Camponotus hirtus

C. hirtus was collected in Konya at 1841 m altitude from a 100 year old Pinus nigra forest patch between barren soil with small shrubs and the mountain alpine zone.

Identification
C. hirtus belongs to the lateralis group because of the red to partly red head, the reddish mesosoma and petiole contrasting with the black gaster, and the presence of the metanotal groove. However, this new species can be distinguished from all other species in this group by the abundant erect hairs on the whole mesosoma and gaster, the expanded basal portion of the scape that projects a basal lobe especially in major workers, and the abundant, erect hairs on scape.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Turkey.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  hirtus. Camponotus (Myrmentoma) hirtus Karaman, C. & Aktac, 2013: 45, fig. 3 (w.) TURKEY.

Type material: Holotype – worker: Turkey, Konya-Seydisehir-Tarascı Town-Rize Beli, (37°27'N, 31°42'E), 1841 m asl., 04 August 2008: 08/1106 (leg. C. Karaman and K. Kıran) (TU). Paratypes: 49 workers, from same nest with holotype (Leg. C. Karaman and K. Kıran) (TU).