Camponotus schulzi

Nothing has been published about the biology of this species. It is in a species group Camponotus kiesenwetteri group that share numerous biological characsteristics.

Identification
Salata et al. (2020) - A member of the Camponotus kiesenwetteri species group. 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

 * . Camponotus schulzi Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 95, figs. 1-10, 35 (s.w.) TURKEY.
 * [Note: subgenus C. (Myrmentoma).]

Worker
Major worker (n = 3): HL: 1.827 (1.78–1.92), HW: 1.72 (1.63–1.82), SL: 1.59 (1.52–1.65), WL: 2.343 (2.27–2.44), PW: 1.22 (1.16–1.27), PRL: 0.657 (0.64–0.68), PRW: 0.43 (0.42–0.44), PTH: 0.40 (0.38– 0.41), PTW: 0.293 (0.27–0.32), CI: 1.041 (1.028–1.055), SL/HW: 0.926 (0.889– 0.982), PTH/PTW: 1.367 (1.281–1.413); minor worker (n = 5): HL: 1.31 (1.13– 1.46), HW: 1.03 (0.94–1.29), SL: 1.297 (1.21–1.41), WL: 1.83 (1.65–2.02), PW: 0.96 (0.86–1.08), PRL: 0.58 (0.52–0.64), PRW: 0.34 (0.32–0.39), PTH: 0.397 (0.35–0.48), PTW: 0.307 (0.27–0.38), CI: 1.192 (1.132–1.241), SI: 1.185 (1.093–1.287), PI: 1.297 (1.263–1.333).

Body colouration. Head, mesosoma and petiolus black, gaster from brownish-black to black. Legs brown to black, trochanters as dark as femora, antennal scape brown, base and apex of scape in some specimens paler than the central part of scape, reddish-brown.

Head. In major workers large, trapezoidal in outline, the widest at height of eyes, distinctly narrowed anteriorly and rounded posteriorly. Anterior margin of clypeus in the middle with semicircular emargination. Eyes small, placed distinctly below the mid-length of the head, 0.6 times as long as the length of tempora and 0.47 times as long as the length of genae. Scape short, slightly shorter than the width of head, with well-marked extension, without preapical constriction. Funicle elongate and thin, 1.3 times as long as scape, first segment elongate, 2.3–2.4 times as long as wide on the apex, 1.4 times as long as the second segment, segments 3–6 equal in length and slightly longer than the second segment, segments 7–11 slightly shorter than the second segment. Surface of scape with fine microsculpture, very short and sparse appressed setae and 2–3 short, erect setae. In minor workers head oval, the widest at height of eyes; slightly narrowed anteriorly and rounded posteriorly. Anterior margin of clypeus without or with very shallow emargination. Eyes proportionally larger than in major workers; placed distinctly below the mid-length of the head, small, approximately 0.78 times as long as the length of tempora and 0.56 times as long as the length of genae. Scape short, slimmer than in major workers, 1.2–1.3 times longer than the width of head, with well-marked extension, without preapical constriction. Funicle in shape and ratio of segments similar to major workers. The surface of scape with fine microsculpture, covered with very short and sparse appressed setae, without erect setae. The whole surface of the head, in both major and minor workers, with numerous white, erect setae. Mandibles short, dorsal surface with distinct microreticulation and partly with elongate setose punctures and elongate rugulae, matt, inner margin with one larger and 3–4 smaller teeth. Clypeus on the whole surface microreticulate and with sparse, moderately coarse, setose punctures, matt. Frontal carinae short, extending to the line connecting 1/3 length of eyes, form a regular arch, antennal sockets flat with a thin median line, microreticulate, with sparse setose punctures, dull. The area between eyes and occipital margin of head distinctly microreticulate and appears distinctly dull, microreticulation gradually diffused from dorsal to the ventral part of the head. Gena and tempora on the underside of the head with interspaces microreticulate to granulate, shiny.

Mesosoma. Promesonotum regularly convex in profile with distinct metanotal groove, slightly deeper in major workers than in minor workers. Propodeum elongate, in major workers 1.36–1.40 and in minor worker 1.50–1.60 times as long as wide; dorsal surface flat, posterior margin distinctly concave, posterior corners never forming tooth-like protrusions. The whole surface of pronotum, dorsal part of mesonotum and lateral parts of propodeum with sparse, moderately long, appressed setae, dorsal part of the whole mesosoma with long, white erect setae. Mesosoma on dorsal surface with distinct microreticulation, cells of microsculpture with shiny interspaces. On lateral sides of pronotum, microreticulation tending to form a linear sculpture of slightly shiny interspaces, sides of meso- and metathorax with a regular granulate sculpture of slightly shiny to matt interspaces.

Petiole. Microreticulate but appears shiny. Petiolar squama stout, 1.26–1.33 as high as wide in lateral view, with convex anterior and flat posterior surfaces, margin with row of long, white setae.

Gaster. Tergites with sparse, short appressed setae and numerous long erect setae, with distinct regular microsculpture of transverse cells, on the whole surface more or less shiny.

Legs. Moderately long, hind femora 0.8 times as long as mesosoma, hind tibiae slightly shorter than hind femora, the first segment of hind tarsi 0.8 times as long as hind femora. The whole surface of femora and tibiae with short, sparse, appressed to suberect pubescence, posterior and ventral surface of fore femora, and ventral surface of mid and hind femora with several, long erect setae, the surface of femora and tibiae appear shiny to slightly matt. Hind tibia with one long and two short apical spines and on the inner surface with a row of 3–5 short spines.

Etymology
Named after Andreas Schulz, a German amateur myrmecologist and naturalist, who extensively explored the Aegean region and collected valuable material, including the specimens of C. schulzi

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.