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Simple Summary Ants play a dual role in their interaction with plant seeds. Many ant species, mainly harvester ants, consume plant seeds (granivory), whereas other ants, mainly scavengers, provide a beneficial seed dispersal service. Granivory by ants is frequently documented in deserts, but beneficial seed dispersal is rarely studied in such ecosystems. We followed the handling of seeds of Sternbergia clusiana, an ant-dispersed plant, by two guilds of desert ants. We focused on the treatment of seeds within the nest and on the redispersal of seeds after ejection from the nest. Scavenging ants rarely consumed the seed itself, they deposited most seeds away from the nest in apparently suitable microhabitats. In addition, we found that most of the seeds that were relocated by scavenging ants arrived at sites under the canopy of shrubs. Such sites might be beneficial for the establishment and success of plants in the arid environment. Indeed, we found that the subject plant was more likely to be found under shrubs than elsewhere, which suggests that it benefits from being placed there. Such documentation of seed dispersal activity by scavenging ants in arid ecosystems suggests they may be efficient seed dispersers in deserts, as they are in other ecosystems. Abstract Ants play a dual role in their interaction with plant seeds. In deserts, the consumption of seeds by granivorous ants is common, whereas mutualistic seed dispersal, often associated with scavenging ants, is rarely documented. We evaluated the contribution of both ant guilds to efficient seed dispersal of an ant-dispersed plant, Sternbergia clusiana, in a desert ecosystem. We presented seed to colonies of three species of desert ants from the Cataglyphis (scavengers) and Messor (granivorous) genera. We recorded seed consumption, ejection from the nest, and seed transportation to potentially beneficial microhabitats. We evaluated microhabitat quality by testing the association between habitat types and the plant at various life stages. As expected, granivores mainly consumed the seeds, whereas scavengers consumed the elaiosome (seed appendage serving as a reward), but left the seeds intact. Moreover, scavenging ants relocated the seeds much further than granivores, mainly to shrub patches. The disproportional distribution of the plant under shrubs at several life stages suggests that this microhabitat is beneficial for the plant. Overall, while granivores seem to mainly harm seed dispersal, we provide the first evidence for the beneficial contribution of scavenging ants in deserts, showing they exhibit the same suite of characteristics that render them efficient seed dispersers in other ecosystems.

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.

The study of insect navigation has been benefitting from both a rich history in ethology and sensory physiology, and from the recent advances in neurobiology and neuroanatomy. However, it remains difficult to establish direct links between the identified neural circuits and the behaviour, and this is often not sufficient to reach a true understanding of the complex dynamics involved. For this, it is necessary to formulate hypotheses in a theoretical framework, and modelling is an excellent tool for this. This thesis presents such a modelling approach, presenting simulations and computer models of several brain structures involved in navigation in the ant. All the models described here have the common aim to contribute to our global understanding of navigation in the insect: they seek to reproduce experimentally observed behaviours, and they are strictly bio-plausible in their implementation., L'étude de la navigation chez l'insecte bénéficie à la fois d'un riche historique en éthologie et physiologie sensorielle, et des récents progrès en neurobiologie et neuroanatomie. Mais il reste cependant difficile d'établir des liens directs entre les circuits neuronaux identifiés et le comportement, et cela ne suffit souvent pas pour parvenir à une véritable compréhension des dynamiques complexes qui sont en jeu. Pour cela, il est nécessaire de formuler des hypothèses dans un cadre théorique, et la modélisation représente pour cela un excellent outil. Cette thèse présente une telle approche modélisatrice, présentant simulations et modèles informatiques de plusieurs structures cérébrales impliquées dans la navigation chez la fourmi. Tous les modèles décrits ici ont comme but de participer à notre compréhension globale de la navigation chez l'insecte: ils cherchent à reproduire des comportements observés expérimentalement, et sont strictement bio-plausibles dans leur implémentation.

