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Cataglyphis chionistrae Salata, Demetriou, Georgiadis & Borowiec n. sp. Figs 1–10, 20 Type material examined. Holotype: s. (pin): CYPRUS, Limassol, Mt | Olympos / Chionistra loc. 1, 1862 m | 34.92943 / 32.87001 | 25 IV 2022, L. Borowiec || Pinus nigra forest | nest under stone (MNHW). Paratypes: 24 w., 1q.: the same data as holotype (MNHW, JDPC, ZMUA); 1q., 6 w.: CYPRUS, Limassol, Mt | Olympos / Chionistra loc. 3, 1928 m | 34.93563 / 32.8624 | 26 IV 2022, L. Borowiec || Pinus nigra forest | nest under stone (MNHW). Cataglyphis cretica (Forel, 1910): 23 (w.m.). Syntype (w.): Myrmecocystus cursor aenescens var. cretica Em., Creta (MSNG) (leg. Cecconi), Kufor [type images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0102116, photos by April Nobile, available on https://www.AntWeb.org]. Cataglyphis hellenica (Forel, 1886): 204 (w.). Syntype (w.): Myrmecocystus cursor var. hellenicus Forel, 1886, Pyrgos, Morea, Greece (MHNG) [type images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0911108, photos by Alexandra Westrich, available on https://www.AntWeb.org]. Cataglyphis italica (Emery, 1906): 48, fig 5 (w.): Myrmecocystus cursor subsp. italicus Emery, 1906., Foggia, Italy (MSNG) [type images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0102115, photos by April Nobile, available on https:// www.AntWeb.org]. Cataglyphis minos Borowiec & Salata, 2022 142, figs 62.1-11 (s.w.q.). Holotype major (w.)., Greece, Crete, Rethymno, Prov. Nida Plateau, 1370 m (35°15’N 24°50’E), 25.04.14, leg. S. Salata (MNHW); paratypes (q.,s.), Greece, Crete, Heraklion, Prov. Rouvas Forest loc. 1, 1316 m, (35°09N 2456’E), 05.05.14, leg. S. Salata (MNHW). Other material examined: 6w. (EtOH), 44 w. (EtOH), 47 w. (EtOH), 11 w. (EtOH): four nests, the same data as for holotype; 5 w. (EtOH): Limassol, Troodos, Mt Olympos / Chionistra loc. 3, 34.935639 / 32.862404, 1928 m, 26 IV 2022, Pinus nigra forest, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata (MNHW); 40 w. (EtOH): Limassol, Mt. Olympos / Chionistra, 34.93479 / 32.86232, 1915 m, 26 IV 2022, Pinus nigra forest, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis (MNHW). Etymology. Named after its locus typicus, Chionistra (= Mt. Olympos, 1,952 m), the highest point in Cyprus. Diagnosis. A member of the Cataglyphis cursor species complex within the cursor species group characterized by a petiole in the shape of a thick squama and monomorphic or with monophasic size variation of worker caste (Agosti 1990). Recent genetic studies showed that C. aenescens sensu lato is a group of cryptic or subcryptic taxa with rather small distribution areas and complicated genetic structure displaying clonal social hybridogenesis (Kuhn et al. 2020). In the eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin, the following species have been hitherto recorded: Cataglyphis aenescens (Nylander, 1849) - Türkiye, C. cretica (Forel, 1910) — Crete, C. hellenica (Forel, 1886) — Greece, C. italica (Emery, 1906) — Italy, and C. minos Borowiec & Salata, 2022 —Crete. The status of the Turkish populations recorded under C. aenescens is rather unclear. This taxon appears to be common in Central Anatolia (Kiran & Karaman 2021). However, as the true C. aenescens was described from “ Russia meridionalis” without the exact type locality and based on material collected by V. Motschulsky, it is possible that Turkish populations are not conspecific with populations from eastern Ukraine and the area north of the Caucasus. Kuhn et al. (2020) reported C. aenescens from Iran based on material collected close to the Caspian Sea and revealed that these populations genetically differ from populations distributed eastward. Thus, it is also possible that populations from the south Caspian area are not conspecific with true C. aenescens. So far, no species of the cursor complex has been noted from Israel (Vonshak & Ionescu-Hirsch 2009) nor Lebanon (Guenard et al. 2017), but C. aenescens was recorded from Syria by Wheeler & Man (1916). However, it is unknown which morphogenotype the Syrian populations represent. Workers of C. chionistrae differ from C. minos in the lack of erect setae on their antennal scapi, less setose pronotum and propodeum, and in major workers in the lack of erect setae on the first gastral tergite; from C. cretica in the smaller body size, less opalescent body sculpture, and in the presence of long and erect setae on the occipital part of the head and all mesosomal tergites (also in minor workers); from C. hellenica, C. italica, and C. cf. aenescens from Türkiye in usually deep black and always monochromous body coloration; longer antennal scapi (SI approximately 1.3 in C. chionistrae vs C. hellenica, C. italica, and C. cf. aenescens), and more shiny body surface. Description. Major worker (n=8): Measurements. HL: 1.464 (1.35–1.51); HW: 1.193 (1.09–1.26); SL: 1.551 (1.42–1.64); EL: 0.430 (0.41–0.45); PW: 0.965 (0.94–1.00); PRL: 0.778 (0.70–0.82); PRW: 0.681 (0.64–0.71); PTH: 0.448 (0.40–0.49); PTW: 0.226 (0.21–0.24); WL: 2.085 (2.00–2.15); HFL: 2.069 (2.00–2.17); CI: 1.228 (1.183 –1.265); SI: 1.301 (1.262 –1.344); PI: 1.983 (1.708 –2.143); FI: 0.992 (0.972 –1.029). Color. Whole body black (Figs. 1, 10); in a few examined specimens the frontal part of the head and gena were slightly paler colored, brownish black but the rest of the body was always deep black; legs bicolored, coxa, trochanters, and femora black, only knee yellowish to yellowish brown, tibiae yellowish brown to brown, usually fore tibiae paler colored than mid and hind tibiae, tarsi yellow. Antennae yellow to yellowish brown (Figs. 1, 2, 7). Head. Almost square, approximately 1.23 x as long as wide, sides below eyes slightly converging anterad, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin slightly convex (Fig. 7). Anterior clypeal margin convex, without shallow median emargination, with a row of very short setae and of 6–8 long yellowish-brown setae, the longest 0.6 x as long as than clypeal length. Clypeal plate with very sparse yellow appressed pubescence, anteriorly with additional few decumbent short setae, basally with a pair of long erect setae as long as 1/3–1/2 length of clypeus. Clypeus densely and finely microreticulated, slightly dull, at least basal half of clypeus with additional thin longitudinal striation (Fig. 3). Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.4–1.5 x as long as wide, and 0.8 x as long as gena. Frontal carinae short, slightly extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest point 0.26–0.27 x as wide as head width. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, covered with very short and sparse pubescence, densely microreticulated, sculpture tends to form semicircular striae. Head densely microreticulated, dull, with additional longitudinal striation, gena with very short and sparse, yellow, appressed pubescence. Anterior and lateral parts of head up to ocellar area without erect setae, except for one to two pairs of moderately long setae on frons; ocellar area usually with a pair of long, yellow erect setae with length up to 0.174 (setae in mature specimens often broken). Lateral parts of occipitum with 2–3 erect setae, the longest ~ 0.206. Antennal scape long, in frontal view almost straight, approximately 1.3 x as long as width of the head; base without tooth; apex only slightly and gradually widened; funiculus longer than scape, pedicel elongated, approximately 0.8 x as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.5 x as long as segment 2 (Fig. 7). Scape microsculptured, slightly dull, covered with short and sparse hairs, mostly appressed, only at apices slightly decumbent, without erect setae. Mandibles rounded, basally smooth and shiny, apical ¾ length with deep grooves, shiny with few long and short yellow setae, cutting edge with 4 large teeth (Fig. 3). Mesosoma. Long, approximately 2.2 x as long as wide, metanotal groove deep (Fig. 2). Pronotum convex on sides (Fig. 1). In lateral view pro- and mesonotum form regular convexity, propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, distinctly convex in lateral view with top of convexity slightly behind the middle (Fig. 2). Mesosoma densely microreticulated but shiny, on top of promesonotum with very sparse and short, hardly visible appressed pubescence, anterior surface of pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum with more visible yellowish white vestiture. Pronotum with one or two pairs of moderately long yellow setae, the longer pair with length 0.222, the shorter with length up to 0.110, mesonotum anteriorly with 2–4 short standing setae, the longest twice shorter than long setae on pronotum, and in posterior half with a pair of short setae, propodeum with 8–14 moderately long, yellow erect setae, the longest with length 0.143. Petiole. Squamiform, thin, PI approximately 1.95, anterior face softly convex, posterior face almost flat, top of petiole rounded obtusely angulate, surface diffusely microreticulate, covered with short, sparse, white appressed pubescence, apex without or with 2–4 erect setae (Fig. 4). Gaster. With fine and partly diffused microreticulation tending to form transverse striation, surface strongly shiny. Whole surface of gaster with very short and very sparse appressed pubescence, distance between hair mostly longer than length of hair; tergites 1–2 without erect setae or sometimes second tergite with a pair of short, white erect setae, tergite 3 with transverse row of 4 short erect setae. Each of gastral sternites with 3–4 long, white to yellow erect setae. Legs. Moderately elongate, FI approximately 0.992. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with thin, sparse, mostly appressed or only slightly decumbent yellow setae, without decumbent spiniform setae. Ventral surfaces of femora and tibiae with sparse, moderately long, and yellow suberect to erect setae, ventral margin of hind tibiae with a row of 5–6 spines. Minor worker (n=6): Measurements. HL: 1.137 (1.05–1.22); HW: 0.833 (0.75–0.90); SL: 1.258 (1.19–1.32); EL: 0.358 (0.34–0.38); PW: 0.753 (0.70–0.83); PRL: 0.638 (0.61–0.67); PRW: 0.550 (0.52–0.59); PTH: 0.312 (0.29–0.34); PTW: 0.163 (0.15–0.18); WL: 1.710 (1.60–1.82); HFL: 1.648 (1.49–1.76); CI: 1.365 (1.341 –1.400); SI: 1.512 (1.467 –1.587); PI: 1.917 (1.611 –2.125); FI: 0.964 (0.903 –0.988). Color. Same as in major workers, often antennae darker, brown (Figs. 5, 6). Head. Slightly more elongated than in major workers, 1.34–1.40 x as long as wide, below eyes softly converging anterad, behind eyes regularly rounded, occipital margin of head slightly convex. Anterior clypeal margin convex with shallow median emargination. Eyes large but slightly shorter than in major workers, 1.3 x as long as wide and 0.8 x as long as gena. Sculpture and setation of head and legs similar to major worker. Mesosoma. Same as in major worker but setation usually shorter and less numerous than in majors (Fig. 6). Petiole. Stouter than in major worker, mean PI 1.92, without erect setae. Gaster. As finely microreticulated as in majors. Tergites 1–2 without erect setae, tergite 3 usually without erect setae but occasionally with two short setae. Each of gastral sternites with 2–4 long, white to yellow erect setae. Legs slightly shorter than in major workers with mean FI 0.963. Gyne (n=2): Measurements. HL: 1.54 (1.51–1.57); HW: 1.42 (1.37–1.47); SL: 1.345 (1.27–1.42); EL: 0.455 (0.45–0.46; PW: 1.205 (1.19–1.22); PRL: 0.93 (0.92–0.94); PRW: 1.005 (1.00–1.01); PTH: 0.515 (0.49–0.54); PTW: 0.23 (0.22–0.24); WL: 2.485 (2.37–2.60); HFL: 1.765 (1.70–1.83); CI: 1.085 (1.068 –1.102); SI: 0.947 (0.927 –0.966); PI: 2.239 (2.227 –2.250); FI: 0.711 (0.704 –0.717). Color. Head reddish to reddish brown centrally, brown laterally and posteriorly; mesosoma mostly brown, scutellum and upper parts of episterna paler, reddish brown; petiole brown, gaster dorsally black, laterally brown; coxa, trochanters and femora mostly brown except reddish brown margins and reddish knee, tibiae yellowish or reddish brown, tarsi and antennae yellow (Figs. 8–10). Head. Almost square, approximately 1.1 x as long as wide, sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin slightly convex (Fig. 8). Anterior clypeal margin slightly convex, with shallow median emargination, with a row of short setae and 6 long setae, the longest with length 0.269 and 0.68 x as long as length of clypeus. Clypeus with very sparse yellow appressed pubescence, anteriorly and basally with few decumbent short setae, anterolaterally with a pair of long erect setae surface densely and finely microreticulated, slightly dull, basally often with additional longitudinal striation. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.5 x as long as wide and 0.8 x as long as gena. Frontal carinae short, not extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest point 0.22 x as wide as head width. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, densely microreticulated and covered with very short and sparse pubescence. Head regularly and densely microreticulated, in frontal area with additional longitudinal striation, behind eyes with additional semicircular striation; surface of gena and sides of head covered with extremely short and sparse, yellow, appressed pubescence. Frons with two pairs of long erect setae, between frons one pair of similar setae, ocellar area with 3–4 long erect setae, the longest with length 0.238, occipital sides with 2–3 long setae, the longest as long as the longest seta in ocellar area. Ventral side of head on each side with 4–5 long yellow setae. Antennal scape long, approximately 0.9 x as long as width of the head; base without tooth; apex only slightly and gradually widened (Fig. 8); funiculus longer than scape, pedicel elongated, approximately 0.7 x as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and twice as long as segment 2 (Fig. 8). Surface of scape diffusely microsculptured, shiny, covered with short, sparse, mostly appressed yellow hairs. Mandibles rounded, basally smooth and shiny, apical ¾ length with deep grooves, surface shiny, with 3–4 moderately long, yellow setae. Mesosoma. Long, approximately 2.06 x as long as wide. Pronotum elongate, along midline as long as 0.7 length of scutum (Fig. 9). Surface of pronotum anteriorly with diffused microreticulation, shiny, on sides distinctly microreticulated, slightly dull, with additional semicircular striation; anterior slope appears bare; sides with short, sparse, yellow appressed pubescence, at base a row of 4 yellow setae with length up to 0.286. In lateral view scutum gibbous anteriorly, top flattened posteriorly (Fig. 10). Surface of scutum densely microreticulated, but shiny, anteriorly, on sides and at base with long setae up to 0.275 mm length. Scutellum moderately convex, surface densely microreticulated, shiny, microreticulation with additional longitudinal striation, antero- and posterolateral corners with long erect setae. Anepisternum densely microreticulated, dull, with only few short, appressed hair; katepisternum densely microreticulated, dull, covered with moderately dense, appressed, yellow hair. Propodeum slightly shorter than scutum, softly, regularly convex, densely microreticulated, surface anteriorly and on sides dull, posteriorly shiny, covered with moderately dense, yellow vestiture, denser on top, sparser on sides close to spiracle, very dense in area close to metapleural gland, top of propodeum with more than 20 yellow erect setae, the longest with length 0.192. Petiole. Squamiform, like in workers, anterior face slightly convex, posterior face almost flat, PI 2.23–2.25 (Fig. 10). Surface of petiole distinctly microreticulated and shiny, covered with moderately dense, yellow pubescence, top of node without a pair of elongate erect setae. Gaster. Distinctly microreticulated and shiny, with additional transverse striation. Whole surface of gaster with short and sparse appressed pubescence; distance between hair longer than length of hair. Tergite 1–3 with a pair of long, yellow erect setae. Each of gastral sternites with 2–4 long, yellow, and erect setae. Legs. Moderately elongated but shorter than in workers, hind femora distinctly shorter than mesosoma (FI 0.711). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with fine, sparse, moderately long, appressed to decumbent setae, external surface of mid and hind tibiae with a row of very long erect setae up to 0.300 mm length. Ventral surfaces of hind tibiae with 1–2 yellow subapical spines. Biological notes. All nests were located under moderate sized stones located in the highest parts of Mt. Olympus around the peak locality of Chionistra, overgrown with Pinus nigra subsp. nigra var. pallasiana at an altitude from 1862 to 1928 m a.s.l. Cataglyphis chionistrae is the only species of the C. cursor complex from the eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin that prefers shadowed sites inside old pine forests. All other species are more photophilous and build nests in open spaces such as mountain steppes or xerothermophilic meadows with sparse vegetation, and if in pine forests, then on luminous clearings or broad sandy roadsides., Published as part of Salata, Sebastian, Demetriou, Jakovos, Georgiadis, Christos & Borowiec, Lech, 2023, The ant genus Cataglyphis Förster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus, pp. 301-322 in Zootaxa 5264 (3) on pages 304-311, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7836585, {"references":["Forel, A. (1910) Glanures myrmecologiques. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 54, 6 - 32.","Forel, A. (1886) Etudes myrmecologiques en 1886. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 30, 131 - 215.","Emery, C. (1906) Rassegna critica delle specie paleartiche del genere Myrmecocystus. Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna, (6) 3, 47 - 61","Agosti, D. (1990) Review and reclassification of Cataglyphis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Natural History, 24, 1457 - 1505. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939000770851","Kuhn, A., Darras, H., Paknia, O. & Aron, S. (2020) Repeated evolution of queen parthenogenesis and social hybridogenesis in Cataglyphis desert ants. Molecular Ecology, 29, 549 - 564. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / mec. 15283","Kiran, K. & Karaman, C. (2021) Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Central Anatolian Region of Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 45, 161 - 196. https: // doi. org / 10.3906 / zoo- 2008 - 6","Guenard, B., Weiser, M., Gomez, K., Narula, N. & Economo, E. P. (2017) The Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics (GABI) database: synthesizing data on the geographic distribution of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News, 24, 83 - 89. https: // doi. org / 10.25849 / myrmecol. news _ 024: 083"]}

