Cataglyphis cretica

A species associated with open, sunny and arid habitats with sandy soil. Nesting under stones or in soil. Very often located on dirty roads, seaside or in alpine zone. Monogynous colonies. Workers active during the day. (Salata & Borowiec, L., 2018)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Greece.

Queen
Queen is brachypterous, i.e. short, non-functional wings are present at adult emergence. This implies that she mates close to her natal colony, and dispersal distance is limited (Peeters & Aron 2017)



Nomenclature

 * . Myrmecocystus cursor var. cretica Forel, 1910a: 23.
 * [First available use of Myrmecocystus cursor subsp. aenescens var. cretica Emery, 1906d: 48, fig. 4 (w.m.) GREECE (Crete I.); unavailable (infrasubspecific) name (Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 61).]
 * Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 19 (q.).
 * Combination in Cataglyphis: Emery, 1925b: 264.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1925b: 264; Santschi, 1929b: 54.
 * Subspecies of cursor: Agosti, 1990b: 1482; Bolton, 1995b: 135; Legakis, 2011: 34.
 * Junior synonym of aenescens: Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2013: 384 (in text).
 * Status as species: Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 13 (redescription).
 * Material of the unavailable name dorica referred here by Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 13.

Taxonomic Notes
Salata & Borowiec, L., 2018: Cataglyphis cretica, based on limited material, was synonymized with C. aenescens by Borowiec & Salata (2013). After re-examination of collected material, supplemented by further expeditions, and study on type specimens we discovered features that allow us to consider this taxon as a good species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. Taxonomic and faunistic notes on Greek ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-51.