Camponotus niveosetosus

Camponotus niveosetosus, commonly known as the hairy sugar ant, is one of the smaller species of sugar ant. It is native to an extensive region in the eastern Afrotropics.

Hairy sugar ant
Visiting a Watsonia flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Formicidae
Genus:
Camponotus
Species:
C. niveosetosus
Binomial name
Camponotus niveosetosus
Mayr, 1862

Description

They are dark grey to black in colour, with tellingly, copious stiff, almost snow-white hairs on the thorax and gaster.[1] The antennae and tarsi are ferruginous, and the mandibles dark castaneous red.[2] In addition to the thick and blunt white pilosity it is covered with a more yellowish, short and fine, decumbent pubescence.[2]

Range and habitat

They are found from Kenya to South Africa in a variety of habitats.[3][4] Only arid regions seem to be avoided. They are found in gardens, fynbos, grassland, savanna and various types of woodland, from the intertidal zone[5] at sea level to middle altitudes.[4]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:[4]

  • Camponotus niveosetosus niveosetosus – continental Africa, type from South Africa
  • Camponotus niveosetosus irredux Forel, 1910 – continental Africa, type from South Africa
  • Camponotus niveosetosus madagascarensis Forel, 1886 – Madagascar

References
  1. Slingsby, Peter. "Camponotus species: Sugar ants". Ants of the Western Cape. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. Arnold, G. (1922). "A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part V. Myrmicinae". Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 579–674 (cf. p. 659).
  3. "Camponotus niveosetosus". AntWiki. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  4. "Species: Camponotus niveosetosus Mayr, 1862". AntWeb v5.38.1. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  5. Slingsby, Peter. "Ants in the littoral (observation)". ispot. Retrieved 8 October 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.