Cataglyphis aphrodite Salata, Demetriou, Georgiadis & Borowiec n. sp. Figs 11–20 = Cataglyphis nodus (Brullé, 1833): Forel (1904): 176 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus var. orientalis Forel, 1895). = Cataglyphis nodus (Brullé, 1833): Santschi (1939): 7 (as Cataglyphis bicolor st. nodus Brullé). = Cataglyphis viatica (Fabricius, 1787): Dempster (1957): 39 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus (F.)). Etymology. Named after Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess associated with love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation. Cyprus is one of the main cult centres of Aphrodite, and according to mythology, she is usually said to have been born near her chief centre of worship, Paphos, the terra typica for this species. Type material examined. Holotype (pinned): major worker: CYPRUS, Paphos, 424 m | Agiou Neofytou Mon. | 34.84602 / 32.44784 | 29 IV 2022, L. Borowiec (MNHW). Paratypes: 37 w., 1q (pinned): the same data as for holotype (MNHW, JDPC, ZMUA); 1s.: CYPRUS, Akrotiri, 1 m | Limassol Salt Lake loc. 1 | 34.6041 / 32.9528 | 20 IV 2022, L. Borowiec (MNHW); 1w.: CYPRUS, Akrotiri, 0 m | Limassol Salt Lake loc. 2 | 34.60987 / 32.994685 | 20 IV 2022, L. Borowiec (MNHW); 3w.: CYPRUS, Larnaca, 4 m, | Larnaca Salt Lake | 34.91047 / 33.60489 | 22 IV 2022, J. D. [emetriou] C. G. [eorgiadis]; 4s., 2w.: CYPRUS, Paphos, Kato | Paphos, 32 m | 34.75368 / 32.43391 | 17 IV 2022, L. Borowiec; 1s.: CYPRUS, Paphos, 219 m | 2.2 km S of Lemona | 34.842542 / 32.54799 | 29 IV 2022, L. Borowiec; 2s.: CYPRUS, Paphos, Lara | beach, 10 m | 34.91957 / 32.32751 | 18 IV 2022, L. Borowiec; 2s., 3w.: CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 7 m | Paphos-Lempa, beach area | 34°48.425 N / 32°23.643 E | 7 V 2012, L. Borowiec || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-CY00048; 1s., 1w.: CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 7 m | Paphos-Lempa, beach area | 34°47.971 N / 32°23.577 E | 1 V 2012, L. Borowiec || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-CY00049; 1s.: CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 176 m | Diarizos riv. n. Mamonia | 34°45.736 N / 32°37.253 E | 6 V 2012, L. Borowiec || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBCCY00050; 1s., 11w.: CYPRUS, Paphos distr. | 1196 m, Cedar Valley | 34°59.703 N / 32°41.240 E | 5 V 2012, L. Borowiec || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-CY00051; 1s., 1w.: CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 62 m | Diarizos riv. n. Nikokleia | 34°43.805 N / 32°35.037 E | 6 V 2012, L. Borowiec || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBCCY00202; major worker: CYPRUS, Paphos distr., 25 m | Kato Paphos Palaipafou Ave | 34.758873 / 32.421888 | 4–13 VII 2019, G. Hebda || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-CY00212. Cataglyphis bicolor rufiventris Emery, 1925: 265 (w.). Syntype worker, Corfu, Greece (MSNG) [syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0905722, photos by Will Ericson, available on https://www.AntWeb. org]; Syntype worker, Corfu, Greece (MHNG) [syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0911116, photos by Alexandra Westrich and Zach Lieberman, available on https://www.AntWeb.org]. Cataglyphis viatica orientalis (Forel, 1895): 228–229. Syntype worker, Corfu, Greece (MHNG) [syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0911115, photos by Alexandra Westrich and Zach Lieberman, available on https://www.AntWeb.org]. Other material examined. 10 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Kato Paphos, 34.753684 / 32.433916, 32 m, 17 IV 2022, urban area and ruderal sites near citrus orchard, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata; 1 w. (EtOH): Akrotiri, Limassol Salt Lake loc. 2, 34.609878 / 32.946854, 0 m, 20 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, herbs and bushes at lake shore; 1 w. (EtOH): Akrotiri, Limassol Salt Lake loc. 3, 34.601118 / 32.971551, 4 m, 20 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, dry meadow; 1 w. (EtOH): Limassol, Apollo Temple 2.5 km W of Kourion, 34.673994 / 32.864125, 129 m, 20 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, mediterranean bushes; 1 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Evretou Dam, 34.961659 / 32.477493, 172 m, 21 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, mediterranean bushes; 1 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Paphos Forest loc. 4, 35.067761 / 32.615137, 808 m, 23 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, pine forest; 1 w. (EtOH): Nicosia, 4 km SW of Kapedes, 34.956326 / 33.214662, 677 m, 24 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, pine forest on gravel ground; 1 w. (EtOH): Nicosia, 1.2 km W of Panagia Machaira Mon., 34.937849 / 33.176931, 838 m, 24 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, roadsides in pine forest; 5 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Kato Paphos, Hotel Veronica, 34.749580 / 32.428932, 20 m, 24 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata, hotel garden and surroundings; 7 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Aphrodite Baths, 35.056245 / 32.345005, 47 m, 27 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec & S. Salata, bath area and garden; 1 w. (EtOH): Limassol, ad Dora, 34.772575 / 32.750353, 432 m, 28 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, close to stream; 10 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Agios Neofytos Monastery, 34.846027 / 32.447846, 424 m, 29 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, J. Demetriou, C. Georgiadis & S. Salata, on ground in shadow valley; 1 w. (EtOH): Paphos, ad Kalepia, 34.837284 / 32.503188, 414 m, 29 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, Mediterranean bushes on roadsides; 3 w. (EtOH): Paphos, 2.2 km S of Lemona, 34.842542 / 32.54799, 219 m, 29 IV 2022, leg. L. Borowiec, J. Demetriou & S. Salata, bush around marsh; 7 w. (EtOH): Larnaca Salt Lake, 34.8819 / 33.6139, 0 m, 10 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, nest by the side of the road; 2 w. (EtOH): Larnaca Salt Lake, 34.91047 / 33.60489, 4 m, 22 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, dirt road with reeds; 3 w. (EtOH): Larnaca, Larnaca Salt Lake hiking trail, 34.91103 / 33.60121, 5 m, 22 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, dirt road with reeds; 4 w. (EtOH): Nicosia, Potamia, 35.04751 / 33.43766, 188 m, 21 IV 2022, leg. C. Georgiadis, roadsides with Eucalyptus trees; 1 w. (EtOH): Nicosia, Geri, Geri, 35.09006 / 33.44064, 182 m, 21 IV 2022, dirt road, leg. C. Georgiadis, foraging on garbage; 1 w. (EtOH): Larnaca, Tekke mosque, 34.88544 / 33.61008, 6 m, 22 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, irrigated gardens; 6 w. (EtOH): Larnaca, Aradippou dam, 34.98306 / 33.59293, 66 m, 22 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, next to dam water, limestone rocks, reeds, thistles cloase to reservoir; 4 w. (EtOH): Larnaca, Aradippou bank, 34.98661 / 33.59135, 71 m, 22 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, riverbank with reeds; 4 w. (EtOH): Larnaca, Kiti dam, 34.87157 / 33.55439, 47 m, 22 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, cultivations with Ferula communis, thistles and Crataegus azarolus; 2 w. (EtOH): Nicosia, Machairas Forest, 34.85330 / 33.36188, 181 m, 23 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis; 10 w. (EtOH): Ammochostos (Famagusta), Paralimni, 35.03886 / 33.97520, 70 m, 25 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis; 13 w. (EtOH): Ammochostos (Famagusta), Paralimni lake, 35.03552 / 33.95647, 70 m, 25 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis; 2 w. (EtOH): Ammochostos (Famagusta), Cavo Greco, 34.96647 / 34.06698, 51 m, 25 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, maquie; 13 w. (EtOH): Ammochostos (Famagusta), Achna reservoir, 35.05017 / 33.81183, 40 m, 25 IV 2022, leg. J. Demetriou & C. Georgiadis, next to water, low vegetation; 3 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Paphos Lempa, Sunny Hill Aparthotel, 34.8042 / 32.40078, 56 m, 1–6 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, hotel garden; 10 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Paphos-Lempa, beach area loc. 1, 34.79964 / 32.39314, 5 m, 1 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, seacoast; 10 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Paphos-Lempa, beach area loc. 2, 34.80732 / 32.39417, 11 m, 7 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, seacoast; 1 w. (pinned): Paphos, Panagia-Cedar Valley rd. loc. 1, 34.92718 / 32.64728, 755 m, 5 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, pine forest; 5 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Cedar Valley, 34.99503 / 32.68732, 1196 m, 5 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, pine and cedar forest; 13 w. (EtOH): Diarizos riv. ad Nikokleia, 34.73005 / 32.58394, 62 m, 6 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, dry riverbanks; 3 w. (EtOH): Paphos, Diarizos riv. ad. Fasula, 34.76222 / 32.62087, 173 m, 6 V 2012, leg. L. Borowiec, dry riverbanks; 1 w. (pinned): Paphos, Kato Paphos, Palaipafou Ave, 34.7591 / 32.4236, 28 m, 4–13 VII 2013, urban area, leg. G. Hebda (USMB). Diagnosis. Cataglyphis aphrodite is a member of the Cataglyphis nodus complex within the bicolor speciesgroup characterised by petiole nodiform, head and mesosoma distinctly sculptured, monophasic variation in body size, and bicolored and large workers (WL always above 3 mm, often above 5 mm) (Agosti 1990). The eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin complex consists of two species: C. lunatica Baroni Urbani, 1969, and C. nodus (Brullé, 1833). Cataglyphis lunatica differs strongly in yellow body coloration and brownish gaster. Cataglyphis nodus appears to be the most similar-looking species but differs from C. aphrodite in larger body size. HL in major workers of C. nodus reaches up to 3.5 mm (less than 2.3 mm in C. aphrodite). The overall small body size was already noticed by Forel (1904), who recorded C. nodus from Cyprus and pointed out that a smaller size characterizes Cypriot populations compared to typical C. nodus. Also, the setation of mesosoma, if present, is in C. nodus more abundant and longer than in C. aphrodite. In C. nodus, the longest setae on pronotum are 0.269 mm, on mesonotum 0.230 mm, and propodeum 0.262 mm, while in C. aphrodite 0.158, 0.076, and 0.079, respectively. Currently, there are four taxa considered junior synonyms of C. nodus, and two of them were described from the Eastern Mediterranean region. Cataglyphis bicolor rufiventris Emery, 1925 was described from Korfu [Corfu/ Kerkyra] based on differences in the coloration of gaster, while Cataglyphis viatica orientalis (Forel, 1895) was described from Edirne in Türkiye based on the thicker