A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Author
Wild, Alexander L.
text
Zootaxa
2007
1622
1
55
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.179222
9584df9a-a4a2-49bb-a256-cb99776f4dc8
1175-5326
179222
Camponotus crispulus
Santschi 1922
b.
NEW STATUS.
Camponotus
(
Myrmaphaenus
)
blandus
var.
crispula
Santschi 1922b: 110
. [w
syntypes
examined, NHMB; Cabana, Córdoba,
Argentina
(Scott)
].
Camponotus
(
Myrmaphaenus
)
blandus
st.
crispulus
Santschi 1929b: 315
.
Camponotus
(
Myrmaphaenus
)
blandus
var.
crispulus
Santschi. Kempf 1972: 44
.
Camponotus crispulus
is locally sympatric in
Paraguay
with at least two other species in the
C. blandus
complex, most frequently the similarly-colored
C. rosariensis
. Both species share a similarly dense pubsence over most of the body and a common bicoloration consisting of a red head and mesosoma and a dark gaster. However,
C. crispulus
is structurally more compact, with shorter appendages and a relatively tall propodeum. In my experience, the easiest character to separate
C. crispulus
from other bicolored
blandus-
complex species is the unique pattern of pubescense on the gaster. While all species in the complex show some degree of medial convergence in the appressed setae on the gastric terga, in
C.
crispulus
this convergence is extreme, starting on the first gastric tergite (= abd. tergite 3) well ahead of the posterior margin and continuing to the apex of the gaster almost as a visible line. Because of the distinct morphological separation in sympatry between
C. crispulus
and other closely-related forms, I find unambiguous the elevation of
C. crispulus
to species.
Material from
Paraguay
is a close match to Santschi’s
types
from Córdoba, although Santschi’s material is somewhat more pubescent. F. Smith’s
C. blandus
holotype
worker (BMNH, examined- see discussion under
C. pellitus
) from Pará is clearly a different species, as that ant is more
gracile
than
C. crispulus
and lacks the distinct pubescence.