Camponotus kiesenwetteri

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Camponotus kiesenwetteri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Subgenus: Myrmentoma
Species group: kiesenwetteri
Species: C. kiesenwetteri
Binomial name
Camponotus kiesenwetteri
(Roger, 1859)

Camponotus kiesenwetteri casent0179872 p 1 high.jpg

Camponotus kiesenwetteri casent0179872 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

This species inhabits dry grassy areas and thin forests, building nests in soil, often under rocks (Radchenko 1997), and in rock crevices on limestone walls exposed to sun. Foraging workers intensively penetrate trunks of pine trees, shrubs and inflorescences of large herbs. It is strongly associated with pine forests, and a single nest was located under a stone inside a Pinus pinea forest in Strofilias National Park, Greece. (Borowiec & Salata 2021, Borowiec and Salata 2022)

Identification

Salata et al. (2019) - A member of the Camponotus kiesenwetteri species group. Head, mesosoma, and gaster uniformly black; metanotal groove present, shallow; propodeum with distinct dentate protrusions; body densely punctate, appears dull; base of scape with extension; whole body bears long, thick, pale, dense and erect setae, and short appressed microsetae; petiolar scale thick.

The species can be easily separated by the following combination of characters: strongly sculptured body, mesosoma with metanotal groove and posterior margin of propodeum with distinct dentate protrusions, and antennal scape with distinct basal extension. Camponotus nitidescens and Camponotus schulzi both differ in having a partly shiny body, and Camponotus boghossiani differs in having a propodeum without apical protrusions and an antennal scape without basal extension.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Salata et al. (2019) - Greece: Attica, North Aegean Islands, South Aegean Islands (Cyclades, Dodecanese), Central Greece, Crete (Chania, Heraklion, Lasithi, Rethymno), Ionian Islands, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Peloponnese; Cyprus; Turkey: Balıkesir, İzmir and Muğla.

This is a common species, so far not recorded only from Epirus and Thessaly (Borowiec et al., 2022).

The species was recorded from most of Greek provinces except Epirus and Thessaly.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 40.8725° to 27.84436°.

   
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Greece (type locality), Iran, Türkiye.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Habitat

Borowiec and Salata (2022), for Greece - Thermophilous species mainly associated with pine trees but regularly collected in several other mediterranean habitats: shady and sunny valleys in mixed forests, suburban areas with maquis or frygana, pastures with shrubs, fir forests, in mountain plateau on trunks of coniferous trees, fryganas, rocky coastline, seashore with frygana and pine trees, limestones gorges with deciduous trees and shrubs, on shrubs in deciduous gallery forests, limestones quarry, shrubs growing along olive plantation and hotel gardens in tourist resorts. In northern and central Greece, most localities were placed at an altitude below 700 m, in southern Greece, especially on Crete, several localities come from altitude above 800 m, the highest location was from Lefka Ori Mts., Crete from an altitude of 1800 m.

Biology

See the Camponotus kiesenwetteri species group page for information about the biology of C. kiesenwetteri.

Castes

Worker

  • Borowiec and Salata 2022. Figures 42.5-6, minor, major. Photographed by Lech Borowiec.
  • Salata et al. 2019. Figure 13-14. Camponotus kiesenwetteri major (13) and minor (14).

Queen

  • Borowiec and Salata 2022. Figure 42.9, queen. Photographed by Lech Borowiec.
  • Borowiec and Salata 2022. Figures 42.7-8, queen. Photographed by Lech Borowiec.

