Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography

Ant mimicry is a key defensive strategy of Colobopsis ants in the West Palaearctic. The chameleon ant Colobopsis imitans was initially described as a Western Mediterranean species, differing from the widespread sister species Co. truncata by showing morphological and behavioural adaptations to mimic Crematogaster scutellaris instead of Dolichoderus quadripunctatus. Recently, it was discovered to extend its geographic range to the Eastern Mediterranean and to mimic additional species of ants, including D. quadripunctatus and Cr. ionia. Here, we report the presence of Co. imitans in Lebanon for the first time. Lebanese Co. imitans workers were observed living in close association and following the trails of Cr. ionia and belonged to the Cr. ionia-mimicking “dark” colour morph. The Lebanese record represents the first of the species from the Levant, while old Co. truncata records from the region should be considered dubious.