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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Camponotus Saundersi

Camponotus saundersi is one of the Colobopsis group of Camponotus. The Colobopsis group of Camponotus are mostly arboreal, nesting in tree trunks and branches and occasionally on decomposing tree trunks or fallen branches. This is a trimorphic species with minor, median and major worker castes. The ‘truncated’ appearance of the head is not pronounced in this species and only minimally expressed in the major worker. A related species (possibly a sub species) with a very pronounced ‘truncated’ appearance of the head is commonly found throughout this locale. Camponotus saundersi (Colobopsis group) deploys a self destruction defense (autothysis) where the workers explode when captured by other ants.

The major, median and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi.
The major, median and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi

The major and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi.
The major and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi

The minor worker.
A minor worker of Camponotus saundersi

Major worker of Camponotus saundersi. In this image the slightly "truncated" front of the head is evident.
major worker of Camponotus saundersi

Median worker of Camponotus saundersi.
median worker of Camponotus suandersi

Majors, median and minor of Camponotus saundersi.
Majors, median and minor of Camponotus saundersi

Major worker of Camponotus saundersi.

Major worker of Camponotus saundersi.

Major worker of Camponotus saundersi. In this image the slightly "truncated" front of the head is evident.

Minor worker of Camponotus saundersi.
minor worker of Camponotus saundersi

Major workers of Camponotus saundersi.

The major, median and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi


A cluster of Camponotus saundersi workers feeding. Taken in bright sunlight the true colors of this species is seen here in this image.
cluster of Camponotus saundersi workers feeding

Workers of Camponotus saundersi engaging in trophallaxis. In this shot taken in sunlight the red heads are clearly discernible whereas those taken with the flash from my cheap autofocus camera do not clearly reflect the actual coloration.
Workers of Camponotus saundersi engaging in trophallaxis


A related Species of the colobopsis/tuncatus group that resembles Camponotus saundersi.

Minor worker of a Camponotus species belonging to the truncatus group.

Median workers of a Camponotus species belonging to the truncatus group.
a Camponotus species belong to the truncatus group

Major worker of a Camponotus species belonging to the truncatus group (see also Camponotus bedoti) where the minor worker caste all has very similarly shaped heads. The shape of the majors typically (there are some exceptions) have a flatten front which serves to block the entrances into the nest built inside living tree trunks, branches and branchlets. The downward pointing mandibles of the majors seemed to serve
more for tearing into the trees interior more than any effective weapons against other ants.
Here below is a species that resembles Camponotus saundersi (and possibly a subspecies) the truncated front of the major worker is very pronounced.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Infraorder: Aculeata
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini 72773
Genus: Camponotus 13390
Species: saundersi 450370


Last Updated: 2019 04 05
First Posted: 2012 02 28
© 2009 – 2019 Quah. All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Parrhinotermes

This species of Parrhinotermes measured at 3.5 millitemeters (both soldiers and workers). Both the soldier and worker caste are monomorphic. This species nest in the wood or trees on which they feed similar with some Schedorhinotermes and Coptotermes species.

Nest of Parrhinotermes.
Nest of Parrhinotermes

Nest of Parrhinotermes.
Nest of Parrhinotermes

The soldier of Parrhinotermes sp measuring at 3.5 milliteters.
Soldier of Parrhinotermes sp measuring at 3.5 milliteters


The soldier is only 3.5 millimeters and smaller than the common red Nasuitermes soldier at 4.2 mm. Microtermes soldiers are 4.5 mm. Just a note that the measurement I made is of living specimen. In live specimen many species will have the head and abdomen slightly tilted downwards that contributes to a shorter measurement.
Soldier of Parrhinotermes

The soldier of Parrhinotermes sp with some reproductive nymphs.
soldier of Parrhinotermes sp with some reproductive nymphs

A soldier of Parrhinotermes sp.

A worker of Parrhinotermes sp.
Parrhinotermes termite worker

Workers of Parrhinotermes sp.
Workers of Parrhinotermes sp

Soldier of Parrhinotermes sp.
Soldier of Parrhinotermes sp

A soldier and worker of Parrhinotermes sp.
Soldier and worker of Parrhinotermes termite

A soldier and workers of Parrhinotermes sp.
Soldiers and worker of Parrhinotermes termite

A soldier and workers of Parrhinotermes sp.
Soldier and workers of Parrhinotermes termite

Worker and larva of Parrhinotermes sp.
Worker and larva of Parrhinotermes sp

Queen of Parrhinotermes sp with reproductive larvae, workers and soldier.

Gyne of Parrhinotermes sp with reproductive larvae, workers and soldier.
Gyne of Parrhinotermes sp with reproductive larvae, workers and soldier

Sp2
This second species measuring below 3 millimeters is even smaller and is one of the smallest (from the size of the soldiers) of termites in this location.

Also quite unique in this species (as it is for termites soldiers especially those with disproportionately large heads) is the ability of the soldier to bend its entire head laterally almost 90 degrees to its body. When it comes to head horizontal flexibility, termites generally are more flexible than ants but in terms of vertical flexibility ants win.


Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Dictyoptera
Order; Blattodea
Suborder: Isoptera 7499
Family: Rhinotermitidae 36985
Subfamily: Rhinotermitinae 72652
Genus: Parrhinotermes 62956



Last Updated: 2013 19 17

First Posted: 2012 02 02
© 2011 - 2017 Quah. All rights reserved.