First record of Camponotus textor Forel, 1899 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Ecuador

Abstract

We present the first records of Camponotus textor Forel, 1899 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Ecuador, representing the first records from west of the Andes. We explore the use of participatory science data from iNaturalist and scientific collections to understand the distribution of C. textor. While iNaturalist data alone cannot confirm the presence of C. textor due to the need for precise morphometric data, it can be a valuable tool for assessing the species’ potential distribution. This study increases Ecuador’s known ant species to 826 and Camponotus species to at least 61. Challenges in distinguishing C. textor and C. senex prevent us from determining C. textor’s native status and highlight the need for further research on Camponotus in Ecuador.