The Ants of Africa
Genus Camponotus subgenus Tanaemyrmex
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius Forel

pompeius species-group
Major clypeus with distinct median carina; large TL 15 mm plus; alitrunk profile convex with angular propodeum, petiole scale quite thick; trimorphic (?) minors with distinct posteriorly narrowed heads; major dark red-brown to near black; minors lighter brown-orange to yellow-red. Most catalogued under Camponotus (Dinomyrmex) by Wheeler (1922: 962).

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius Forel

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Gabon (Camponotus rubripes Drury r. C, Pompeius n. stirps, Forel, 1886f: 157, major & minor workers; Emery, 1899e: 501, queen; Menozzi, 1933a: 110, male) collected by Büttner
subspecies
cassius (Camponotus (Dinomyrmex) pompeius Forel subspecies cassius new subspecies, Wheeler, 1922: 239, illustrated, major & minor workers) Zaïre - no images on Antweb (October 2014)
iota (Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius For. v. iota n. var., Santschi, 1926b: 257, minor worker) Congo, Boda, P Charleuf - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0912015
marius (Camponotus Pompeius subsp. Marius n. subsp., Emery, 1899e: 502, illustrated, minor worker) Cameroun, collected by Conradt and Sjöstedt - see bottom
all forms known (see Bolton, 1995) .

NOTE: The types of this and C. wellmani are identical, the latter, therefore is the junior synonym!!


{Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius}Forel's (1886f) description is at {original description} with a further description by Emery (1899e) at {original description}, with an illustrated description of marius by Emery (1899e) at {original description}, and notes on varieties by Santschi (1926b) at {original description}. Menozzi's (1933a) description of the male is at {original description}.

Wheeler (1922) listed records from Togo (at Bismarckburg, by Conradt), Cameroun (Duala by von Rothkirch, Campo Mountains by Schultze, Molundu and Yukaduma by Schultze); and various Congo areas.


Camponotus pompeius majorThe photomontage is of the type major worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0910074


Camponotus pompeius minorThe photomontage is of the type minor worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0910075


{Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius}Subspecies cassius

Wheeler (1922) described cassius as a new subspecies and provided the illustration (left),
WORKER MAXIMA - Differing from the maxima of the typical pompeius in having the head distinctly smoother, more shining, and more superficially shagreened, the apical tooth of the mandibles much longer, the corners of the clypeal lobe much more acute, the superior border of the petiole somewhat more obtuse, the petiole and thorax brownish red, except the pronotum and dorsum of the mesonotum, which are dark brown. The thorax and coxae are covered with much longer, denser, and more conspicuous yellowish pubescence than in typical pompeius.
WORKER MINIMA - Very similar to the typical form but the thorax and legs paler, and the head and thorax with longer pubescence.
Described from a single maxima and seven minimae from Yakuluku, Zaïre (Lang and Chapin). Four males from Medje and Faradje and three females from Stanleyville are probably referable to this or to one of the other forms of pompeius. They have the propodeum and legs more reddish than in the typical form. The wings of both females and males are slightly yellowish, with resin-colored veins and dark brown pterostigma.


{Camponotus pompeius cassius}The photomontage is of a cotype of Camponotus pompeius cassius from Zaïre. The original photographs, together with enlarged images, are from the MCZ, Harvard University, website at - MCZ link.

Wheeler noted of the subspecies marius Emery -
Specimens from Medje, Akenge and Niapu (Lang and Chapin). Two maxima and twenty-nine minima workers all from the stomachs of toads (Bufo polycercus, funereus, and superciliaris) and one small worker from Niapu from the stomach of a frog (Xenopus tropicalis) seem to belong to this form. Though from different localities, the two maximae both have the head much smaller and narrower (without the mandibles, 4.5 X 3.9 mm) than in the typical pompeius or the preceding subspecies and agree very closely with Emery's description. He believed that the specimen he examined was not a maxima, but the two specimens from Medje and Akenge seem to indicate that the small narrow head may be characteristic of the largest worker of the subspecies. The petiolar scale in my specimens is also high and pointed, precisely as in Emery's figure, the scapes are long (4.5 mm.), and the coloration and sculpture agree with his description.

Bernard (1952) reported (a large species) 5 workers and an enormous queen from Guinea, Mt. Nimba survey at Mount Tô, 1600 m.

Recorded as Camponotus probably marius Emery, from Ghana; collected from open ground at the Mampong Cemetery Farm by Room (1971).


{Camponotus pompeius marius}The photomontage of the type minor worker of marius is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0905240.


Oxford University Museum specimens

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.


Central African Republic
P Annoyer
KG
12-18.x.2008
Dzanga-Sangha
03°03'58.3" N
16°08'59.6" E
528 m; Camp 1; Ayous Barber campement

4
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
male

Central African Republic
P Annoyer
MJ

19.xi.2010
Dzanga-Sangha
2°28'45.9"N
16°13'15.0"E
396 m; nuit, UV, 20h - 4h, camp transit 2, proche du camp et près du lac 1


1
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
major & minor
Central African Republic
P Annoyer
Camp 1C
6.ii.2005
Dzanga-Sangha
2°50'01.8"N
16°08'13.7"E
375 m; 1800h-0630h
Camp 3 dans saline
RCA

1
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
Cameroun
A Fotso Kuate
Camponotus brutus 3
1.ix.2006
Awae II
03°54'30" N
11°25'58" E
Quadrat in fallow
1
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
PF 4
2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
Pitfall trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl
minor
1
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
PF 19
2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
Pitfall trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl
minor
1
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
Liberia
E Poirier
Liabala
PF 6
2.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°31’06" N
08°35’34" E
Pitfall trap
Secondary forest
473 m asl
minor variant
1
{album}
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) pompeius
B Taylor det.
Dealate queen
Liberia
E Poirier
Yekepa Camp 4
PF 3
6.iv.2013
Nimba County
07°33’04" N
08°33’17" E
Pitfall trap
Floodplain & marsh
501 m asl
Dealate queen
1
{album}

{Camponotus pompeius major}The photomontage is of a probable major from Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collected by Philippe Annoyer (CAR Camp 1C). 


{Camponotus pompeius major}The photomontage is of a probable second major from the same collection in Central African Republic (CAR Camp 1C).


{Camponotus varus major}The photomontage is of a probable minor from the same collection in Central African Republic (CAR Camp 1C).


{Camponotus pompeius minor}The photomontage is of a minor worker from Cameroun, Awae II; collected by A Fotso Kuate.


{Camponotus pompeius minor}The photomontage is of a minor worker from Liberia, Liabala; collected by E poirier (Liabala PF IV).


{Camponotus pompeius queen}The photomontage is of a possible queen from Liberia, Liabala; collected by E Poirier (Yekepa Camp 4 PF III).


{Camponotus pompeius possible male}The photomontage is of a probable male from Central African Republic, Dzanga-Sangha NP; collected by Philippe Annoyer (CAR MJ).

Contents
© 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

href="camponotus_pompeius.htm"