Cataglyphis aphrodite

Cataglyphis aphrodite
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Cataglyphis
Species group:	bicolor
Species complex:	nodus
Species:	C. aphrodite
Binomial name
	Cataglyphis aphrodite; Salata, Demetriou, Georgiadis & Borowiec, 2023

Cataglyphis aphrodite is a thermophilous species noted from low to mid altitudes. Most records are from the seacoast to 200 m a.s.l. The highest sites were placed in pine and cedar forests at 1196 m. It prefers sunny areas like roadsides, salt lake coasts, dry riverbanks, and dry meadows with Mediterranean bushes. Noted also in urban areas on grasses and in gardens. Nests are directly placed in the ground; workers penetrate large areas around the nest’s entrance and are active at high temperatures in the middle of the day.

Photo Gallery

Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 11, 12. Holotype major worker of Cataglyphis aphrodite. 11 dorsal, 12 lateral (scale bar = 2 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 13, 14. Holotype major worker of Cataglyphis aphrodite. 13 head (scale bar = 1 mm), 14 propodeum and petiole.
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 15, 16. Paratype minor worker of Cataglyphis aphrodite. 15 dorsal, 16 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 17, 18. Paratype gyne of Cataglyphis aphrodite. 17 dorsal, 18 lateral (scale bar = 2 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Fig. 19. Paratype gyne of Cataglyphis aphrodite, head (scale bar = 1 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Fig. 20. Distribution of Cataglyphis aphrodite (orange circles) and C. chionistrae (red circles) in Cyprus.

Identification

Salata et al. (2023) - Cataglyphis aphrodite is a member of the Cataglyphis nodus complex within the bicolor species group 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: Cataglyphis lunatica and Cataglyphis nodus. 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 was described from Korfu [Corfu/Kerkyra] based on differences in the coloration of gaster, while Cataglyphis viatica orientalis 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 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 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 < 2.5 mm)
Cataglyphis israelensis differs in larger body size (HL in major workers up to 3.20 mm) and mesonotum raised over pronotum in most workers
Cataglyphis laevior 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.

Keys including this Species

Key to Cataglyphis workers of Cyprus

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 35° to 34.6°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: Salata et al., 2023

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Cyprus (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

aphrodite. Cataglyphis aphrodite Salata, Demetriou, et al. 2023a: 311, figs. 11-20 (s.w.q.) CYPRUS.
- Type-material: holotype major worker, paratype major and minor workers (numbers not stated), 1 paratype queen.
- Type-locality: holotype Cyprus: Paphos, 424 m., Agiou Neofytou Mon., 34.84602, 32.44784, 29.iv.2020 (L. Borowiec); paratypes: 37 workers, 1 queen with same data
- [Note: also listed as paratypes are 12 minor collections from Cyprus that include 13 major workers, 21 minor workers.]
- Type-depositories: MNHW (holotype); JDPC, MNHW, ZMUA (paratypes).
- Distribution: Cyprus.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Major worker (n=8) 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. 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; 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. 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. Pronotum regularly rounded on sides. 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. 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. 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 (n=6) 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.

Queen

(n=1) 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. 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 face dull, occipital part slightly shiny, surface of gena covered with extremely short and sparse, yellow, appressed pubescence, rest of head surface appears bare. Only occipital area with a pair of short, yellow erect setae. Ventral side of head on each side with 4 moderately 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; funiculus longer than scape, pedicel elongated, approximately 0.8 x as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and 1.7 x as long as segment 2. Surface of scape diffusely microsculptured, shiny, covered with short, sparse, mostly appressed to decumbent yellow hairs. Mandibles rounded, basally smooth and shiny, apical ¾ length with deep grooves, surface shiny, only at base with 3–4 moderately long, yellow setae but probably in fresh specimens mandibles have more erect setae. Mesosoma. Long, approximately 2.15 x as long as wide. Pronotum elongate, along midline as long as 0.4 length of scutum (Fig. 17). Pronotum anteriorly with diffused microreticulation, shiny, on sides distinctly microreticulate, slightly dull, lateral sides with short, sparse, yellow appressed pubescence. In lateral view scutum gibbous anteriorly, top flattened posteriorly. Surface of scutum densely microreticulated, dull. Scutellum strongly convex, surface densely microreticulated, dull. Anepisternum densely microreticulated, dull, with only few short, appressed hair, katepisternum densely microreticulated, dull, along upper margin with broad stripe of dense, appressed, yellow hair. Propodeum approximately 0.6 x as long as scutum, softly, regularly convex, densely microreticulated, dull; covered with moderately dense, yellow vestiture, denser on top, sparser on sides close to spiracle, very dense in area close to metapleural gland. Petiole. Nodiform, like that of worker, node in lateral view regularly rounded, posterior face slightly concave, pedicel elongate. Surface of petiole distinctly microreticulated but appears slightly shiny, covered with moderately dense, yellow pubescence, top of node without erect setae. Gaster. Distinctly microreticulated, anterior face of first tergite appears shiny, rest dull, first gastral tergite with additional transverse striation. Whole surface of gaster with short and sparse appressed pubescence, distance between hair distinctly longer than length of hair; top of first tergite without erect setae, tergite 2 and 3 with a pair of short, yellow erect setae, tergite 3 with a row of 4 erect setae. Each of gastral sternites with a pair of long, yellow, and erect setae. Legs. Elongate but shorter than in workers, hind femora distinctly shorter than mesosoma (FI 0.736). 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 8 long, yellow spines.

Type Material

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.

Taxonomic Notes

This species was previously misidentified as:

Cataglyphis nodus by Forel (1904): 176 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus var. orientalis Forel, 1895).
Cataglyphis nodus by Santschi (1939): 7 (as Cataglyphis bicolor st. nodus Brullé).
Cataglyphis viatica by 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.

References