Cataglyphis niger (André, 1881), Andre, 1881

A. Ionescu & 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, pp. 109-131 : 123-125

Cataglyphis niger (André, 1881)

(Figs 16, 26–28)

Recognition: C. niger is characterized by black color with a grayish tint due to abundant silvery pubescence on head and mesosoma and accentuated microsculpture, but out of the 70 medium/large examined specimens (MW>1.13), Fve with dark wine-red frons or head, and four also with similarly colored spots on mesonotum. Gaster matte except venter. C. niger has scarce pilosity on propodeum dorsum, 1–3 setae in 26/68 ants. It has more Fattened propodeum (Figs 16, 17), and on average shorter scape and legs than C. cf. savignyi from most sampled localities ( Table 2 ). It has raised mesonotum over pronotum in 44% (n=68) of examined specimens, a lower frequency than in C. israelensis and C. cf. savignyi .

Measurements: TL=5.6–13.0, HL=1.56–3.24, HW=1.37–3.23, EL=0.44–0.89, iOD=0.98–2.54, OcClD=0.72–1.55, SL=1.76–3.37, F1L=0.45–0.76, F2L=0.24– 0.45, ML=2.20–4.47, MW=0.96–2.11, PrL=0.85–1.66, PrH=0.18–0.51, PNL= 0.45–0.91, PNW=0.28–0.72, PNH=0.21–0.55, PNA=63–77°, mFmL=1.98–3.87, hTbL= 2.46–4.80 (n=73).

Material examined: Israel: Tel Aviv, Tel Barukh, 242, 2012, R. Zeltzer (12☿), 15.iii.2014, T. Reiner- Brodetzki (2☿, 1Ƌ); Tel Aviv, Tel Barukh, dunes, 11.iv.2016, A. Ionescu (12☿); Tel Aviv, 10.vi.1962, H. Bytinski-Salz (1Ƌ), 2.iv.1970, H. Bytinski-Salz (3☿, 1♀, 2Ƌ), 8.v.1973, J. Kugler (2Ƌ); 9.v.1982, Y. Zvik (1Ƌ), 10.v.1988, O. Soussan (1Ƌ); Yafo, 1.iv.2016, P.-A. Eyer & A. Hefetz (7☿), 26.v.2016, A. Ionescu (36☿); Holon, 29.v.1959, H. Bytinski-Salz (1Ƌ); Ziqim West, #1, 2012, R. Zeltzer (6☿), #3, 2012, R. Zeltzer (4☿), #4, 2012, R. Zeltzer (3☿), #5, 2012, R. Zeltzer (8☿).

Distribution: The known distribution of C. niger in Israel is in the central and southern Coastal Plain. The species was reported as widely distributed from Egypt (Mohamed et al. 2001) throughout the Middle East to Iran (Radchenko 1998; Paknia et al. 2008).

Notes: Santschi (1929) deFned C. bicolor st. nigra by its black color, gaster matte dorsally and laterally vs. shiny at least laterally in var. savignyi and var. desertorum ; petiole node as high or higher than long and rounded (Santschi 1929, Fg. 4) vs. lower and more elongate posteriorly in var. savignyi , and longer than high in st. abyssinica ; st. nigra has sparse pilosity as compared to var. isis (Santschi 1929) . In Collingwood and Agosti (1996) the diagnostic character that distinguishes C. niger from C. savignyi is a lower propodeum with a Fatter curvature in niger (Collingwood & Agosti 1996, Fg. 43).

The use of Santschi’s (1929) identiFcation key, which is based largely on color, leads to misidentiFcation of all black specimens of C. israelensis and C. cf. savignyi , although the misidentiFcation of C. israelensis and C. cf. savignyi from the northern and central Coastal Plain will be doubtful because the gaster in some of these ants is laterally shiny. Following Collingwood and Agosti (1996), black C. cf. savignyi with the high propodeum from Mishor Yamin and Holot ’Agur would be correctly identiFed, but the previous uncertain identiFcations from the northern and central Coastal Plain would become certain misidentiFcations.

Cataglyphis niger distribution in Israel seems to be restricted to the central and southern Coastal Plain, sympatric with C. cf. savignyi ; but only a wider genetic characterization of ants from northern Africa and the Middle East may reveal its complete distribution range and provide a deeper understanding of the relationships between the different ant populations inhabiting this broad geographic region.

riables per taxon; see ‘Materials and Methods’ for full names of variables.