Camponotus ionius Emery, 1920

Salata, Sebastian, Khalili-Moghadam, Arsalan & Borowiec, Lech, 2020, Review of the Camponotus samius complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Turano-Balkan region, with the description of a new species from Iran, Zootaxa 4763 (4), pp. 545-562 : 553-554

Camponotus ionius Emery, 1920

Figs 11–12 , 20–21

Camponotus (Myrmoturba) samius var. ionia Emery, 1920: 6 . [First available use of Camponotus maculatus subsp. samius var. ionia Emery, 1901: 59 (w.), unavailable name.]

Three syntype workers, Kefalonia, Greece. coll. Sangiorgi (MSNG) [Syntype major worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0905287, photos by Will Ericson, available on AntWeb.org].

Diagnosis. Hind tibia and scape with decumbent to suberect pilosity but without additional erect setae; gena without numerous erect setae; mesosoma in major workers sometimes ventrolaterally paler (brown to bright brown) than black to dark brown head and gaster, in minor workers mesosoma usually slightly paler than head and gaster, with dark dorsum and brown to bright brown lateral sides; legs in minor and major workers reddish brown; gaster in major and minor workers uniformly coloured, sometimes minor with indistinctly brighter colouration on its basal part; pilosity on gaster sparse.

Distribution. Greece ( Salata & Borowiec 2018), Turkey ( Kiran & Karaman 2012), Bulgaria ( Lapeva-Gjonova et al. 2010), Macedonia ( Bračko et al. 2014), Serbia ( Petrov 2004).

Biological notes. Camponotus ionius is a common species, known from various types of arid habitats, most commonly noted from pine forests, but also observed in olive plantations, deciduous forests, and gardens in urban areas. Workers are also occasionally observed in open habitats, especially pastures with xerothermous shrubs and limestone rocks or large stones. Nests can be found under large stones. Workers are active usually at dawn and dusk. Major workers forage up to 10 meters away from the nest and are often collected on roads or tree trunks. Camponotus ionius is also one of the pioneer species in burned forests.

Figures

FIGURES 11–12. Camponotus ionius Emery: 11—major worker lateral, 12—minor worker lateral (scale bar = 2mm).

FIGURES 19–21. 19—Camponotus riedeli Pisarski, major worker lateral (AntWeb CASENT0917222 photographed by Kate Martynova, scale bar = 2 mm). Camponotus ionius Emery, head in full-face view: 20—major worker, 21—minor worker (not to scale).