Cataglyphis chionistrae

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

All nests discussed by Salata et al. (2023) were located under moderate sized stones located in the highest parts of Mt. Olympus around the peak locality of Chionistra, overgrown with Pinus nigra subsp. nigra var. pallasiana at an altitude from 1862 to 1928 m a.s.l. Cataglyphis chionistrae is the only species of the C. cursor complex from the eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin that prefers shadowed sites inside old pine forests. All other species are more photophilous and build nests in open spaces such as mountain steppes or xerothermophilic meadows with sparse vegetation, and if in pine forests, then on luminous clearings or broad sandy roadsides.

Photo Gallery

Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 1, 2. Holotype major worker of Cataglyphis chionistrae. 1 dorsal, 2 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 3, 4. Holotype major of Cataglyphis chionistrae. 3 clypeus and mandibles, 4 propodeum and petiole (not in scale).
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 5, 6. Paratype minor worker of Cataglyphis chionistrae. 5 dorsal, 6 lateral (scale bar = 1 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 7, 8. Head of Cataglyphis chionistrae. 7 holotype major, 8 paratype gyne (scale bar = 1 mm).
Salata et al. (2023), Figs. 9, 10. Paratype gyne of Cataglyphis chionistrae. 9 dorsal, 10 lateral (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) - Workers of C. chionistrae differ from Cataglyphis minos in the lack of erect setae on their antennal scapes, less setose pronotum and propodeum, and in major workers in the lack of erect setae on the first gastral tergite; from Cataglyphis cretica in the smaller body size, less opalescent body sculpture, and in the presence of long and erect setae on the occipital part of the head and all mesosomal tergites (also in minor workers); from Cataglyphis hellenica, Cataglyphis italica, and Cataglyphis cf. aenescens from Türkiye in usually deep black and always monochromous body coloration; longer antennal scapes (SI approximately 1.3 in C. chionistrae vs < 1.22 in C. hellenica, C. italica, and C. cf. aenescens), and more shiny body surface.

This species is a member of the Cataglyphis cursor species complex within the cursor species group characterized by a petiole in the shape of a thick squama and monomorphic or with monophasic size variation of worker caste (Agosti 1990). Recent genetic studies showed that C. aenescens sensu lato is a group of cryptic or subcryptic taxa with rather small distribution areas and complicated genetic structure displaying clonal social hybridogenesis (Kuhn et al. 2020). In the eastern part of the Mediterranean Basin, the following species have been hitherto recorded:

The status of the Turkish populations recorded under C. aenescens is rather unclear. This taxon appears to be common in Central Anatolia (Kiran & Karaman 2021). However, as the true C. aenescens was described from “Russia meridionalis” without the exact type locality and based on material collected by V. Motschulsky, it is possible that Turkish populations are not conspecific with populations from eastern Ukraine and the area north of the Caucasus. Kuhn et al. (2020) reported C. aenescens from Iran based on material collected close to the Caspian Sea and revealed that these populations genetically differ from populations distributed eastward. Thus, it is also possible that populations from the south Caspian area are not conspecific with true C. aenescens. So far, no species of the cursor complex has been noted from Israel (Vonshak & Ionescu-Hirsch 2009) nor Lebanon (Guenard et al. 2017), but C. aenescens was recorded from Syria by Wheeler & Mann (1916). However, it is unknown which morphogenotype the Syrian populations represent.

Keys including this Species

Key to Cataglyphis workers of Cyprus

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 34.9° to 34.9°.


