Species: Camponotus cristatus

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Endemic to the Fiji Islands.

Gau: Navukailagi 325. Kadavu: Moanakaka 60, Vanua Ava b. Lakeba: Tubou 100 a, Tubou 100 b, Tubou 100 c. Ovalau: Levuka 450, Ovalau, Levuka. Taveuni: Lavena 235, Lavena 234, Lavena 217, Lavena 229, Soqulu Estate 140, Somosomo 200, Nagasau. Vanua Levu: Kilaka 146, Wainibeqa 87, Wainibeqa 53, Kilaka 98, Vusasivo Village 400 b, Rokosalase 180, Rokosalase 94, Rokosalase 97, Rokosalase 118, Lagi 300, Labasa. Viti Levu: Nabukavesi 40, Ocean Pacific 1, Ocean Pacific 2, Lautoka Port 5 b, Suva, Colo-i-Suva 460, Colo-i-Suva 325, Colo-i-Suva 372, Volivoli 55, Volivoli 25, Waivudawa 300, Veisari 300 (3.5 km N), Nadarivatu 750, Waiyanitu.

Biology:

Most collections of C. cristatus were made from malaise traps, though they were also taken from sifted litter. Workers were collected foraging on ground, stones, logs, trees and vegetation. The species is absent from Vanua Levu, where it is replaced by the closely related C. maafui.

Identification:

Camponotus cristatus is uniform black to black with reddish legs and antennae. The petiole node is scalloped to evenly convex or pointed apically. A mesonotal keel is present, but does not project posteriorly into a defined tooth. The gastral pilosity is light-colored and dense like C. laminatus, and erect hairs are present on pronotum. The species is most similar to C. maafui, but can be separated by the uniformly black integument on the gaster. Camponotus cristatus var. nagasau Mann was considered to be a distinct variety based on the dark red femora of the soldiers bearing a consistent difference from the deep black femora of C. cristatus Mayr. Color, however, is a weak character for discriminating among the C. laminatus-group species. The weak differences observed among the type specimens are used here to justify synonymy of C. nagasau with C. cristatus. In addition to the differences of femora color between the soldiers of the Taveuni population and the Viti Levu population, the Taveuni minors also tend to exhibit a more uniformly pointed petiole node.

References:

Mann, W.M. (1921) The ants of the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 64, 401-499.
Sarnat, E.M. & Economo, E.P. (In Press) Ants of Fiji. University of California Publications in Entomology. 

Taxon Page Author History

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 51 times found in disturbed forest, 14 times found in primary rainforest, 9 times found in rainforest, 9 times found in primary forest, 4 times found in secondary forest, 2 times found in secondary rainforest, 1 times found in forest edge, 1 times found in primary raiforest, 1 times found in disturbed habitat

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 7 times hand collection

Elevations: collected from 140 - 1020 meters, 453 meters average

3 Specimens Imaged | View All 121 Specimens for this species

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