Camponotus libanicus

This species populates dry, often semi-desert habitats, building nests in soil (Radchenko 1997).

Identification
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - C. libanicus belongs to the Camponotus kiesenwetteri species group. The Israeli specimens vary in size and show allometric relationships between body measures. Major workers (n = 7) have a slightly wider than long head and a short scape (SL/HW = 0.86–1.01), while minor workers (n = 10) have a more elongate head (HW/HL = 0.91–0.96) and a relatively longer scape (SL/HW = 1.04–1.13). Petiolar scale thickness of C. libanicus is variable (0.29–0.35 mm), and its shape in lateral view varies from thin, anteriorly concave proximally and moderately convex distally, to thick and anteriorly strongly convex. C. libanicus specimens from Israel are similar to Camponotus nadimi from which they differ only by the anteriorly convex or truncated clypeus with slight indentation medially in major workers and gyne, as opposed to an anteromedially emarginated clypeus in C. nadimi, and by a generally thicker petiolar scale in media and minor workers (range = 0.29–0.35 mm, n = 12, as compared to 0.27–0.33 mm, n = 7). According to Emery (1915), C. libanicus is similar to Camponotus aegaeus from which it differs by the thickness of the petiolar scale. One minor worker of C. aegaeus from Turkey has a thin scale (0.26 mm), with the outline of the anterior surface straight proximally and slightly convex distally, identical in shape to the petiolar scale of a minor worker depicted by Emery (1915, fig. 2b, p. 5), and thinner than in the examined specimens of C. libanicus of similar size.

Israeli specimens show much greater variability of size than that described in Tohmé’s (1969b) redescription of the species, i.e., they are not monomorphic, as stated by Tohmé (1969b). Minor workers with thin petiolar scale cannot be distinguished from C. nadimi minors when collected in isolation.

Salata et al. (2019) - Head, mesosoma, and gaster uniformly black; metanotal groove absent; propodeum without posterior protrusion; body densely punctate, appears dull; base of scape without extension; whole body bears long, thick, pale, dense and erect setae, and short appressed microsetae; petiolar scale thick (PI < 1.42).

Camponotus libanicus belongs to the species with mesosoma evenly convex in profile, not interrupted by the metanotal groove. It is very similar to Camponotus aegaeus and differs by having a thick petiolar scale with PI < 1.42, which in C. aegaeus is thinner at PI > 1.50. See also comments in C. aegaeus.

Distribution
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - Eastern Mediterranean to Iran (Radchenko, 1997c; Paknia et al., 2008).

Salata et al. (2019) - Known from Lebanon (André 1881, Tohmé 1969) and Cyprus: Limassol and Girne. It was also recorded from Adana, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hatay, Karaman, and Mersin provinces in Turkey (Forel 1913; Emery 1915; Bolu and Özgen 2018), Israel (Ionescu-Hirsch 2010) and Iran (Paknia et al. 2010).

The kiesenwetteri species group contains taxa of the subgenus Myrmentoma that are distributed almost exclusively in the Aegean. The two exceptions, Camponotus aegaeus and Camponotus libanicus, collectively extend the group's distributional range into Asia Minor and the Near East. These two species appear to be vicariant taxa, with C. aegaeus to the west and C. libanicus to the east. Niche modeling results showed minimum temperature of the coldest month was the variable that contributed most to the C. libanicus distribution model. Niche modeling for both species show similar areas with high suitability, especially along the south coast of Turkey and Cyprus. However, C. aegaeus has not been recorded from the island.

