Crematogaster antaris

This is a very widespread and common species, which appears to be one of the most arid-adapted species within the genus (Sharaf et al., 2019).

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 1.08-1.45; C1 104-114; PL/PW 0.68-0.715. Crematogaster aegyptiaca is sometimes as red as the deserticolous C. antaris but is usually darker, more rugose and pubescent; the petiole is wider with the anterolateral corners produced and wing-like in full dorsal view. Queens of C. antaris are larger, have the head and alitrunk red and have characteristic lateral striae on the occiput.

Distribution
Sharaf et al. (2019): Originally described from Algeria, C. antaris is also found in Morroco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran (Sharaf 2006; Paknia et al. 2008; Vonshak and Ionescu-Hirsch 2009; Borowiec 2014; Guénard et al. 2017; Janicki et al. 2017). Its apparent absence in Libya is likely a sampling artifact. Crematogaster antaris is also broadly distributed in the Arabian Peninsula where it is known from Kuwait, Oman, the KSA, the UAE, and Yemen (Collingwood 1985; Tigar and Collingwood 1993; Collingwood and Agosti 1996; Collingwood et al. 2011; Borowiec 2014; Sharaf et al. 2018).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Iran, Israel, Oman, Qatar.

Nomenclature

 *  antaris. Crematogaster auberti r. antaris Forel, 1894d: 26 (w.q.) ALGERIA. Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 142; in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166. Subspecies of inermis: Emery, 1926: 2; Menozzi, 1927g: 379; of auberti: Emery, 1924a: 8; Finzi, 1930b: 15; Santschi, 1938a: 38; Cagniant, 1964: 103. Raised to species: Santschi, 1921d: 71; Collingwood, 1985: 260. Senior synonym of sordida: Cagniant, 2005: 11.
 * sordida. Crematogaster auberti var. sordida Forel, 1909c: 104 (w.) ALGERIA. [First available use of Crematogaster auberti r. laestrygon var. sordida Forel, 1894d: 26; unavailable name.] Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952b: 255 (l.). Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 142. Subspecies of antaris: Santschi, 1921d: 71. Junior synonym of antaris: Cagniant, 2005: 11.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * Cagniant, H. 2006. Liste actualisée des fourmis du Maroc. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8: 193-200.
 * Cagniant, H.. "Les Crematogaster du Maroc (Hym., Formicidae). Clé de détermination et commentaires." Orsis 20 (2005): 7-12.
 * Cagniant, H.. "Liste actualisee des fourmis du Maroc (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 193-200.
 * Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474
 * Collingwood C.A., D.Agosti, M.R. Sharaf, and A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE, 4: 405474
 * Collingwood, C. A., and Donat Agosti. "Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2)." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15 (1996): 300-385.
 * Finzi, B.. "Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer zoologischen Forschungsreise nach Westalgerien und Marokko. III. Teil. Ameisen aus Marokko und Westalgerien." Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse Abteilung I 139 (1930): 14-16.
 * Forel A. 1905. Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905). Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 49: 155-185.
 * Forel, A. 1894. Les formicides de la province d'Oran (Algerie). Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 30: 1-45.
 * Forel, A.. "Les Formicides de la Province d'Oran (Algérie)." Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 30 (1894): 1-45.
 * Forel, A.. "Les fourmis du Sahara algérien récoltées par M. le Professeur A. Lameere et le Dr. A. Diehl." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 46 (1902): 147-158.
 * Ghahari H., and C. A. Collingwood. 2013. A study on the ants (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Formicidae) from Western Iran. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48 (1): 155164.
 * Kugler J. 1988. The zoogeography of Israel. 9. The zoogeography of social insects of Israel and Sinai. Monographiae biologicae 62: 251-275.
 * Santschi, F. 1921. Formicides nouveaux de l'Afrique du Nord. Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Afrique du Nord 12: 68-77
 * Sharaf M. R., B. L. Fisher, H. M. Al Dhafer, A. Polaszek, and A. S. Aldawood. 2018. Additions to the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Oman: an updated list, new records and a description of two new species. Asian Myrmecology 10: e010004
 * Sharaf M. R., S. A. Aldawood, and F. Hita Garcia. 2019. Review of the Arabian Crematogaster Lund (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), synoptic list, distribution, and description of two new species from Oman and Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 898: 27-81
 * Stitz, H.. "Ameisen aus dem westlichen Mittelmeergebiet und von den Kanarischen Inseln." Mitteilungen aus den Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 8 (1917): 333-353.
 * Wheeler W. M. and W. M. Mann. 1916. The ants of the Phillips Expedition to Palestine during 1914. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 60: 167-174.
 * Wheeler W. M., and W. M. Mann. 1916. The ants of the Phillips Expedition to Palestine during 1914. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 60: 167-174.