Camponotus cf. vitiosus

Camponotus cf. vitiosus View in CoL

Figs 1–7 View Figs 1, 2 View Figs 3, 4 View Figs 5 – 7

Material examined: 1w., 1q. (DBETCV001- DBETCV002): CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 1196 m, Cedar Valley , 34.98527, 32.68388, 5 V 2012, L. Borowiec ( MNHW) GoogleMaps .

Distribution note. This species is distributed in the Eastern part of the Palaearctic Region and was noted from China, Japan, and South Korea ( Terayama 1999). Surprisingly, recently it was record- ed from Israel by Ionescu-Hirsch (2010 [2009]) based on three workers introduced to Ashod Port transported with bamboo from China. There is no further information as to whether this species is permanently established in Israel. In 2012, one of the authors (L. Borowiec) collected this species in natural habitats in the Cedar Valley of Cyprus (NATURA 2000 site: CY2000008) which would indicate a permanent settlement of this species in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean basin. Below we provide a detailed redescription of this species based on specimens from Cyprus to enable a proper identification of this species in the future.

Note. The presented diagnosis and redescription are based on Cypriot specimens that belong to the bicolored form of this species. They do not include the entirely black form of this species known from territories of its native range (see AntWeb. org, CASENT0923671).

Diagnosis. Camponotus vitiosus is the only member of the subgenus Myrmamblys known from the Mediterranean but it might be confused with several species of the subgenus Myrmentoma known from this region. Camponotus vitiosus groups with species characterized by the presence of overall fine body sculpture with shiny at least gaster and mesosoma, regularly convex promesonotal dorsum, and lack of metanotal groove.

In the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin, this group consists of: C. abrahami Forel, 1913 , C. fallax (Nylander, 1856) , C. gestroi Emery, 1878 , C. kurdistanicus Emery, 1898 , C. tergestinus Müller, 1921 , and C. vogti Forel, 1906 . Camponotus abrahami and C. gestroi well differ in entirely black body coloration and well-marked metanotal suture. Camponotus fallax differs in lack of erect setae on gena, usually presence of a shallow median emargination on the anterior margin of the clypeus, and predominantly brown body, sometimes with yellowish pronotum. Camponotus tergestinus differs in predominantly brown to black body coloration, presence of erect setae on antennal scapus, and a larger body with HL above 1.90 mm (mean 2.28). Camponotus kurdistanicus differs in distinctly bicolored body, with dark-brown to black head and gaster and mostly red mesosoma, flat propodeal dorsum.

Redescription. Minor worker (n=1): Measurements. HL: 1.25; HW: 1.06; SL: 1.23; EL: 0.41; PW: 0.83; PTH: 0.45; PTW: 0.21; WL: 1.82; HFL: 1.25; CI: 1.18; SI: 1.16; PI: 2.14; FI: 0.69.

Color . Mandibles and gena yellow, clypeus mostly yellow, medially with a brown, narrow stripe; rest of the head yellowish-brown to brown, paler anteriorly. Pronotal dorsum yellowish-brown except for yellow anterior and posterior margins; lateral sides yellow. Mesonotum and propodeum brown with slightly paler patches on lateral sides. Gaster mostly black, with only anterior slope of first gastral tergite yellowish-brown and with transparent and yellowish posterior margins of subsequent tergites. Coxa yellowish-brown to brown, trochanters yellow, femora brown except yellow knee, tibiae yellowish-brown in the middle and gradually paler apically, tarsi yellow. Antennal scapes yellowish-brown, funicles ochraceous-yellow. ( Figs. 1-3 View Figs 1, 2 View Figs 3, 4 ).