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

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus libanicus André, 1881b: 54, pl. 3, figs. 14, 15 (w.) LEBANON.
 * Forel, 1889: 261 (w.); Forel, 1911d: 355 (q.); Tohmé, G. 1969: 11 (m.).
 * Combination in C. (Orthonotomyrmex): Forel, 1913d: 435; Santschi, 1921f: 310;
 * combination in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1925b: 121.
 * Status as species: André, 1882a: 148 (in key); Forel, 1889: 261; Dalla Torre, 1893: 239; Emery, 1896d: 376 (in list); Forel, 1911d: 355; Emery, 1925b: 121; Finzi, 1930c: 24; Menozzi, 1936d: 304; Tohmé, G. 1969: 11; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 58; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 283 (in key); Kugler, J. 1988: 259; Bolton, 1995b: 108; Radchenko, 1996b: 1197 (in key); Radchenko, 1997b: 705; Petrov, 2006: 108 (in key); Paknia, et al. 2008: 153; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 39; Ionescu-Hirsch, 2010: 83; Paknia, et al. 2010: 31; Legakis, 2011: 31; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2012: 479; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 7; Karaman, C. & Aktaç, 2013: 50 (in key); Borowiec, L. 2014: 36; Tohmé, G. & Tohmé, 2014: 138; Lebas, et al. 2016: 136; Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 43; Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 93.
 * Senior synonym of nadimi: Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 93.
 * Senior synonym of sahlbergi: Radchenko, 1996b: 1197 (in key); Radchenko, 1997b: 705; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 7; Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 93.
 * nadimi. Camponotus (Myrmentoma) nadimi Tohmé, G. 1969: 6, figs. 3, 4 (s.w.) LEBANON.
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 112; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 39; Ionescu-Hirsch, 2010: 84; Borowiec, L. 2014: 38; Tohmé, G. & Tohmé, 2014: 138.
 * Junior synonym of libanicus: Salata, Loss, et al. 2019: 93.
 * sahlbergi. Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) libanicus r. sahlbergi Forel, 1913d: 435 (s.w.) TURKEY.
 * Combination in C. (Myrmentoma): Emery, 1925b: 121.
 * Subspecies of libanicus: Emery, 1925b: 121; Bolton, 1995b: 121.
 * Junior synonym of libanicus: Radchenko, 1996b: 1197 (in key); Radchenko, 1997b: 705; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 7.

Taxonomic Notes
Seifert (2019): This taxon has been described from Lebanon. The type specimens depicted in antweb.org under CASENT0913700 shows an absent metanotal depression, a very convex overall dorsal profile line of mesosoma as well as a much stronger sculpture and much denser pubescence on all body surfaces than observed in any member of the C. lateralis group.

Worker
Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) - TL = 5.1–7.3, HL = 1.31–1.80, HW = 1.21–1.82, EL = 0.32–0.41, SL = 1.35–1.64, ML = 2.19–2.54, PW = 1.17–1.50, mTbL = 1.02–1.39, hTbL = 1.45–1.85 (n = 20). Gyne: TL = 11.6, HL = 2.23, HW = 2.11, EL = 0.51, SL = 1.72, ML = 3.98, PW = 2.09, mTbL = 1.56, hTbL = 2.34 (n = 1).

Type Material
Syntype worker, Lebanon (Syntype worker AntWeb, CASENT0913700)

Determination Clarifications
Salata et al. (2019) - A record from Greece: Aegean Islands by Legakis (2011), based on unpublished manuscript (Taylor and Clee 2008), is likely based on a misidentification. Recent research on the ant fauna of the Aegean Islands has not confirmed the occurrence of this species in Greece. Additionally, an old record from İzmir in Turkey (Forel 1911) is doubtful. It was published before the description of C. aegaeus and it is located 500 km West of all the recently known localities of this species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2012. Ants of Greece - Checklist, comments and new faunistic data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus 23(4): 461-563.
 * Emery, C.. "Escursioni zoologiche del Dr. Enrico Festa nell'Isola di Rodi. XII. Formiche." Bollettino del Museo di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparatadella Reale Università di Torino 30 (1915): 1-7.
 * Finzi B. 1930. Hymenopteren aus Palästina und Syrien. (Zoologische Studienreise von R. Ebner 1928 mit Unterstützung der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien.) Formicidae. Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse. Abteilung I 139:22-24.
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 * Kugler J. 1988. The zoogeography of Israel. 9. The zoogeography of social insects of Israel and Sinai. Monographiae biologicae 62: 251-275.
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 * Paknia, O., A. G. Radchenko, and M. Pfeiffer. "New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran." Asian Myrmecology 3, no. 29-38 (2010).
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 * 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.
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 * Seifert B. 2019. A taxonomic revision of the members of the Camponotus lateralis species group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Europe, Asia Minor and Caucasia. Soil Organisms 91:7–32.
 * Shiran E., M. S. Mossadegh, and M. Esfandiari. 2012. Mutualistic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with aphids in central and southwestern parts of Iran. J. Crop Prot. 2013, 2 (1): 1-12.
 * Tohme G. 1996. Formicidae. Etude de la diversité biologique n° 4 . Ministère de lAgriculture à Beyrouth (Eds.). P85-87.
 * Tohmé, G.. "Description d'espèces nouvelles de fourmis au Liban (Hymenoptera Formicoidea)." Publications de l'Universite Libanaise, Section des Sciences Naturelles 7 (1969): 1-15.
 * Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.