Cataglyphis saharae

The synonym Cataglyphis laylae was reported to be most abundant in disturbed habitats such as man-developed plantations and open cultivated fields. (Collingwood et al. 2011)

Identification
Collingwood et al. (2011) for synonym C. laylae - One of the commonest Calaglyphis in southern Arabia. The main distinguishing feature compared with other dark Cataglyphis is the slender petiole, which has the anterior face more sloped than in other similar species such as Cataglyphis niger (Andre, 1882) and Cataglyphis savignyi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Oman.

Nomenclature

 *  saharae. Cataglyphis (Cataglyphis) bicolor st. saharae Santschi, 1929b: 48, fig. 3 (w.) ALGERIA. Raised to species: Collingwood, 1985: 291. Senior synonym of laylae: Sharaf, Collingwood & Aldawood, 2015: 113.
 * laylae. Cataglyphis laylae Collingwood, in Collingwood, et al. 2011: 458, pl. 96-103 (w.) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Junior synonym of saharae: Sharaf, Collingwood & Aldawood, 2015: 113.

Worker
Collingwood et al. (2011) for C. laylae: total length 8.40; head width 3.60; head length 4.20; scape lenglh 3.84; funicular segment I 0.40; funicular segment II 0.23; petiole length 1.10; petiole width 0.72. Colour dark reddish brown. There are no exterior hairs on the scapes or hind tibia. The gaster, petiole and propodeum have dorsal hairs.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Agosti, D. 1990. Review and reclassification of Cataglyphis (Hymentopera: Formicidae) . Journal of Natural History 24:1457-1505.
 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Collingwood C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7: 230-302.
 * Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474
 * Collingwood C.A., D.Agosti, M.R. Sharaf, and A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE, 4: 405474
 * Collingwood, C. A.. "Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7 (1985): 230-302.
 * Santschi, F. 1929. Etude sur les Cataglyphis. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 36: 25-70.
 * Santschi, F.. "Étude sur les Cataglyphis." Revue Suisse de Zoologie 36 (1929): 25-70.
 * Sharaf M. R., C. A. Collingwood, and A. S. Aldawood. 2015. Notes on the ant genus Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species and a key to species of the C. pallida-group. Zookeys 545: 101-107.