Cataglyphis Forster

Mohamed, S., Zalat, S. & Fadl, H., 2001, Taxonomy of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) collected by pitfall traps from Sinai and Delta region, Egypt., Egyptian Journal of Natural History 3, pp. 40-61 : 44-45

Genus: Cataglyphis Forster , 1850

Cataglyphis Foerster ,1850: Verh. Nat.Ver. Preuss. Rhinl. 7:493.

Type-species: Formica megacola Forster , 1850: Verh. Nat. Ver. Preuss. Rhinl.:490.

Distribution: Palaearctic, Ethiopian and Oriental regions.

Key to species

1 - Petiole a truncated node with a flat dorsal surface sloping forward (Fig. 14)............2

- Petiole a rounded node or an upright thick scale..............................................4

2- Body colour uniformaly shining black ....................... C. minimus Collingwood .

- Body colour otherwise.......................3

3- Body unicolourous yellow, gaster oval (Fig. 15); antennal scape shorter than head ............................... C. lividus (Andre)

- Body bicoloured, head, alitunk, petiole and appendages bright red, gaster dark brown and globular (Fig. 16), antennal scape longer than head.............................. C. ruber (Forel)

4- Petiole an upright scale (Fig. 17), body covered with silvery pubescence, reddish brown, gaster dark brown in colour; third maxillary palp with long curved hairs (Fig. 18) .............................. C. sinaitica Wheeler

- Petiole a rounded node (Fig. 19), body not covered with silvery pubscence, black in colour; third maxillary palp without long curved hairs.................... C. niger (Andre)