually light reddish brown.

Borowiec and Salata (2022) - Moderately large, polymorphic; minor worker: HL: 0.825-1.1058 (mean 0.9580); HW: 0.663-0.857 (mean 0.758); SL: 0.849-1.151 (mean 1.032); EL: 0.230-0.262 (mean 0.245); ML: 1.23-1.57; MW: 0.58-0.80. Color. Body completely black (in 1/3 of examined specimens) or pronotum laterally with reddish spot of various size (in 2/3 of examined specimens); usually gena close to anterior margin with small yellowish to reddish spot, occasionally almost whole pronotum yellowish red; antennal scapus yellow, occasionally slightly infuscate in the widest apical part, first segment of funiculus usually infuscate in basal half and yellowish apically, segments, segments 6-11 gradually infuscate; coxa brown to black, trochanters partly brown partly yellowish, femora mostly brown to black except yellowish apices, tibiae yellow to yellowish brown, tarsi yellow, in the darkest forms tibiae mostly to almost completely brown. Head. Stout, 1.2-1.3 times longer than wide, sides in front of eyes almost straight and slightly converging anterad, behind eyes regularly rounded, posterior margin convex. Clypeus trapezoidal, with anterior margin straight to slightly convex, without median emargination, posterior margin in the middle emarginate by frontal triangle, whole surface with diffused microreticulation, appears shiny, covered with short and sparse appressed to decumbent hairs, anterior margin with a row of 6-8 long setae centrally and 2-3 short setae on sides, whole Clypeus with several moderately long and long erected setae grouping on sides and base of clypeus. Head diffusely to distinctly microsculptured, frontal area microreticulate, occipital and temporal area mostly with transverse striation, surface with short and sparse appressed pubescence, appears shiny, gena, frons and anterior part of occipitum with short to long erected setae, only occipital area without setae, ventral side of head with 6-10 moderately long to long erected setae. Scape elongate, 1.3-1.4 times as long as width of head, at apex only slightly wider than in base, basal part with slightly marked horizontal extension, surface diffusely to distinctly microreticulate, shiny, with short and sparse appressed pubescence, without decumbent hairs or erected setae. Funicular segments elongate, thin, first segment 2.4 times as long as wide and 1.4 times as long as second segment, third segment distinctly longer than second, the rest of funicular segments distinctly longer than broa. Eyes moderately big, almost round, 0.26 length of head. Mandibles stout, microreticulate, surface shiny. Mesosoma. Moderately elongate, 2.0-2.1 times as long as wide, dorsally and laterally distinctly sculptured tending to form transverse, longitudinal and oblique striation, on sides of pronotum microstriation often diffused or surface partly completely shiny. In lateral view dorsum with distinct mesonotal groove, propodeum with flat dorsum which is 2.0-2.1 times as long as wide, posterior margin truncate, in lateral view posterior face and dorsum form distinct angle posterior face not excavate . Surface of mesosoma with short and scarce depressed to decumbent hairs, pronotum posterolaterally with 2-3 long erected setae, mesonotum with 10-16 moderately long to long erected setae, propodeum anteriorly and centrally with 2-10 short to moderately long and close to posterior margin 2-6 long erected setae, the longest setae with length to 0.254. Waist and gaster. Petiolar scale thick, broad in anterior view, PI > 2.0, with very convex anterior and flat posterior face, apex rounded; anterior and posterior surface transversely striate, without pubescence or with few very short and very scarce appressed hairs, apical crest with 4-6 very long erected setae. Gaster shorter than mesosoma, tergites with fine transverse microstriation, surface shiny, covered with moderately long but scarce appressed t hairs; each tergite with row of, very long erected setae across middle and close to posterior margin. Legs. Elongate, hind femora shorter than mesosoma, surface of legs covered with short to moderately long and sparse appressed hairs, inner margin of hind tibiae with row of 2-5 thorns. Ventral surface of fore femora with 3-6 long erected setae.

Major worker: Large, HL: 1.820-2.030 (mean 1.898); HW: 1.820-2.010 (mean 1.869); SL: 1.460-1.524 (mean 1.499); EL: 0.333-0.413 (mean 0.383); ML: 2.27-2.33; MW: 1.16- 1.25. Body color and sculpture as in minor workers but antennae and legs usually darker , brown to dark brown and apex of tibiae brown, tarsi as dark colored as tibiae. Head stouter, approximately as long as wide, sides of head softly convex, posterior margin straight. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly serrulate, in the middle sometimes with indistinctly marked emargination. Scapus shorter, 0.8 times as long as width of head. Eyes relatively smaller, 0.2 times as long of head. Setation on head and whole dorsum more numerous than in minor workers, occipital part of head with erected setae, petiolar crest with 8-10 very long setae. Propodeal flat dorsum shorter than in minor worker, 1.5-1.6 times as long as wide Ventral posterior surface of fore femora with 6-10 long standing setaerected setae.

Type Material

  • Holotype worker labeled ‘BOS: 43.5978°N,17.7272°E/ Jablanica, 210 m/ Carpinus-Fraxinus wood/ A. Vesnic 2013.08.22-54’ and ‘Holotype Camponotus heidrunvogtae Seifert’, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.
  • 2 paratype workers from the same nest as holotype, labeled ‘BOS: 43.5978°N, 17.7272°E/ Jablanica, 210 m/ Carpinus-Fraxinus wood/ A. Vesnic 2013.08.22-54’ and ‘Paratypes Camponotus heidrunvogtae Seifert’, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.
  • 3 paratype workers from another nest, labeled ‘BOS: 43.5978°N,17.7272°E/ Jablanica, 210 m/ Carpinus-Fraxinus wood/ A. Vesnic 2013.08.22-55’ and ‘Paratypes Camponotus heidrunvogtae Seifert’, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.

Etymology

The species name is dedicated to Heidrun Vogt, the wife of Dieter Vogt who sponsored ant research in Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz and biodiversity research in general.

References