Review of the Camponotus kiesenwetteri group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Aegean with the description of a new species
Author
Salata, Sebastian
Author
Loss, Ana Carolina
Author
Karaman, Celal
Author
Kiran, Kadri
Author
Borowiec, Lech
text
ZooKeys
2019
899
85
107
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.899.46933
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.899.46933
1313-2970-899-85
F7252FAD35364D6682E16284D2327F0F
E9145DE0BA06587181BE8D48DED0EF14
Camponotus aegaeus Emery, 1915
Figs 17
,
18
,
23
,
24
Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) libanicus var. aegaea
Emery, 1915: 4, figs 1, 2 (s.w.q.m.). Syntype workers, queen, Isola Rodi, Greece (Festa) (MSNG) [Syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0905395, photos by Zach Lieberman, available on https://www.AntWeb.org]
Diagnosis.
Head, mesosoma, and gaster uniformly blackish-brown to black; metanotal groove absent; propodeum without posterior protrusion; body densely punctate, appears dull; base of scape without extension; whole body bears long, thick, pale, dense and erect setae, and short appressed microsetae; petiolar scale thin (PI> 1.50).
Distribution.
Greece: North Aegean Islands, South Aegean Islands (Dodecanese), Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace; Turkey: Adana, Afyon, Antalya,
Aydin
,
Balikesir
, Bilecik, Bursa,
Canakkale
, Denizli,
Diyarbakir
,
Elazig
,
Izmir
,
Kirklareli
,
Kuetahya
, Manisa,
Mugla
, Sakarya,
Usak
, and Yalova. The species was also recorded from North Macedonia (
Bracko
et al. 2014
) and Bulgaria (
Lapeva-Gjonova 2010
).
Comments.
Almost completely blackish-brown to black body and regularly arched (in lateral view) mesosoma cluster this species with
Camponotus libanicus
. At first glance both species look extremely similar and the most relevant character distinguishing both taxa is the shape of petiolar scale.
Camponotus aegaeus
has the scale thin (PI> 1.50) with a feebly convex anterior surface, while in
C. libanicus
the scale is thick (PI <1.42) with a strongly convex anterior surface. Both species appear to be vicariant taxa with a more westerly distribution of
C. aegaeus
and more a easterly distribution of
C. libanicus
(
Figs 24
,
32
). Indeed, niche modeling for both species show similar areas with high suitability, especially along the south coast of Turkey and Cyprus. However, unlike
C. libanicus
,
C. aegaeus
has not been recorded from the island. Solar radiation was the variable that contributed the most to the niche model of
C. aegaeus
.