and lower petiole. In both cases, the characters mentioned above were proven to fall within the infraspecific variation observed in C. nodus. Thus, due to the lack of any name that can be used for the Cypriot populations, we decided to describe them as new to science. Cataglyphis aphrodite might also be confused with some other species of the bicolor species group known from the Eastern Mediterranean. Cataglyphis machmal Radchenko & Arakelian, 1991 differs in the dorsum of mesosoma and first gastral tergite with numerous white, long erect setae, mostly longer than apical width of hind tibia (in C. aphrodite dorsum of mesosoma and first gastral tergite without erect setae or with 1–3 short setae on each mesosomal tergite and at most 6 setae on propodeum, setae never longer than apical width of hind tibia); Cataglyphis oasium Menozzi, 1932 differs in a strongly convex propodeum, legs always dark colored (brown to black) and larger size (HL in major workers always above 3 mm while in C. aphrodite HL Cataglyphis israelensis Ionescu & Eyer, 2016 differs in larger body size (HL in major workers up to 3.20 mm) and mesonotum raised over pronotum in most workers; Cataglyphis laevior Emery, 1925 differs in larger body size (HL in major workers always above 3 mm) and less sculptured gaster with shiny lateral sides (in C. aphrodite gaster is more sculptured and never shiny). Also, C. laevior is distributed in northern Africa and its records from Türkiye (Kiran & Karaman 2021) and Arabian Peninsula (Collingwood 1985, Collingwood & Agosti 1996) need confirmation. Description. Major worker (n=8): Measurements. HL: 2.211 (2.07–2.33); HW: 1.999 (1.80–2.17); SL: 2.245 (2.14–2.31); EL: 0.543 (0.51–0.58); PW: 1.385 (1.27–1.48); PRL: 1.184 (1.10–1.28); PRW: 0.991 (0.92–1.07); PTH: 0.460 (0.33–0.55); PTW: 0.484 (0.45–0.54); WL: 3.160 (3.00–3.33); HFL: 3.391 (3.17–3.63); CI: 1.107 (1.064 –1.239); SI: 1.125 (1.064 –1.239); PI: 0.951 (0.880 –1.021); FI: 1.074 (1.032 –1.132). Color. Head, mesosoma, petiole, legs, and antennae red, gaster black (Figs. 11, 12). In the palest specimens gaster brownish black; in the darkest specimens femora reddish brown to brown, occasionally also tibiae reddish brown but dark specimens represent not more than 10% of all examined specimens. Head. Square, approximately 1.11 x as long as wide, sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin slightly convex or almost straight (Fig. 13). Anterior clypeal margin slightly convex, without central impression, with a row of 6–8 long yellow setae only slightly shorter than clypeal length. Clypeal surface with very sparse, yellow and appressed pubescence and anteriorly with few decumbent and short setae, with a pair of long erect setae as long as 1/3–1/2 length of clypeus. Clypeus densely and finely microreticulated, slightly dull, basally with additional longitudinal striation. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.3–1.4 x as long as wide and 0.6 x as long as gena. Frontal carinae short, not extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest point 0.18–0.15 x as wide as head. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, densely microreticulated and covered with very short and sparse pubescence. Head densely microreticulated, dull, with no longitudinal or transverse striation, surface covered with very short and sparse, yellow, appressed pubescence. Anterior and lateral parts of head up to ocellar area without erect setae, ocellar area usually with a pair of long, yellow erect setae with length of up to 0.222 (in mature specimens setae often broken). Central part of occipital area usually with 6–8 yellow, short to long erect setae, the longest ~ 0.334. Occipital corners without or with single short, yellow seta. Ventral side of head without or with 2–4 short yellow setae, three times shorter than the longest seta on occipitum. Antennal scape long; in frontal view almost straight, 1.06–1.24 x as long as width of the head; base without tooth; apex only slightly and gradually widened (Fig. 13); funiculus longer than scape, pedicel elongated, approximately 0.9 x as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.9 x as long as segment 2 (Fig. 13). Surface of scape densely microsculptured, shiny or slightly dull, covered with short, sparse, mostly appressed to decumbent yellow hairs. Mandibles rounded, basally smooth and shiny, apical ¾ length with deep grooves, surface shiny with several long, yellow setae. Mesosoma. Long, approximately 2.3 x as long as wide, metanotal groove shallow (Fig. 12). Pronotum regularly rounded on sides (Fig. 11). In lateral view, promesonotum regularly arched, mesonotum not raised above pronotum, propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, dorsum of propodeum in lateral view form regular arch (Fig. 12). Mesosoma densely microreticulated, dull; covered with yellow appressed pubescence sparse to moderately dense on pronotum and dorsal mesonotum, dense on the surface of pronotum, laterals sides of mesonotum, and propodeum, dense close to metapleural gland. Pronotum 1–3 short to moderately long, yellow erect setae, the longest seta with length to 0.158, mesonotum usually with four short, yellow setae, the longest with length 0.076, propodeum without, or anteriorly with a pair and posteriorly 1–4 short setae, the longest with length 0.079. Petiole. Nodiform, node in lateral view regularly rounded, posterior face slightly concave, pedicel elongate (Fig. 14). Surface of petiole distinctly microreticulated and slightly shiny, covered with moderately dense, yellow pubescence, top of node without or with 1–2 very short, yellow erect setae. Gaster. Dull and distinctly microreticulated, first gastral tergite sometimes with additional transverse striation. Gaster with very short and sparse appressed pubescence, distance between hair usually longer than length of hair; top of first tergite usually without or occasionally with 1–2 very short, yellow erect setae, tergite 2 usually without, occasionally with 1–2 short, yellow erect setae, tergite 3 usually with a pair of long, yellow erect setae up to 0.317 mm in length, but in large specimens setae often broken. Each of gastral sternites with 3–4 long, yellow, and erect setae up to 0.325 mm in length. Legs. Elongate, hind femora slightly longer than mesosoma (mean FI 1.073). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with fine, sparse, appressed to slightly decumbent setae, without additional, decumbent spiniform setae. Ventral surfaces of hind tibiae with a row of 6–8 long, yellow spines. Minor worker (n=6): Measurements. HL: 1.407 (1.17–1.56); HW: 1.102 (0.86–1.29); SL: 1.572 (1.29–1.70); EL: 0.380 (0.33–0.40); PW: 0.872 (0.71–0.98); PRL: 0.788 (0.63–0.84); PRW: 0.638 (0.51–0.69); PTH: 0.305 (0.26–0.35); PTW: 0.305 (0.24–0.34); WL: 2.173 (1.80–2.32); HFL: 2.320 (1.98–2.50); CI: 1.282 (1.209 –1.360); SI: 1.432 (1.318 –1.466); PI: 1.005 (0.848 –1.103); FI: 1.068 (1.035 –1.100). Color. Similar to major workers, but legs often darker, yellowish brown to brown (Figs. 15, 16). Antennae sometimes with reddish brown scapi and slightly obscure funicle. Head. Slightly more elongated than in major workers, 1.21–1.36 x as long as wide, below eyes parallel-sided, behind eyes regularly rounded, occipital margin of head slightly convex.Anterior clypeal margin convex without median impression, central surface of clypeus without median keel. Eyes large and oval, 1.4 x as long as wide and 0.8 x as long as gena. Sculpture and setation of head and legs similar to major worker. Mesosoma. Same as in major worker but setation often more visible, mesonotum often with 4–6 setae. Petiole. As in major worker, without erect setae. Gaster. Strongly microreticulated and dull. Tergites 1–2 without erect setae, tergite 3 usually without erect setae but occasionally with a row of 4 short setae. Each of gastral sternites with 2–4 long, yellow erect setae. Legs as long as in major workers with mean FI below 1.068. Gyne (n=1): Measurements. HL: 2.30; HW: 2.20; SL: 2.02; EL: 0.57; PW: 1.69; PRL: 1.33; PRW: 1.33; PTH: 0.60; PTW: 0.47; WL: 3.63; HFL: 2.67; CI: 1.045; SI: 0.918; PI: 1.276; FI: 0.736. Color. Head, mesosoma, petiole legs, and antennae red, gaster reddish brown (Figs. 17, 18). Head. Square, almost as long as wide, sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin slightly convex (Fig. 19). Anterior clypeal margin slightly convex, without central impression, on each side with a row of 6–8 short yellow setae. Clypeal surface with very sparse yellow appressed pubescence and anteriorly with few decumbent short setae and close to base with one broken seta. Clypeus densely and finely microreticulated, slightly shiny, basally often with additional longitudinal striation. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.4 x as long as wide and 0.8 x as long as gena. Frontal carinae short, not extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest part 0.19 x as wide as head width. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, densely microreticulated, and covered with very short and sparse pubescence. Head regularly, densely microreticulated, frontal fac, Published as part of Salata, Sebastian, Demetriou, Jakovos, Georgiadis, Christos & Borowiec, Lech, 2023, The ant genus Cataglyphis Förster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus, pp. 301-322 in Zootaxa 5264 (3) on pages 311-320, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7836585, {"references":["Forel, A. (1904) Fourmis du Musee de Bruxelles. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 48, 168 - 177.","Santschi, F. (1939) Trois notes sur quelques fourmis du Musee Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. Bulletin du Musee Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique, 15 (14), 1 - 15.","Dempster, J. P. (1957) The population dynamics of the Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus Thunb.) in Cyprus. Anti- Locust Bulletin, 27, 1 - 4.","Agosti, D. (1990) Review and reclassification of Cataglyphis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Natural History, 24, 1457 - 1505. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939000770851","Eyer, P. A., Seltzer, R. & Reiner-Brodetzki, Hefetz. A. (2016) An integrative approach to untangling species delimitation in the Cataglyphis bicolor desert ant complex in Israel. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 115, 128 - 139. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2017.07.024","Kiran, K. & Karaman, C. (2021) Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Central Anatolian Region of Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 45, 161 - 196. https: // doi. org / 10.3906 / zoo- 2008 - 6","Collingwood, C. A. (1985) Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 7: 230 - 302.","Collingwood, C. A. & Agosti D. (1996) Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 15, 300 - 385."]}

