Pacific Islands: Micronesia > Formicidae > Formicinae > Camponotus > Camponotus chloroticus
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Species: Camponotus chloroticus

Name Status: Valid Name

Taxonomic Hierarchy:

Subfamily: Formicinae Genus: Camponotus

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Camponotus maculatus subsp. chloroticus Emery, 1897: 574 (w.) NEW GUINEA. AntCat AntWiki

Taxonomic history

Emery, 1914f: 424 (m.).

Combination in Camponotus (Myrmoturba): Emery, 1914f: 424; in Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925d PDF: 94.

Subspecies of Camponotus irritans: Emery, 1920d PDF: 7; Karavaiev, 1933a PDF: 316.

Raised to species, senior synonym of Camponotus chlorogaster, Camponotus sanctaecrucis and material of the unavailable name Camponotus samoaensis referred here: Wilson & Taylor, 1967b PDF: 93.

Biology:

In Fiji: Camponotus chloroticus is a Melanesian member of the C. maculatus group. The C. maculatus group includes a wide diversity of poorly studied forms from the Old World that have been variously referred to as species, subspecies, varieties and races (McArthur & Leys, 2006). It is uncertain which species Mann (1921) refers to, as he listed his original Fiji material as belonging to an unnamed variety of C. maculatus subsp. pallidus F. Smith. Although Mann described the specimens as being, "exceedingly close to, if not identical with var. samoaensis Santschi," he did not formally list them under that name. Wilson and Taylor (1967: 93) placed Santschi's material (samoaensis is an unavailable name because of its infrasubspecific status) under C. chloroticus Emery. Suffice it to say, whatever the true identity of this species, it is widespread across the Pacific and is in need of significant revision. Without a thorough review of the maculatus group across the Pacific, it is difficult to say whether pallidus, chloroticus or another of the myriad available names most appropriately applies to Fijian material.

There is some variation of this species across the archipelago with respect to size and color, but none of the specimens examined match the descriptions of its presumably close Pacific relatives, the darker headed C. navigator Wilson & Taylor or C. variegatus Fr. Smith with its more banded gaster. The species was collected most frequently in the smaller islands and the coastal sections of the larger islands. Colonies were found nesting in dead branches, in live mangroves, and under tree bark.

Taxon Page Author History

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 52 times found in secondary forest, 16 times found in mangrove forest, 10 times found in Pandanus & Casaurina forest, 8 times found in dry forest, 30pm Males & alate females in various cavities/nooks; overcast, about to rain times found in Camponotus nest in coconut palm in Park - ~5, 1 times found in Davis-sifting birds-nest ferns + incidental collections; Solitary queen camponotus chloroticus alone in 1st birdsnest fern (same one as I got the small, dark pheidole from) C. chloroticus nest +males, 1 times found in human settlement, 1 times found in PB & Maple syrup baits, incidental collections, also around ëbenjo' buildings out back., 1 times found in incidental collections on veg. & leaf litter, nr. south end of island. Basalt rock, strand veg; lots of Cocos, 1 times found in Camponotus nest ~ waist height in dead branch of live tree, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 14 times davis-sifting; incidental aspirated, 6 times aspirated, 3 times aspirating, 3 times hand collection, 4 times aspirating; PB & maple syrup bait, 3 times aspirating; PB bait, 1 times davis-sifting; incidental aspirated; PB bait, 2 times hand-collected, 1 times asprirated, 1 times at night at light

Elevations: collected from 1 - 800 meters, 99 meters average