5 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

Anyone know why Camponotus CA-02 (common name: Giant Californian Carpenter ants still has a place-holder name? they’re hugely popular with antkeepers out west … odd they remain “undescribed” I’d think myrmecologists would be pushing & shoving to write a description & give these well-loved ants their binomial. 
I hope it’s a good name— something w/ indigenous history or something cool. Since they are like mini Dinomyrmex gigas maybe Camponotus giglet? Camponotus minimyrmex?


Still from video from impulse ants comparing their size...
it's not a fight video although it makes me nervous when he puts different queens together like this... that said, it's informative to really see them side by side.

Edited by futurebird, February 15 2024 - 7:35 AM.

[BleepingBleepers]

As a CA02 keeper, I got use to it but yeah, wonder why.

 

How long does it usually take for them to get an official name?

 

I'm thinking if they're California ants, I'd go Camponotus Califa or Californicus

 

Kinda steered away from Fornicus cause I googled it and got

Fornicus, Lord of Bondage and Pain

 

Anyhow, half joking aside, I'm getting used to calling them CA02 lol. It's short and I'm really bad with names.

[Artisan_Ants]

The Camponotus CA-02 species was just not so researched about, like that of common species we find (S. molesta, C. pennsylvanicus e.t.c). On AntWeb, only about 3 specimens were found of this species. They are also known as Camponotus US-CA02, CA referring to California. The only way people have really come to know this species is in captivity really.

[ZATrippit]

Someone's asking the question they don't want you to know!

In all seriousness, this is a good question. A similar scenario for me would be Iridomyrmex undescribed, which despite being common in Australia and New Zealand, remains, well, undescribed.

[futurebird]

OK but it's not like keepers are ... breeding ants? All these people with pet colonies came from wild caught queens. They aren't rare exactly. Are they perhaps very nocturnal and thus not observed often... even though they my fly during the day?

There are named species where we only have seen the male. I wish I understood how it worked better.  

[ReignofRage]

To my understanding, Camponotus us-ca02 (no common name) has remained undescribed because it was belived that a journal from Mexico was describing them. However, it never came to fruition. There has been numerous specimens collected of the species, I have no clue to an idea how only three specimens were found on AntWeb when more than that are imaged. It should also be noted that there is multiple morphotaxons on antweb for C. us-ca02 as well and they are as follows: us-ca02, us_ca02, bca02, and semitestaceus_cf. There is plenty enough research done on the species to describe them, which Dr. Phil Ward currently is working on. "Well-loved" is a stretch, since that is strictly a hobbyist love and not a myrmecologist thing. It takes time and effort to procure specimens, examine specimens, described, and distinguish/diagnose them - let alone the cost it takes to do that on top of publishing a paper. It boils down to effort + funding is what holds back species from getting described along with other factors such as disinterest to work on the species. With how costly it is to publish in a reputable journal, it is not worth it to do small papers only describing one or two random ants.

 

Etymology notes:

 

"minimyrmex" is Greek for miniature ant: mini- = miniature/small and -myrmex = ant.

 

"giglet" may also be a poor fit due to it having an English meaning of "giddy woman" or the oxymoronic and demeaning Latin translations of "small giant," "giant unimportance," "diminutive giant," etc.

 

"califa" is a feminine suffix which would be in conflict with the masculine Camponotus. There could also be confusion for the plural form of "caliph," which is a political leader in Muslim world or Spanish for king. It will likely be named in allusion to its endemism to California and Baja California, which would likely be "californicus." 

Edited by ReignofRage, February 15 2024 - 11:49 AM.