Since the publication of this key the genus Colobopsis has been removed from its synonymy with Camponotus. Colobopsis species are therefore included in this key.
Heterick notes: Major workers This key provides couplets to known major workers: major workers for a number of species are as yet unknown, as this subcaste tends to leave the nest less frequently than the minor and media worker castes.
Inner surfaces of middle and hind tibiae lacking elongate setae (Figure 186a); anterior two thirds of clypeus and surrounding genae abruptly truncate (used by the ant to plug the nest entry hole in wood) (Figure 186b) . . . . . (C. macrocephalus species-group) . . . . . Colobopsis gasseri
Inner surfaces of middle and hind tibiae with double row of stout spines (Figure 187); clypeus and adjoining sectors of head capsule not as above . . . . . 2
Dorsum of petiolar node acuminate in profile, node thin, scale-like (Figure 191a); pubescence on gaster less abundant, individual setae usually not overlapping (Figure 191b) . . . . . Camponotus terebrans
In profile, posterior angle of vertex acute, relatively sharp; outline of mesosoma almost circular in outline (Figure 192) . . . . . Camponotus postcornutus
In profile, posterior angle of vertex obtuse, smoothly rounded; outline of mesosoma not as above (pronotum is convex, mesonotum and dorsal surface of propodeum form a straight line, except for impression of metanotal groove) (Figure 193) . . . . . 6
Profile of mesosoma weakly predominantly convex; dorsum of propodeum weakly convex, anterior face of petiolar node only slightly shorter than its posterior face (Figure 198) . . . . . Camponotus prosseri
Profile of mesosoma strongly sinuate; dorsum of propodeum almost straight, anterior face of petiolar node much shorter than posterior face, node inclined forward (Figure 199) . . . . . Camponotus johnclarki
Erect setae on venter of head capsule 20 >, or setae covering more than 1/2 venter area; typically, head dark brown or black, mesosoma yellowish to dark red and gaster brown or black, with or without yellowish colouration anteriad (Figure 205) . . . . . Camponotus dryandrae
Figure 205.
Erect setae on venter of head capsule 20 <, or setae covering less than 1/2 venter area; typically, head, mesosoma and gaster concolorous dark brown or black (Figure 206) . . . . . Camponotus prostans
Body and appendages covered with dense, whitish, erect setae; head deeply concave; anterior margin of clypeus simple, not bilobate or bidentate (C. intrepidus species-complex) (Figure 207) . . . . . Camponotus molossus
Body and appendages not covered with dense, whitish, erect setae (C. whitei has dense, yellow, bristly setae) or anterior margin of clypeus emarginate . . . . . 15
Sculpture densely punctate; in profile, mesosoma with mesonotum abruptly descending to propodeum, the latter compact and rounded in outline (dorsal surfaces of body with many yellow, bristly setae) (Figure 208) . . . . . Camponotus whitei
In full-face view, head with posterior angles of vertex rounded in shape of small lobes, the outline of the head between them straight; antennal scape not reaching vertex; sides of head usually parallel; anteromedial margin of clypeus protruding, bidentate; mandible strongly sculptured, with six teeth and denticles; outline of mandible strongly rounded (C. ephippium species-complex) (Figure 210) . . . . . 17
Figure 210.
In full-face view, head capsule differing in one or more of the above characters; mandible may have more or fewer teeth (e.g. Figure 211) . . . . . 25
Head less massive; in dorsal view, posterior angles of vertex weakly lobate, lobes not reaching humeral angles of pronotum (Figure 216) . . . . . Camponotus cinereus notterae
Figure 216.
Head more massive; in dorsal view, posterior angles of vertex strongly lobate, lobes reaching humeral angles of pronotum (Figure 217) . . . . . 20
Punctation on upper half of frons much fainter than that of lower half; head capsule uniformly red . . . . . Camponotus sp. near ephippium sp. JDM 431
Punctation on upper half of frons almost as strong as that on lower half; head capsule predominantly black with a few dark red patches . . . . . Camponotus ephippium
Median sector of clypeus narrow, its outline weakly convex, and from about the midpoint carinate and raised above the lateral sectors of the clypeus (Figure 218) . . . . . Camponotus longifacies
Figure 218.
Median sector of clypeus broad, its outline strongly convex, not raised but confluent with the lateral sectors of the clypeus (Figure 219) . . . . . Camponotus sponsorum
Mandibles very large in proportion to head capsule, outer surface of mandible almost circular; number of developed mandibular teeth 7 ≥; in full-face view vertex of head capsule usually straight (Figure 222) . . . . . 27
Figure 222.
