Cataglyphis viatica

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Oman.

Biology
Field observations by Serge Aron (Morocco, May 2019) - Dealate queens were running on the ground. One queen retrieved food to a hole in the ground. Another two queens were fighting outside an entrance hole after which one ran away, but returned soon after and attempted to enter again. These behaviours, together with the existence of wing muscles (see thorax dissection), suggest that queens mate outside their natal nest ('female calling'), disperse by flight, shed their wings and attempt non-claustral ICF (Peeters & Aron 2017).

Nomenclature

 *  viatica. Formica viatica Fabricius, 1787: 308 (w.) SPAIN. Mayr, 1861: 45 (q.m.). Combination in Monocombus: Mayr, 1855: 382; in Myrmecocystus: Emery & Forel, 1879: 449; in Cataglyphis: Mayr, 1861: 45; Emery, 1912f: 98; Santschi, 1919e: 246; in C. (Monocombus): Santschi, 1929b: 29. Senior synonym of europaea: Emery, 1892b: 161. See also: Tinaut, 1990c: 50; Wehner, R., Wehner, S. & Agosti, 1994: 163.
 * europaea. Formica cephalotes subsp. europaea Christ, 1791: 511, pl. 60, fig. 9 (w.) EUROPE. Junior synonym of viatica: Emery, 1892b: 161.