A taxonomic review of Colobopsis minus (Wang & Wu, 1994), comb. nov. from China, with description of all castes (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

By

Ye, Yonghao
Ran, Hao
Gao, Qionghua

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-14

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1260

Pages

75--91

Subjects

Camponotus , Colobopsis , identification key , Morphology , Phylogeny , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1260.166957

 

Abstract

<br> Camponotus<br> and<br> Colobopsis<br> are two species-rich genera within the ant tribe Camponotini. Despite their non-sister phylogenetic relationship, pronounced morphological convergence has long complicated their taxonomic delineation. Here, we clarify the status of<br> Colobopsis minus<br> (Wang &amp; Wu, 1994),<br> comb. nov.<br> , a taxon historically misassigned to<br> Camponotus<br> , through an integrative approach combining COI phylogenetics, caste-specific morphometrics, and pupae type. We provide the first comprehensive description of all castes (minor and major workers, gynes, and males), alongside two taxonomic keys to Chinese<br> Colobopsis<br> species. Critical evidence for reclassification includes: (1) phragmotic major workers with<br> Colobopsis<br> -specific cephalic modifications; (2) naked pupae and (3) molecular phylogenetic analyses of COI barcode sequences, which robustly place<br> C. minus<br> within the<br> Colobopsis<br> clade. This study underscores the necessity of synthesizing phylogenetic data with detailed morphological analysis to disentangle complex taxonomic histories in hyperdiverse ant groups.<br>