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.

chionistrae. Cataglyphis chionistrae Salata, Demetriou, et al. 2023a: 304, figs. 1-10, 20 (s.w.q.) CYPRUS.
- Type-material: holotype major worker, 30 paratype workers, 2 paratype queens.
- Type-locality: holotype Cyprus: Limassol, Mt Olympos, Chionistra loc. 1, 1862 m., 34.92943, 32.87001, 25.iv.2022 (L. Borowiec); paratypes: 24 workers, 1 queen with same data, 6 workers, 1 queen with same data but Chionistra loc. 3, 1982 m., 26.iv.2022.
- 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 (n=8) HL: 1.464 (1.35–1.51); HW: 1.193 (1.09–1.26); SL: 1.551 (1.42–1.64); EL: 0.430 (0.41–0.45); PW: 0.965 (0.94–1.00); PRL: 0.778 (0.70–0.82); PRW: 0.681 (0.64–0.71); PTH: 0.448 (0.40–0.49); PTW: 0.226 (0.21–0.24); WL: 2.085 (2.00–2.15); HFL: 2.069 (2.00–2.17); CI: 1.228 (1.183–1.265); SI: 1.301 (1.262–1.344); PI: 1.983 (1.708–2.143); FI: 0.992 (0.972–1.029).

Color. Whole body black; in a few examined specimens the frontal part of the head and gena were slightly paler colored, brownish black but the rest of the body was always deep black; legs bicolored, coxa, trochanters, and femora black, only knee yellowish to yellowish brown, tibiae yellowish brown to brown, usually fore tibiae paler colored than mid and hind tibiae, tarsi yellow. Antennae yellow to yellowish brown. Head. Almost square, approximately 1.23 x as long as wide, sides below eyes slightly converging anterad, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin slightly convex. Anterior clypeal margin convex, without shallow median emargination, with a row of very short setae and of 6–8 long yellowish-brown setae, the longest 0.6 x as long as than clypeal length. Clypeal plate with very sparse yellow appressed pubescence, anteriorly with additional few decumbent short setae, basally with a pair of long erect setae as long as 1/3–1/2 length of clypeus. Clypeus densely and finely microreticulated, slightly dull, at least basal half of clypeus with additional thin longitudinal striation. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.4–1.5 x as long as wide, and 0.8 x as long as gena. Frontal carinae short, slightly extending beyond frontal lobes. Frons narrow, in the narrowest point 0.26–0.27 x as wide as head width. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, covered with very short and sparse pubescence, densely microreticulated, sculpture tends to form semicircular striae. Head densely microreticulated, dull, with additional longitudinal striation, gena with very short and sparse, yellow, appressed pubescence. Anterior and lateral parts of head up to ocellar area without erect setae, except for one to two pairs of moderately long setae on frons; ocellar area usually with a pair of long, yellow erect setae with length up to 0.174 (setae in mature specimens often broken). Lateral parts of occipitum with 2–3 erect setae, the longest ~ 0.206. Antennal scape long, in frontal view almost straight, approximately 1.3 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 1.5 x as long as segment 2. Scape microsculptured, slightly dull, covered with short and sparse hairs, mostly appressed, only at apices slightly decumbent, without erect setae. Mandibles rounded, basally smooth and shiny, apical ¾ length with deep grooves, shiny with few long and short yellow setae, cutting edge with 4 large teeth. Mesosoma. Long, approximately 2.2 x as long as wide, metanotal groove deep. Pronotum convex on sides. In lateral view pro- and mesonotum form regular convexity, propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, distinctly convex in lateral view with top of convexity slightly behind the middle. Mesosoma densely microreticulated but shiny, on top of promesonotum with very sparse and short, hardly visible appressed pubescence, anterior surface of pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum with more visible yellowish white vestiture. Pronotum with one or two pairs of moderately long yellow setae, the longer pair with length 0.222, the shorter with length up to 0.110, mesonotum anteriorly with 2–4 short standing setae, the longest twice shorter than long setae on pronotum, and in posterior half with a pair of short setae, propodeum with 8–14 moderately long, yellow erect setae, the longest with length 0.143. Petiole. Squamiform, thin, PI approximately 1.95, anterior face softly convex, posterior face almost flat, top of petiole rounded obtusely angulate, surface diffusely microreticulate, covered with short, sparse, white appressed pubescence, apex without or with 2–4 erect setae. Gaster. With fine and partly diffused microreticulation tending to form transverse striation, surface strongly shiny. Whole surface of gaster with very short and very sparse appressed pubescence, distance between hair mostly longer than length of hair; tergites 1–2 without erect setae or sometimes second tergite with a pair of short, white erect setae, tergite 3 with transverse row of 4 short erect setae. Each of gastral sternites with 3–4 long, white to yellow erect setae. Legs. Moderately elongate, FI approximately 0.992. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with thin, sparse, mostly appressed or only slightly decumbent yellow setae, without decumbent spiniform setae. Ventral surfaces of femora and tibiae with sparse, moderately long, and yellow suberect to erect setae, ventral margin of hind tibiae with a row of 5–6 spines.

