Cataglyphis lutea

Identification
Salata et al. (2021) - Whole body yellow, only gaster sometimes with indistinctly infuscated apex; body never with a layer of silvery hair.

Distribution
Salata et al. (2021) - Species known from Arabian Peninsula east to Afghanistan.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia. Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq.

Nomenclature

 * . Cataglyphis livida subsp. lutea Pisarski, 1967: 418 (w.) IRAN.
 * [First available use of Myrmecocystus albicans subsp. viaticoides var. lutea Emery, 1906d: 53; unavailable name.]
 * Junior synonym of livida: Radchenko, 1997c: 428.
 * Status as species: Salata et al., 2021: 128.

Taxonomic Notes
Salata et al. (2021) - Cataglyphis lutea was described from Shiraz, Fars Province in Iran as an unavailable quadrinominal name (Emery 1906), later validated by Pisarski (1967) as a subspecies of Cataglyphis livida, and finally considered as its junior synonym (Radchenko 1997). A study on type specimen revealed that C. lutea distinctly differs from C. livida in lack of a layer of silvery hair on mesosoma, and its distribution does not overlap with confirmed records of C. livida. Thus, we decided to raise it to the species status. AntCat resources indicated that, except type locality, C. lutea is also known from Aran va Bidgol, Maranjab, Iran (CDA000106) and Saudi Arabia (CASENT0906455).