Camponotus guanchus

Nests were found in dead wood and rock crevices at the thermophile juniper forest. In December 2003, winged queens and males were present inside the nests. This Canarian species is known from the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro. (Espadaler 2007)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Canary Islands.

Nomenclature

 *  guanchus. Camponotus sicheli var. guancha Santschi, 1908: 534 (w.q.) "North Africa". Cagniant & Espadaler, 1993: 427 (m.). Combination in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1925b: 121. Subspecies of lateralis: Emery, 1925a: 64; Emery, 1925b: 121. Raised to species: Cagniant & Espadaler, 1993: 426.

Taxonomic Notes
Seifert (2019): Investigated was 1 type worker labeled ‘Type’, ‘Tenerife Valle Gimenes 10. IX. 1899.’, ‘C. lateralis Ol guancha Sant’ and 1 type gyne labeled ‘Type’, ‘Tenerife Bajan..do 23: III : 1902’, ‘C. lateralis guancha Sant’; both stored in. This species from the Canaries differs from all Eurocaucasian species shown in Tab. 2 and Tab. 3 by propodeal and petiolar shape. The dorsal surface of propodeum is clearly convex in transverse section. In lateral aspect, dorsum and caudal slope of propodeum form an angle of about 130° and the transition is rounded – i.e., there is no indication of a dorsocaudal protrusion or of an abrupt transition from dorsal plane to slope. The petiolar node is narrow (PeW/CS1.25 0.322) but thick in lateral view – corresponding to the situation in Lasius fuliginosus (Latreille 1798). These characters may possibly indicate a close relatedness to the North African taxa Camponotus ruber and Camponotus sicheli niger.