Taxonomic history
Mayr, 1887 PDF: 513 (q.m.).Combination in Camponotus (Dinomyrmex): Forel, 1914a PDF: 268.Combination in Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925d PDF: 83.Raised to species: Mayr, 1887 PDF: 513.Senior synonym of Camponotus lespesii melancholicus: Wild, 2007b PDF: 50.Central, Concepción , Paraguarí , (ALWC, MCSN, MHNG). Literature records: Concepción , Cordillera, “Paraguay” (s. loc.) (Emery 1894b, Emery 1896c [as “ melancholicus ”], Forel 1906, Forel 1908b, Forel 1911b).
Camponotus sexguttatus r. lespesii Forel 1886c: 169. [ holotype w examined, MHNG ; Colombia ] .
Camponotus lespesi subsp. melancholicus Emery 1894b: 2. NEW SYNONYMY . [w syntypes examined, MCSN , MHNG ; Colonia Risso , Paraguay ( Borelli )]
Camponotus lespesi Forel . Mayr 1887: 513.
Camponotus (Dinomyrmex) lespesi Forel . Forel 1914a: 268.
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) lespesi Forel . Emery 1925: 83.
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) lespesi subsp. melancholica Emery . Emery 1925: 83.
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) lespesi melancholicus Forel . Kempf 1972: 68.
In my opinion the literature records of C. lespesii and C. lespesii melancholicus from Paraguay pertain to a single species, and the differences in identification stem from alternate taxonomic interpretations on the part of Forel and Emery. All of the material I have examined is rather homogenous and closely matches Emery’s melancholicus types. The distinct appearance of this ant renders it unlikely to be confused with any other species in Paraguay. Camponotus lespesii is large (mesosomal length> 3.5mm in major workers) and more gracile than any other Paraguayan Camponotus of similar size. Additional diagnostic characters include: head of major worker considerably longer than broad; sides of head of major bearing>15 standing setae; antennal scapes lacking standing setae; antennal scapes longer than head length; mesosoma low and elongate, declivitous propodeal face less than 1/3 length of dorsal face; sculpture of head, mesosoma, and gaster opaque.
Forel’s lespesii type, a large minor worker from Colombia, is somewhat lighter in color than the Paraguayan specimens but is otherwise similar. For the purpose of eliminating a trinomen I synonymize C. melancholicus here.
— Je donne ce nom a la variete de grande taille du C. Landolti indiquee dans mes etudes precitees. C'est une [[ worker ]] media, et non pas minor, longue de 12,5 mill., et dont le thorax est demesurement allonge et a peine voute. Longueur des antennes 10,4 mill., des tibias posterieurs 4,5 mill. Tete a peine moins large derriere que devant, longue de 3 mill, et large de 1,8, a cotes un peu convexes, echancree posterieurement. Deux grosses taches roussatres sur chacun des deux premiers segments abdominaux; lisiere posterieure des segments abdominaux jaunatre. Le reste de l'abdomen et la tete d'un brun fonce. Thorax, pattes et funicules ferrugineux. Scapes, tarses et tibias plus fonces. La pubescence est plus abondante et plus longue que chez le C. Landolti i. sp. Le thorax est large au maximum d'a peine un millimetre, l'abdomen d'a peine deux. Ce dernier a plus de 3,5 mill, de long. Du reste entierement mat et comme le C. Landolti i. sp,.