At the beginning of their foraging careers, Cataglyphis desert ants calibrate their compass systems and learn the visual panorama surrounding the nest entrance. For that, they perform well-structured initial learning walks. During rotational body movements (pirouettes), naïve ants (novices) gaze back to the nest entrance to memorize their way back to the nest. To align their gaze directions, they rely on the geomagnetic field as a compass cue. In contrast, experienced ants (foragers) use celestial compass cues for path integration during food search. If the panorama at the nest entrance is changed, foragers perform re-learning walks prior to heading out on new foraging excursions. Here, we show that initial learning walks and re-learning walks are structurally different. During re-learning walks, foragers circle around the nest entrance before leaving the nest area to search for food. During pirouettes, they do not gaze back to the nest entrance. In addition, foragers do not use the magnetic field as a compass cue to align their gaze directions during re-learning walk pirouettes. Nevertheless, magnetic alterations during re-learning walks under manipulated panoramic conditions induce changes in nest-directed views indicating that foragers are still magnetosensitive in a cue conflict situation.

Cataglyphis adenensis (Forel, 1904) Fig. 9 Myrmecocystus viaticus r. adenensis Forel, 1904: 382 (footnote) (w) Yemen. Afrotropic. Diagnosis Bicolored species with head and mesosoma red or dull brown-red, gaster brown; head slightly longer than broad; petiole in profile with a rounded dome; mesosoma and petiole covered with whitish appressed pubescence. Material examined This species was not collected during the present study. Ecological and biological notes Nothing is known on the ecology or biology of this species. Geographic range A species was originally described from Yemen and subsequently recorded from Oman (Collingwood & Agosti 1996), Kuwait, and UAE (Collingwood et al. 2011). A single worker was collected from Dhofar by Collingwood & Agosti (1996)., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Wetterer, James K., Mohamed, Amr A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2022, Faunal composition, diversity, and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with updated list of the Omani species and remarks on zoogeography, pp. 1-106 in European Journal of Taxonomy 838 (1) on pages 15-19, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.838.1925, http://zenodo.org/record/7094306, {"references":["Forel A. 1904. Note sur les fourmis du Musee Zoologique de l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences a St. Petersbourg. Ezhegodnik Zoologicheskago Muzeya 8: 368 - 388.","Fabricius J. C. 1798. Supplementum Entomologiae Systematicae. Proft and Storch, Hafniae [Copenhagen]. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 122153","Finzi B. 1940 (\" 1939 \"). Formiche della Libia. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 18: 155 - 166.","Collingwood C. A. & Agosti D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300 - 385.","Collingwood C. A., Agosti D., Sharaf M. R. & van Harten A. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405 - 474."]}

Cataglyphis rubra (Forel, 1903) Fig. 12 Myrmecocystus albicans r. ruber Forel, 1903: 268 (w) Algeria. Palearctic. Diagnosis Head, mesosoma, petiole red, gaster brown; posterior margin of head with 6–10 straight, erect setae; petiole in profile low, with a flat dorsal surface sloping forward, in profile with node longer than high; propodeal dorsum making a blunt obtuse angle with declivity; mesosoma and petiole with pale appressed pubescence. Material examined This species was not collected during the present study. Ecological and biological notes Noted as a desert species by Moradloo et al. (2015). Geographic range Cataglyphis rubra was originally described from Algeria and is widely distributed throughout North Africa from the Atlas Mountains to Sinai Peninsula (Collingwood 1985; Collingwood & Agosti 1996). It is also recorded from Oman (Collingwood 1985), and UAE (Collingwood et al. 2011). This species has been recorded from Dhofar by Collingwood (1985)., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Wetterer, James K., Mohamed, Amr A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2022, Faunal composition, diversity, and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with updated list of the Omani species and remarks on zoogeography, pp. 1-106 in European Journal of Taxonomy 838 (1) on page 21, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.838.1925, http://zenodo.org/record/7094306, {"references":["Forel A. 1903. Melanges entomologiques, biologiques et autres. Annales de la Societe entomologique de Belgique 47: 249 - 268.","Moradloo S., Fard R. N., Rad S. P. & Taylor B. 2015. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Northern Iran. Zoology in the Middle East 61: 168 - 173. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 09397140.2015.1020611","Collingwood C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7: 230 - 302.","Collingwood C. A. & Agosti D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300 - 385.","Collingwood C. A., Agosti D., Sharaf M. R. & van Harten A. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405 - 474."]}

Cataglyphis arenaria Finzi, 1940 Fig. 10 Cataglyphis (Cataglyphis) albicans var. arenaria Finzi, 1940: 164 (w) Algeria. Palearctic. Diagnosis Body color yellow, gaster frequently with a dark apex; propodeal dorsum low in profile; mesosoma bare except for few pairs of short setae on propodeum; mesosoma, posterior part of head and coxae covered with a layer of silvery appressed pubescence. Material examined This species was not collected during the present study. Ecological and biological notes Nothing has been published on the ecology of this species. Geographic range Cataglyphis arenaria was originally described from Algeria and has been recorded from Oman (Collingwood & Agosti 1996), and UAE (Collingwood et al. 2011). Collingwood & Agosti (1996) reported this species from Dhofar based on two workers., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Wetterer, James K., Mohamed, Amr A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2022, Faunal composition, diversity, and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with updated list of the Omani species and remarks on zoogeography, pp. 1-106 in European Journal of Taxonomy 838 (1) on page 19, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.838.1925, http://zenodo.org/record/7094306, {"references":["Finzi B. 1940 (\" 1939 \"). Formiche della Libia. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 18: 155 - 166.","Collingwood C. A. & Agosti D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300 - 385.","Collingwood C. A., Agosti D., Sharaf M. R. & van Harten A. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405 - 474."]}

Cataglyphis sabulosa Kugler, 1981 Fig. 13 Cataglyphis sabulosa Kugler, 1981: 84 (w, q, m) Israel. Palearctic. Diagnosis Color yellow to orange-brown; gaster frequently brown; first funicular segment nearly 1.5 × as long as second; propodeal dorsum passing in a curve into equally long declivity; petiole squamiform, convex anteriorly and straight posteriorly; third maxillary palp fringed with long curved setae; head, mesosoma, petiole, gaster, and coxae usually with dense white-silvery pubescence. Material examined This species was not collected during the present study. Ecological and biological notes Cataglyphis sabulosa is a desert species that builds nests in the sand at a depth of about 20 cm, where alate males and dealate queens occur (Kugler 1981). The species seems to be a preferred diet of the lizard, Acanthodactylus schreiberi Boulenger, 1878 (Lacertidae). Geographic range A species originally described from Israel and recorded from Egypt (Kugler 1981), Oman, KSA (Collingwood 1985), UAE, and Yemen (Collingwood & Agosti 1996). Collingwood (1985) recorded this species from Dhofar based on a single worker., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Wetterer, James K., Mohamed, Amr A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2022, Faunal composition, diversity, and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with updated list of the Omani species and remarks on zoogeography, pp. 1-106 in European Journal of Taxonomy 838 (1) on page 21, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.838.1925, http://zenodo.org/record/7094306, {"references":["Kugler J. 1981. A new species of Cataglyphis Forster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Israel and Sinai. Israel Journal of Entomology 15: 83 - 88.","Collingwood C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7: 230 - 302.","Collingwood C. A. & Agosti D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300 - 385."]}

Cataglyphis isis (Forel, 1913) Fig. 11 Myrmecocystus (Cataglyphis) diehlii var. isis Forel, 1913: 434 (w) Egypt. Palearctic. Diagnosis Body color black; first funicular segment less than 1.4 × as long as second; propodeal dorsum in profile low; mesosoma and petiole with dense whitish appressed pubescence; petiolar node higher than long in profile; gaster slightly sculptured and dull. Material examined This species was not collected during the present study. Ecological and biological notes Nothing has been published on the ecology of this species. Geographic range A species originally described from Egypt and recorded from several countries in the Middle East including Oman, KSA (Collingwood 1985), UAE, Yemen (Collingwood & Agosti 1996; Collingwood et al. 2011), Israel (Ionescu & Eyer 2016), Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran (Pisarski 1965). Cataglyphis isis was recorded from Dhofar (Collingwood & Agosti 1996) based on two worker specimens., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Wetterer, James K., Mohamed, Amr A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2022, Faunal composition, diversity, and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with updated list of the Omani species and remarks on zoogeography, pp. 1-106 in European Journal of Taxonomy 838 (1) on page 19, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.838.1925, http://zenodo.org/record/7094306, {"references":["Forel A. 1913. Fourmis de la faune mediterraneenne recoltees par MM. U. et J. Sahlberg. Revue suisse de Zoologie 21: 427 - 438. Available from https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 10712981 [accessed 25 Jul. 2022].","Collingwood C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7: 230 - 302.","Collingwood C. A. & Agosti D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300 - 385.","Collingwood C. A., Agosti D., Sharaf M. R. & van Harten A. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405 - 474.","Ionescu A. & Eyer P. A. 2016. Notes on Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 of the bicolor species-group in Israel, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 46: 109 - 131.","Pisarski B. 1965. Les fourmis du genre Cataglyphis Foerst. en Irak (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bulletin de l'Academie polonaise des Sciences 13: 417 - 422."]}

Cataglyphis urens Collingwood, 1985 Fig. 14 Cataglyphis urens Collingwood, 1985: 290 (w, m) Oman. Palearctic. Diagnosis Head and mesosoma dark red, gaster dark brown to black; appendages brown-red; propodeum in profile with a high dorsum meeting declivity in a rounded right angle; petiole lower, clearly longer than high in profile; several pairs of sparse setae on cephalic dorsum, promesonotum, propodeum, petiole, and gastral tergites. Material examined This species was not collected during the present study. Ecological and biological notes Nothing has been published on the ecology of this species. Geographic range This species was originally described from Dhofar, Oman (Collingwood 1985) based on a single worker, and also recorded from KSA, UAE, and Yemen (Collingwood & Agosti 1996)., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Wetterer, James K., Mohamed, Amr A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2022, Faunal composition, diversity, and distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with updated list of the Omani species and remarks on zoogeography, pp. 1-106 in European Journal of Taxonomy 838 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.838.1925, http://zenodo.org/record/7094306, {"references":["Collingwood C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7: 230 - 302.","Collingwood C. A. & Agosti D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (part 2). Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300 - 385."]}

Cataglyphis desert ants are charismatic central place foragers. After long-ranging foraging trips, individual workers navigate back to their nest relying mostly on visual cues. The reproductive caste faces other orientation challenges, i.e. mate finding and colony foundation. Here we compare brain structures involved in spatial orientation of Cataglyphis nodus males, gynes, and foragers by quantifying relative neuropil volumes associated with two visual pathways, and numbers and volumes of antennal lobe (AL) olfactory glomeruli. Furthermore, we determined absolute numbers of synaptic complexes in visual and olfactory regions of the mushroom bodies (MB) and a major relay station of the sky-compass pathway to the central complex (CX). Both female castes possess enlarged brain centers for sensory integration, learning, and memory, reflected in voluminous MBs containing about twice the numbers of synaptic complexes compared with males. Overall, male brains are smaller compared with both female castes, but the relative volumes of the optic lobes and CX are enlarged indicating the importance of visual guidance during innate behaviors. Male ALs contain greatly enlarged glomeruli, presumably involved in sex-pheromone detection. Adaptations at both the neuropil and synaptic levels clearly reflect differences in sex-specific and caste-specific demands for sensory processing and behavioral plasticity underlying spatial orientation.

Behavioral flexibility is an important cornerstone for the ecological success of animals. Social Cataglyphis nodus ants with their age-related polyethism characterized by age-related behavioral phenotypes represent a prime example for behavioral flexibility. We propose neuropeptides as powerful candidates for the flexible modulation of age-related behavioral transitions in individual ants. As the neuropeptidome of C. nodus was unknown, we collected a comprehensive peptidomic data set obtained by transcriptome analysis of the ants' central nervous system combined with brain extract analysis by Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and direct tissue profiling of different regions of the brain by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. In total, we identified 71 peptides with likely bioactive function, encoded on 49 neuropeptide-, neuropeptide-like, and protein hormone prepropeptide genes, including a novel neuropeptide-like gene (fliktin). We next characterized the spatial distribution of a subset of peptides encoded on 16 precursor proteins with high resolution by MALDI MS imaging (MALDI MSI) on 14 µm brain sections. The accuracy of our MSI data were confirmed by matching the immunostaining patterns for tachykinins with MSI ion images from consecutive brain sections. Our data provide a solid framework for future research into spatially resolved qualitative and quantitative peptidomic changes associated with stage-specific behavioral transitions and the functional role of neuropeptides in Cataglyphis ants.

