Cataglyphis bicolor

This is one of two species of Cataglyphis (also Cataglyphis fortis) that have had their foraging behavior intensively studied. Much of this work has focused on navigation. This includes studies of their directional abilities, use of path integration, view-based landmark guidance, and how information from these various navigational routines are combined in determining where they decide to move. These ants are now a model organism and system for the study of animal navigation. Rüdiger Wehner has been at the center of much of this Cataglyphis research. He recently published an account of how he began and then continued studying C. bicolor and C. fortis in the field in and around Mahrès, Tunisia (Wehner 2019). Wehner's seasonal field work there, with other researchers and students, has been ongoing for 50 years. The body of knowledge from this and other researchers' work studying ant navigation has provided a remarkable accounting of how ants, and animals in general, can track and monitor their movement in ways that allow for sophisticated decision making.

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.