Male

Borowiec and Salata 2022. Figure 42.10, male. Photographed by Lech Borowiec.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • kiesenwetteri. Formica (Hypoclinea) kiesenwetteri Roger, 1859: 241 (w.m.) GREECE (Zakynthos).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • [Note: the male cited in the original description was excluded by Mayr, 1861: 36 (in key).]
    • Type-localities: Greece: Zante I. (= Zakynthos I.) (von Kiesenwetter), Greece: (no further data) (Kruper).
    • Type-depository: MNHU.
    • [Misspelled as kiesenvetteri by André, 1874: 178 (in key), as kiensenwetteri by Menozzi, 1936d: 304.]
    • Forel, 1886e: clxi (q.m.).
    • Combination in Camponotus: Mayr, 1861: 36 (in key);
    • combination in C. (Orthonotomyrmex): Forel, 1914a: 273; Santschi, 1921f: 310;
    • combination in C. (Myrmentoma): Forel, 1912i: 92; Emery, 1925b: 121.
    • Status as species: Mayr, 1861: 36 (in key); Roger, 1861b: 164; Mayr, 1863: 399; Roger, 1863b: 1; André, 1874: 178 (in key); Emery & Forel, 1879: 449; Forel, 1879a: 94; André, 1882a: 150 (in key); Forel, 1886e: clx; Forel, 1889: 260; Dalla Torre, 1893: 237; Emery, 1894j: 10; Emery, 1896d: 376 (in list); Forel, 1910a: 23; Forel, 1911d: 355; Emery, 1915h: 2; Emery, 1925b: 121; Menozzi, 1936d: 304; Hamann & Klemm, 1976: 677; Aktaç, 1977: 126; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 58; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 283 (in key); Collingwood, 1993b: 195; Bolton, 1995b: 106; Radchenko, 1996b: 1197 (in key); Radchenko, 1997b: 705; Petrov, 2006: 108 (in key); Legakis, 2011: 31; Karaman, C. et al. 2011: 189; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2012: 477; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 7; Karaman, C. & Aktaç, 2013: 50 (in key); Borowiec, L. 2014: 35 (see note in bibliography); Lebas, et al. 2016: 136; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2018: 4; Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 43; Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 92; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2022: 91.
    • Senior synonym of cypria: Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 92.
    • Distribution: Cyprus, Greece, Turkey.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Borowiec and Salata (2022) - Moderately large, polymorphic; minor worker: HL: 1.167-1.269 (mean 1.220); HW: 0.949-1.079 (mean 1.012); SL: 1.135-1.190 (mean 1.163); EL: 0.286-0.309 (mean 0.315); ML: 1.73-1.92; MW: 0.89-0.986. Color. Body black, only anterior margin of pronotum and apical half of mandibles yellowish to reddish brown and posterior margins of gastral tergites whitish yellow; antennae from yellow to dark brown, base and apex of scapus usually paler than rest of surface, yellowish to reddish brown, in extreme case scapus almost completely black and funiculus dark brown; coxa, femora and tibiae brown to almost black, trochanters and extreme apex of femora and tibiae often partly yellowish, tarsi from yellow to dark brown, basitarsus often darker than subsequent tarsomeres. Head. Stout, 1.2 times longer than wide, in front of eyes softly converging anterad, behind eyes regularly rounded, posterior margin slightly convex. Clypeus trapezoidal, with anterior margin slightly convex and slightly crenulate, without median emargination, posterior margin in the middle emarginate by frontal triangle, whole surface distinctly microreticulated, surface opalescent dull, covered with sparse and short, hardly visible appressed hairs, anterior margin with a row of 4-6 very long setae and between long setae often with few very short setae, whole Clypeus with several moderately long and long erected setae. Head distinctly microreticulate, surface opalescent dull, frons sometimes with impunctate line, whole surface, including gena and sides of head with sparse and short, hardly visible appressed hairs and long erected setae including occipital area, ventral side of head with 6-10 moderately long to long standing setae. Scape moderately long, 1.1-1.2 times as long as width of head, at apex twice wider than in base, its surface diffusely to distinctly microreticulate, shiny, with short and sparse appressed pubescence, without decumbent hairs or erected setae; base of scapus with indistinctly marked horizontal extension. Funicular segments elongate, thin, first segment 2.8 times as long as wide and 2.6 times as long as second segment, third segment distinctly longer than second, the rest of funicular segments distinctly longer than broad. Eyes moderately big, almost round, 0.243 length of head. Mandibles stout, microreticulate and elongate punctate, surface shiny. Mesosoma. Moderately elongate, 1.8-2.0 times as long as wide, dorsally and laterally with strong microsculpture. In lateral view dorsum with distinct mesonotal groove, propodeum saddle-shaped with flat dorsum and deeply emarginate posterior margin, posterior face distinctly excavate with well-marked, distinctly protruding posterad dorsal angles thus in dorsal view posterior angles appear as blunt teeth. Surface of mesosoma with short and scarce depressed to decumbent hairs, whole dorsum with numerous moderately long to long erected setae, the longest with length to 0.270. Waist and gaster. Petiolar scale thick, broad in anterior view, PI < 1.60, with very convex anterior and flat posterior face, apex rounded; anterior and posterior surface microreticulate, sculpture tends to form transverse striation, without pubescence, apical crest with 8-12 very long standing setae. Gaster shorter than mesosoma, tergites with strong microreticulation, surface opalescent dull, covered with moderately long but scarce appressed to decumbent hairs; each tergite with numerous, very long erected setae. Legs. Moderately elongate, hind femora shorter than mesosoma, surface of legs covered with short and sparse appressed hairs, inner margin of hind tibiae with row of 2-5 thorns. Ventral surface of fore femora with 5-10 long erected setae.

Major worker: Large, HL: 1.840-2.093 (mean 1.988); HW: 1.686-1.980 (mean 1.866); SL: 1.413-1.537 (mean 1.466); EL: 0.394-0.405 (mean 0.399); ML: 2.38-2.60; MW: 1.28- 1.43. Body color and sculpture as in minor workers but antennae and legs usually darker , dark brown to black and apex of tibiae brown, and tarsi as dark colored as tibiae. Head stouter, approximately as long as wide, sides of head softly convex, posterior margin often straight. Clypeus in the middle often with indistinctly marked emargination. Scapus shorter, 0.8 times as long as width of head. Eyes relatively smaller, 0.2 times as long of head. Setation on head and whole dorsum more numerous than in minor workers, petiolar crest with 12-16 very long setae. Ventral posterior surface of fore femora with 10-18 long erected setae.