Ants (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) play an important role in seed bank, seedling establishment and plant composition of arid ecosystems. Thus, knowing plant-ant interaction provides useful information for managers to design restoration and conservation plans. In this study, the roles of desert harvester ants (Messor intermedius and Messor melancholicus) and scavenger ants (Cataglyphis nodus and Lepisiota semenovi) on plant communities were investigated in arid ecosystems of southeastern Iran. Two vegetation types were distinguished in the study area and the nest density of ant species was determined. Furthermore, plant composition and soil seed bank were estimated at different distances from the ant nests. Results showed that the density of M. intermedius and M. melancholicus nests was higher in dwarf shrub-shrub vegetation type and the density of C. nodus and L. semenovi nests was higher in dwarf shrub vegetation type. The harvester and scavenger ants had enhanced the seed bank to 55% and 70%, respectively. Therefore, the role of scavenger ants on the plant communities’ seed bank was greater than that of harvester ants. Although the scavenger ants were more influential on the annuals and the invasive plant species, the radius impact of the harvester ants on the perennials was greater, i.e., a positive interaction existed between the perennial plants and the harvester ants. C. nodus and L. semenovi played an important role in enhancing the ecosystem’s potential for restoration through establishment of pioneer species in early stage of succession. The activity of M. intermedius is crucial for the development and maintenance of climax plant communities in arid ecosystems through assisting the plant species’ establishment in late stage of succession. It is essential to preserve the diversity of these key ant species for the maintenance and sustainability of shrubs in arid ecosystems.

The Johnston's organ (JO) in the insect antenna is a multisensory organ involved in several navigational tasks including wind-compass orientation, flight control, graviception, and, possibly, magnetoreception. Here we investigate the three dimensional anatomy of the JO and its neuronal projections into the brain of the desert ant Cataglyphis, a marvelous long-distance navigator. The JO of C. nodus workers consists of 40 scolopidia comprising three sensory neurons each. The numbers of scolopidia slightly vary between different sexes (female/male) and castes (worker/queen). Individual scolopidia attach to the intersegmental membrane between pedicel and flagellum of the antenna and line up in a ring-like organization. Three JO nerves project along the two antennal nerve branches into the brain. Anterograde double staining of the antennal afferents revealed that JO receptor neurons project to several distinct neuropils in the central brain. The T5 tract projects into the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC), while the T6 tract bypasses the AMMC via the saddle and forms collaterals terminating in the posterior slope (PS) (T6I), the ventral complex (T6II), and the ventrolateral protocerebrum (T6III). Double labeling of JO and ocellar afferents revealed that input from the JO and visual information from the ocelli converge in tight apposition in the PS. The general JO anatomy and its central projection patterns resemble situations in honeybees and Drosophila. The multisensory nature of the JO together with its projections to multisensory neuropils in the ant brain likely serves synchronization and calibration of different sensory modalities during the ontogeny of navigation in Cataglyphis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Reproductive strategies are diverse and a whole continuum of mixed systems lies between strict sexuality and strict clonality (apomixis), including automixis, a parthenogenetic mode of reproduction involving a meiosis and increasing homozygosity over generations. These various systems impact the genetic structure of populations, which can therefore be used to infer reproductive strategies in natural populations. Here, we first develop a mathematical model, validated by simulations, to predict heterozygosity and inbreeding in mixed sexual-automictic populations. It highlights the predominant role of the rate of heterozygosity loss experienced during automixis (γ), which is locus dependent. When γ is low, mixed populations behave like purely sexual ones until sex becomes rare. In contrast, when γ is high, the erosion of genetic diversity is tightly correlated to the rate of sex, so that the individual inbreeding coefficient can inform on the ratio of sexual/asexual reproduction. In the second part of this study, we used our model to test the presence of cryptic sex in a hybridogenetic Cataglyphis ant where new queens are produced parthenogenetically, leaving males with an apparent null fitness while they are essential to colony development as sperm is required to produce workers. Occasional sexual production of queens could resolve this paradox by providing males some fertile progeny. To determine whether this occurs in natural populations, we simulated genotypic datasets in a population under various regimes of sexual vs. asexual reproduction for queen production and compared the distribution of inbreeding, expected heterozygosity and inter-individual relatedness coefficients with those observed in a natural population of Cataglyphis mauritanica using microsatellites. Our simulations show that the distribution of inter-individual relatedness coefficients was particularly informative to assess the relative rate of sexual/asexual reproduction, and our dataset was compatible with pure parthenogenesis but also with up to 2% sexual reproduction. Our approach, implemented in an R script, should be useful to assess reproductive strategies in other biological models.

This study dealt with the ant species that were identified on albino rat (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769) carcasses in two habitats ecologically differentiated in Riyadh. The study was conducted from 14 January to 23 February 2018, at Al-Dir'iya, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 502 ants in three subfamilies and seven species were classified and recorded during the putrification process. From the carcasses placed in a botanical garden, Tapinoma magnum, Tetramorium sericeiventre, Tetramorium semilaeve, Monomorium sp., Paratrechina longicornis, Camponotus fellah and Cataglyphis albicans were recorded. But, from the carcasses kept on the building roof of the college a Tapinoma magnum and P. longicornis were only recorded. The carcasses at the botanical garden involved the maximum number of ants compared to the carcasses at the roof. The most-encountered species at both sites was T. magnum. This study showed that ant species could be present during the bloat, decay and dry stages of decomposition, demonstrating they were not an indicator of insect succession. This data suggest that specific ant species of the Formicidae family could play critical roles in forensic entomology and as biological tools in criminal investigations in Al-Dir'iya, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Desert ants show a large range of adaptations to their habitats. They can reach extremely high running speeds, for example, to shorten heat stress during foraging trips. It has recently been examined how fast walking speeds are achieved in different desert ant species. It is intriguing in this context that some species exhibit distinct intraspecific size differences. We therefore performed a complete locomotion analysis over the entire size spectrum of the species Cataglyphis bicolor, and we compared this intraspecific dataset with that of the allometrically similar species Cataglyphis albicans. Emphasis was on the allometry of locomotion: we considered the body size of each animal and analysed the data in terms of relative walking speed. Body size was observed to affect walking parameters, gait patterns and phase relationships in terms of absolute walking speed. Unexpectedly, on a relative scale, all ants tended to show the same overall locomotion strategy at low walking speeds, and significant differences occurred only between C. albicans and C. bicolor at high walking speeds. Our analysis revealed that C. bicolor ants use the same overall strategy across all body sizes, with small ants reaching the highest walking speeds (up to 80 body lengths s−1) by increasing their stride length and incorporating aerial phases. By comparison, C. albicans reached high walking speeds mainly by a high synchrony of leg movement, lower swing phase duration and higher stride frequency ranging up to 40 Hz.

Desert ants use path integration to return from foraging excursions on a shortcut way to their nests. Intriguingly, when walking over hills, the ants incorporate the ground distance, the paths’ projection to the horizontal plane, into their path integrator. This review discusses howCataglyphismay solve this computational feat. To infer ground distance, ants must incorporate the inclination of path segments into the assessment of distance. Hair fields between various joints have been eliminated as likely sensors for slope measurement, without affecting slope detection; nor do postural adaptations or changes in gait provide the relevant information. Changes in the sky’s polarization pattern due to different head inclinations on slopes were ruled out as cues. Thus, the mechanisms by which ants may measure slopes still await clarification. Remarkably, the precision of slope measurement is roughly constant up to a 45° inclination, but breaks down at 60°. An encounter of sloped path segments during a foraging trip induces a general acceptance of slopes, however, slopes are not associated with specific values of the home vector. All current evidence suggests thatCataglyphisdoes not compute a vector in 3-D: path integration seems to operate exclusively in the horizontal plane.

In Cataglyphis and Drosophila - in desert ants and fruit flies - research on visually guided behavior took different paths. While work in Cataglyphis started in the field and covered the animal's wide navigational repertoire, in Drosophila the initial focus was on a particular kind of visual control behavior scrutinized within the confines of the laboratory arena, before research concentrated on more advanced behaviors. In recent times, these multi-pronged approaches in flies and ants increasingly converge, both conceptually and methodologically, and thus lay the ground for combined neuroethological efforts. In spite of the obvious differences in the behavioral repertoire of these two groups of insects, likely commonalities in the navigational processes and underlying neuronal circuitries are increasingly coming to the fore.

A study of the adaptation of the ant Cataglyphis bicolor in terms of feeding under insular conditions was conducted on the north-eastern coast of Algeria. For this, three pairs of stations (island-continent) were chosen. Analyzing fragments of prey species found in C. bicolor nests, the diet in each station pair was studied. The results obtained indicate that C. bicolor has an opportunistic diet characterised by insectivory. Indeed, more than 95% of the prey consumed in the six study stations were insects with a clear preference for other ants, with frequencies ranging from 52 to 87%. Among the latter, Messor barbarus, Camponotus sp., Camponotus laurenti, Pheidole pallidula and Tetramorium biskrense were the ants most predated by C. bicolor. The diversity of continental prey seemed greater than that of island environments. For the two Cap Sigli stations, the prey richness was 94 species for the continent against only 28 species for the island environment. For Boulimat, there were 27 prey species for the mainland and 20 prey species for the islet. Finally, for the Sahel region, C. bicolor was able to harvest 42 prey species on the mainland and 28 species on the island. The diversity of C. bicolor prey in the island environments seems to be a function of insect richness (prey availability) and floral richness.

Over the last decade, genetic studies on social insects have revealed a remarkable diversity of unusual reproductive strategies, such as male clonality, female clonality, and social hybridogenesis. In this context, Cataglyphis desert ants are useful models because of their unique reproductive systems. In several species, queens conditionally use sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis to produce sterile workers and reproductive queens, respectively. In social hybridogenesis, two distinct genetic lineages coexist within a population, and workers result from mating between partners of different lineages; in contrast, queens and males are both produced asexually by parthenogenesis. Consequently, nonreproductive workers are all interlineage hybrids, whereas reproductives are all pure lineage individuals. Here, we characterized the reproductive systems of 11 species to investigate the distribution of the conditional use of sex and social hybridogenesis in Cataglyphis. We identified one new case in which sexual reproduction was conditionally used in the absence of dependent-lineage reproduction. We also discovered five new instances of social hybridogenesis. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, we inferred that both the conditional use of sex and social hybridogenesis independently evolved multiple times in the genus Cataglyphis.

Desert ants navigate by using two chief strategies: path integration, keeping track of the straight‐line distance and direction to the starting point as they travel, and landmark guidance, orientation based on the visual panorama. Both Cataglyphis ants in North Africa and Melophorus bagoti in Central Australia are known to adjust their vectors derived from path integration to compensate for mismatches between their outbound direction of travel and (the reverse of) the inbound direction of travel that takes them home, a process known as vector calibration. We created mismatches of 90° between the outbound vector and the homebound direction by displacing ants from a feeder before their homebound run. We examined temporal factors in vector calibration by varying the delay (0, 1 or 3 hr) between the outbound run to the feeder and the homebound run from the displacement site. According to the temporal weighting rule, such a delay should decrease the weight given to the vector information obtained from the outbound run. This in turn should favour reliance on the visual panorama and thus speed up calibration. Results did not support this prediction. At the displacement site, a delay had little effect on the extent of calibration or the speed of calibration (the number of trials to reach maximum calibration). Just before being displaced, ants were also tested in a test ring surrounded by high walls that obliterated the visual scenery. In the test ring, a delay made the ants less likely to rely on their vector: ants were often not oriented as a group. Otherwise, the ants in the test ring also did not calibrate any more or any faster.

Allometry is defined as differential growth of various body parts at distinct rates. Traditionally, two types of allometries have been studied in holometabolous insects: evolutionary and static. Po...

Every year since 1969, research groups from Zürich have spent the summer months in the barren sandy areas around the Tunisian village Mahrès to study the navigational behaviour of Cataglyphis desert ants, its sensory underpinnings, and ecophysiological settings. From the 1990s onwards, researchers from other countries were invited to join the Zürich group, so that Cataglyphis increasingly advanced to become a model organism for the study of animal navigation. Its cockpit became the focus of a dynamic research system, an 'epistemic thing', as modern parlance in the philosophy of science has it. Investigations aimed at the ants' compasses and odometers, at path integration, view-based landmark guidance, and how information from these various navigational routines is combined in computing the courses to steer. In this multifaceted work, the researchers' familiarity with the site, with Mahrès, and its local geographical and historical conditions, has been essential. The essay briefly retraces the historical development of this research system. After the system had been firmly established at the North African Mahrès site, it was extended to the ecological equivalents of Cataglyphis in other true deserts of the world, to Ocymyrmex in the Namib Desert of southern Africa, and to Melophorus in central Australia.

