Camponotus rebeccae

Identification
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - According to Radchenko (1997c), C. rebeccae belongs to the Camponotus gestroi species complex in the Camponotus lateralis species group, together with Camponotus gestroi, Camponotus kurdistanicus, and Camponotus vogti. C. rebeccae differs from the three other species by the petiolar scale with anterior surface strongly convex dorsally (as in Camponotus dalmaticus and Camponotus lateralis), as opposed to being slightly convex and meeting the posterior surface at an acute angle, and by the scale distinctly narrower: in major workers with HW > 1.5 mm the ratio of petiolar scale width to head width ranges 0.30–0.35 (n = 20) in C. rebeccae, as opposed to 0.40–0.44 (n = 20) in C. gestroi and 0.39–0.42 (n = 5) in C. kurdistanicus and C. vogti.

C. rebeccae is similar to C. lateralis, from which it differs only in the convex propodeal dorsum, as opposed to the concave or posteriorly flat propodeal dorsum, and by a shallow metanotal groove, as opposed to a deep metanotal groove in C. lateralis.

Almost entirely black specimens of three nest series from the central coastal plain (Israel) are provisionally considered as belonging to C. rebeccae because they are morphologically similar to the paler specimens of this species, and because Cagniant (1996) recorded similar variability in Morocco, with dark colored “littoral populations” of the usually bicolorous (red and black) C. lateralis. However, the dark specimens fit the description of C. lateralis ebneri Finzi in Ebner (1930) and key out to this species in Tohmé (1969a). Comparison with types may clarify their affinities.

Distribution
Endemic to the Near East.

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

Nomenclature

 *  rebeccae. Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) lateralis var. rebeccae Forel, 1913d: 436 (s.) SYRIA. Menozzi, 1933b: 81 (q.m.). Combination in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1925a: 69; Emery, 1925b: 120. Raised to species: Radchenko, 1996b: 1197 (in key); Radchenko, 1997b: 707.

Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - Until more material is collected, one media worker (TL = 5.6 mm, HW = 1.21 mm) with very high propodeal dorsum exceeding the highest point of mesonotum is here considered as an extreme variation. In addition, it has the first gastral segment testaceous (whereas the following segments are black).

Worker
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - TL = 4.0–7.7, HL = 0.98–1.76, HW = 0.82–1.88, EL = 0.24–0.39, SL = 1.07–1.45, ML = 1.41–2.34, PW = 0.70–1.25, mTbL = 0.73–1.09, hTbL = 1.00–1.52 (n = 20).