The study of insect navigation has been benefitting from both a rich history in ethology and sensory physiology, and from the recent advances in neurobiology and neuroanatomy. However, it remains difficult to establish direct links between the identified neural circuits and the behaviour, and this is often not sufficient to reach a true understanding of the complex dynamics involved. For this, it is necessary to formulate hypotheses in a theoretical framework, and modelling is an excellent tool for this. This thesis presents such a modelling approach, presenting simulations and computer models of several brain structures involved in navigation in the ant. All the models described here have the common aim to contribute to our global understanding of navigation in the insect: they seek to reproduce experimentally observed behaviours, and they are strictly bio-plausible in their implementation., L'étude de la navigation chez l'insecte bénéficie à la fois d'un riche historique en éthologie et physiologie sensorielle, et des récents progrès en neurobiologie et neuroanatomie. Mais il reste cependant difficile d'établir des liens directs entre les circuits neuronaux identifiés et le comportement, et cela ne suffit souvent pas pour parvenir à une véritable compréhension des dynamiques complexes qui sont en jeu. Pour cela, il est nécessaire de formuler des hypothèses dans un cadre théorique, et la modélisation représente pour cela un excellent outil. Cette thèse présente une telle approche modélisatrice, présentant simulations et modèles informatiques de plusieurs structures cérébrales impliquées dans la navigation chez la fourmi. Tous les modèles décrits ici ont comme but de participer à notre compréhension globale de la navigation chez l'insecte: ils cherchent à reproduire des comportements observés expérimentalement, et sont strictement bio-plausibles dans leur implémentation.

An adequate task allocation among colony members is of particular importance in large insect societies. Some species exhibit distinct polymorphic worker classes which are responsible for a specific range of tasks. However, much more often the behavior of the workers is related to the age of the individual. Ants of the genus Cataglyphis (Foerster 1850) undergo a marked age-related polyethism with three distinct behavioral stages. Newly emerged ants (callows) remain more or less motionless in the nest for the first day. The ants subsequently fulfill different tasks inside the darkness of the nest for up to four weeks (interior workers) before they finally leave the nest to collect food for the colony (foragers). This thesis focuses on the neuronal substrate underlying the temporal polyethism in Cataglyphis nodus ants by addressing following major objectives: (1) Investigating the structures and neuronal circuitries of the Cataglyphis brain to understand potential effects of neuromodulators in specific brain neuropils. (2) Identification and localization of neuropeptides in the Cataglyphis brain. (3) Examining the expression of suitable neuropeptide candidates during behavioral maturation of Cataglyphis workers. The brain provides the fundament for the control of the behavioral output of an insect. Although the importance of the central nervous system is known beyond doubt, the functional significance of large areas of the insect brain are not completely understood. In Cataglyphis ants, previous studies focused almost exclusively on major neuropils while large proportions of the central protocerebrum have been often disregarded due to the lack of clear boundaries. Therefore, I reconstructed a three-dimensional Cataglyphis brain employing confocal laser scanning microscopy. To visualize synapsin-rich neuropils and fiber tracts, a combination of fluorescently labeled antibodies, phalloidin (a cyclic peptide binding to filamentous actin) and anterograde tracers was used. Based on the unified nomenclature for insect brains, I defined traceable criteria for the demarcation of individual neuropils. The resulting three-dimensional brain atlas provides information about 33 distinct synapse-rich neuropils and 30 fiber tracts, including a comprehensive description of the olfactory and visual tracts in the Cataglyphis brain. This three-dimensional brain atlas further allows to assign present neuromodulators to individual brain