Minor (n=6) HL: 1.137 (1.05–1.22); HW: 0.833 (0.75–0.90); SL: 1.258 (1.19–1.32); EL: 0.358 (0.34–0.38); PW: 0.753 (0.70–0.83); PRL: 0.638 (0.61–0.67); PRW: 0.550 (0.52–0.59); PTH: 0.312 (0.29–0.34); PTW: 0.163 (0.15–0.18); WL: 1.710 (1.60–1.82); HFL: 1.648 (1.49–1.76); CI: 1.365 (1.341–1.400); SI: 1.512 (1.467–1.587); PI: 1.917 (1.611–2.125); FI: 0.964 (0.903–0.988).

Color. Same as in major workers, often antennae darker, brown (Figs. 5, 6). Head. Slightly more elongated than in major workers, 1.34–1.40 x as long as wide, below eyes softly converging anterad, behind eyes regularly rounded, occipital margin of head slightly convex. Anterior clypeal margin convex with shallow median emargination. Eyes large but slightly shorter than in major workers, 1.3 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 usually shorter and less numerous than in majors. Petiole. Stouter than in major worker, mean PI 1.92, without erect setae. Gaster. As finely microreticulated as in majors. Tergites 1–2 without erect setae, tergite 3 usually without erect setae but occasionally with two short setae. Each of gastral sternites with 2–4 long, white to yellow erect setae. Legs slightly shorter than in major workers with mean FI 0.963.

Queen

(n=2) HL: 1.54 (1.51–1.57); HW: 1.42 (1.37–1.47); SL: 1.345 (1.27–1.42); EL: 0.455 (0.45–0.46; PW: 1.205 (1.19–1.22); PRL: 0.93 (0.92–0.94); PRW: 1.005 (1.00–1.01); PTH: 0.515 (0.49–0.54); PTW: 0.23 (0.22–0.24); WL: 2.485 (2.37–2.60); HFL: 1.765 (1.70–1.83); CI: 1.085 (1.068–1.102); SI: 0.947 (0.927–0.966); PI: 2.239 (2.227–2.250); FI: 0.711 (0.704–0.717).