In most social Hymenoptera, a diploid egg develops into either a queen or a worker depending on environmental conditions. Hybridogenetic Cataglyphis ants display a bizarre genetic system, where queen-worker caste determination is primarily determined by genetic factors. In hybridogenetic populations, all workers are F1 hybrids of two distinct lineages, whereas new queens are nearly always pure-lineage individuals produced by clonal reproduction. The distribution and evolutionary history of these hybridogenetic populations have not yet been thoroughly analysed. Here, we studied the phylogeographic distribution of hybridogenetic populations in two closely related Spanish species: Cataglyphis humeya and Cataglyphis velox. Hybridogenesis has been previously documented in a locality of C. velox, but whether this system occurs elsewhere within the range of the two species was yet unknown. Queens and workers from 66 localities sampled across the range of the species were genotyped at 18 microsatellite markers to determine whether queens were produced by parthenogenesis and whether workers were hybrids of divergent lineages. Populations with F1 hybrid workers were identified by combining genetic, geographical and mating assortments data. In most populations of C. velox, workers were found to be hybrids of two divergent lineages. Workers were however produced via random mating in two marginal populations of C. velox, and in all populations studied of its sister species C. humeya. High-throughput sequencing data were obtained to confirm inferences based on microsatellites and to characterize relationships between populations. Our results revealed a complicated history of reticulate evolution that may account for the origin of hybridogenetic lineages in Cataglyphis.

All truly thermophilic ants inhabiting the subtropical belts of our planet—Cataglyphis (Formicinae) in the southern Palearctic region, Ocymyrmex (Myrmicinae) in southern Africa and Melophorus (Formicinae) in Australia—are characterised by extremely long legs and remarkable locomotor agility including extremely high running speeds (relative to body size). In the classic surveys of the rich assemblages of Eocene Baltic amber ants, Gustav Mayr (1868) and William Morton Wheeler (1915) described a few specimens that exhibited some Cataglyphis-like traits. They assigned them to the genera Camponotus and Formica, respectively, but more recently Gennady Dlussky (2008) considered these traits sufficient enough to establish a new genus—Cataglyphoides—for them. Using micro-computed tomographic 3D reconstructions, we show that the relative lengths of the Cataglyphoides legs and the relative contributions of different leg segments (femur, tibia, basitarsus) to the lengths of the legs, fully fit the allometric functions determined for extant Cataglyphis species. Moreover, fossil Formica flori specimens taken from the same Baltic amber deposits have highly significantly shorter legs, and in this respect coincide with extant Formica species. It is also the cuneiform to nodiform petiole characterising the most agile extant Cataglyphis species and promoting their agility and the slit-like shape of the propodeal spiracle found in all truly thermophilic ants that we observe in Cataglyphoides. We discuss the occurrence of a cataglyphoid ant in Eocene northern Europe in the light of hypotheses about the phylogeography of extant Cataglyphis species and surmise that Cataglyphoides has evolved in parallel to, and in this context has acquired a set of traits characteristic for, the most highly advanced Cataglyphis species.

The central Australian ant Melophorus bagoti is the most thermophilic ant in Australia and forages solitarily in the summer months during the hottest period of the day. For successful navigation, desert ants of many species are known to integrate a path and learn landmark cues around the nest. Ants perform a series of exploratory walks around the nest before their first foraging trip, during which they are presumed to learn about their landmark panorama. Here, we studied 15 naive M. bagoti ants transitioning from indoor work to foraging outside the nest. In 3–4 consecutive days, they performed 3–7 exploratory walks before heading off to forage. Naive ants increased the area of exploration around the nest and the duration of trips over successive learning walks. In their first foraging walk, the majority of the ants followed a direction explored on their last learning walk. During learning walks, the ants stopped and performed stereotypical orientation behaviours called pirouettes. They performed complete body rotations with stopping phases as well as small circular walks without stops known as voltes. After just one learning walk, these desert ants could head in the home direction from locations 2 m from the nest, although not from locations 4 m from the nest. These results suggest gradual learning of the visual landmark panorama around the foragers’ nest. Our observations show that M. bagoti exhibit similar characteristics in their learning walks to other desert ants of the genera Ocymyrmex and Cataglyphis., Summary: Before becoming foragers, Melophorus bagoti ants took 3–7 learning walks around their nest. They increased the duration and area explored over successive walks, stopping occasionally to scan the environment.

Over the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to the molecular adaptations used by organisms to cope with thermal stress. However, to date, few studies have focused on thermophilic species living in hot, arid climates. In this study, we explored molecular adaptations to heat stress in the thermophilic ant genus Cataglyphis, one of the world's most thermotolerant animal taxa. We compared heat tolerance and gene expression patterns across six Cataglyphis species from distinct phylogenetic groups that live in different habitats and experience different thermal regimes. We found that all six species had high heat tolerance levels with critical thermal maxima (CTmax ) ranging from 43℃ to 45℃ and a median lethal temperature (LT50) ranging from 44.5℃ to 46.8℃. Transcriptome analyses revealed that, although the number of differentially expressed genes varied widely for the six species (from 54 to 1118), many were also shared. Functional annotation of the differentially expressed and co-expressed genes showed that the biological pathways involved in heat-shock responses were similar among species and were associated with four major processes: the regulation of transcriptional machinery and DNA metabolism; the preservation of proteome stability; the elimination of toxic residues; and the maintenance of cellular integrity. Overall, our results suggest that molecular responses to heat stress have been evolutionarily conserved in the ant genus Cataglyphis and that their diversity may help workers withstand temperatures close to their physiological limits.

Animals are known to exhibit different walking behaviors in hilly habitats. For instance, cats, rats, squirrels, tree frogs, desert iguana, stick insects and desert ants were observed to lower their body height when traversing slopes, whereas mound-dwelling iguanas and wood ants tend to maintain constant walking kinematics regardless of the slope. This paper aims to understand and classify these distinct behaviors into two different strategies against toppling for climbing animals by looking into two factors: (i) the torque of the center of gravity (CoG) with respect to the critical tipping axis, and (ii) the torque of the legs, which has the potential to counterbalance the CoG torque. Our comparative locomotion analysis on level locomotion and inclined locomotion exhibited that primarily only one of the proposed two strategies was chosen for each of our sample species, despite the fact that a combined strategy could have reduced the animal's risk of toppling over even more. We found that Cataglyphis desert ants (species Cataglyphis fortis) maintained their upright posture primarily through the adjustment of their CoG torque (geometric strategy), and Formica wood ants (species Formica rufa), controlled their posture primarily by exerting leg torques (adhesive strategy). We further provide hints that the geometric strategy employed by Cataglyphis could increase the risk of slipping on slopes as the leg-impulse substrate angle of Cataglyphis hindlegs was lower than that of Formica hindlegs. In contrast, the adhesion strategy employed by Formica front legs not only decreased the risk of toppling but also explained the steeper leg-impulse substrate angle of Formica hindlegs which should relate to more bending of the tarsal structures and therefore to more microscopic contact points, potentially reducing the risk of hindleg slipping.

In eusocial insects, worker polymorphism is shaped by several factors, including colony size, queen mating frequency, and the timing of queen-worker differentiation during larval development. In a comparative study of 18 species of Cataglyphis desert ants representing a wide range of worker sizes, we used phylogenetically controlled analyses to examine correlations between worker head width variation (i.e., worker polymorphism) and multiple social traits, namely, mature colony size, mean worker head width, queen head width, queen-worker head width dimorphism, and within-colony genetic relatedness, resulting from multiple mating by queens. We found that worker polymorphism was positively correlated with mature colony size, mean worker head width, and queen head width. In contrast, worker polymorphism was not correlated with queen-worker dimorphism and within-colony genetic relatedness. These results underscore that evolution of worker polymorphism and social traits are correlated. They also illustrate that additional research using multivariate approaches is needed to further clarify the evolution of insect societies. In eusocial insects, worker morphological variation (i.e., worker polymorphism) is tightly linked to division of labor. Multiple factors are supposed to shape the evolution of worker polymorphism. Using phylogenetically controlled analyses of worker head width variation from 18 species of Cataglyphis desert ants, we show that worker polymorphism positively correlates with mature colony size, mean worker head width, and queen size. These results highlight that the evolution of worker polymorphism and social traits are correlated. Identifying the mechanisms underlying these relationships could provide major insights into the development and evolution of insect societies.

The current study is aimed at investigating the effect of edaphic factors on the distribution and abundance of ants in different habitats of the central areas of Iran, while considering the vegetation. During 2018 to 2019, 20 stations from four habitats, including deserts, mountainous and submontane, plains and rural areas and urban areas, were selected. In general, a total of 311 sample units were collected from all the stations, out of which, 32 species belonging to 13 genera, nine tribes and three subfamilies were identified. The biological distribution and abundance of species were argued by computing the physical and chemical parameters of the soil, such as salinity, pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon, calcium and vegetation. The present study has demonstrated that the calcium content significantly affects the species richness of ants, although the impact of this element on various genera is different. We found that increasing in the abundance and richness of plant species has a positive impact on the abundance and richness of ants. Our results also show that some genera are meaningfully adaptable to a variety of habitats. In Kahak station, which is an urban habitat, with enormous diversity, 14 species were found, while in Sadrabad Historic Karvansara, a desert habitat, only Cataglyphis lividus (André, 1881) was collected. Cataglyphis bellicosus (Karavaiev, 1924), as the most abundant species, collected from 12 stations, was the most dominant species.

Cataglyphis ficisp. nov., a member of the Cataglyphis livida complex, is described from the Estahban county of south-western Iran. The species is characterized by small body size and yellow to yellowish red body coloration with distinctly infuscated legs. Additionally, the taxonomic status of all known members of the Cataglyphis livida complex is updated. Cataglyphis lutea Pisarski, 1967, stat. rev. is raised to the species level and Cataglyphis viaticoides (André, 1881) is proposed as a senior synonym of Cataglyphis livida bulgarica Atanassov, 1982, syn. nov. and Cataglyphis albicans mixtus (Forel, 1895), syn. nov. Finally, a provisional key to members of the livida complex is provided.

On présente une clé de détermination et le catalogue commenté des espèces de fourmis du genre Cataglyphis actuellement recensées au Maroc: C. emmae, C. bombycina, C. gaetula, C. mauritanica, C. pilisquamis, C. bicolor, C. diehli, C. savignyi, C. viatica, C. hannae, C. cubica, C. otini, C. (supersp. albicans), C. theryi, C. cana, C. (supersp. rubra); 3 espèces nouvelles sont décrites: C. marroui, C. espadaleri et C. fossilis ainsi que le mâle de C. arenaria (non encore trouvée au Maroc). Neuf espèces sont endémiques du Maroc qui s’avère ainsi un centre de radiation pour le genre. Les relations avec la myrmécofaune espagnole sont discutées et celles avec C. fortis de Tunisie évoquées. Un cladogramme des espèces du groupe albicans pour l’Afrique du Nord et la Péninsule Ibérique est proposé., A determination key and some comments on currently known ant species of the genus Cataglyphis in Morocco are presented: C. emmae, C. bombycina, C. gaetula, C. mauritanica, C. pilisquamis, C. bicolor, C. diehli, C. savignyi, C. viatica, C. hannae, C. cubica, C. otini, C. (supersp. albicans), C. theryi, C. cana, C. (supersp. rubra); 3 new species are described: C. marroui, C. espadaleri and C. fossilis as also the male of C. arenaria (no yet found in Morocco). Nine species are held as to be endemic in Morocco, suggesting that this land is a radiation centre for the genus. Relationships with the Spanish myrmecofauna are discussed and those with the Tunisian species C. fortis are evocated. A cladogram of the albicans group species for North Africa and Iberian Peninsula is propounded., Se presenta una clave de determinación y el catálogo comentado de las especies de hormigas del género Cataglyphis actualmente contabilizadas en Marruecos: C. emmae, C. bombycina, C. gaetula, C. mauritanica, C. pilisquamis, C. bicolor, C. diehli, C. savignyi, C. viatica, C. hannae, C. cubica, C. otini, C. (supersp. albicans), C. theryi, C. cana, C. (supersp. rubra); se describen 3 especies nuevas: C. marroui, C. espadaleri y C. fossilis, así como el macho de C. arenaria (todavía no encontrado en Marruecos). Nueve especies son endémicas de Marruecos, que resulta así ser un centro de radiación del género. Se exponen las relaciones con la mirmecofauna ibérica y con C. fortis de Túnez. Se propone una cladograma del grupo albicans para África del Norte y la Península Ibérica.

