Cataglyphis fritillariae, Khalili-Moghadam & Salata & Borowiec, 2021

Khalili-Moghadam, Arsalan, Salata, Sebastian & Borowiec, Lech, 2021, Three new species of Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Iran, ZooKeys 1009, pp. 1-28 : 1

Cataglyphis fritillariae sp. nov. Figs 9-10 , 11 , 12-14 , 15-16 , 28

Type material.

Holotype: major worker (CASENT0872299): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang | Dashte laleh, 2400 m || 32.5884 / 50.2002 | 25 V 2017 | A. Khalili-Moghadam || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00069 (MNHW); paratypes: 16 major, 11 medium and 43 minor workers (CASENT0872300-CASENT0872369): the same data as holotype (MNHW, MHNG, USMB).

Other material.

Two major and two minor workers: IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Dashte | laleh), 25 IV 2017, 2400 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.5886 / 50.2002 || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00084 (MNHW); 7 major workers: IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Dashte | laleh), 25 IV 2017, 2391 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.5875 / 50.2002 || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00086 (MNHW); two major workers: IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Soodejan) | 25 IV 2017, 2143 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.5425 / 50.3505 || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00087 (MNHW); major worker: IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Dashte | laleh), 25 IV 2017, 2400 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.5886 / 50.2002 || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00078 (MNHW).

Diagnosis.

Cataglyphis fritillariae belongs to a group of large species with well-developed and dull body sculpture. Femora and tibiae covered with thick, dense, black, decumbent setae cluster this species with the Cataglyphis setipes complex, while the shape of the petiolar node groups it with the C. altisquamis complex. At first glance, C. foreli appears similar to C. fritillariae , but it differs by the trapezoidal profile of petiole, larger eyes, and lack of thick, black, decumbent setae on femora and tibia. Cataglyphis kurdistanica Pisarski has similar petiole and black decumbent setae on legs, but it can be separated by the bicolored body and the presence of a soldier caste. Cataglyphis bucharica also appears similar to C. fritillariae , but it is readily recognized by reddish head and mesosoma, presence of numerous erect setae on propodeum, longer propodeal spiracle, and absence of thick, black, decumbent setae on femora. Cataglyphis asiriensis Collingwood, known from the Asir Mountains (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), has a similar petiole shape and the legs covered with black decumbent setae but it differs from C. fritillariae by the presence of long, black, erect setae also present on the dorsal side of femora and tibiae, and more numerous black erect setae on the mesosoma. Cataglyphis dejdaranensis sp. nov. is the most similar to C. fritillariae , but it differs by the weakly sculptured gaster that has moderately shiny sides of gastral tergite I, petiolar node of major workers knob-shaped in profile, and more convex propodeum.

Description.

Major worker (n = 15): Measurements. HL: 2.435 (2.31-2.55); HW: 2.203 (2.10-2.33); SL: 2.732 (2.63-2.90); PW: 1.582 (1.50-1.69); PRL: 1.430 (1.35-1.52); PRW: 1.155 (1.07-1.260); PTH: 0.878 (0.78-1.11); PTW: 0.715 (0.66-0.78); WL: 3.777 (3.63-3.92); HFL: 4.050 (3.76-4.27); CI: 1.105 (1.064-1.123); SI: 1.122 (1.113-1.137); PI: 1.292 (1.164-1.423); FI: 1.072 (1.019-1.109). Color. Head, mesosoma and gaster uniformly black or black with indistinct brownish black spots with diffused borders. Legs uniformly black to brownish black. Antennae completely black or black with brownish black scape (Figs 9 - 11 ). Head. Square; approximately 1.13 × as long as wide; sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin almost straight (Fig. 11 ). Anterior clypeal margin convex; without central impression; with a row of short black setae, and eight additional long black setae, the longest approximately as long as 0.6 length of clypeus; clypeal plate with a pair of long and black setae close to basal margin, and two pairs of similar setae close to anterior margin; sometimes clypeal plate with 1-3 additional short setae. Clypeus opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with very sparse, short and adpressed hairs. Eyes large and oval, 1.3-1.4 × as long as wide. Frontal carinae short; not extending beyond frontal lobes; interocular area with thin shiny line and 1-3 long black setae placed along each side of the line. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, densely microreticulated. Head opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with sparse, short, adpressed hairs (Fig. 11 ). Ocellar region with three or four moderately long and black setae and often additional two or three shorter black setae; a transverse row of 4-8 black setae present above ocelli; area behind eyes with three or four yellowish to brown short setae; rest of frontal and lateral faces of head without erect setae; ventral side of the head with a dozen white to brown setae. Antennal scape long; in frontal view straight; 1.3 × as long as width of the head; from base to apex slightly and gradually widened; its base without tooth; funiculus long; pedicel elongated, approximately 0.96 × as long as segments II+III combined and 1.9 × as long as segment II (Fig. 11 ). Surface of scape densely microsculptured and opalescent; covered with thick, dense, decumbent setae. Mandibles rounded; basally smooth and shiny; apical ¾ length with deep grooves; surface shiny with several long, white to brown setae; masticatory margin with four large teeth. Mesosoma. Long; 2.4 × as long as wide; metanotal groove shallow (Fig. 10 ). Pronotum convex on sides. In lateral view promesonotum slightly arched in profile; propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, moderately convex in lateral view (Fig. 10 ). Mesosoma opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with sparse, short and adpressed hairs. Pronotum with 2-5 moderately long and black setae medially, sometimes with one or two short black setae close to its anterior and posterior margins; mesonotum with one or two moderately long and black setae in front of spiracles, sometimes with one or two short, black setae medially and anteriorly; propodeum dorsally with 4-7 long and black setae, and often two or three additional short setae; older specimens sometimes with setae completely to partly broken (Fig. 10 ). Petiole. Trapezoidal in profile; its anterior face mostly flat with only basal part convex; posterior face straight to slightly concave; dorsum flat; peduncle very short. Surface opalescent and microreticulated; covered with sparse, short and adpressed hairs; top of knob with 3-6 moderately long, black, erect setae (Fig. 12 ). In anterior view petiolar dorsum with distinct emargination medially. Gaster. Dull and distinctly microreticulated. Whole surface of gaster with short, sparse, adpressed hairs; tergite I in anterior part with 2-4 long, black setae; tergite II without a pair of black setae anteriorly; tergite III with 2-4 long and black setae centrally; in older specimens, setae usually broken (Fig. 16 ). Each of gastral sternites with three or four long, black, erect setae. Legs. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with thick, dense, black, decumbent setae; no white, adpressed setae on surface between black setae. Ventral surfaces of femora and tibiae with numerous long, black, suberect to erect, spiniform setae (Fig. 14 ).

