Camponotus praegracilis

This species was collected from steppe environments or cultivated Pinus nigra Arnold and Cedrus libani Rich. forests surrounded by steppe habitats, showing that the new species generally prefers arid or semiarid habitats. All nests were under stones. We recorded queens and males on 29 June; thus, we assume that the mating season would have started soon and cover the first half of July. (Karaman et al. 2017)

Identification
Karaman et al. (2017) - Camponotus praegracilis is a member of the subgenus Tanaemyrmex and is similar to Camponotus aethiops, the most prevalent species of the genus in Turkey, but can be differentiated by the absence of a row of spiny bristles on the inner margin of the hind tibia, bare genae, sides and posterolateral corners of head or genae with 1–3 setae. The new species is also similar to Camponotus oertzeni and Camponotus sannini, but can be differentiated from these species by the absence of a row of spiny bristles on the inner margin of the hind tibia and absence of erect setae on genae, which are present in the other 3 species. The new species is similar to Camponotus jaliensis and Camponotus shaqualavensis due to the absence of a row of spiny bristles on the inner margin of the hind tibia, but can be distinguished from these species by having bare genae, lateral sides, and posterolateral corners of the head, or at most with 1–3 setae on genae. Additionally, the new species is similar to Camponotus ionius, which is distributed generally in western Anatolia, because of the bare genae, and can be distinguished by its slender mesosoma, dilute imbricate sculpture, and shiny body, as well as by the absence of dense, short, and semierect setae on the hind tibiae, and the appressed, dense, and long pubescence on the gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Turkey.

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus praegracilis Karaman, C. & Kiran, in Karaman, C., Kiran, et al. 2017: 999, figs. 1-8 (s.w.q.m.) TURKEY.

Worker
CL: 1.42 (1.22–2.10), ClyL: 0.44 (0.33–0.85), ClyW: 0.62 (0.51–0.90), CS: 1.27 (0.96–2.05), CW: 1.12 (0.82–2.00), EL: 0.40 (0.32–0.49), EW: 0.32 (0.28–0.39), HFL: 1.56 (1.32–2.10), HFW: 0.32 (0.27–0.48), HTL: 1.58 (1.37–2.10), MesL: 2.07 (1.73–2.73), MesH: 1.06 (0.85–1.44), PNW: 0.92 (0.73–1.32), PW: 0.43 (0.32–0.65), SL: 1.41 (1.24–1.73), ClyL/ClyW: 0.70 (0.62–0.97), ClyL/CS: 0.35 (0.31–0.42), ClyW/CS: 0.50 (0.41–0.55), CL/CS: 1.13 (1.02–1.18), CL/CW: 1.30 (1.05–1.44), CW/CS: 0.87 (0.82–0.98), EL/CS: 0.32 (0.23–0.37), EL/EW: 1.24 (1.13–1.38), HFL/CS: 1.30 (0.96–1.47), HFW/CS: 0.26 (0.21–0.29), HFL/HFW: 4.96 (4.10–5.68), HFL/HTL: 0.99 (0.85–1.03), HTL/CS: 1.32 (0.99–1.62), MesH/CS: 0.85 (0.62–0.96), MesL/CS: 1.67 (1.32–1.86), MesL/MesH: 1.95 (1.78–2.15), PNW/CS: 0.74 (0.63–0.87), PW/CS: 0.34 (0.27–0.37), SL/CS: 1.15 (0.81–1.33).

Major In full face view, head trapezoidal, sides almost straight and rounding to the straight posterior margin. Eyes moderate in size (EL/CS: 0.237), occupying almost clypeus slightly concave medially. Clypeal carina present. Antennal scape short (SL/CS: 0.821), surpassing rear border of head. Mandible subtriangular, masticatory margin with 6–7 teeth. Pronotum wide, almost two-thirds of head width; mesonotum narrowing posteriorly; metanotal groove slightly impressed or vestigial; dorsal surface of propodeum longer than declivitous surface and joining by rounded angle. Hind tibia same length or slightly longer than hind femur (HFL/HTL: 0.99). In profile, petiolar node compressed and tapered anteroposteriorly; anterior margin convex, posterior margin almost straight, dorsal margin broadly convex.

Head, mesosoma, and petiolar node with shiny imbricate sculpture; gastral tergite finely imbricate. Mandible smooth and shiny with sparse punctures. Genae, sides, and posterolateral corners of head bare, or genae with only 1–3 short, erect setae restricted to near border of clypeus. Mandibles with dense short erect setae. Scape with sparse and depressed pubescence. Long, erect setae present as follows: 1 pair on mesonotum and ventral surface of head (sometimes ventral surface of head bare); 3 pairs on vertex of head; 3–4 pairs on clypeus; 2 pairs on pronotum and propodeum; 2 rows on middle and end of all gastral tergites. Hind femur and tibia bare, inner surface without row of bristles; if present, only distal portion with 2–3 bristles, hind tibia slightly depressed laterally.

