Camponotus gestroi

Identification
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - Radchenko (1997c) included in the C. gestroi complex of the Camponotus lateralis species group Camponotus rebeccae, Camponotus kurdistanicus, and Camponotus vogti, together with C. gestroi. C. gestroi differs from these species by having erect setae scattered all over the propodeal dorsum, as opposed to a single transversal row of erect setae restricted to the junction of the propodeal dorsum with declivity, and by a completely black body, whereas the pronotum at least is red in C. kurdistanicus, and the head and mesosoma are always paler than the gaster in C. rebeccae and C. vogti.

Major workers from Israel differ from western Mediterranean specimens by having the dorsum of the mesonotum more convex and distinctly posterior to the level of the propodeum, and by a distinct metanotal groove.

Distribution
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - Western Mediterranean and southern Europe to southern Transcaucasus (Radchenko, 1997c), Near East and Iran (Paknia et al., 2008).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece, Iberian Peninsula, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Spain, Turkey.

Nomenclature

 *  gestroi. Camponotus gestroi Emery, 1878b: 44, fig. (s.w.) ITALY (Sardinia). Forel, 1894d: 4 (q.m.); Emery, 1916b: 160 (q.). Combination in C. (Orthonotomyrmex): Forel, 1913d: 435; in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1920b: 257. Senior synonym of creticus: Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 58. Current subspecies: nominal plus ponariensis.
 * creticus. Camponotus gestroi st. creticus Forel, 1886e: clix, fig. 1 (w.) GREECE. Combination in C. (Orthonotomyrmex): Forel, 1913d: 435; in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1925b: 119. Junior synonym of gestroi: Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 58.

Worker
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - TL = 4.6–8.3, HL = 1.09–2.01, HW = 0.91–1.91, EL = 0.31–0.39, SL = 1.11–1.52, ML = 1.58–2.58, PW = 0.74–1.41, mTbL = 0.90–1.37, hTbL = 1.19–1.88 (n = 15).