neuropils. Neuropeptides represent the largest group of neuromodulators in the central nervous system of insects. They regulate important physiological and behavioral processes and have therefore recently been associated with the regulation of the temporal polyethism in social insects. To date, the knowledge of neuropeptides in Cataglyphis ants has been mainly derived from neuropeptidomic data of Camponotus floridanus ants and only a few neuropeptides have been characterized in Cataglyphis. Therefore, I performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis in Cataglyphis nodus ants and identified peptides by using Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. This resulted in the characterization of 71 peptides encoded on 49 prepropeptide genes, including a novel neuropeptide-like gene (fliktin). In addition, high-resolution MALDI-TOF MS imaging (MALDI-MSI) was applied for the first time in an ant brain to localize peptides on thin brain cryosections. Employing MALDI-MSI, I was able to visualize the spatial distribution of 35 peptides encoded on 16 genes. To investigate the role of neuropeptides during behavioral maturation, I selected suitable neuropeptide candidates and analyzed their spatial distributions and expression levels following major behavioral transitions. Based on recent studies, I suggested the neuropeptides allatostatin-A (Ast-A), corazonin (Crz) and tachykinin (TK) as potential regulators of the temporal polyethism. The peptidergic neurons were visualized in the brain of C. nodus ants using immunohistochemistry. Independent of the behavioral stages, numerous Ast-A- and TK-immunoreactive (-ir) neurons innervate important high-order integration centers and sensory input regions with cell bodies dispersed all across the cell body rind. In contrast, only four corazonergic neurons per hemisphere were found in the Cataglyphis brain. Their somata are localized in the pars lateralis with axons projecting to the medial protocerebrum and the retrocerebral complex. Number and branching patterns of the Crz-ir neurons were similar across behavioral stages, however, the volume of the cell bodies was significantly larger in foragers than in the preceding behavioral stages. In addition, quantitative PCR analyses displayed increased Crz and Ast-A mRNA levels in foragers, suggesting a concomitant increase of the peptide levels. The task-specific expression of Crz and Ast-A along with the presence in important sensory input regions, high-order integration center, and the neurohormonal organs indicate a sustaining role of the neuropeptides during behavioral maturation of Cataglyphis workers. The present thesis contains a comprehensive reference work for the brain anatomy and the neuropeptidome of Cataglyphis ants. I further demonstrated that neuropeptides are suitable modulators for the temporal polyethism of Cataglyphis workers. The complete dataset provides a solid framework for future neuroethological studies in Cataglyphis ants as well as for comparative studies on insects. This may help to improve our understanding of the functionality of individual brain neuropils and the role of neuropeptides, particularly during behavioral maturation in social insects., Eine adäquate Aufgabenverteilung unter den Koloniemitgliedern ist in großen Insektengesellschaften von besonderer Bedeutung. Einige Arten weisen polymorphe Arbeiterklassen auf, die jeweils für einen bestimmten Aufgabenbereich zuständig sind. Viel häufiger jedoch steht das Verhalten der Arbeiterinnen im Zusammenhang mit dem Alter der Individuen. Ameisen der Gattung Cataglyphis (Foerster 1850) weisen einen ausgeprägten alterskorrelierten Polyethismus auf, der sich durch drei unterschiedliche Verhaltensstadien kennzeichnet. Neu geschlüpfte Ameisen (Callows) verharren den ersten Tag mehr oder weniger bewegungslos im Nest. Anschließend erfüllen die Ameisen in der Dunkelheit des Nestes bis zu vier Wochen lang verschiedene Aufgaben (Interior), bevor sie schließlich das Nest verlassen, um Nahrung für die Kolonie zu sammeln (Forager). Diese Arbeit konzentriert sich auf die neuronalen Grundlagen, die dem alterskorrelierten Polyethismus bei Cataglyphis nodus Ameisen zugrunde liegt, indem folgende Hauptziele verfolgt werden: (1) Untersuchung der Strukturen und der neuronalen Schaltkreise des Cataglyphis-Gehirns, um mögliche Effekte von