Camponotus cinctellus explained

Camponotus cinctellus, commonly known as the shiny sugar ant, is a species of sugar ant^[1] with an extensive range in the eastern Afrotropics.

Description

The somewhat shimmering, golden-hued pubescence of the gaster is characteristic of all the worker castes.^[2] On the gaster, erect bristles are limited to the posterior segments. The reddish leg colour distinguishes it from the similar but smaller C. sericeus.

Range

It is native to eastern Africa from Eritrea to Kenya, Rwanda, the DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa, as far south as coastal Transkei.^[3]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:^[4]

• C. c. cinctellus – type locality in Mozambique
• C. c. belliceps Santschi, 1939 – type locality in the DRC

Notes and References

1. ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Orrell T. (custodian), 2011-04-26
2. Web site: Slingsby. Peter. FORMICINAE: the Sugar or Pugnacious ants . Ant Catalogue: Southern Africa . 19 April 2016.
3. Web site: Camponotus cinctellus . Antweb . 11 June 2015.
4. Web site: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist. . Bisby F.A. . Roskov Y.R. . Orrell T.M. . Nicolson D. . Paglinawan L.E. . Bailly N. . Kirk P.M. . Bourgoin T. . Baillargeon G. . Ouvrard D. (red.) . 2011 . Species 2000: Reading, UK. . 24 September 2012.