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 and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi.
The minor worker.
Major worker of Camponotus saundersi. In this image the slightly "truncated" front of the head is evident.
Median worker 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.
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.
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.
Median workers of a Camponotus species belonging 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.
The major and minor workers of Camponotus saundersi.
The minor worker.
Major worker of Camponotus saundersi. In this image the slightly "truncated" front of the head is evident.
Median worker 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
See also:
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
Tribe: Camponotini 72773
Genus: Camponotus 13390
Species: saundersi 450370
Last Updated: 2019 04 05
First Posted: 2012 02 28
First Posted: 2012 02 28
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