Neuromodulatoren in spezifischen Hirnneuropilen besser zu verstehen. (2) Identifizierung und Lokalisierung von Neuropeptiden im Gehirn von Cataglyphis Ameisen. (3) Untersuchung der Expression geeigneter Neuropeptid-Kandidaten im Zuge der Verhaltensreifung von Cataglyphis Arbeitern. Das Gehirn bildet die Grundlage für die Steuerung des Verhaltens von Insekten. Obwohl die tragende Rolle des zentralen Nervensystems für das Verhalten zweifelsfrei bekannt ist, sind die funktionellen Aufgaben großer Bereiche des Insektengehirns nicht vollständig erforscht. Bei Cataglyphis Ameisen konzentrierten sich vorangegangene Studien fast ausschließlich auf die Hauptneuropile, während große Teile des zentralen Protocerebrums mangels klarer Abgrenzungen weitgehend unberücksichtigt geblieben sind. Daher habe ich ein dreidimensionales Cataglyphis-Gehirn mit Hilfe der konfokalen Laser-Scanning-Mikroskopie rekonstruiert. Um die synapsinreichen Neuropile und Nerventrakte zu visualisieren, wurde eine Kombination aus fluoreszenzgekoppelten Antikörpern, Phalloidin (ein zyklisches Peptid, das an filamentöses Aktin bindet) und anterograden Tracern verwendet. Basierend auf der einheitlichen Nomenklatur für Insektengehirne definierte ich nachvollziehbare Kriterien für die Abgrenzung der einzelnen Neuropile. Die resultierende dreidimensionale neuronale Karte liefert Informationen über 33 verschiedene synapsinreiche Neuropile und 30 Nerventrakte, einschließlich einer umfassenden Beschreibung der olfaktorischen und visuellen Trakte im Cataglyphis-Gehirn. Dieser dreidimensionale Hirnatlas erlaubt es darüber hinaus, die vorhandenen Neuromodulatoren einzelnen Neuropilen des Gehirns zuzuordnen. Neuropeptide stellen die umfangreichste Gruppe an Neuromodulatoren im zentralen Nervensystem von Insekten dar. Sie regulieren wichtige physiologische Prozesse und Verhaltensweisen und wurden deshalb in jüngerer Vergangenheit mit der Regulation des alterskorrelierenden Polyethismus bei sozialen Insekten in Verbindung gebracht. Bislang wurde das Wissen über Neuropeptide bei Cataglyphis Ameisen hauptsächlich aus neuropeptidomischen Daten von Camponotus floridanus Ameisen abgeleitet und nur wenige Neuropeptide wurden bei Cataglyphis charakterisiert. Daher führte ich eine umfassende Transkriptomanalyse bei Cataglyphis nodus Ameisen durch und identifizierte Peptide mit Hilfe der Q-Exactive Orbitrap Massenspektrometrie (MS) und der Matrix-assistierte Laser Desorption-Ionisierung Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. Hierdurch konnten insgesamt 71 Peptide charakterisiert werden, die auf 49 Präpropeptid-Genen kodiert sind, einschließlich eines neuartigen Neuropeptid-ähnlichen Gens (Fliktin). Darüber hinaus wurde das hochauflösende MALDI-TOF MS-Imaging (MALDI-MSI) zum ersten Mal in einem Ameisenhirn angewandt, um Peptide auf dünnen Hirnkryoschnitten zu lokalisieren. Mittels MALDI-MSI konnte ich die räumliche Verteilung von 35 Peptiden sichtbar machen, die auf 16 Genen kodiert sind. Um die Rolle der Neuropeptide während der Verhaltensreifung zu untersuchen, wählte ich geeignete Neuropeptid-Kandidaten aus und analysierte deren räumliche Verteilung und Expressionsniveaus im Zuge wichtiger Verhaltensübergänge. Basierend auf aktuellen Studien schlug ich die Neuropeptide Allatostatin-A (Ast-A), Corazonin (Crz) und Tachykinin (TK) als mögliche Regulatoren des alterskorrelierenden Polyethismus vor. Die peptidergen Neurone wurden im Gehirn von C. nodus Ameisen mittels Immunhistochemie sichtbar gemacht. Unabhängig von den Verhaltensstadien innervieren die zahlreichen Ast-A- und TK-immunreaktiven (-ir) Neuronen wichtige Integrationszentren höherer Ordnung sowie sensorische Eingangsregionen, während ihre Zellkörper über die gesamte Zellkörperschicht verteilt sind. Im Gegensatz dazu wurden im Cataglyphis-Gehirn nur vier corazonerge Neuronen pro Hemisphäre gefunden. Ihre Somata sind in der Pars lateralis lokalisiert, deren Axone in das mediale Protocerebrum und den retrozerebralen Komplex projizieren. Anzahl und Verzweigungsmuster der Crz-ir Neuronen waren in allen Verhaltensstadien ähnlich, jedoch war das Volumen der Zellkörper bei Foragern signifikant größer als in den vorangegangenen Verhaltensstadien. Darüber hinaus zeigten quantitative PCR Analysen erhöhte Crz- und Ast-A mRNA-Level in Foragern, was auf einen gleichzeitigen Anstieg der Peptidspiegel