Color. Head reddish to reddish brown centrally, brown laterally and posteriorly; mesosoma mostly brown, scutellum and upper parts of episterna paler, reddish brown; petiole brown, gaster dorsally black, laterally brown; coxa, trochanters and femora mostly brown except reddish brown margins and reddish knee, tibiae yellowish or reddish brown, tarsi and antennae yellow (Figs. 8–10). Head. Almost square, approximately 1.1 x as long as wide, sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex, posterior margin slightly convex. Anterior clypeal margin slightly convex, with shallow median emargination, with a row of short setae and 6 long setae, the longest with length 0.269 and 0.68 x as long as length of clypeus. Clypeus with very sparse yellow appressed pubescence, anteriorly and basally with few decumbent short setae, anterolaterally with a pair of long erect setae surface densely and finely microreticulated, slightly dull, basally often with additional longitudinal striation. Eyes large and oval, approximately 1.5 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 point 0.22 x as wide as head width. Antennal fossa shallow, opalescent, densely microreticulated and covered with very short and sparse pubescence. Head regularly and densely microreticulated, in frontal area with additional longitudinal striation, behind eyes with additional semicircular striation; surface of gena and sides of head covered with extremely short and sparse, yellow, appressed pubescence. Frons with two pairs of long erect setae, between frons one pair of similar setae, ocellar area with 3–4 long erect setae, the longest with length 0.238, occipital sides with 2–3 long setae, the longest as long as the longest seta in ocellar area. Ventral side of head on each side with 4–5 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 0.7 x as long as segments 2 and 3 combined and twice as long as segment 2. Surface of scape diffusely microsculptured, shiny, covered with short, sparse, mostly appressed yellow hairs. Mandibles rounded, basally smooth and shiny, apical ¾ length with deep grooves, surface shiny, with 3–4 moderately long, yellow setae. Mesosoma. Long, approximately 2.06 x as long as wide. Pronotum elongate, along midline as long as 0.7 length of scutum. Surface of pronotum anteriorly with diffused microreticulation, shiny, on sides distinctly microreticulated, slightly dull, with additional semicircular striation; anterior slope appears bare; sides with short, sparse, yellow appressed pubescence, at base a row of 4 yellow setae with length up to 0.286. In lateral view scutum gibbous anteriorly, top flattened posteriorly (Fig. 10). Surface of scutum densely microreticulated, but shiny, anteriorly, on sides and at base with long setae up to 0.275 mm length. Scutellum moderately convex, surface densely microreticulated, shiny, microreticulation with additional longitudinal striation, antero- and posterolateral corners with long erect setae. Anepisternum densely microreticulated, dull, with only few short, appressed hair; katepisternum densely microreticulated, dull, covered with moderately dense, appressed, yellow hair. Propodeum slightly shorter than scutum, softly, regularly convex, densely microreticulated, surface anteriorly and on sides dull, posteriorly shiny, covered with moderately dense, yellow vestiture, denser on top, sparser on sides close to spiracle, very dense in area close to metapleural gland, top of propodeum with more than 20 yellow erect setae, the longest with length 0.192. Petiole. Squamiform, like in workers, anterior face slightly convex, posterior face almost flat, PI 2.23–2.25. Surface of petiole distinctly microreticulated and shiny, covered with moderately dense, yellow pubescence, top of node without a pair of elongate erect setae. Gaster. Distinctly microreticulated and shiny, with additional transverse striation. Whole surface of gaster with short and sparse appressed pubescence; distance between hair longer than length of hair. Tergite 1–3 with a pair of long, yellow erect setae. Each of gastral sternites with 2–4 long, yellow, and erect setae. Legs. Moderately elongated but shorter than in workers, hind femora distinctly shorter than mesosoma (FI 0.711). Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with fine, sparse, moderately long, appressed to decumbent setae, external surface of mid and hind tibiae with a row of very long erect setae up to 0.300 mm length. Ventral surfaces of hind tibiae with 1–2 yellow subapical spines.

Type Material

Holotype: major worker (pin): CYPRUS, Limassol, Mt | Olympos/Chionistra loc. 1, 1862 m | 34.92943 / 32.87001 | 25 IV 2022, L. Borowiec || Pinus nigra forest | nest under stone (MNHW).
Paratypes: 24 workers, 1 queen: the same data as holotype (MNHW, JDPC, ZMUA); 1 queen, 6 workers: CYPRUS, Limassol, Mt | Olympos/Chionistra loc. 3, 1928 m | 34.93563 / 32.8624 | 26 IV 2022, L. Borowiec || Pinus nigra forest | nest under stone (MNHW).

Etymology

Named after its locus typicus, Chionistra (= Mt. Olympos, 1,952 m), the highest point in Cyprus.

References

Salata, S., Demetriou, J., Georgiadis, C., Borowiec, L. 2023. The ant genus Cataglyphis Förster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus. Zootaxa, 5264(3), 301–322 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5264.3.1).