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The Ants of
Africa Genus Camponotus subgenus Myrmespera |
Genus Camponotus |
Subgenus definition - Santschi (1926b: 247; Santschi, 1926c:
604). Santschi's (1926b) subgenus description is at . He separated the
members as intermediate between Camponotus s.s and Myrmopsamma
on the basis of there being no anterior fringe of hairs on the clypeus;
the only clypeal hairs being laterally, as with Camponotus s.s. In
common with Myrmopsamma, however, the apex of the mandibles is
quite oblique and with five distinct teeth, the apical being notably
the longest. In contrast Myrmoturba (now junior synonym of Tanaemyrmex)
have a lobed clypeus.
All from southern and eastern
Africa. My feeling is that this is a
collection of two distinct groups - one with a fairly typical (major) Camponotus
head in full face view, i.e narrower anteriorly and a slightly concave
posterior margin; the other with a quadrate, parallel-sided head, with
straight posterior margin and rounded postero-lateral margins, also
large eyes set well back.
Tentative key to workers
¤ | Queen only - image on species page |
South Africa - trifasciatus |
1 | Propodeum highly convex both across and along, so near hemispherical | 2 |
-- | Propodeum shallowly convex both across and along, arcuate transition from dorsum to declivity | 4 |
2 | ![]() I have (2013) transferred this to the subgenus Myrmonesites |
South Africa - reevei |
-- | Colour variably ochreous | 3 |
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Zimbabwe - crepusculi |
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South Africa - havilandi |
4 | Bicoloured with at least gaster black | 5 |
-- | Unicoloured variable shades of ochreous | 6 |
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South Africa - transvaalensis |
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Namibia - belligerus |
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Namibia, Botswana & South Africa - cuneiscapus | |
-- | Scape without angular basal lobe | 7 |
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Zimbabwe - debellator |
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Namibia, Zimbabwe & South Africa - nasutus |
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South Africa - emarginatus |
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Genus page |
© 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
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