schließen lässt. Die aufgabenspezifische Expression von Crz und Ast-A sowie deren Präsenz in wichtigen sensorischen Eingangsbereichen, Integrationszentren höherer Ordnung und den neurohormonellen Organen weisen auf eine tragende Rolle der Neuropeptide während der Verhaltensreifung von Cataglyphis Arbeiterinnen hin. Die vorliegende Arbeit beinhaltet ein umfassendes Nachschlagewerk für die Hirnanatomie und das Neuropeptidom von Cataglyphis Ameisen. Zudem konnte ich demonstrieren, dass Neuropeptide geeignete Modulatoren für den alterskorrelierenden Polyethismus von Cataglyphis Arbeitern sind. Der komplette Datensatz bietet eine solide Grundlage für zukünftige, neuroethologische Studien an Cataglyphis Ameisen sowie vergleichenden Studien in Insekten. Hierdurch kann unser Verständnis über die Funktionalität einzelner Hirnneuropile und die Rolle von Neuropeptiden, insbesondere während der Verhaltensreifung sozialer Insekten, in Zukunft verbessert werden.

Age-related behavioral plasticity is a major prerequisite for the ecological success of insect societies. Although ecological aspects of behavioral flexibility have been targeted in many studies, the underlying intrinsic mechanisms controlling the diverse changes in behavior along the individual life history of social insects are not completely understood. Recently, the neuropeptides allatostatin-A, corazonin, and tachykinin have been associated with the regulation of behavioral transitions in social insects. Here, we investigated changes in brain localization and expression of these neuropeptides following major behavioral transitions in Cataglyphis nodus ants. Our immunohistochemical analyses in the brain revealed that the overall branching pattern of neurons immunoreactive (ir) for the three neuropeptides is largely independent of the behavioral stages. Numerous allatostatin-A- and tachykinin-ir neurons innervate primary sensory neuropils and high-order integration centers of the brain. In contrast, the number of corazonergic neurons is restricted to only four neurons per brain hemisphere with cell bodies located in the pars lateralis and axons extending to the medial protocerebrum and the retrocerebral complex. Most interestingly, the cell-body volumes of these neurons are significantly increased in foragers compared to freshly eclosed ants and interior workers. Quantification of mRNA expression levels revealed a stage-related change in the expression of allatostatin-A and corazonin mRNA in the brain. Given the presence of the neuropeptides in major control centers of the brain and the neurohemal organs, these mRNA-changes strongly suggest an important modulatory role of both neuropeptides in the behavioral maturation of Cataglyphis ants.

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.

Ants can navigate by comparing the currently perceived view with memorised views along a familiar foraging route. Models regarding route-following suggest the views are stored and recalled independently of the sequence in which they occur. Hence, the ant only needs to evaluate the instantaneous familiarity of the current view to obtain a heading direction. This study investigates whether ant homing behaviour is influenced by alterations in the sequence of views experienced along a familiar route, using the frequency of stop-and-scan behaviour as an indicator of the ant's navigational uncertainty. Ants were trained to forage between their nest and a feeder which they exited through a short channel before proceeding along the homeward route. In tests, ants were collected before entering the nest and released again in the channel, which was placed either in its original location or halfway along the route. Ants exiting the familiar channel in the middle of the route would thus experience familiar views in a novel sequence. Results show that ants exiting the channel scan significantly more when they find themselves in the middle of the route, compared to when emerging at the expected location near the feeder. This behaviour suggests that previously encountered views influence the recognition of current views, even when these views are highly familiar, revealing a sequence component to route memory. How information about view sequences could be implemented in the insect brain as well as potential alternative explanations to our results are discussed.