Cataglyphis livida (André, 1881) (Fig. 9 A–C) Myrmecocystus albicans var. lividus André, 1881a: 58 (w.) Palestine. Palearctic. Diagnosis. Worker. Body uniformly yellow, gaster usually darker; posterior margin of head with about three pairs of setae; propodeum and petiole with few erect setae; sides of mesonotum and propodeum with appressed silvery pubescence; cephalic surface superficially sculptured. Material examined. Al Kharara-Seleiyn Road, 09.iv.2005, 24 ° 53 ’ N, 51 ° 10 ’ E, (M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg.), 2w, (KSMA). Geographic distribution. Cataglyphis lividaoccupies a broad geographic range through the Palearctic region ranging from Algeria and Egypt to Afghanistan (Radchenko, 1997 b); and extends north into Turkey and Bulgaria. It also has been reported from most countries of the Arabian Peninsula (Collingwood 1985, Tigar and Collingwood 1993, Collingwood and Agosti 1996, Tigar and Osborne 1999, Collingwood et al. 2011). Ecological and biological notes. Cataglyphis livida is a common species at nature reserves in Riyadh Province (e.g. Rawdhat Khorim) where the population peaks in spring and in June (Sharaf et al. 2013). This species was found to be abundant foraging on Acacia gerrardii Benth. (Fabaceae). This species is recorded for the first time from Qatar., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S., Mohamed, Amr A., Fisher, Brian L. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2020, A Preliminary Synopsis of the Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Qatar with Remarks on the Zoogeography, pp. 533-560 in Annales Zoologici 70 (4) on pages 540-542, DOI: 10.3161/00034541anz2020.70.4.005, http://zenodo.org/record/4433537, {"references":["Andre, E. 1881 a. Catalogue raisonne des Formicides provenant du voyage en Orient de M. Abeille de Perrin et description des especes nouvelles. Annales de la Societe entomologique de France, (6) (1): 53 - 78.","Radchenko, A. G. 1997 b. Review of ants of the genus Cataglyphis foerster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Asia. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie, 76: 424 - 442.","Collingwood, C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 7: 230 - 302.","Tigar, B. J. and C. A. Collingwood. 1993. A preliminary list of ant records from Abu Dhabi Emirate, U. A. E. Tribulus, 3: 13 - 14.","Tigar, B. J. & P. E. Osborne. 1999. Patterns of biomass and diversity of aerial insects in Abu Dhabi's sandy deserts. Journal of Arid Environments, 43: 159 - 170.","Collingwood, C. A., Agosti, D., Sharaf, M. R. & A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE, 4: 405 - 474.","Sharaf, M. R., Abdeldayem, M. S., Aldhafer, H. & A. S. Aldawood. 2013. The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Rawdhat Khorim nature preserve, Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species of the genus Tetramorium Mayr. Zootaxa, 3709 (6): 565 - 580."]}

The ant fauna of the State of Qatar is reviewed based on collected material and literature. In total, 23 species, belonging to 12 genera and four subfamilies, were reported from the country. Given that Messor arenarius diabolus Santschi, 1938 is endemic in Egypt, and it was recorded by mistake in Qatar, we excluded it from the country faunal list. Six genera are recorded for the first time from the country, Cardiocondyla Emery, 1896, Crematogaster Lund, 1831, Lepisiota Santschi, 1926, Monomorium Mayr, 1855, Paratrechina Motschoulsky, 1863, and Pheidole Westwood, 1839. Fourteen species are recorded for the first time from Qatar, namely, Camponotus oasium Forel, 1890, Cardiocondyla emeryiForel, 1881, Cataglyphis livida (Andre, 1881), Cataglyphis arenariaFinzi, 1940, Cataglyphis nigra (Andre, 1881), Lepisiota bipartita (Smith, 1861), Lepisiota gracilicornis (Forel, 1892), Monomorium abeillei Andre, 1881, Monomorium areniphilumSantschi, 1911, Monomorium subopacum (Smith, 1858), Monomorium venustum (Smith, 1858), Pheidole sinaiticaMayr, 1862. Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793), and Tapinoma simrothiKrausse, 1911. Preliminary analysis of the zoogeography of Qatar's ants reveals the remarkable predominance of Palearctic faunal elements (13 species/ ∼57%), followed by minor proportions of Afrotropical (4 species/ ∼17%) and Indomalayan (1 species/ ∼4%) species, while the five invasive species (∼22%) reflect human impacts on the country. Monomorium tumaireCollingwood & Agosti, 1996 is known as endemic in the Arabian Peninsula. No species are considered endemic to Qatar. Ecological and biological notes on species are provided when available.

Cataglyphis arenaria Finzi, 1940 (Fig. 8 A–C) Cataglyphis (Cataglyphis) albicans var. arenaria Finzi, 1940: 164 (w.) Algeria. Palearctic. Diagnosis. Worker. Head, mesosoma, and petiole yellow, gaster golden yellow, and apex of terminal gastral tergites brown, in some individuals the body is uniform yellow; propodeum distinctly low in profile; petiole a truncated node with a flat dorsal surface sloping forward in profile; mesosoma covered with dense, whitish, appressed pubescence. Material examined. Qatar, Msaid Road, 09.iv.2005, 24 ° 59 ’ N, 51 ° 33 ’ E, (M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg.) (1w); Al Kharara-Seleiyn Road, 09.iv.2005, 24 ° 53 ’ N, 51 ° 10 ’ E, (M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg.), 2w, (KSMA). Geographic distribution. A Palearctic species originally described from Algeria and is known from Jordan (Borowiec and Sałata 2020) KSA, Oman (Collingwood and Agosti 1996), UAE (Collingwood et al. 2011), and Egypt (Sharaf 2006). This species is recorded for the first time from Qatar., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S., Mohamed, Amr A., Fisher, Brian L. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2020, A Preliminary Synopsis of the Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Qatar with Remarks on the Zoogeography, pp. 533-560 in Annales Zoologici 70 (4) on page 540, DOI: 10.3161/00034541anz2020.70.4.005, http://zenodo.org/record/4433537, {"references":["Finzi, B. 1940. Formiche della Libia. Bollettino della Societa Entomologica Italiana, 18: 155 - 166.","Borowiec L, S. Salata. 2020. Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Jordan. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology, 29: 1 - 26.","Collingwood, C. A. and Agosti, D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2). Fauna of Arabia, 15: 300 - 385.","Collingwood, C. A., Agosti, D., Sharaf, M. R. & A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE, 4: 405 - 474.","Sharaf, M. R. 2006. Taxonomic and ecological studies on family Formicidae (Order: Hymenoptera) in Egypt including some protectorates with a study of some insect fauna associated with ant species [unpublished thesis]. Cairo: Ain Shams University, Faculty of Science, Entomology Department, 340 pp."]}

Cataglyphis nigra (André, 1881) (Fig. 10 A–C) Myrmecocystus viaticus var. niger André, 1881a: 56 (w.) Palestine. Palearctic. Diagnosis. Worker. Uniform black; head usually red-black; first funiculus segment nearly 2× as long as second; propodeum high in profile with dorsum rounding evenly into its descending face; petiole a thick node, about as high as long in profile; cephalic surface densely superficially sculptured. Material examined. Doha, Al-Dohuil, 14.iii.2005, 25°22’N, 51°29’E, (M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg.), 2w (KSMA) Geographic distribution. Cataglyphis nigra is a Palearctic species originally described from Palestine and is broadly distributed in the Arabian Peninsula inclding KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen (Collingwood 1985), UAE (Walker and Pittaway 1987, Collingwood et al. 2011), and some countries in the Middle East including Syria (Santschi 1929), Israel (Ionescu and Eyer 2016), North Africa, from Algeria eastwardly to Egypt (Sharaf 2006, Borowiec and Salata 2020). The distribution map presented by Walker and Pittaway (1987) shows a geographic range extending eastward and including Qatar without any details about the record. Therefore, we consider our record to be the first confirmed collection of the species from the country. Ecological and biological notes. This species is abundant in most countries of the Arabian Peninsula (Collingwood 1985, Collingwood and Agosti 1996), with a seasonal peak in June that then decreases in cooler months (Sharaf et al. 2013). In Rawdhat Khorim (Riyadh Province, KSA), C. nigra was found foraging next to the following plants: Acacia gerrardii, Benth. (Fabaceae), Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton (Apocynaceae), Rhazya stricta Decne (Apocynaceae) and Ziziphus nummularia (Burm. f) Wight & Arn. (Rhamnaceae) (Sharaf et al. 2013). Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) mentioned its habitat preference in Iran includes moderate and low rainfall., Published as part of Sharaf, Mostafa R., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S., Mohamed, Amr A., Fisher, Brian L. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2020, A Preliminary Synopsis of the Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Qatar with Remarks on the Zoogeography, pp. 533-560 in Annales Zoologici 70 (4) on page 542, DOI: 10.3161/00034541anz2020.70.4.005, http://zenodo.org/record/4433537, {"references":["Andre, E. 1881 a. Catalogue raisonne des Formicides provenant du voyage en Orient de M. Abeille de Perrin et description des especes nouvelles. Annales de la Societe entomologique de France, (6) (1): 53 - 78.","Collingwood, C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 7: 230 - 302.","Walker, D. H. and A. R. Pittaway. 1987. Insects of Eastern Arabia. MacMillan, London, UK, xvi + 175 pp.","Collingwood, C. A., Agosti, D., Sharaf, M. R. & A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE, 4: 405 - 474.","Santschi, F. 1929. Etude sur les Cataglyphis. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 36: 25 - 70.","Ionescu, A. and P. A. Eyer. 2016. Notes on Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 of the bicolor species-group in Israel, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology, 46: 109 - 131.","Sharaf, M. R. 2006. Taxonomic and ecological studies on family Formicidae (Order: Hymenoptera) in Egypt including some protectorates with a study of some insect fauna associated with ant species [unpublished thesis]. Cairo: Ain Shams University, Faculty of Science, Entomology Department, 340 pp.","Borowiec L, S. Salata. 2020. Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Jordan. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology, 29: 1 - 26.","Collingwood, C. A. and Agosti, D. 1996. Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2). Fauna of Arabia, 15: 300 - 385.","Sharaf, M. R., Abdeldayem, M. S., Aldhafer, H. & A. S. Aldawood. 2013. The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Rawdhat Khorim nature preserve, Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species of the genus Tetramorium Mayr. Zootaxa, 3709 (6): 565 - 580.","Pashaei Rad, S., Taylor, B., Torabi, R., Aram, E, Abolfathi, G., Afshari, R, Borjali, F., Ghatei, M., Hediary, F., Jazini, F., Heidary Kiah, V., Mahmoudi, Z., Safariyan, F. and M. Seiri. 2018. Further records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran. Zoology in the Middle East, 64: 145 - 159."]}

Cataglyphis ficisp. nov., a member of the Cataglyphis livida complex, is described from the Estahban county of south-western Iran. The species is characterized by small body size and yellow to yellowish red body coloration with distinctly infuscated legs. Additionally, the taxonomic status of all known members of the Cataglyphis livida complex is updated. Cataglyphis lutea Pisarski, 1967, stat. rev. is raised to the species level and Cataglyphis viaticoides (André, 1881) is proposed as a senior synonym of Cataglyphis livida bulgarica Atanassov, 1982, syn. nov. and Cataglyphis albicans mixtus (Forel, 1895), syn. nov. Finally, a provisional key to members of the livida complex is provided.

The use of information provided by the geomagnetic field (GMF) for navigation is widespread across the animal kingdom. At the same time, the magnetic sense is one of the least understood senses. Here, we review evidence for magnetoreception in Hymenoptera. We focus on experiments aiming to shed light on the role of the GMF for navigation. Both honeybees and desert ants are well-studied experimental models for navigation, and both use the GMF for specific navigational tasks under certain conditions. Cataglyphis desert ants use the GMF as a compass cue for path integration during their initial learning walks to align their gaze directions towards the nest entrance. This represents the first example for the use of the GMF in an insect species for a genuine navigational task under natural conditions and with all other navigational cues available. We argue that the recently described magnetic compass in Cataglyphis opens up a new integrative approach to understand the mechanisms underlying magnetoreception in Hymenoptera on different biological levels.