Head. Subrectangular, approximately 1.17 × as long as wide, sides below eyes softly rounded and softly converging anterad, above eyes regularly rounded, posterior margin almost straight ( Figs. 3, 4 View Figs 3, 4 ). Anterior clypeal margin convex, without median emargination. Clypeus densely microreticulated but shiny, covered with short and sparse appressed pubescence. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.24 × as long as wide and 0.76 × as long as the gena. Frontal carinae short, extending to 1/3 the length of the head, regularly arched, antennal fossa shallow, without special sculpture. Frons densely microreticulat- ed but shiny, with thin median sulcus, short and sparse appressed pubescence, and with a row of 4 long, erect setae along the frontal carinae. Rest of the head surface distinctly microreticulate from shiny to slightly opalescent, covered with short and sparse appressed pubescence. Gena with several short erect setae, head dorsum immediately posterior to frontal carinae and anterior to vertex each with a pair of long erect setae between these pairs four additional very short erect setae ( Figs 3, 4 View Figs 3, 4 , 6 View Figs 5 – 7 ). Antennal scape long; in frontal view almost straight, approximately 1.2 × as long as the width of the head, apex slightly and gradually widened; funiculus longer than scape, pedicel elongated, approximately 0.83 × as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.7 × as long as segment 2 ( Fig. 4 View Figs 3, 4 ). Scape densely microsculptured, slightly dull, covered with short and sparse appressed pubescence, without decumbent or erect setae. Mandibles short, rounded, microreticulated but shiny, apical ¼ of its length with longitudinal grooves, surface with less than 10 moderately long, yellow setae.

Mesosoma. Moderately long, 2.2 × as long as wide, without metanotal groove. Pronotum and mesonotum in profile forming regular arch, propodeal dorsum shallowly concave ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1, 2 ). Pronotal sides in dorsal view regularly convex ( Figs. 1, 2 View Figs 1, 2 ). Mesosoma densely microreticulated, sculpture tends to form longitudinal, oblique and semicircular striation; background shiny, covered with sparse and short appressed pubescence, on the lateral sides of the pronotum and mesonotum pubescence hardly visible. Pronotum with six short, yellow erect setae, mesonotum usually with long seta on each side, propodeum in posterior half with 4 long, yellow erect setae, slightly longer than the setae on the mesonotum.

Petiole. Squamiform, thin, in lateral view approximately 2.1 × as high as wide, anterior face distinctly convex, posterior face almost flat, apex on sides regularly rounded, centrally truncate, apicolateral corners each with two long, erect setae. ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1, 2 ). Petiole distinctly microstriate, shiny.

Gaster. With distinct transverse microstriation but shiny. Whole gaster with short and sparse, indistinct appressed pubescence; dorsum of the first tergite with 4 long, yellow erect setae basally, and close to the posterior margin with a row of slightly shorter 6 setae, transparent posterior margin covered with short appressed setae not extending to the posterior margin of tergite; tergites 2 and 3 anteriorly and posteriorly with a row of 6 long yellow setae ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1, 2 ). Each of gastral sternites with 3-4 long, yellow, and erect setae.

Legs. Stout, hind femora distinctly short- er than the mesosoma (FI approximately 0.69). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with very sparse, yellow and appressed pubescence, standing hairs absent. Ventral surfaces of hind tibiae with 2-3 erect spiniform setae.

Gyne (n=1): Measurements. HL: 1.88; HW: 1.63; SL: 1.40; EL: 0.60; PW: 1.43; PTH: 0.67; PTW: 0.29; WL: 2.80; HFL: 1.60; CI: 1.15; SI: 0.86; PI: 2.31; FI: 0.57.

Color . Head brown, gena with a small reddish patch, mandibles reddish ( Figs. 3-4 View Figs 3, 4 ). Mesosoma bicolored ( Figs. 5-7 View Figs 5 – 7 ); pronotum mostly yellow with brown patches anteriorly, rest of the mesosoma brown except partly yellowish laterobasal margins of scutum; petiolar squama brown with yellowish lateral margins; first gastral tergite brown with a broad yellow band and yellow posterior transparent margin, second tergite mostly brown with a yellow band at the base, subsequent tergites brown; coxa brown at base and yellow posteriorly, trochanters yellow, femora yellowish-brown to brown, apex of fore femora with a yellow patch, tibiae pale brown with yellowish apex, tarsi yellowish-brown; antennae ochraceous-yellow ( Fig. 6 View Figs 5 – 7 ).