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."]}

Cataglyphis viaticoides (Andr��, 1881) Myrmecocystus albicans var. viaticoides Andr��, 1881: 57. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� Turkey ��� 2 ���; Amasya; 40��39���N, 35��50���E; 450 m; 01.VIII.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0048h ��� 4 ���; Aydın, Didim; 37��22���N, 27��15���E; 20.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 14 /0117g ��� 1 ���; Kuşadası; 37��51���N, 27��15���E; 30. VI.2006; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 06 /0022c ��� 3 ���; Balıkesir, Sındırgı, Aktaş Vill.; 39��08���N, 28��11���E; 793 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2053a ��� 1 ���; Sinandede Vill.; 39��08���N, 28��04���E; 1000 m; 02.VII.2007; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2012c ��� 1 ���; same collection data as for preceding; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2013c ��� 2 ���; Kayseri; 38��43���N, 35��28���E; 21.VIII.2013; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 13 /0171c ��� 6���; K��tahya; 39��12���22���N, 30��08���27���E; 1300 m; 13. VI.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0183 ��� 2 ���; İncik Vill.; 39��32���N, 30��14���E; 1045 m; 17.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2020d ��� 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 19 ���; Dumlupınar, Hala��lar Vill.; 38��52���N, 29��51���E; 1470 m; 18.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2079 ��� 1 ���; Manisa, Akhisar, Doğankaya Vill.; 38��59���N, 27��56���E; 560 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2092b ��� 2���; G��lmarmara, Yenik��y; 38��39���N, 28��02���E; 98 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2108 ��� 1 ���; K��pr��başı, Kurtlar Vill.; 38��43���N, 28��17���E; 600 m; 10.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2121b ��� 1 ���; Şanlıurfa, Harran; 36��52���01���N, 39��01���22���E; 363 m; 24.IV.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0006e. DISTRIBUTION IN TURKEY. ��� Afyonkarahisar, Bitlis, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Gaziantep, İzmir, Kocaeli, Muğla, Sakarya, Siirt, Yalova. REMARKS See comments on C. livida., 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 pages 293-294, 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."]}

Cataglyphis aenescens (Nylander, 1849) Formica aenescens Nylander, 1849: 37. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� Turkey ��� 1 ���; Adıyaman; 37��45���N, 38��16���E; 07. V.2015; S. Yıldız leg.; EMTU 15 /0042k ��� 9 ���; Afyonkarahisar, Emirdağ, Aşağıkurudere Vill.; 38��51���N, 31��05���E; 1200 m; 24.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2365c ��� 22 ���; Sandıklı, Dutağa�� Vill.; 38��28���N, 30��22���E; 1800 m; 23.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2316b ��� 1 ���; Bayat, Akpınar Vill.; 38��51���N, 30��56���E; 1399 m; 24.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2358c ��� 5 ���; Aksaray, ��iftlik; 38��37���07���N, 33��50���45���E; 1500 m; 21.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0838 ��� 3 ���; G��zelyurt; 38��17.907���N, 34��15.832���E; 1138 m; 16. V.2013; A. Lenoir leg.; EMTU 13 /0064 ��� 1 ���; G��zelyurt, Selime Vill.; 38��18���17���N, 34��15���30���E; 1000 m; 21.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0852b ��� 1 ���; same collection data as for preceding; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0854e ��� 1���; Ortak��y; 38��44���N, 34��02���E; 1140 m; 26.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0756 ��� 1 ���; Balıkesir, Dursunbey, Koyunoba Vill.; 39��14���906���N, 28��51���575���E; 1380 m; 15.VIII.2014; N. Jansson leg.; EMTU 07 /2446b ��� 2 ���; Burdur, G��lhisar; 36��57���40���N, 29��27���53���E; 1223 m; 28. VI.2009; N. Jansson & M. Avcı leg.; EMTU 09 /1083 ��� 1 ���; Denizli; 37��44���30���N, 29��06���12���E; 09. VI.2006; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 06 /0438 ��� 1 ���; Karaman, Karadağ Mt.; 37��23���N, 33��09���E; 1800 m; 27.VIII.2006; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0783 ��� 1 ���; Kastamonu; 41��23���N, 33��46���E; 775 m; 30.IV.2011; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 11 /0101f ��� 4 ���; Kırşehir, Mucur; 39��03���N, 34��23���E; 26.