Cataglyphis dejdaranensis, 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 dejdaranensis sp. nov. Figs 17-18 , 19 , 20-22 , 23, 24 , 25-26

Type material.

Holotype: major worker (CASENT0872370): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Cheri) | 2 VI 2017, 2778 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.1686 / 50.1752 || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00088 (MNHW); paratypes: one major and two minor workers (CASENT0872371-CASENT0872373): the same data as holotype (MHNG, MNHW); paratypes: four major and two minor workers (CASENT0872374-CASENT0872379): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Dejdaran | valley) 2 VI 2017, 2319 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.1955 / 50.2075 || Collection L. Borowiec | Formicidae | LBC-IR00076 (MNHW).

Diagnosis.

Cataglyphis dejdaranensis belongs to the 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, and the shape of the petiolar node groups it with the C. altisquamis complex. From all species of the C. setipes complex, C. dejdaranensis differs in a knob-shaped petiole, which is not forming a spherical node; from all species of the C. altisquamis complex, C. dejdaranensis differs in a weak microsculpture of gaster of which at least sides are visibly shiny. Cataglyphis dejdaranensis has the least sculpted gaster within all large species with well-developed body microsculpture. At first glance, C. foreli appears similar to C. dejdaranensis , but it differs in larger eyes, and femora and tibia lacking thick, black, decumbent setae. Cataglyphis kurdistanica Pisarski has similarly shaped petiole and legs with black decumbent setae, but it differs in bicolored body and presence of the soldier caste. Cataglyphis bucharica also appears similar to C. dejdaranensis but it differs in reddish head and mesosoma, numerous erect setae on propodeum, longer propodeal spiracle, and femora and tibia lacking thick, black, decumbent setae. Cataglyphis fritillariae sp. nov. is the most similar to C. dejdaranensis , but differs in strongly sculptured gaster, petiolar node of major workers trapezoidal in profile, and less convex propodeum.

Description.

Major worker (n = 6): Measurements. HL: 2.197 (2.07-2.14); HW: 1.970 (1.85-2.12); SL: 2.413 (2.25-2.64); PW: 1.350 (1.25-1.46); PRL: 1.178 (1.08-1.32); PRW: 0.998 (0.93-1.09); PTH: 0.877 (0.78-0.94); PTW: 0.452 (0.42-0.49); WL: 3.263 (3.05-3.48); HFL: 3.402 (3.13-3.69); CI: 1.117 (1.085-1.141); SI: 1.098 (1.064-1.131); PI: 1.945 (1.694-2.163); FI: 1.042 (1.024-1.098). Color. Head, mesosoma and gaster completely black or head anteriorly, and pronotum and mesosoma on lateral sides with indistinct brownish black spots of diffused borders. Legs completely black or black-brown with tarsi sometimes slightly paler than femora and tibiae. Antennae completely black (Figs 17 - 19 , 23 , 24 ). Head. Square; approximately 1.12 × as long as wide; sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin almost straight (Fig. 19 ). Anterior margin of the clypeus convex; without central impression; with a row of short black setae, and eight longer black setae, the longest as long as 0.6 length of clypeus; clypeal plate with a pair of long and black setae centrally and a pair of similar setae basally. Clypeus opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with sparse, short and adpressed hairs. Eyes large and oval; approximately 1.2 × as long as wide. Frontal carinae short, not extending beyond frontal lobes; interocular area with thin shiny line and two or three long black setae along each of its sides. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, densely microreticulated. Head opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with sparse, short, adpressed hairs (Fig. 19 ). Ocellar region with group of 2-4 moderately long black setae; posterior angles with two or three long and 1-3 short black 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; 1.1 × as long as width of the head; its base without tooth; from base to apex slightly and gradually widening; funiculus long; pedicel elongated, approximately 0.85 × as long as segments II and III combined and 1.7 × as long as segment II (Fig. 19 ). Surface of scape densely microsculptured, opalescent; covered with thick, dense, decumbent setae. Mandibles rounded; basally smooth and shiny; apical half with deep grooves; surface shiny with several long white setae; masticatory margin with four large teeth. Mesosoma. Long, 2.2 × as long as wide; metanotal groove shallow. Pronotum convex on sides. In lateral view promesonotum slightly arched in profile, propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum; distinctly convex in lateral view (Figs 24 , 25 ). Mesosoma opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with sparse, short and adpressed hairs. Pronotum posteriorly with 2-4 moderately long and black setae; and anteriorly with 2-4 short black setae; sometimes setae broken or missing; mesonotum with up to two moderately long and black setae close to the anterior margin and usually two black setae close to the median groove; propodeum apically with 1-4 short, black setae; sometimes mesonotal and propodeal setae broken. Petiole. In form of knob; its anterior face distinctly convex; posterior face only slightly convex and dorsum regularly rounded; peduncle short. Surface opalescent and densely microreticulated; covered with dense, short, adpressed hairs; dorsum of knob with 3-5 very short, black, erect setae. Gaster. Finely microreticulated and moderately shiny; gastral segment I and lateral sides of remaining segments appear distinctly shinier than remaining parts of gaster. Whole surface of gaster with short, sparse, adpressed hairs; tergites I and II without erect setae; tergite III with one or two long black setae centrally and close to anterior margin, and up to one setae at lateral margin; tergite IV in younger specimens with four long black setae on each side; in older specimens setae usually broken (Fig. 24 ). 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 setae.