Head brownish red, posterior half darker, pronotum reddish brown, rest of mesosoma brown, petiole and gaster dark brown, mandibles and scape red, funicular segments yellowish red, legs yellow.

Minor In full face view, head elongate and distinctly longer than wide, posterior margin slightly convex, sides slightly convex and subparallel but slightly diverging posteriorly. Eyes located at posterior half of head. Posterior margin of clypeus medially concave. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin with 6 teeth. Antennal scape longer than head length, and extends on posterior border of head almost half of its length in full face view. Scape with sparse and depressed pubescence.

Dorsum of mesosoma forms an arch. Pronotum narrower than head width. Dorsal surface of propodeum longer than declivitous surface and joining by an obtuse angle. In profile, anterior and dorsal margin of petiolar node convex posterior margin straight.

Head, mesosoma, petiolar node, and gaster shiny and finely imbricate. Genae, sides, and posterolateral corners of head bare, occasionally genae with 1 short, erect seta. Ventral surface of head with 2 erect setae. Dorsum of pronotum, mesonotum, propodeum, and petiole with 2 pairs of long and erect setae. Gaster with sparse erect setae. Anterior half of head yellowish, posterior half reddish brown, mandibles red, antennae yellowish red, pronotum reddish brown, legs yellow, rest of head, mesosoma except pronotum, petiole brown, gaster black.

Queen
CL: 1.88 (1.88–1.89), ClyL: 0.56 (0.54–0.59), ClyW: 0.77 (0.76–0.78), CS: 1.77 (1.76–1.77), CW: 1.66 (1.63–1.67), EL: 0.58 (0.57–0.59), EW: 0.47 (0.46–0.48), HFL: 2.06 (2.04–2.10), HFW: 0.48 (0.48–0.49), HTL: 2.11 (2.10–2.12), MesL: 3.23 (3.15–3.31), MesH: 1.91 (1.81–2.04), MNW: 1.64 (1.63–1.65), MNL: 2.51 (2.49–2.54), PW: 0.88 (0.88), SL: 1.62 (1.59–1.65), ClyL/ClyW: 0.72 (0.69–0.75), ClyL/CS: 0.32 (0.31–0.33), ClyW/CS: 0.44 (0.43–0.44), CL/CS: 1.06 (1.06–1.07), CL/CW: 1.14 (1.12–1.16), CW/CS: 0.94 (0.93–0.94), EL/CS: 0.33 (0.32–0.33), EL/EW: 1.22 (1.21–1.24), HFL/CS: 1.17 (1.15–1.19), HFW/CS: 0.27 (0.27–0.28), HFL/HFW: 4.30 (4.20–4.41), HFL/HTL: 0.98 (0.97–0.99), HTL/CS: 1.19 (1.18–1.20), MesH/CS: 1.08 (1.03–1.15), MesL/CS: 1.83 (1.78–1.86), MesL/MesH: 1.69 (1.62–1.73), MNL/CS: 1.42 (1.41–1.44), MNW/CS: 0.93 (0.92–0.93), MNW/MNL: 0.65 (0.64–0.66), PW/CS: 0.50 (0.50), SL/CS: 0.92 (0.89–0.93).

In full face view, head elongate and longer than wide, slightly diverging posteriorly, posterior margin convex, sides straight and subparallel. Eyes large and protruding, occupying one-third of head. Posterior margin of clypeus concave medially. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin armed with 6–7 teeth. Antennal scape almost as long as head width, surpasses posterior cephalic border by almost half of scape length. Mesosoma wider than head width. Pronotum narrow, dorsal surface of scutum straight and raised over pronotum, prescutum shallow between scutum and scutellum, scutellum slightly higher than scutum. Dorsal surface of propodeum shorter than declivitous surface and its joining broadly convex. Hind femur and tibia almost same length. In lateral view, petiolar node scalelike; anterior margin slightly convex and posterior margin almost straight; dorsal margin straight.

Head and mesosoma with shiny imbricate sculpture; gaster finely imbricate. Genae, sides, and posterolateral corners of head and propodeum bare. Long, erect setae: 1 pair on scutum and dorsal margin of petiole, 2 pairs above the lateral ocelli and on scutellum, and few on gaster.

Head dark brown, anterior half of head and mandibles yellow, antennae reddish yellow, pronotum reddish brown, rest of mesosoma and petiole dark brown, first gastral segment reddish brown, and rest of gaster brown.

