Morphological measurements of individual minor worker specimens of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria

Basic measurements of individual specimens of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria arranged by species code, collection code, and specimen code (unique identification number). See text for abbreviations

Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology

The Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga subgen. rev. from the Malagasy region is revised based on analysis of both qualitative morphological characters and morphometric traits. The multivariate analysis used the Nest Centroid (NC)-clustering method to generate species hypotheses based on 19 continuous morphological traits of minor workers. The proposed species hypotheses were confirmed by cumulative Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). Morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. The present study places the subgenus Myrmopytia syn. nov. in synonymy to Myrmosaga. It recognizes 38 species, of which 19 are newly described: C. aina sp. nov., C. aro sp. nov., C. asara sp. nov., C. atimo sp. nov., C. bemaheva sp. nov., C. bozaka sp. nov., C. daraina sp. nov., C. harenarum sp. nov., C. joany sp. nov., C. karsti sp. nov., C. kelimaso sp. nov., C. lokobe sp. nov., C. mahafaly sp. nov., C. niavo sp. nov., C. rotrae sp. nov., C. sambiranoensis sp. nov., C. tapia sp. nov., C. tendryi sp. nov., C. vano sp. nov. Eleven species are redescribed: C. aurosus Roger, C. cervicalis Roger, C. dufouri Forel, C. gibber Forel, C. hagensii Forel, C. hova Forel, C. hovahovoides Forel, C. immaculatus Forel, C. quadrimaculatus Forel, C. roeseli Forel, C. strangulatus Santschi. The following are raised to species and redescribed: C. becki Santschi stat. nov., C. boivini Forel stat. rev., C. cemeryi Özdikmen stat. rev., C. mixtellus Forel stat. nov., C. radamae Forel stat. nov. Camponotus maculatus st. fairmairei Santschi syn. nov., is synonymized under C. boivini. The following are synonymized under C. cervicalis: Camponotus cervicalis gaullei Santschi, syn. nov.; Camponotus perroti Forel, syn. nov.; Camponotus perroti aeschylus Forel, syn. nov.; Camponotus gerberti Donisthorpe, syn. nov. Camponotus dufouri imerinensis Forel, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. dufouri, Camponotus hova var. obscuratus Emery, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. hova, Camponotus quadrimaculatus opacata Emery, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. immaculatus, Camponotus maculatus st. legionarium Santschi, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. roeseli, Camponotus hova maculatoides Emery, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. strangulatus. The following are synonymized under C. quadrimaculatus: Camponotus kelleri Forel, syn. nov., Camponotus kelleri var. invalidus Forel, syn. nov., Camponotus quadrimaculatus sellaris Emery, syn. nov. As C. imitator Forel, C. liandia Rakotonirina & Fisher, and C. lubbocki Forel have been recently described and redescribed, only diagnoses and taxonomic discussions are provided. This revision also includes an illustrated species identification key, taxonomic discussions, images, and distribution maps for each species superimposed on the ecoregions of Madagascar

<strong>Erratum: JEAN CLAUDE RAKOTONIRINA &amp; BRIAN L. FISHER (2013) Revision of the <em>Pachycondyla wasmannii</em>- group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Malagasy region. <em>Zootaxa</em>, 3609 (2), 101–141.</strong>

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude, Fisher, Brian L. (2013): JEAN CLAUDE RAKOTONIRINA &amp; BRIAN L. FISHER (2013) Revision of the Pachycondyla was- mannii-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Malagasy region. Zootaxa, 3609 (2), 101-141. Zootaxa 3609 (3): 360-360, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3609.3.1

Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology

The Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga subgen. rev. from the Malagasy region is revised based on analysis of both qualitative morphological characters and morphometric traits. The multivariate analysis used the Nest Centroid (NC)-clustering method to generate species hypotheses based on 19 continuous morphological traits of minor workers. The proposed species hypotheses were confirmed by cumulative Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). Morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. The present study places the subgenus Myrmopytia syn. nov. in synonymy to Myrmosaga. It recognizes 38 species, of which 19 are newly described: C. aina sp. nov., C. aro sp. nov., C. asara sp. nov., C. atimo sp. nov., C. bemaheva sp. nov., C. bozaka sp. nov., C. daraina sp. nov., C. harenarum sp. nov., C. joany sp. nov., C. karsti sp. nov., C. kelimaso sp. nov., C. lokobe sp. nov., C. mahafaly sp. nov., C. niavo sp. nov., C. rotrae sp. nov., C. sambiranoensis sp. nov., C. tapia sp. nov., C. tendryi sp. nov., C. vano sp. nov. Eleven species are redescribed: C. aurosus Roger, C. cervicalis Roger, C. dufouri Forel, C. gibber Forel, C. hagensii Forel, C. hova Forel, C. hovahovoides Forel, C. immaculatus Forel, C. quadrimaculatus Forel, C. roeseli Forel, C. strangulatus Santschi. The following are raised to species and redescribed: C. becki Santschi stat. nov., C. boivini Forel stat. rev., C. cemeryi Özdikmen stat. rev., C. mixtellus Forel stat. nov., C. radamae Forel stat. nov. Camponotus maculatus st. fairmairei Santschi syn. nov., is synonymized under C. boivini. The following are synonymized under C. cervicalis: Camponotus cervicalis gaullei Santschi, syn. nov.; Camponotus perroti Forel, syn. nov.; Camponotus perroti aeschylus Forel, syn. nov.; Camponotus gerberti Donisthorpe, syn. nov. Camponotus dufouri imerinensis Forel, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. dufouri, Camponotus hova var. obscuratus Emery, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. hova, Camponotus quadrimaculatus opacata Emery, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. immaculatus, Camponotus maculatus st. legionarium Santschi, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. roeseli, Camponotus hova maculatoides Emery, syn. nov. is a synonym of C. strangulatus. The following are synonymized under C. quadrimaculatus: Camponotus kelleri Forel, syn. nov., Camponotus kelleri var. invalidus Forel, syn. nov., Camponotus quadrimaculatus sellaris Emery, syn. nov. As C. imitator Forel, C. liandia Rakotonirina & Fisher, and C. lubbocki Forel have been recently described and redescribed, only diagnoses and taxonomic discussions are provided. This revision also includes an illustrated species identification key, taxonomic discussions, images, and distribution maps for each species superimposed on the ecoregions of Madagascar

Data from: Taxonomic revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology

The Camponotus subgenus Mayria is revised based on the analysis of both qualitative morphological characters and morphometric traits. The multivariate analysis combined the Nest Centroid (NC)-clustering method and Partitioning Algorithm based on Recursive Thresholding (PART) function to generate species hypotheses based on 19 continuous morphological traits of minor workers. The proposed species hypotheses were confirmed by cumulative Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). Morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. In this study, 14 species are recognized, of which seven are newly described: C. lamosy sp. n., C. liandia sp. n., C. mainty sp. n., C. manabo sp. n., C. raina sp. n., C. sada sp. n., C. tanosy sp. n. Four species are redescribed: C. christi Forel, C. dromedarius Forel, C. lubbocki Forel, and C. repens Forel. The following are raised to species and redescribed: C. foersteri Forel stat. n., C. maculiventris Emery stat. n., and C. pulcher stat. n. The following are synonymized under C. foersteri: Camponotus cambouei Forel, syn. n.; C. christi ambustus Forel, syn. n.; C. christi ferrugineus Emery, syn. n. and C. pictipes Forel, syn. n. The following are synonymized under C. lubbocki: Camponotus lubbocki christoides Forel, syn. n. and C. lubbocki rectus Forel, syn. n. Also included in this revision are an illustrated species identification key, taxonomic discussions, images, and distribution maps for each species superimposed with the ecoregions of Madagascar

Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae): integrating qualitative morphology and multivariate morphometric analysis

The Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group is revised based on both qualitative morphological traits and multivariate analysis of continuous morphometric data. To minimize the effect of the scaling properties of diverse traits due to worker caste polymorphism, and to achieve the desired near-linearity of data, morphometric analyses were done only on minor workers. The majority of traits exhibit broken scaling on head size, dividing Camponotus workers into two discrete subcastes, minors and majors. This broken scaling prevents the application of algorithms that uses linear combination of data to the entire dataset, hence only minor workers were analyzed statistically. The elimination of major workers resulted in linearity and the data meet required assumptions. However, morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. Prior species hypotheses and the goodness of clusters were tested on raw data by confirmatory linear discriminant analysis. Due to the small sample size available for some species, a factor known to reduce statistical reliability, hypotheses generated by exploratory analyses were tested with extreme care and species delimitations were inferred via the combined evidence of both qualitative (morphology and biology) and quantitative data. Altogether, fifteen species are recognized, of which 11 are new to science: C. alamaina sp. n., C. androy sp. n., C. bevohitra sp. n., C. galoko sp. n., C. matsilo sp. n., C. mifaka sp. n., C. orombe sp. n., C. tafo sp. n., C. tratra sp. n., C. varatra sp. n., and C. zavo sp. n. Four species are redescribed: C. echinoploides Forel, C. edmondi André, C. ethicus Forel, and C. robustus Roger. Camponotus edmondi ernesti Forel, syn. n. is synonymized under C. edmondi. This revision also includes an identification key to species for both minor and major castes, information on geographic distribution and biology, taxonomic discussions, and descriptions of intraspecific variation. Traditional taxonomy and multivariate morphometric analysis are independent sources of information which, in combination, allow more precise species delimitation. Moreover, quantitative characters included in identification keys improve accuracy of determination in difficult cases