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0738 ��� 1���; K��tahya, Radar Road; 39��24���680���N, 29��54���569���E; 1500 m; 17.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2013b ��� 1 ���; Malatya, Ak��adağ, Sultansuyu Studfarm; 38��20���36���N, 38��03���35���E; 881 m; 05. VI.2007; E. ��oban leg.; EMTU 07 /0040 ��� 6 ���; Manisa, G��rdes, Malaz Vill.; 39��04���N, 28��17���E; 1275 m; 09.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 07 /2065 ��� 4���; Niğde, G��m��şler Vill.; 37��59���39���N, 34��46���16���E; 1500 m; 20.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0798a ��� 4 ���; ��amardı, Elekg��l�� Vill.; 37��45���21���N, 35��01���36���E; 1550 m; 20.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0814 ��� 4 ���; Ulukışla; 37��33���00���N, 34��28���58���E; 1800 m; 18.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0768 ��� 17 ���; Aktoprak Vill.; 37��28���54���N, 34��28���05���E; 1861 m; 18.VIII.2001; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 01 /0790 ��� 2 ���; Sivas, Beypınarı Vill.; 39��51���15���N, 37��07���50���E; 1460 m; 25.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0670a ��� 1 ���; Zara, Ted��r��ge Lake; 39��52���08���N, 37��36���07���E; 1330 m; 25.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0670a ��� 1���; Uşak, Banaz, G��rlek Vill.; 38��54���N, 29��44���E; 1810 m; 18.VIII.2014; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2084b ��� 1 ���; same collection data as for preceding; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 08 /2086b ��� 30 ���; Yozgat; 39��49���N, 34��48���E; 1250 m; 24.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0627 ��� 1���; same collection data as for preceding; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0638b ��� 24 ���; Akdeğirmenli; 39��39���N, 35��53���E; 1370 m; 24.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0641 ��� 3 ���; ��ayıralan; 39��18���N, 35��38���E; 1600 m; 26.VIII.2004; K. Kiran leg.; EMTU 04 /0723a. DISTRIBUTION IN TURKEY. ��� Ağrı, Ankara, Artvin, Bitlis, Bursa, Edirne, Erzincan, Erzurum, Hakkari, Isparta, İstanbul, İzmir, Kars, Kırklareli, Konya, Muş, Sivas, Van., 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 pages 291-292, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18, http://zenodo.org/record/3922267, {"references":["NYLANDER W. 1849. - Additamentum alterum adnotationum in monographiam formicarum borealium. Acta Societatis Scientiarum Fennicae 3: 25 - 48."]}

The remarkable diversity of ant social organization is reflected in both their life history and population kin structure. Different species demonstrate a high variation with respect to both social structure and mating strategies: from the ancestral colony type that is composed of a single queen (monogyny), singly inseminated (monoandry), to the more derived states of colonies headed by a multiply inseminated queen (polyandry), to colonies composed of multiple queens (polygyny) that are either singly or multiply inseminated. Moreover, the population structure of an ant species can range from multicoloniality to polydomy to supercoloniality, and Cataglyphis is considered to be a model genus in regard to such diversity. The present study sought to determine the social and population structure of the recently described C. israelensis species in Israel. For this purpose we employed a multidisciplinary approach, rather than the commonly used single approach that is mostly based on genetics. Our study encompassed behavior (nest insularity/openness), chemistry (composition of nestmate recognition signals and cuticular hydrocarbons), and genetics (microsatellite polymorphism). Each approach has been shown to possess both advantages and disadvantages, depending on the studied species. Our findings reveal that C. israelensis colonies are headed by a single, multiply inseminated queen and that the population structure is polydomous, with each colony comprising one main nest and several additional satellite nests. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that none of the above‐noted approaches, when employed individually, is suitable or sufficient in itself for delineating population structure, thus emphasizing the importance of using multiple approaches when assessing such complex systems.