Male
CL: 0.95 (0.92–1.00), ClyL: 0.28 (0.28–0.29), ClyW: 0.38 (0.35–0.40), CS: 0.91 (0.88–0.93), CW: 0.86 (0.83–0.88), EL: 0.38 (0.38–0.39), EW: 0.31 (0.29–0.32), HFL: 1.54 (1.46–1.61), HFW: 0.20 (0.18–0.22), HTL: 1.45 (1.34–1.42), MesL: 2.07 (1.98–2.15), MesH: 1.30 (1.22–1.41), MNL: 1.63 (1.51–1.70), MNW: 1.03 (0.98–1.07), PW: 0.42 (0.37–0.50), SL: 1.07 (1.02–1.15), ClyL/ClyW: 0.75 (0.70–0.79), ClyL/CS: 0.31 (0.30–0.32), ClyW/CS: 0.41 (0.39–0.43), CL/CS: 1.06 (1.03–1.08), CL/CW: 1.13 (1.07–1.18), CW/CS: 0.94 (0.92–0.97), EL/CS: 0.42 (0.41–0.44), EL/EW: 1.26 (1.19–1.33), HFL/CS: 1.69 (1.65–1.74), HFW/CS: 0.22 (0.21–0.24), HFL/HFW: 7.77 (7.11–8.25), HFL/HTL: 1.06 (1.04–1.09), HTL/CS: 1.59 (1.52–1.66), MesH/CS: 1.42 (1.31–1.51), MesL/CS: 2.27 (2.21–2.36), MesL/MesH: 1.60 (1.53–1.71), MNL/CS: 1.79 (1.71–1.86), MNW/CS: 1.13 (1.10–1.15), MNW/MNL: 0.63 (0.61–0.65), PW/CS: 0.46 (0.41–0.54), SL/CS: 1.18 (1.13–1.23).

In full face view, head elongate and longer than wide, posterior margin convex, sides diverging posteriorly. Eyes large (EL/CS: 0.44) and strongly protruding, situated in the middle of sides of head. Ocelli well developed. Clypeal carina well developed. Posterior margin of clypeus concave medially. Mandibles vestigial, masticatory margin without teeth. Pronotum narrow, scutum raised over pronotum, prescutum depressed, scutellum higher than scutum, scutum almost 1.2 times wider than head width. Dorsal surface of propodeum longer than declivitous surface and joining by rounded angle. Hind femur longer than hind tibia. Anterior surface of petiole slightly convex, posterior surface straight, dorsal surface slightly concave medially seen from behind. Subgenital plate margin straight.

All body with finely and shiny imbricate sculpture. Genae, sides, and posterolateral corners of head, and dorsal surface of propodeum bare, 3–4 pairs of long, erect setae present between ocelli and on clypeus. Dorsal surface of petiole and gaster with long, fine, erect setae. Inner surface of tibia without row of bristles; occasionally 1 or 2 bristles present, but never form a row. Gaster with sparse and short pubescence.

Whole body brown, legs and scape dark brown. Body soft, surface not sclerotized.

Type Material
Holotype: Isparta-Yalvac-Ozguney village (1550 m), 38°15′57″N, 31°18′05″E, 29 Jun. 2011, 11/0841, major worker, leg. K. Kiran and V. Aksoy. Paratypes: Same locality as holotype, 11/0841, 11 workers, 3 queens, 8 males; Sivas-Ulaş-Demircilik village (1620 m), 39°27′57″N, 37°06′42″E, 13 Aug. 2010, 10/1728b, 50 workers; Ulaş-Gurpınar village (1539 m), 39°21′36″N, 37°10′07″E, 13 Aug. 2010, 10/1730f, 1 worker; Konya-Yunak (1287 m), 38°40′20″N, 31°42′29″E, 14 Jun. 2011, 11/0586 and 11/0588, 37 workers; Afyon-Cay-Karamıkkaracaoren village (1254 m), 38°31′51″N, 30°56′19″E, 14 Jun. 2011, 11/0611b and 11/0622, 18 workers; leg. K. Kiran and V. Aksoy.

The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Biology Department of the Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey; 111 workers, 2 queens, and 7 males are deposited in the collection of the Biology Department of Trakya University; 2 workers and 1 male are deposited in the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz; and 2 workers and 1 male are deposited in the

Etymology
The epithet praegracilis is from the Latin language, and refers to the petite body of workers and queens.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Karaman C., K. Kiran, V. Aksoy, and Y. Camlitepe. 2017. A new species of the genus Camponotus (Mayr) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology 41: 998-1004.