Minor worker (n=15): Measurements. HL: 1.240 (0.98-1.52); HW: 1.083 (0.87-1.32); SL: 1.168 (0.84-1.57); PW: 0.753 (0.59-0.92); PRL: 0.692 (0.51-0.88); PRW: 0.552 (0.44-0.69); PTH: 0.518 (0.40-0.61); PTW: 0.330 (0.27-0.45); WL: 1.818 (1.39-2.34); HFL: 1.573 (1.10-2.20); CI: 1.145 (1.126-1.173); SI: 0.935 (0.857-1.033); PI: 1.606 (1.356-2.000); FI: 0.858 (0.791-0.940).

Color. Uniformly yellowish brown to brownish black. Antennae and legs yellowish brown to bright brown (Figs 15 , 16 ). Head. Almost square; 1.15-1.17 × as long as wide; sides below eyes almost parallel, behind eyes regularly convex, posterior margin of head convex. Sculpture and setation of the head similar as in major worker but with lower number of long setae. Mesosoma. Long; 2.4-2.5 × as long as wide; metanotal groove shallow. Pronotum convex on sides. In lateral view promesonotum slightly arched in profile; propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, its dorsum and posterior side slightly convex (Fig. 16 ). Whole mesosoma opalescent and densely microreticulated (Figs 15 , 16 ). Whole mesosoma covered with dense, short, adpressed hair; pronotum with additional two or three black and erect setae; mesonotum and propodeum with additional one or two black and erect setae. Petiole. In form of thick scale; its anterior surface slightly convex; apex rounded and posterior surface almost flat; surface microreticulated and covered by sparse, short, adpressed hairs; dorsum with 1-3 black, moderately elongated and erect setae (Fig. 13 ). Gaster. Dull and distinctly microreticulated; tergites I and II with up to two black and erect setae; tergite III without or with a pair of black and erect setae close to its anterior margin; tergite IV with 2-4 erect setae; sternites with two or three black and erect setae; whole surface of gaster with short, adpressed hairs (Figs 15 , 16 ). Legs. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with thick, dense, black, decumbent setae; no white, adpressed setae on surface between black setae. Ventral surfaces of femora and tibiae with numerous long, black, suberect to erect, spiniform setae.

Biology.

Little known, in Dashte laleh a nest was found under rocks in a grazing area (Fig. 25 ). The site was located on a small plateau (3600 hectares), between 2100-2600 m above sea level, and in May was predominantly overgrown by Snake’s head ( Fritillaria imperialis L.). Other common plants recorded from this locality were Milkvetch ( Astragalus spp.), Persian shallot ( Allium stipitatum Regel), and kheshk ( Daphne mucronata Royle). The species appears to be alpine, as all its collecting sites were placed on high altitude from 2143 to 2400 m.

Etymology.

The species name Cataglyphis fritillariae is named after the genitive singular case of the generic name of the Snake’s head Fritillaria imperialis L., the dominant flower in Dashte laleh, the type locality of this ant species.

Figures

Figure 11. Major worker of Cataglyphis fritillariae sp. nov., head and antennae. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figures 9, 10. Major worker of Cataglyphis fritillariae sp. nov. 9 dorsal 10 lateral. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figures 12 - 14. Cataglyphis fritillariae sp. nov. 12 petiole of major worker 13 petiole of minor worker 14 hind tibia (not in scale).

Figures 15, 16. Minor worker of Cataglyphis fritillariae sp. nov. 15 dorsal 16 lateral. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figures 27 - 34. Photographs of members of the Cataglyphis altisquamis species group. C. asiriensis Collingwood 27 lateral 28 head (Michele Esposito, from www. antweb. org), C. bucharica Emery 29 lateral 30 head (Zach Lieberman, from www. antweb. org), C. foreli (Ruzsky) 31 lateral 32 head (Zach Lieberman, from www. antweb. org), C. kurdistanica Pisarski 33 lateral 34 head (Kate Martynova, from www. antweb. org).

Figures 25, 26. Nest of Cataglyphis fritillariae under a large stone at the Dashte laleh site (25) Locality Cheri (26).