Type Material

Salata et al. (2019) - Syntype workers, Greece (Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität) [Syntype workers of Formica (Hypoclinea) kiesenwetteri, FOCOL2486 and FOCOL2487.

Taxonomic Notes

Seifert (2019): This taxon has been described from Greece. The type specimen depicted in antweb.org under FOCOL2486 shows a much stronger, more reticulate-foveolate sculpture and much denser pubescence on all body surfaces than observed in any member of the C. lateralis group. This results in a matte surface appearance at smaller magnifications. Yet, C. kiesenwetteri is certainly related to this group considering several body shape characters.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Agosti, D. and C.A. Collingwood. 1987. A provisional list of the Balkan ants (Hym. Formicidae) and a key to the worker caste. I. Synonymic list. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 60: 51-62
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2012. Ants of Greece - Checklist, comments and new faunistic data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus 23(4): 461-563.
  • Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2017. Ants of the Peloponnese, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Polish Journal of Entomology 86: 193-236.
  • Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2018. Notes on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Samos Island, Greece. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-13.
  • Bracko G., K. Kiran, C. Karaman, S. Salata, and L. Borowiec. 2016. Survey of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Greek Thrace. Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7945. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e7945
  • Collingwood, C. A. 1993. A Comparitive Study of the Ant Fauna of Five Greek Islands. Biologia Gallo-hellenica. 20,1:191-197
  • Collingwood, C. A.. "A comparative study of the ant fauna of five Greek islands." Biologia Gallo-Hellenica 20 (1993): 191-197.
  • Czechowski W., A. Radchenko, W. Czechowska and K. Vepsäläinen. 2012. The ants of Poland with reference to the myrmecofauna of Europe. Fauna Poloniae 4. Warsaw: Natura Optima Dux Foundation, 1-496 pp
  • Emery C. 1920. Studi sui Camponotus. Bullettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 52: 3-48.
  • Emery, C.. "Alcune formiche dell'isola di Creta." Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. Resoc. Adun. 26 (1894): 7-10.
  • Emery, C.. "Escursioni zoologiche del Dr. Enrico Festa nell'Isola di Rodi. XII. Formiche." Bollettino del Museo di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparatadella Reale Università di Torino 30 (1915): 1-7.
  • Emery, C.. "Spicilegio mirmecologico." Bollettino della Societa Entomologica Italiana 33 (1901): 57-63.
  • Forel A. 1911. Fourmis nouvelles ou intéressantes. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 47: 331-400.
  • Forel, A.. "Ameisen aus den Sporaden, den Cykladen und Griechenland, gesammelt 1887 von Herrn von Oertzen." Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift 32 (1889): 255-265.
  • Forel, A.. "Nouvelles fourmis de Grèce récoltées par M. E. von Oertzen." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 30 (1886): clix-clxviii.
  • Hamann H. H. F., and W. Klemm. 1976. Ergebnisse der von Dr. O. Paget und Dr. E. Kritscher auf Rhodos durchgeführten zoologischen Exkursionen. XVI. Formicidae. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 80: 669-679.
  • Karaman C., N. Aktac, and K. Kiran. 2009. Ants of the genus CamponotusMayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Kaz Mountains, Turkey, with descriptions of sexuals of Camponotus candiotes Emery, 1894 and Camponotus ionius Emery, 1920. Tubitak 35(2): 183-197.
  • Legakis A. 1983. Aspects of the distribution of ants in an insular mediterranean ecosystem (Cyclades Is., Greece) Rapports et Procès-Verbaux des Réunions de la Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée. Monaco 28: 121-122.
  • Legakis A. 1983. The Zoological Museum of the University of Athens 2. The collection of ants from Greece. Biologia Gallo-Hellenica 11(1): 85-87.
  • Legakis A. 1989. Aspects of the distribution of ants in an insular mediterranean ecosystem (Cyclades Isl., Greece). Rev. Ecol. Biol. Sol. 26 (3): 363-369.
  • Legakis Collection Database
  • Radchenko A. G. 1997. A review of ants of the subgenus Myrmentoma, Genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), from Asian Palaearctic. Entomological Review 77(8): 1050-1059.
  • Salata S., A. C. Loss, C. Karaman, K. Kiran, and L. Borowiec. 2019. Review of the Camponotus kiesenwetteri group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Aegean with the description of a new species. ZooKeys 899: 85-107.
  • Salata S., L. Borowiec, and A.Trichas. 2018. Taxonomic Revision of the Cretan Fauna of the Genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with Notes on the Endemism of Ant Fauna of Crete. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 68(4): 769-808.
  • Salata S., and L Borowiec. 2017. Species of Tetramorium semilaeve complex from Balkans and western Turkey, with description of two new species of (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 62:279–313.
  • Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. A new species of the ant genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804 from Crete (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 789: 139–159.
  • Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. Taxonomic and faunistic notes on Greek ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-51.
  • Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2019. Preliminary division of not socially parasitic Greek Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a description of three new species. ZooKeys 877: 81-131.
  • Seifert B. 2019. A taxonomic revision of the members of the Camponotus lateralis species group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Europe, Asia Minor and Caucasia. Soil Organisms 91:7–32.
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