Key to Camponotus species of the subgenus Tanaemyrmex of Greece

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This key to workers is from Borowiec and Salata 2022. Each terminal couplet is followed by comparative remarks that are specific to the Greek ant fauna.

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1

  • Dorsal surface of antennal scape and hind tibia with subdecumbent to suberect pubescence . . . . . #2
  • Dorsal surface of antennal scape and hind tibia with completely appressed pubescence . . . . . #4

2

return to couplet #1

Camponotus ionius with C. laconicus and C. samius forms a distinct complex of large species with dorsal surface of scape and posterior margin of hind tibia with subdecumbent to suberect hairs (other large species of the subgenus Tanaemyrmex have scapus ant hind tibiae with only appressed to slightly decumbent pubescence). Camponotus ionius differs from both relatives in gena and sides of head lacking erected setae while C. laconicus and C. samius have gena and sides of head distinctly setose. Camponotus samius differs also in minor workers with completely yellow to rusty yellow mesosoma, major workers with partly reddish mesosoma and all workers with partly to completely yellowish to reddish first gastral tergite.

3

return to couplet #2

  • Base of gaster distinctly paler than the rest of gastral tergites, mesosoma partly yellowishred to red, occasionally uniformly brown . . . . . Camponotus samius

Camponotus samius together with C. ionius and C. laconicus form a distinct complex of large species with dorsal surface of scape and posterior margin of hind tibia with subdecumbent to suberect hairs while other large species of the subgenus Tanaemyrmex have only appressed to slightly decumbent pubescence of scapus and hind tibiae. Camponotus ionius differs in gena and sides of head lacking erected setae while C. laconicus has gena and sides of head distinctly setose. Camponotus laconicus differs in body predominantly brown to black with at most anterior face of first gastral tergite with brownish spot while C. samius has minor workers with completely yellow to rusty yellow mesosoma, major workers with partly reddish mesosoma and all workers with partly to completely yellowish to reddish first gastral tergite.

  • Gaster uniformly black, sometimes minor workers with the base of gaster indistinctly brighter, mesosoma in both minor and major workers uniformly brown to black . . . . . Camponotus laconicus

Camponotus laconicus together with C. ionius and C. samius form a distinct complex of large species with dorsal surface of scape and posterior margin of hind tibia with subdecumbent to suberect hairs (while remaining large species of the subgenus Tanaemyrmex have scapus ant hind tibiae with only appressed to slightly decumbent pubescence). Camponotus ionius differs in gena and sides of head lacking erected setae while C. laconicus has gena and sides of head distinctly setose. Camponotus samius differs in minor workers with completely yellow to rusty yellow mesosoma, major workers with partly reddish mesosoma and all workers with partly to completely yellowish to reddish first gastral tergite while C. laconicus has body predominantly brown to black with at most anterior face of first gastral tergite slightly brownish.

4

return to couplet #1

5

return to couplet #4

  • Ventral margin of hind tibia with a row of thorns . . . . . #6
  • Ventral margin of hind tibia except apical spine without a row of thorns . . . . . Camponotus jaliensis

Camponotus jaliensis belongs to the complex of large species with setose gena, antennal scapi with pubescence and posterior tibiae lacking suberect hairs. This complex comprises also C. aethiops, C. oertzeni and C. sannini. Camponotus jaliensis differs from all three relatives in inner margin of hind tibiae lacking row of spines or thorns while other species have at least at least 2-3 thorns in apical part of inner margin of tibia. Camponotus jaliensis is the most diverse species in terms of body coloration and its speciemns can be completely yellow to almost completely dark (such variety in coloration is observed in samples across the whole distribution range of this species). While in C. aethiops, C. oertzeni and C. sannini predominate brown specimens and their yellow forms, if present, are usually restricted geographically.

6

return to couplet #5

  • Microsculpture of body stronger, whole head and sides of mesosoma appears distinctly sculptured . . . . . #7
  • Microsculpture of body more superficial, especially postocular area and occipitum of head with diffused microsculpture and sides of mesosoma appears strongly shiny . . . . . Camponotus sannini

Camponotus sannini belongs to the complex of large species with setose gena, pubescence of antennal scapi and posterior tibiae lacking suberect hairs. This complex comprises also C. aethiops, C. jaliensis and C. oertzeni. Camponotus jaliensis differs in inner margin of hind tibiae lacking row of spines or thorns while C. sannini have at least 2-3 horns in apical part of inner margin of tibia. Camponotus sannini differs from two other relatives in more superficial microsculpture of body. Its head, in both major and minor workers, laterally and in occipital area has diffused microreticulation and strongly shiny background. While in C. aethiops and C. oertzeni especially head is strongly microreticulate with partly dull background.

