Camponotus aegyptiacus Emery, 1915

Figs 3–4

Camponotus maculatus subsp. aegyptiacus Emery, 1915a: 79 (w) Egypt. Palearctic.

Diagnosis

Among the Arabian members of the genus this species is readily recognized by the presence of three yellow merged blotches on each side of gaster; subcephalic setae present but not numerous.

Material examined

OMAN – Dhofar • 13 w; Ayn Razat; 17.130° N, 54.236° E; alt. 121 m; 20 Nov. 2017; ML; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 6 w; Salalah; 17.152° N, 54.219° E; alt. 435 m; 22 Nov. 2017; HP; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 2 w; Ayn Hamran; 17.100° N, 54.284° E; alt. 106 m; 20 Nov. 2017; HP; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 1 w; Ayn Dirbat; 17.106° N, 54.453° E; alt. 207 m; 17 Nov. 2017; HP; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 4 w; Ayn Sahlanot; 17.147° N, 54.180° E; alt. 134 m; 16 Nov. 2017; BS; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 3 w; Dhalkout; 16.693° N, 53.156° E; alt. 628 m; 18 Nov. 2017; HP; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA • 8 w; Ayn Razat; 17.124° N, 54.238° E; alt. 98 m; 20 Nov. 2017; HP; M.R. Sharaf leg.; KSMA .

Ecological and biological notes

Camponotus aegyptiacus was found nesting under a rock where the soil was rocky, and the nest included a chamber inhabited by silverfish (Thysanura Leach, 1815). Several workers were foraging in a dry leaf litter under a tree of Prosopis L. ( Fabaceae Lindl.). Other workers were ascending trees and shrubs and were collected using a beating sheet.

Geographic range

Camponotus aegyptiacus was described from Egypt and recorded from KSA, Kuwait, Oman, and Yemen (Collingwood & Agosti 1996), and Egypt (Sharaf 2006).