Cataglyphis nodus (Brull��, 1833) Formica nodus Brull��, 1833: 326. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� Turkey ��� 5 ♀, 11���; Adana, Pozantı, Kamışlı Vill.; 37��33���N, 34��56���E; 800 m; 18. VI.2010; I. Avcı leg.; EMTU 10 /0145c ��� 3 ♀, 17 ���; same collection data as for preceding; I. Avcı leg.; EMTU 10 /0146c ��� 1���; Adıyaman; 37��45���N, 38��16���E; 07. V.2015; S. Yıldız leg.; EMTU 15 /0042j ��� 2 ���; Aksaray, Ortak��y; 38��44���N, 34��02���E; 1140 m; 26.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0748 ��� 3 ���; Amasya; 40��39���N, 35��50���E; 01.VIII.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0048f ��� 1 ���; Ankara, Ke��i��ren, Bağlum; 40��10���17.18���N, 32��50���03.82���E; 1180 m; 10.X.2013; E. Karapazarlıoğlu leg.; EMTU 13 /0304 ��� 1���; same collection data as for preceding; E. Karapazarlıoğlu leg.; EMTU 14 /0160 ��� 3 ���; Şerefliko��hisar, Acıkuyu Vill.; 39��07���N, 33��27���E; 1040 m; 23.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0558 ��� 1 ���; Aydın, Ser��ek��y; 37��52���36���N, 28��11���20���E; 62 m; 03. VI.2010; M. Karag��z leg.; EMTU 10 /0010 ��� 2 ���; Balıkesir, Ayvalık, Sarımsaklı; 39��16���N, 26��38���E; 01.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 14 /0128b ��� 6 ���; Şeytan Sofrası; 39��17���08���N, 26��38���53���E; 0 m; 06.X.2004; N. Başak leg.; EMTU 04 /0369c ��� 1 ���; Sındırgı, Aktaş Vill.; 39��08���N, 28��11���E; 793 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2053b ��� 1 ���; ��ankırı, Kızılırmak; 40��20���N, 33��59���E; 560 m; 24.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0599 ��� 2 ���; Hatay, Samandağ; 36��05���N, 35��58���E; 18.VIII.2004; E. Şahutoğlu leg.; EMTU 04 /0386 ��� 2���; Karab��k, Safranbolu; 41��15���N, 32��40���E; 287 m; 07. V.2005; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 05 /0003j ��� 2 ���; Kayseri; 38��43���N, 35��28���E; 21.VIII.2013; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 13 /0171b ��� 2 ���; Kırıkkale, Keskin, Ceritm��minli Vill.; 39��43���N, 33��47���E; 910 m; 23.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0596 ��� 6 ���; Kilis; 36��42���44���N, 37��05���23���E; 740 m; 03. V.2012; U. G��ner leg.; EMTU 12 /0003c ��� 23 ���; Malatya, Ak��adağ, Sultansuyu Studfarm; 38��20���36���N, 38��03���35���E; 881 m; 24.VII.2007; M. Yurtcan leg.; EMTU 07 /0036a ��� 1���; Doğanşehir, Polatdere Vill.; 38��08���55���N, 37��57���46���E; 1195 m; 02. VI.2007; E. ��oban leg.; EMTU 07 /0038a ��� 3 ���; S��rg�� Dam; 38��00���35.41���N, 37��55���57.14���E; 1330 m; 01. V.2011; S. Hazır leg.; EMTU 11 /0008a ��� 1 ���; Manisa, Akhisar, Doğankaya Vill.; 38��59���N, 27��56���E; 560 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2093b ��� 1 ���; Dingiller Vill.; 38��59���N, 27��53���E; 345 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2099e ��� 2 ���; G��lmarmara, Yenik��y; 38��39���N, 28��02���E; 98 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2103c ��� 1 ���; G��rdes, Malaz Vill.; 39��04���N, 28��17���E; 1275 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2060b ��� 21 ���; Salihli, Yılmaz Town; 38��30���08���N, 28��06���18���E; 86 m; 27.VII.2002; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 02 /1043 ��� 25 ���; Mardin; 37��18���N, 40��44���E; 13.IV.2010; I. Avcı leg.; EMTU 10 /0141b ��� 28 ���; Kızıltepe; 37��11���38���N, 40��35���08���E; 29.VII.2002; A. Beyarslan leg.; EMTU 02 /1039 ��� 28 ���; same collection data as for preceding; A. Beyarslan leg.; EMTU 02 /1040 ��� 1 ♀, 2���; Muş, Varto, Tepek��y; 39��05���N, 41��30���E; 11.VII.2010; F. Toprak leg.; EMTU 10 /0092 ��� 1 ���; Nevşehir, ��at Vill.; 38��41.904���N, 34��39.345���E; 998 m; 15. V.2013; A. Lenoir leg.; EMTU 13 /0058 ��� 2���; G��lşehir; 38��44���30���N, 34��37���19���E; 950 m; 17.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0754a ��� 1 ���; U��hisar; 38��39.083���N, 34��49.189���E; 1095 m; 14. V.2013; A. Lenoir leg.; EMTU 13 /0054 ��� 6 ���; Niğde, Ulukışla; 37��33���00���N, 34��28���58���E; 1800 m; 18.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0765 ��� 1 ���; same collection data as for preceding; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0766 ��� 1 ���; Şanlıurfa; 37��09���45���N, 38��50���24���E; 488 m; 01.VIII.2011; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 11 /0081c ��� 1 ���; same collection data as for preceding; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 11 /0084d ��� 1���; same collection data as for preceding; 37��09���N, 38��47���E; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 11 /0091f ��� 7 ���; Bozova; 37��28���11���N, 38��18���41���E; 529 m; 25.IV.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0012b ��� 1 ���; Siverek; 37��45���N, 39��18���E; 13. V.2015; S. Yıldız leg.; EMTU 15 /0047h ��� 1 ���; Tekirdağ, Şark��y, U��makdere; 40��47���54.50���N, 27��21���55.10���E; 111 m; 17. V.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0027c ��� 1 ���; Şark��y, Yenik��y; 40��38���N, 27��02���E; 232 m; 18. V.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0037d. DISTRIBUTION IN TURKEY. ��� Afyonkarahisar, Antalya, Bursa, ��anakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Elazığ, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Konya, Mersin, Muğla, Sakarya, Siirt, Yalova. REMARKS See comments on C. machmal., Published as part of Kiran, Kadri & Karaman, Celal, 2020, Additions to the Ant Fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 285-329 in Zoosystema 42 (18) on page 293, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18, http://zenodo.org/record/3922267, {"references":["BRULLE G. A. 1833. - Expedition scientifique de Moree. Section des sciences physiques. Tome III. Partie 1. Zoologie. Deuxieme section - Des animaux articules. [part]. edition. Levrault, Paris, 289 - 336 p.","RADCHENKO A. G. & ARAKELIAN G. R. 1991. - New ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Armenia. [in Russian]. Vestnik Zoologii 1991: 72 - 75."]}

Cataglyphis livida (Andr��, 1881) Myrmecocystus Albicans var. lividus Andr��, 1881: 58. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� Turkey ��� 1 ���; Adıyaman; 37��45���N, 38��16���E; 07.V.2015; S. Yıldız leg.; EMTU 15 /0042m ��� 1 ♀, 3 ���; Antalya, Manavgat, Yenik��y; 36��50���N, 31��22���E; 01.VII.2012; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 12 /0072c ��� 2 ���; Bursa, Gemlik, Narlı Vill.; 40��28���53���N, 29��01���26���E; 350 m; 14.VIII.1998; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU K98 /0632 ��� 2 ���; Elazığ, Cip Dam; 38��40���48���N, 39��03���59���E; 1006 m; 04. VI.2007; E. ��oban leg.; EMTU 07 /0063b ��� 12 ���; Erzincan, Yeşil��at Vill.; 39��48���N, 39��21���E; 1384 m; 25.VII.2004; E. ��oban leg.; EMTU 04 /0377c ��� 5 ���; Kocaeli, Karam��rsel, Tahtalı Vill.; 40��34���39���N, 29��38���39���E; 500 m; 05.VIII.1998; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU K98 /0499 ��� 1 ���; Malatya, Arapgir, Aktaş Vill.; 38��55���N, 38��27���E; 09. VI.2008; M. Yurtcan leg.; EMTU 08 /0018b ��� 3 ���; Muş, Varto, Tepek��y; 39��05���N, 41��30���E; 11.VII.2010; F. Toprak leg.; EMTU 10 /0091 ��� 8 ���; Şanlıurfa; 37��09���12���N, 38��47���26���E; 23.VII.2011; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 11 /0090a ��� 1 ���; Tunceli, Pertek, Ardı�� Vill.; 38��58���N, 39��17���E; 24.VII.2010; N. Deniz leg.; EMTU 10 /0121. DISTRIBUTION IN TURKEY. ��� Bitlis, Edirne, İzmir, Siirt. REMARKS In the former studies, three taxa of the C. albicans group were reporter from Turkey C. livida, C. viaticoides (Andr��, 1881) and C. rubra (Forel, 1903). But our studies revealed that there are only two species. One of them is uniformly bright yellow and the other is distinctly bicolored. The occurrence of C. rubra is based on Radchenko���s papers (Radchenko 1997 a, 1998), who determined distinctly bicoloured specimens as C. rubra (Radchenko 1997a). His assumption was probably based on confusion related with the type labels of C. livida and C. viaticoides, which was explained by Bračko et al. (2016). After solving the mislabelling of the type specimens of C. livida and C. viaticoides, C. rubra was removed from the ant fauna of Turkey considering its North African, Central and South Middle East distribution (Borowiec 2014)., Published as part of Kiran, Kadri & Karaman, Celal, 2020, Additions to the Ant Fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 285-329 in Zoosystema 42 (18) on page 292, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18, http://zenodo.org/record/3922267, {"references":["ANDRE E. 1881. - Catalogue raisonne des Formicides provenant du voyage en Orient de M. Abeille de Perrin et description des especes nouvelles. Annales de la Societe entomologique de France (6) 1: 53 - 78.","RADCHENKO A. G. 1997 a. - Obzor murav'ev roda Cataglyphis Foerster azii. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie 76: 424 - 442.","RADCHENKO A. G. 1998. - A key to ants of the genus Cataglyphis Foerster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Asia. Entomological Review 78: 475 - 480.","BRACKO G., KIRAN K., KARAMAN C., SALATA S. & BOROWIEC L. 2016. - Survey of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Greek Thrace. Biodiversity Data Journal 4: 1 - 44. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / BDJ. 4. e 7945","BOROWIEC L. 2014. - Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus 25: 1 - 340."]}

Based on material collected between the years 1988-2015 numerous new province and country records of ants from Turkey are given. A total of 143 ant species were listed of which six: Cataglyphis machmalRadchenko & Arakelian, 1991, Lasius illyricus Zimmerman, 1935, Monomorium barbatulumMayr, 1877, Myrmica caucasicolaArnol'di, 1934, Temnothorax clypeatus (Mayr, 1853) and Temnothorax rogeriEmery, 1869 are new for Turkish ant fauna. Based on most recent taxonomic data and studies on distributional patterns we also excluded from Turkish ant fauna fifteen species: Bothriomyrmex corsicus Santschi, 1923, Anoplolepis gracilipes (F. Smith, 1857), Cataglyphis cursor (Fonscolombe, 1846), C. rubra (Forel, 1903), Lasius paralienusSeifert, 1992, Plagiolepis pallescens mauraSantschi, 1920, Proformica nasuta (Nylander, 1856), Aphaenogaster semipolita (Nylander, 1856), A. testaceopilosa (Lucas, 1849), Crematogaster aubertiEmery, 1869, C. scutellaris (Oliver, 1792), Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804), Temnothorax nylanderi (Forster, 1850), T. crassispinus (Karavaiev, 1926) and Tetramorium semilaeveAndre, 1883. Taxonomic position and new species names which were given in publications following the first Turkish checklist in 2012 are also discussed. The available faunal data showed that the ant fauna of Turkey is represented currently with 362 taxa.

Cataglyphis machmal Radchenko & Arakelian, 1991 * (Fig. 2) Cataglyphis machmal Radchenko & Arakelian, 1991: 73. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� Turkey ��� 3 ���; Aksaray, ��iftllik, Ihlara Valley; 38��14���23���N, 34��18���22���E; 1175 m; 21.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0848b ��� 1 ���; Ankara, Ke��i��ren, Bağlum; 40��10���17.18���N, 32��50���03.82���E; 1180 m; 27. VI.2014; E. Karapazarlıoğlu leg.; EMTU 14 /0158 ��� 1♀; Balıkesir, Sındırgı, Sinandede Vill.; 39��08���N, 28��02���E; 773 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2026b ��� 1 ���; Burdur, G��lhisar; 36��57���40���N, 29��27���53���E; 1223 m; 28. VI.2009; N. Jansson & M. Avcı leg.; EMTU 09 /1084 ��� 1 ♀; Denizli, Honaz, Cumalı Vill.; 37��43���N, 29��30���E; 1343 m; 11.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 / 2192g ��� 2 ���; Kayseri, Yeşilhisar, Akk��y Dam; 38��20���26���N, 35��01���59���E; 1000 m; 16.VIII.2001; A. Lenoir leg.; EMTU 01 /0719a ��� 3 ���; Nevşehir, Avanos, ��avuşin Vill.; 38��40���45���N, 34��50���32���E; 1100 m; 17.VIII.2001; A. Lenoir leg.; EMTU 01 /0751b ��� 1 ���; G��reme; 38��38���N, 34��49���E; 13. V.2013; A. Lenoir leg.; EMTU 13 /0052. DISTRIBUTION IN TURKEY. ��� New for Turkey. REMARKS Cataglyphis machmal has been known so far as an endemic species in Armenia. Expansion of its distribution, by its present records, to North-western Turkey is an important finding. This species shows almost exactly similar taxonomic characters as C. nodus (Brull��, 1833). However, the long hair on the head and mesosoma in the C. nodus is extremely sparse, while in C. machmal it is very abundant. We believe that distributional range of C. machmal in Turkey covers a wider area than known. We strongly suggest re-evaluation of former records of C. nodus, because due to its similarity with C. machmal, both taxa could be misidentified., Published as part of Kiran, Kadri & Karaman, Celal, 2020, Additions to the Ant Fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 285-329 in Zoosystema 42 (18) on page 292, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18, http://zenodo.org/record/3922267, {"references":["RADCHENKO A. G. & ARAKELIAN G. R. 1991. - New ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Armenia. [in Russian]. Vestnik Zoologii 1991: 72 - 75.","BRULLE G. A. 1833. - Expedition scientifique de Moree. Section des sciences physiques. Tome III. Partie 1. Zoologie. Deuxieme section - Des animaux articules. [part]. edition. Levrault, Paris, 289 - 336 p."]}