Head. Subrectangular, approximately 1.15 × as long as wide, sides straight, very softly converging anterad, above eyes regularly rounded, posterior margin slightly convex ( Fig. 7 View Figs 5 – 7 ). Anterior clypeal margin straight, without median emargination, with several long and short yellow setae, the longest with a length of 0.145 mm. Clypeus densely microreticulated but shiny, covered with short and sparse appressed pubescence and numerous erect setae grouping mostly on the sides and base of the clypeal plate. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.28 × as long as wide and 0.7 × as long as the gena. Frontal carinae short, extending to half the length of the head, angularly arched, antennal fossa shallow, without special sculpture. Frons densely microreticulated but shiny, with thin median sulcus, short and sparse appressed pubescence, and with a row of six moderately long, erect setae along frontal carinae and few additional short setae close to median sulcus. Rest of the head surface with distinct microreticulation from shiny to slightly opalescent, covered with short and sparse appressed pubescence. Gena with numerous short erect setae, head dorsum immediately posterior to frontal carinae and anterior to vertex each with a pair of long erect setae. the ocellar area with two pairs each of long and short erect setae. Antennal scape moderately long; in frontal view almost straight, approximately 0.86 × as long as the width of the head, apex gradually widened; funiculus longer than the scape, pedicel moderately elongate, approximately 0.63 × as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.4 × as long as segment 2 ( Fig. 7 View Figs 5 – 7 ). Scape densely microsculptured, slightly dull, covered with short and sparse appressed pubescence, with 2-3 short erect setae. Mandibles short, rounded, strongly microreticulated but shiny, in their basal part with setose punctures, apical half with longitudinal grooves, surface with less than 16 moderately long, yellow setae.

Mesosoma. Moderately long, 1.96 × as long as wide. Pronotum elongate, visible from above, microreticulated and microstriate, shiny, covered with short and sparse appressed hairs and basally with 6 long erect setae. Scutum approximately as long as wide, regularly convex ( Fig. 6 View Figs 5 – 7 ); densely microreticulated and with small, sparse punctures and long basal grooves extending to half the length of the scutum, background shiny, covered with sparse and short appressed pubescence and on each side with two pairs of long erect setae. Scutellum almost regularly semicircular; microreticulated but shiny and with a few sparse punctures and 6 long erect setae. An- and katepisternum with distinct microreticulation, partly tending to form longitudinal and oblique striation, surface shiny and with short and sparse pubescence. Propodeum convex, subangulate in profile, on top with transverse and semicircular striation on the sides with longitudinal striation, posterolateral corners with 2-3 long erect setae ( Fig. 6 View Figs 5 – 7 )

Petiole. Squamiform, thin, in lateral view approximately 2.3 × as high as wide, anterior face distinctly convex, posterior face almost flat, apex on the sides regularly rounded, centrally truncate, apicolateral corners with three long, erect setae. Petiole with distinct microstriae, shiny.

Gaster. With distinct transverse microstriation but shiny; with short and sparse, hardly visible appressed pubescence; top of the dorsum and close to the posterior margin of the first tergite with rows of 6 long, yellow erect setae, transparent posterior margin covered with short appressed setae not extending to the posterior margin of the tergite; tergites 2 and 3 anteriorly and close to posterior margin with a row of 6-8 long yellow setae ( Fig. 6 View Figs 5 – 7 ). Each of gastral sternites with 4-5 long, yellow, and erect setae.

Legs. Stout, hind femora almost twice shorter than the mesosoma (FI approximately 0.57). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with very sparse, yellow appressed pubescence and a few subdecumbent hairs. Posteroventral face of fore femora with several erect setae and anteroventral part of hind femora with three erect setae. Ventral surfaces of hind tibiae with 2-3 erect spiniform setae.

Biological notes. The only two specimens (worker and gyne) were collected in 2012 under a moderate-sized stone in mixed cedar and pine forest in the famous refuge of Cypriot cedar Cedrus brevifolia (Hook. f.) A. Henry named Cedar Valley, at an altitude of 1196 m. During the expedition in 2022, the area was thoroughly penetrated again, but no more specimens were found. Also, this species has not been found at other sites in the surrounding cedar and pine forests. Therefore, its habitat requirements are hard to interpret. The find of just a worker and gyne in 2012 may indicate an initial colony or the temporary residence of two individuals from an abandoned colony.