Cataglyphis fici

Little known, workers were collected on the ground in fig orchard at altitude 1730 m.

Identification
Cataglyphis fici is a member of the Cataglyphis albicans group and can be separated from all species clustered in the cinnamomea and fortis complexes and most of members of the albicans complex by yellow to yellowish red body coloration; while other species have body completely brown to black. From bicolored species of the albicans complex it differs in smaller body size (WL < 3 mm) and presence of infuscated to yellowish brown mid and hind legs. However, C. fici is most similar to species included in the C. livida complex and can be easily separated based on at least mid and hind legs partly to mostly infuscated to yellowish brown. In contrast, all remaining members of the C. livida complex have legs uniformly colored and always in the same shade as mesosoma and head. Additionally, C. fici differs from Cataglyphis lutea, Cataglyphis arenaria, Cataglyphis argentata, Cataglyphis aurata, and Cataglyphis livida in gaster darker than head and mesosoma sometimes infuscated.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Iran.

Nomenclature

 * . Cataglyphis fici Salata, Kiyani, Minaei & Borowiec, 2021: 121, figs. 1-6 (w.) IRAN.

Type Material

 * Holotype: Iran: worker, Fars, Estahban, 29.1331/54.389, 1730 m a.s.l., 16 Aug. 2019, H. Kiyani leg., LBC-IR00179, CASENT6006519
 * Paratypes: 5 workers, the same data as holotype, CASENT6006520–CASENT6006524
 * Paratype: worker: the same data as holotype except LBCIR00180, CASENT6006525
 * Paratype: worker, the same data as holotype except 6 Sep. 2018 and LBC-IR00182, CASENT6006526