Camponotus turkestanus

This species inhabits desert habitat in southwestern part of its range, and is mainly found in Gobi desert. Pfeiffer el al. (2003), however, recorded this species in steppe of Zorgor, north-central Mongolia. Nocturnal in activity (Aibek & Yamane, 2009).

Identification
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - This species is recognized by its mainly yellow body with at most the last two gastral segments brownish. It has a sparse pilosity; the gena and ventral surface of the head are devoid of erect setae. The hind tibia is tubular, oval in cross section, and without a longitudinal ridge. Minor workers of pale Tanaemyrmex species may occasionally show the color pattern of C. turkestanus, especially callow workers, but their hind tibia are prismatic with a distinct dorsomedial ridge

This species is easily distinguished from Camponotus tashcumiri by the following characteristics (Aibek & Yamane, 2009):
 * mandibular teeth gradually decreasing in size from the apical to the basal, with the basalmost (7th) tooth the smallest (in the latter 5th tooth the smallest) (Fig. 11 vs. 12)
 * ventral surface of head, and gena without standing hairs (Fig. 7)
 * mid-and hind tibiae below with sparse suberect hairs

Distribution
Near East to central Asia (Radchenko, 1997b).

Although C. turkestanus and Camponotus turkestanicus are distinct species, they are commonly confused, probably due to their similar names. Thus, the occurrence of both C. turkestanus and C. turkestanicus in Jordan needs conﬁrmation (Borowiec & Salata, 2020).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, China, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan.

Nomenclature

 *  turkestanus. Camponotus sylvaticus var. turkestanus André, 1882a: 145 (w.) KAZAKHSTAN. Forel, 1904b: 380 (q.); Collingwood, 1961a: 74 (m.). Combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 101. Subspecies of maculatus: Emery, 1896d: 371; Forel, 1904b: 380. Raised to species: Emery, 1920c: 6; Tarbinsky, 1976: 156. Senior synonym of ferganensis, flavonitidus, ruzskyi: Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 132.
 * ruzskyi. Camponotus maculatus subsp. ruzskyi Vashkevich, 1924a: 144 (w.) RUSSIA. [Unresolved junior primary homonym of ruzskyi Emery, above.] Junior synonym of turkestanus: Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 132.
 * flavonitidus. Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) turkestanus var. flavonitidus Emery, 1925b: 101 (w.) KAZAKHSTAN. [First available use of Camponotus maculatus subsp. dichrous var. flavonitidus Ruzsky, 1905b: 201; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of turkestanus: Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 132.
 * ferganensis. Camponotus ferganensis Pisarski, 1967: 414 (s.w.) KAZAKHSTAN. [First available use of Camponotus maculatus subsp. dichrous var. ferganensis Ruzsky, 1905b: 200; unavailable name.] Current subgeneric placement: C. (Tanaemyrmex): Bolton, 1995b: 99. Junior synonym of turkestanus: Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 132. See also: Tarbinsky, 1976: 164.

Description
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - TL = 6.9–8.1, HL = 1.43–1.76, HW = 1.09–1.27, EL = 0.45–0.57, SL = 1.99–2.15, ML = 2.62–2.81, PW = 0.92–0.98, mTbL = 1.56–1.76, hTbL = 2.23–2.46 (n = 10).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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