The Ants of Africa

The Ants of Africa
Genus Camponotus subgenus Tanaemyrmex
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis Emery

maculatus species group
TL 8-10-12 mm plus; alitrunk profile convex in a smooth elongated curve, propodeal declivity not or poorly separable from dorsum, if the latter always much shorter than dorsum; petiole scale of major cuneiform, with convex anterior face and quite sharp dorsal margin; mostly bicoloured with alitrunk lighter and distinct light areas on gaster; dimorphic (?) minors with head narrowed posteriorly but not dramatically so and without any "neck".

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis Emery

Type location Zaďre (Camponotus maculatus F. subsp. congolensis n. subsp., Emery, 1889e: 499, major & minor workers & queen; Santschi, 1910c: 393, queen; Forel, 1913b: 340, male; raised to species Emery, 1920c: 6) collected at Banana, by Busschodts = see below
subspecies weissi (Camponotus maculatus stirps weissi n. st., Santschi, 1911c: 368, soldier & worker; subspecies of congolensis Emery, 1920c: 6) from Congo, Brazzaville, by Weiss - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0911931
(see Bolton, 1995) .

Wheeler (1922) listed as a subspecies of maculatus but listed findings from Liberia, as well as Zaďre (Boma, by Styczinski), Congo and east into "Rhodesia".

{Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis} Emery's (1899e) description is at . Arnold (1922) provided a translation of Emery's (1899e) description; this, as a race of maculatus, is at . Santschi's (1911c) description of weissi is at .

Bernard (1952) reported it from Guinea, with very numerous workers, queens and several males, 90% coming from Camp I of Mount Tô (1600 m), others from N'Zo, Kéoulenta and station F 158, at 950 m, under rocks in savanna. He wrote how it had been difficult to identify this large entirely matt black Tanaemyrmex, but on the base of the shape, the antennal segments, the wings of the queens, etc., he decided the specimens were of congolensis, given that the types were deep red-brown, with reddish appendages, but the difference did not merit description of a new variety. He gave the distribution as throughout central and eastern Africa, south to Zimbabwe, where it can be found at altitude; also it had been taken in Ghana and Nigeria (giving no details).

Listed as a savannah species in Ivory Coast by Lévieux & Louis (1975), who noted that it is strictly nocturnal in its habits.

{Camponotus congolensis major} The photomontage of the type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0905310.

{Camponotus congolensis minor} The photomontage of a media/minor worker from the type collection is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0905311.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Gabon Y Braet Gabon 205	17.v-09.vi.2006 Pongara 00°34' N 09°19' E	Savannah, malaise trap	5
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 5	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl minor - Bernard form	2
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 6	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl minor - Bernard form	1
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 11	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl minor - Bernard form	1
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 16	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl major & minor - Bernard form	3
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 17	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl major & minor - Bernard form	2
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 18	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl major & minor - Bernard form	3
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 19	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl minor - Bernard form	2
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) congolensis B Taylor det.	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 20	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl major & minor - Bernard form	2

{Camponotus congolensis} The photomontage is of a major worker from Gabon, Pongara National Park; collector Yves Braet (Gabon 205).

{Camponotus congolensis media} The photomontage is of a media worker from Gabon, Pongara National Park; collector Yves Braet (Gabon 205).

{Camponotus congolensis minima} The photomontage is of a media worker from Gabon, Pongara National Park; collector Yves Braet (Gabon 205).

{Camponotus congolensis} The photomontage is of a major worker from Liberia, Yekepa Camp 4; collector E Poiriet (Camp 4 PF XVI).

{Camponotus congolensis media} The photomontage is of a minor worker from Liberia, Yekepa Camp 4; collector E Poiriet (Camp 4 PF XVI).

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