7

return to couplet #6

  • The transverse row of short setae on posterior margin of gaster tergites short, not reaching posterior margin of the tergite, usually reaching to 1/2 - 2/3 of length of the margin . . . . . Camponotus oertzeni

Camponotus oertzeni belongs to the complex of large species with setose gena, pubescence of antennal scapi and posterior tibiae lacking suberect hairs. This complex comprises also C. aethiops, C. jaliensis and C. sannini. Camponotus jaliensis differs in inner margin of hind tibiae lacking row of spines or thorns while C. oertzeni have at least 2-3 thorns in apical part of inner margin of tibia. Camponotus sannini differs in more superficial body microsculpture with head in both major and minor workers on sides and in occipital area with diffused microreticulation and strongly shiny background. Camponotus aethiops is the most similar and the best character allowing confident separation of these two species is the setation pattern of posterior margin of gastral tergites. In C. aethiops the transverse row of short setae on posterior margin of gaster tergite is long, usually reaching to or beyiond posterior margin of the tergite while in C. oertzeni this row is short, usually reaching only to ½-2/3 of length of the margin. Camponotus aethiops is generally darker with predominant dark brown to almost black body, and usually with brown to black legs (only rarely it specimens have reddish to reddish brown mesosoma and yellowish legs) while in C. oertzeni populations with partly pale, yellowish red to reddish head, mesosoma and legs are common, especially on Greek islands.

Setation of posterior margin of gastral tergites (14) Camponotus oertzeni, (15) Camponotus aethiops (photos L. Borowiec).
  • The transverse row of short setae on posterior margin of gaster tergite long, usually reaching to or beyiond posterior margin of the tergite . . . . . Camponotus aethiops

Camponotus aethiops belongs to the complex of large species with setose gena, presence of pubescence of antennal scapi, and posterior tibiae lacking suberect hairs. This complex comprises also C. jaliensis, C. oertzeni and C. sannini. Camponotus jaliensis differs in inner margin of hind tibiae lacking row of spines or thorns while C. aethiops have at least 2-3 (often more) thorns at least in apical part of inner margin of tibia. Camponotus sannini differs in more superficial body microsculpture with head, in both major and minor workers, with diffused microreticulation and strongly shiny background on lateral sides and in occipital area. Camponotus oertzeni is the most similar to C. aethiops but differs in the setation pattern in posterior margin of gastral tergites. In C. aethiops the transverse row of short setae on posterior margin of gaster tergite is long and usually reaching to or beyond posterior margin of the tergite while in C. oertzeni this row is short, usually reaching only to ½-2/3 of length of the margin. Camponotus aethiops is generally darker with predominant dark brown to almost black body, and usually with brown to black legs (only rarely with reddish to reddish brown mesosoma and yellowish legs) while in C. oertzeni populations with partly pale, yellowish red to reddish head, mesosoma and legs are common, especially on Greek islands.

8

return to couplet #4

Camponotus sanctus together with C. baldaccii and C. cecconii form a group of large species with gena lacking erected setae and head and mesosoma in minor workers predominantly yellow to rusty yellow. Typical form of C. sanctus differs from both relatives in ventral side of head lacking erected setae while in C. baldaccii and C. cecconii ventral side of head is always setose. Camponotus cecconii differs in gaster of both minor and major workers completely brown to black. Sometimes, the smallest minor workers of C. cecconii have anterior face of first tergite slightly paler than the rest of gaster, but the color gradually changes from lighter to darker. While in C. baldaccii and C. sanctus gaster in minor workers is always yellow basally, brown to black posteriorly and in major workers gaster is almost completely brown to black with anterior face from yellow to yellowish-brown with well-marked border between the pale spot and dark rest of its gastral surface. Camponotuscecconii has no reliable records from Greece while C. sanctus is common in Dodecanese and Aegean Islands. Setose form of C. sanctus, that have few erected setae on ventral side of head, is similar to C. baldaccii. However, minor workers of C. baldaccii have uniformly yellow head that is in the same color as mesosoma while in C. sanctus head in minor workers is yellow to rusty yellow and is always slightly darker than the mesosoma. Aditionally, in major workers of C. baldaccii outer surface of hind tibiae is not or only slightly depressed and lacking longitudinal channel while in C. sanctus outer surface of hind tibiae in major workers is distinctly depressed with well-marked longitudinal channel. Also, Camponotus baldaccii is slightly smaller with HL in major workers up to 3.453 mm while in C. sanctus HL reaches up to 4.175 mm. Both species differ in color of males (at least partly yellow in C. baldaccii and dark brown in C. sanctus), and are partly separated geographically. Camponotus baldaccii occurs on Crete, Dodecanese and Aegean Islands while C. sanctus is known only from Dodecanese and Aegean Islands.