An inventory of arthropods was carried out at locations in the desert area of Touggourt, southeast Algeria. Samples were collected from two diverse habitats, a palm grove (agricultural habitat) and dunes (natural habitat). Using the Barber pitfall trap, 1100 specimens, divided into four classes, 15 orders, 44 families and 99 species were obtained. In the palm grove, 660 arthropods were trapped, belonging to four classes and 12 orders. Of these four classes, Insecta dominated followed by Crustacea, Arachnida and Entognata. Insecta accounted for 59.49% of the total capture and was dominated by two orders: Hymenoptera (41.81%) and Amphipoda (34.55%). In the Hymenoptera, Cataglyphis sp. was the most abundant (38.2%), followed by Pheidole pallidula (2.3%). In the dunes, 440 individuals were trapped. Insecta was the most abundant (90.69%), and Crustacea and Arachnida were scarce. Of the dominance by insects, Hymenoptera was most abundant (68.15%), and within that order, Cataglyphis bombycina (35.5%) was the most abundant followed by Monomorium subopacum (8.9%). In the palm grove, 42 species were recorded, compared to 57 in the dunes. The Shannon–Weaver index and equitability varied in both stations. In the palm grove, the diversity was 2.6, and the equitability was 0.5. By contrast in the dunes, the diversity was equal to 4 and the Equitability equal to 0.7. The differences in vegetation between the two sites reflect the differences in species diversity.

WOS: 000449163400005 According to previous observations, it was hypothesized that the feeding behavior of some ant species would be deterred by a scavenger deterrent factor (SDF), whereas for other species it would not. The effects of the SDF were studied on 11 ant species in three different subfamilies: Dolichoderinae Forel, 1878, Formicinae Latreille, 1809, and Myrmicinae Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835. The experiments were conducted from 2014-2015 in Davis, California, United States, Aydin, Turkey, and Duzce, Turkey. Five-day-old Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1976), (Hb)-killed and freeze-killed Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) were exposed to ant colonies in the field for 3 to 4 h. Seven ant species fed significantly less on Hb-killed insects than freeze-killed insect. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in cadaver consumption with five species, but Liometopum occidentale Emery, 1895 did consume a higher rate of Hb-killed insects than freeze-killed insects and was not deterred by SDF. It was also observed that four ant species took Hb-killed insects into the nests, but two Myrmicinae species, Pogonomyrmex subdentatus Mayr, 1870 and Messor meridionalis (Andre, 1883) removed the cadavers after 30 min, whereas two Formicinae species, Cataglyphis nodus (Brune, 1833) and Formica fusca Linnaeus, 1758, retained the cadavers in the nest. It was assumed that the latter two species consumed both Hb-killed and freeze-killed insects. Further studies are needed to explain why L. occidentale C. nodus and F. fusca are not deterred by SDF. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [2219] We thank P. Ward, University of California-Davis, Department of Entomology and Nematology, USA and K. Kiran, Trakya University, Department of Biology, Turkey for identification of ant species in our experiments and S. Tunc Kaya, Duzce University, Department of Biology for his assistance in the statistical analyses. B. Gulcu was supported by the 2219-Postdoctoral Scholarships for Turkish Citizens by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tubitak) to the University of California, Davis.