Cataglyphis agostii

Known from a single individual. It was found under a rock in an elevated and semi-isolated site on Gebel Sebaal, over 1500 m.

Identification
Fadl et al. (2007) - This species belongs to the albicans group and it appears taxonomically closest to Cataglyphis minima Collingwood, 1985 which was described from Saudi Arabia. Both of them are shining black, appendages yellow, body smooth and shining almost without sculpture but C. agostii is consistently larger, TL 10.79 versus 4.4 mm; and has a larger scape index, SI 130.4 versus SI 106.5. Moreover, both species are different in pilosity, C. agostii has one pair of short hairs on pronotum, mesonotum bare, propodeum with 9 long yellow hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Egypt.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  agostii. Cataglyphis agostii Sharaf, in Fadl et al. 2007: 238, figs. 3, 4 (w.) EGYPT.

Worker
Holotype: TL:10.79; HL:3.32; HW:2.73; SL:3.56; SI:130.4; CI: 82.2 Diagnosis: Color dark brown, anterior part of the head and the distal part of the femur yellowish; antennae, mandibles and tarsi clear yellow; femur brown or pale brown. Head longer than broad; the area between the short frontal carinae finely longitudinally striated; the whole head with fine sculptures; mandibles smooth and shining, longitudinally striated, armed with five strong brown teeth and having many long yellow hairs; posterior part of clypeus having a pair of long yellow hairs; occiput straight with four pairs of hairs. Pronotum with one pair of short hairs, mesonotum bare, propodeum moderately low with 9 long yellow hairs. Petiole is a truncated node with a flat dorsal surface slopping forward and having relatively dense whitish pubescence in the dorsal and lateral sides and 2 pairs of hairs.

Gaster globular and shining; the first gastral tergite bare while the second with one pair of hairs at the posterior margin; the end of the gaster with few long scattered yellow hairs.

Type Material
Holotype: 1 worker, Egypt, Gebel Ras Abuhebeig, Gebel Serbaal, S.Sinai 23.V.1997; M. R. Sharaf (SHC).

Etymology
This species is named after the Swiss ant taxonomist, Dr. Donat Agosti, the specialist of the genus Cataglyphis, research associate, American Museum of Natural History, New York.