9

return to couplet #8

  • Gaster in minor workers yellow basally, brown to black posteriorly, in major workers almost completely brown to black only anterior face from yellow to yellowish-brown. Outer surface of hind tibiae in major workers distinctly depressed . . . . . #10
  • Gaster in both minor and major workers brown to black, in the smallest minor workers anterior face of first tergite only slightly paler than the rest of the surface, but the color gradually changes from lighter to darker. No reliable records from Greece, common on Cyprus . . . . . Camponotus cecconii

Camponotus cecconii with C. sanctus and C. baldaccii forms a group of large species with gena lacking erected setae and predominantly yellow to rusty yellow head and mesosoma in minor workers. Typical form of C. sanctus differs in ventral side of head lacking erected setae while in C. baldaccii and C. cecconii erected setae are present. Camponotus cecconii differs from both relatives in completely brown to black gaster of both minor and major workers (sometimes smallest minor workers have anterior face of first tergite slightly paler than the rest of the surface, but the color gradually changes from lighter to darker) while in C. baldaccii and C. sanctus gaster in minor workers is yellow basally, brown to black posteriorly (in major workers gaster is almost completely brown to black but with anterior face from yellow to yellowish-brown and well-marked border between the pale spot and dark rest of gastral surface). Camponotus cecconii has no reliable records from Greece while C. baldaccii and C. sanctus are common in Dodecanese and Aegean Islands and C. baldaccii also is common on Crete.

10

return to couplet #9

  • Head in minor workers yellow, the same color as mesosoma. Outer surface of hind tibiae in major workers not or only slightly depressed. Microsculpture of head and mesosoma in major workers more superficial thus surface not perfectly matt. Number of erected setae on ventral side of head usually more than four. Head of gyne partly yellow to rusty. Males at least partly yellow . . . . . Camponotus baldaccii

Camponotus baldaccii with C. cecconii and C. sanctus forms a group of large species with gena lacking erected setae and head and mesosoma in minor workers predominantly yellow to rusty yellow. Typical form of C. sanctus differs in ventral side of head lacking erected setae while in C. baldaccii and C. cecconii ventral side of head is always setose. Camponotus cecconii differs in gaster of both minor and major workers completely brown to black (smallest minor workers have sometimes anterior face of first tergite slightly paler than the rest of the surface, but the color gradually changes from lighter to darker) while in C. baldaccii and C. sanctus gaster is yellow basally and brown to black posteriorly in minor workers, and major workers have gaster almost completely brown to black (anterior face of gaster is from yellow to yellowish-brown and border between the pale spot and dark rest of gastral surface is well-marked). Camponotus cecconii has no reliable records from Greece while C. baldaccii and C. sanctus are common in southern and eastern Greek islands. Setose form of C. sanctus that has few erected setae on ventral side of head is very similar to C. baldaccii and both species have similar range of variation of body coloration and morphological characters. However, minor workers of C. baldaccii have always head uniformly yellow and in the same color as mesosoma while minors of C. sanctus have head yellow to rusty yellow but always slightly darker than the mesosoma. In C. baldaccii outer surface of hind tibiae in major workers is not or only slightly depressed and lacking longitudinal channel while in C. sanctus outer surface of hind tibiae in major workers is distinctly depressed with well-marked longitudinal channel. Camponotus baldaccii is slightly smaller with HL in major workers up to 3.453 mm while in C. sanctus up to 4.175 mm. Both species differ in color of males, at least partly yellow in C. baldaccii and dark brown in C. sanctus. Both species are partly separated geographically, C. baldaccii occurs on Crete, Dodecanese and Aegean Islands while C. sanctus is known only from Dodecanese and Aegean Islands.

  • Head in minor workers yellow to rusty yellow but always slightly darker than the mesosoma. Outer surface of hind tibiae in major workers distinctly depressed. Microsculpture of head and mesosoma in major workers distinct thus surface perfectly matt. Number of erected setae on ventral side of head usually less than five. Head of gyne black. Males dark brown . . . . . Camponotus sanctus

See remarks in couplet 20 for the typical form of Camponotus sanctus.

References

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