Minor worker (n = 4): Measurements. HL: 1.575 (1.39-1.71); HW: 1.373 (1.19-1.53); SL: 1.593 (1.35-1.85); PW: 0.948 (0.83-1.04); PRL: 0.860 (0.76-0.96); PRW: 0.700 (0.62-0.77); PTH: 0.595 (0.54-0.65); PTW: 0.330 (0.28-0.35); WL: 2.303 (2.02-2.48); HFL: 2.185 (1.81-2.53); CI: 1.149 (1.118-1.168); SI: 1.009 (0.971-1.082); PI: 1.808 (1.647-1.929); FI: 0.946 (0.896-1.020).

Color. Slightly paler than major workers; head, mesosoma and gaster mostly brown to dark brown; upper part of head, propodeum and gaster usually blackish brown but never black; transition from brown to blackish brown diffused. Antennae and legs brown to almost black, legs brown to dark brown (Figs 23 , 24 ). Body. Morphological characters similar to these of major worker except petiole which appears as a very thick scale; approximately 2 × as high as broad, with anterior surface only slightly convex and posterior surface flat, and with only rudiment of peduncle (Fig. 21 ). Dorsal surface of gastral tergites I and II without erect setae; tergite III without or with only a pair of erect setae; tergite IV with two or four setae. Sternites setose as in major worker. Legs generally similarly setose as in major workers except fewer suberect and erect black setae on ventral sides of femora and tibiae. Head slightly longer and scape slightly shorter than in major workers.

Biology.

Little known. On the locality Cheri, specimens were collected in a mountain grazing area overgrown by grass, and on the locality Dejdaran Valley ants were found on mountain pastures with scant vegetation (Fig. 26 ). Nests were located under large stones. Both collecting sites were placed on high altitude: 2319 m and 2778 m.

Etymology.

The species name Cataglyphis dejdaranensis is a feminine Latin adjective in the nominative case and refers to Dejdaran Valley, where one of the specimens of this species was collected.

Figures

Figure 19. Major worker of Cataglyphis dejdaranensis sp. nov., head and antennae. Scale bar 1 mm.

Figures 17, 18. Major worker of Cataglyphis dejdaranensis sp. nov. 17 dorsal 18 lateral. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figures 20 - 22. Cataglyphis dejdaranensis sp. nov. 20 petiole of major worker 21 petiole of minor worker 22 hind tibia (not in scale).

Figures 23, 24. Minor worker of Cataglyphis dejdaranensis sp. nov. 23 dorsal 24 lateral. Scale bar 2 mm.

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