Camponotus sannini

Identification
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - C. sannini paratypes are hardly distinguishable from Camponotus aethiops in having a straight propodeal dorsum, as opposed to a variable propodeal dorsum, scape and tibiae with decumbent pubescence, as opposed to apressed, and dark brown mesosoma with very superficial lateral striation, as opposed to a generally darker and matte mesosoma in major workers of C. aethiops. However, specimens from Beirut have a distinctly concave propodeum and scape with apressed pubescence. Furthermore, in the original description of C. sannini completely black nest series are also mentioned.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic.

Nomenclature

 *  sannini. Camponotus sannini Tohmé, G. & Tohmé, H., 1999: 477, fig. 2 (w.q.m.) LEBANON.

Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - The original description of C. sannini (Tohmé and Tohmé, 1999) refers to Bernard’s (1968) redescription of C. aethiops, in which he mentioned the matte head and black color of C. aethiops specimens from France (Bernard, 1968). However, C. aethiops in its current concept is a variable species, so that the diagnostic characters of C. sannini are weak. A further study of these species from their entire distribution area will clarify the affinities between the Israeli and other specimens.

Description
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - TL = 6.9–9.4, HL = 1.95–2.42, HW = 1.80–2.34, EL = 0.47–0.48, SL = 1.70–1.88, ML = 2.54–3.05, PW = 1.29–1.52, mTbL = 1.47–1.60, hTbL = 1.91–2.19 (n = 10).

Determination Clarifications
The species from Lebanon that was formerly identified as Camponotus concavus Forel (junior synonym of C. aethiops in Bolton et al., 2006) by Tohmé (1969a) was reidentified as Camponotus sannini by Tohmé and Tohmé (1999).