Camponotus (Myrmotrema) argus Santschi
Type location Zaïre
(Santschi, 1935: 282, not illustrated, worker) collected at Mongende,
14.iv.1921, by Dr Schouteden - no images on Antweb (September 2014);
holotype worker only described (see
Bolton, 1995) .
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Santschi's (1935) description is -
WORKER - TL 4-5 mm; head trapezoidal with the sides a little convex,
slightly less narrowed anteriorly than benguelensis. The eyes
are about as large as three-sevenths of the face; seen from the front
they reach the posterior angle of the face, seen in profile they are
separated by a quarter to one third of their length from the posterior
border. Clypeus with diffuse median carina. Frontal carinae about as
long as half the transverse diameter of the eye (in benguelensis about
the same as the full diameter). Scape is cylindrical, surpassing the
occipitum by about half its length; funiculus segments are shorter than
benguelensis. Pronotum as wide as the head,
depressed and
bordered both anteriorly and laterally; in profile slightly convex;
narrowing from about the midpoint to an abrupt junction with the
propodeum. Propodeum is very compressed so that its two faces are
reduced to a narrow declivity. Petiole scale with a slim summit.
Colour black; mandibles, distal scape and tarsi brownish; rest of
antenna red brown. Posterior borders of gastral tergites narrowly
bordered with white. Overall matt, with very fine
reticulo-puncturation. Gaster slightly less matt and more finely
sculpted. Pilosity of erect, very fine and sharp, whitish hairs; these
are narrower and truncated in postoculatus Forel (type location
South Africa), and shorter, finer and less abundant in benguelensis
Santschi (type location Angola). Pubescence also short, very fine and
whitish, finer than tenuipilis (ssp of Camponotus
olivieri)
but as abundant on the alitrunk and abdomen, more slender slimmer and
more golden in postoculatus and benguelensis. This
pilosity is a little shorter and less fine on the head, and there is a
distinct bare band in the centre of the gaster.
Related to postoculatus by its eyes and thorax form but easily
separated by its pilosity.
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