Camponotus schulzi

Identification
Head, mesosoma, and gaster uniformly black; metanotal groove present, shallow; propodeum without protrusions; body punctate, mesosoma with sculpture reduced and its lateral sides at least partially shiny; base of scape with extension; whole body bears long, thick, pale, dense and erect setae, and short appressed microsetae; petiolar scale thick.

Camponotus schulzi is distinctly polymorphic, the largest major workers 1.5 times longer than the smallest minor workers. Within the C. kiesenwetteri group, together with Camponotus boghossiani, Camponotus kiesenwetteri, and Camponotus nitidescens, it forms a distinct complex characterized by a shallow but distinct metanotal groove. Camponotus boghossiani and C. kiesenwetteri differ from C. schulzi in the matt body with strong and non-reduced sculpture on the whole head, mesosoma, and gaster. Additionally, C. kiesenwetteri differs in having well-developed, dentate protrusions on the posterior margin of propodeum, while in C. schulzi the posterior margin of the propodeum is lacking such structures; C. boghossiani differs also in the base of antennal scape lacking an extension, while in C. schulzi the extension is well marked. Camponotus nitidescens is the most similar to C. schulzi, because both species have the mesosomal surface partly covered with weaker sculpture and especially the sides of mesosoma appear more or less shiny in both. However, C. nitidescens has the base of the antennal scape without extension while in C. schulzi the extension is well marked. Both species are also broadly separated geographically. Camponotus nitidescens has a narrow distribution range limited to the southern Ionian Islands, western Sterea Ellas, and Peloponnese. While C. schulzi was collected in western Turkey. Species of the C. piceus complex of the Camponotus lateralis group at ﬁrst glance can appear similar to C. schulzi but they differ in less-sculptured mesosoma and gaster. Especially their gaster is shinier and not as regularly reticulate or granulate as in C. schulzi.

Distribution
Western Turkey: İzmir Province, Bozdağ Mts.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Turkey.

Nomenclature

 *  schulzi. Camponotus schulzi Salata, Loss, Karaman, Kiran, Borowiec, 2019: 95, figs. 1-10, 35 (w.) TURKEY.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.