Mandibles of normal proportions, usually triangular, number of developed mandibular teeth 5 or 6; in full-face view vertex of head capsule weakly to moderately concave (Figure 223) . . . . . 29
In profile, node thicker, not scale-like, its dorsum flat or only weakly descending towards its anterior face; (Figures 226, 227); ratio of length of propodeum to its declivitous face 1:1–2:1 (Figure 228) . . . . . 30
Figure 226.
Figure 227.
Figure 228.
In profile, node thin, scale-like, its dorsum culminating in a sharp point, its anterior face descending vertically or at least at a very acute angle to the vertex (Figures 229, 230); ratio of length of propodeum to its declivitous face usually much less than 1:1 (often 1:2 or 1:3) (Figure 231) . . . . . 31
Decumbent and appressed setae on propodeum fine, forming pubescence on at least posterior sector, same setae on gaster minute, mostly separated from one another by more than twice their length; foreparts red, gaster black or ant concolorous black . . . . . Camponotus cinereus amperei . . . Camponotus pitjantjatarae
Decumbent and appressed setae on propodeum coarser and obviously curled, not forming pubescence, same setae on gaster of similar appearance, mostly separated from one another by less than their length; typically, head dark reddish-brown to black, mesosoma and legs orange to light brown, gaster dark brown . . . . . Camponotus scotti
With combination of strongly concave head capsule, many erect setae on sides and front of head capsule and propodeum steeply declivitous . . . . . Camponotus discors complex. sp. JDM 1104
In full-face view, sides of head with erect setae along much of their length; sides of head more-or-less straight (C. claripes species-complex) (Figure 232) . . . . . 33
Figure 232.
In full-face view, sides of head without erect setae or with erect setae restricted to lower frons and genae; sides of head often convex (e.g. Figure 233) . . . . . 37
In profile, dorsum of propodeum straight, ratio of length of dorsum of propodeum to its declivitous face slightly more than 1:1 (Figure 234); mesosoma reddish contrasting with black head and gaster . . . . . Camponotus claripes complex sp. JDM 430
Figure 234.
In profile, dorsum of propodeum convex, ratio of length of dorsum of propodeum to its declivitous face less than 1:1 (Figure 235); mesosoma not coloured as above . . . . . 34
Propodeum with few (10 ≤) erect setae clustered around propodeal angle; genae often with lighter-coloured regions (two or more species may well be represented here) . . . . . Camponotus claripes
Propodeum with many (10>) erect setae descending up its dorsal face; genae without lighter-coloured regions . . . . . Camponotus claripes complex sp. JDM 767
Clypeus rugose, matt, with strong pitting on its surface and on surrounding genae, clypeus flattened in profile (Figure 242) . . . . . Camponotus claripes group sp. JDM 288
Figure 242.
Clypeus smooth, shining, at most with only minor pitting on its surface and on surrounding genae, clypeus usually slightly protuberant in profile (Figure 243) . . . . . 47
Head much darker than mesosoma; anteromedial clypeal margin with a weak notch; vertex of head capsule weakly concave . . . . . Camponotus claripes nudimalis
Either head the same colour as mesosoma, or only slightly darker, or anteromedial clypeal margin straight or crenulate, without notch, or vertex of head capsule markedly concave . . . . . 49
Anteromedial margin of clypeus with notch; head ochre, contrasting with dark brown mesosoma and gaster . . . . . Camponotus insipidus (in part - also #53)
Anteromedial margin of clypeus without notch, though may be crenulate; head not lighter than mesosoma . . . . . 50
In full-face view, lateral sectors of clypeus strongly indented with central clypeal sector prominent, standing out in relief; external margin of mandible more-or-less uniformly rounded (minor workers with 8 ≥ mandibular teeth) (Figure 244) . . . . . Camponotus claripes group sp. JDM 63
Figure 244.
In full-face view, lateral sectors of clypeus only weakly indented, the central clypeal sector not prominent or standing out in relief; mandible triangular, its external margin oblique, only rounded in its apical quarter (minor workers with 6 mandibular teeth) (Figure 245) . . . . . Camponotus discors . . . Camponotus gibbinotus
In full-face view, anteromedial clypeal margin with a weak notch, head triangular, expanded towards angles of vertex . . . . . Camponotus insipidus (in part - also #49)
In full-face view, anteromedial clypeal margin either without notch, or head not triangular . . . . . 54
In full-face view, mandibles short, compact, with five teeth (Figure 248) . . . . . Camponotus simpsoni
Figure 248.
In full-face view, mandibles of normal appearance, with six teeth or five strong teeth and additional denticle (Figure 249) . . . . . Camponotus darlingtoni