Cataglyphis bicolor

This is one of two species of Cataglyphis (also Cataglyphis fortis) that have had their foraging behavior, and in particular their navigation abilities, intensively studied. The results of this body of work provide a remarkable accounting of how ants, and animals in general, can track and monitor their movement in ways that allow for sophisticated decision making. These studies have examined these two ants' sensory and nervous systems, their directional abilities, use of path integration, and view-based landmark guidance, and how all of this is brought together to determine where an individual decides to move. These ants are now a model organism for the study of animal navigation. Rüdiger Wehner has been at the center of much of this Cataglyphis research. Wehner and his colleagues have been conducting seasonal fieldwork studying C. bicolor and C. fortis in the area of Mahrès, Tunisia for 50 years (Wehner 2019). The book Desert Navigator:The Journey of an Ant (Wehner 2020) provides a fascinating summary of how this work was accomplished and its many important findings.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Eritrea. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Canary Islands, Turkey.

Association with Other Organisms
This species is parasitized by Cataglyphis hannae.



Nomenclature

 *  bicolor. Formica bicolor Fabricius, 1793: 351 (m.) NORTH AFRICA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1980: 538 (l.). Combination in Cataglyphis: Roger, 1863b: 12; Mayr, 1863: 402; Emery, 1912f: 98; Emery, 1915g: 22; in Myrmecocystus: Emery & Forel, 1879: 449. Junior synonym of viatica: Smith, F. 1861a: 32; Nasonov, 1889: 14. Revived from synonymy: Emery & Forel, 1879: 449; Emery, 1906d: 58; Forel, 1907e: 15. Subspecies of viatica: Forel, 1907e: 15. Revived status as species: Karavaiev, 1912b: 590; Emery, 1925b: 264; Santschi, 1929b: 41. Senior synonym of fairmairei: Santschi, 1929b: 41; of megalocola: Mayr, 1855: 382; Santschi, 1929b: 41; of rotundinodis: Santschi, 1929b: 41. Biogeography of bicolor group: Wehner, R., Wehner, S. & Agosti, 1994: 163. Current subspecies: nominal plus adusta, basalis, congolensis, pubens, rufiventris, seticornis, sudanica.
 * fairmairei. Cataglyphis fairmairei Foerster, 1850b: 494 (m.) ALGERIA. Junior synonym of megalocola: Mayr, 1863: 402.
 * megalocola. Formica megalocola Foerster, 1850b: 490 (w.) ALGERIA. Emery, 1891b: 16 (q.m.). Combination in Cataglyphis: Roger, 1863b: 12; Mayr, 1863: 402; in Myrmecocystus: Emery & Forel, 1879: 449; Forel, 1890a: lxvii; in Cataglyphis: Emery, 1912f: 98; Emery, 1925b: 265. Subspecies of viatica: Emery & Forel, 1879: 449; Forel, 1890a: lxvii; Forel, 1892i: 306; of bicolor: Emery, 1906d: 58; Emery, 1908g: 217. Senior synonym of fairmairei: Mayr, 1863: 402. Junior synonym of bicolor: Mayr, 1855: 382; Santschi, 1929b: 41; Agosti, 1990b: 1486.
 * rotundinodis. Myrmecocystus albicans subsp. rotundinodis Karavaiev, 1912a: 16 (w.) ALGERIA. Combination in Cataglyphis: Emery, 1925b: 262. See also: Karavaiev, 1924: 305. Junior synonym of bicolor: Santschi, 1929b: 41.