Data from: Taxonomic revision of the Malagasy Camponotus grandidieri and niveosetosus species groups (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology

The Camponotus grandidieri species group and Camponotus niveosetosus species group of the Malagasy region are revised. Species delimitation was inferred from the evidence of both qualitative morphological analysis and multivariate morphometry. The multivariate method combined the Nest Centroid (NC)-clustering method and Partitioning Algorithm based on Recursive Thresholding (PART) function to generate hypotheses about species boundaries (clusters) based on 19 continuous morphological traits of minor workers. The proposed species hypotheses were tested by cumulative cross-validated Linear Discriminant Analysis (LOOCV-LDA) and Principal Component Analysis in a shape space (shape PCA). Morphometric ratios for the subsets of minor and major workers were used in species descriptions and redefinitions. Here, eight species are recognized, of which three are newly described and five are redescribed. Four species belong to the Camponotus grandidieri species group: auropubens Forel, efitra n. sp., grandidieri Forel, and maintikibo n. sp.; and four species belong to the Camponotus niveosetosus species group: descarpentriesi Santschi, madagascarensis Forel stat. rev., mita n. sp., and voeltzkowii Forel. Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis Forel and C. olivieri freyeri Santschi are synonymized under C. auropubens. Camponotus grandidieri atrabilis Santschi and C. grandidieri comorensis Santschi are synonymized under C. grandidieri. Illustrated species identification keys for both minor and major castes, taxonomic discussions, images, and distribution maps for each species superimposed on the ecoregions of Madagascar are also provided

Malagasy Camponotus grandidieri and niveosetosus species groups measurements

Basic measurements of individual specimens of the Malagasy Camponotus grandidieri and niveosetosus species groups arranged by species code, collection code, and specimen code (unique identification number). See text for abbreviation

Study of plant-aphid-ant interactions in Tananarive

Les pucerons se sont fait une place parmi les grands ravageurs de cultures de par le grand nombre de plantes qu’ils touchent ainsi qu'en affaiblissant ces dernières et en leur transmettant de nombreux pathogènes. Certaines espèces de pucerons bénéficient de la protection des fourmis qui chassent leurs prédateurs en échange de leur miellat. Mieux connaître les interactions qui régissent la relation entre les pucerons et les fourmis pourrait permettre de mettre en place des moyens de luttes plus efficaces contre ces hémiptères afin de réduire les pertes agricoles. Nous avons cherché à mieux définir les relations entre pucerons et fourmis dans les environs de Tananarive où le sujet reste encore à ce jour peu étudié

Remaining forests on the Central Highlands of Madagascar—Endemic and endangered aquatic beetle fauna uncovered

Madagascar is known for its high endemism and as many as 90% of this unique diversity are forest-dwellers. Unfortunately, the forest cover of Madagascar is decreasing at an alarming rate. This decrease can also affect aquatic insects, but our knowledge on aquatic insect diversity and distribution on Madagascar are limited. Although the eastern rainforests are considered the most diverse, the Central Highlands of Madagascar also harbors unique microendemic fauna but has been less studied. Here, we analyze the aquatic Adephaga beetle fauna of three remaining protected forests of the Central Highlands. Diversity, abundance, and uniqueness are compared between and within natural forests and surrounding grasslands. At least 15 undescribed species were found, highlighting the Central Highlands as an important area for endemism. The natural forests and the surrounding grasslands differed significantly in species assemblages. Interestingly, the three remaining forests differed in their assemblages with the geographically more distant Manjakatompo Ankaratra having the most unique fauna but also the highest altitude span. By contrast, the species composition was similar between the peripheral zones of each of the three remaining forests. The similarity of the fauna in the peripheral open habitats illustrates how some local forest endemics are replaced with widespread generalists in degraded habitats. Our study shows that the remaining forests of the Central Highlands of Madagascar are important refuges of unique fauna at high risk of extinction