Camponotus merula (Losana 1834) [New Synonym]

Formica merula Losana 1834

This taxon was described from Piemont / Italy. It appears unlikely that a type specimen of Camponotus merula could ever be identified in a collection as the original description gives no type locality and its text and figure do not allow a reasonably safe allocation to a certain species. A total body length of 6 mm with a slender overall body shape and the ‘bilobe’ mesosoma (‘... bilobo, col lobo anteriore piu grande subrotonde...’) suggests a member of the Camponotus lateralis group. The chestnut-brown color (‘colore castagno intenso’) and occurrence on poplar trees plagued by aphids (‘..d‘onde percorre specialmente i pioppi dagli afidi travagliati.’) point to C. lateralis and make a synonymization with C. piceus unlikely. As nobody is currently able to present counter-evidence, I synonymize C. merula with C. lateralis .