Cataglyphis bazoftensis, Khalili-Moghadam & Salata & Borowiec, 2021

Khalili-Moghadam, Arsalan, Salata, Sebastian & Borowiec, Lech, 2021, Three new species of Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Iran, ZooKeys 1009, pp. 1-28 : 1

Cataglyphis bazoftensis sp. nov. Figs 1-2 , 3 , 4-6 , 7-8 , 27

Type material.

Holotype: major worker (CASENT0872262): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Bazoft) | 1 VII 2017, 1754 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.2969 / 49.9358 || LBC | | LBC-IR00083 (MNHW); paratypes: 12 major, 2 medium and 9 minor workers (CASENT0872263-CASENT0872285): the same data as holotype (MNHW, MHNG, USMB); 3 major, 2 medium and 4 minor workers (CASENT0872286-CASENT0872294): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Bazoft) | 1 VII 2017, 1798 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.2927 / 49.9391 || Collection L. Borowiec || LBC-IR00082 (MNHW, MHNG); three major workers (CASENT0872295-CASENT0872297): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Bazoft) | 1 VII 2017, 1886 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.4855 / 49.7472 || LBC | Formicidae | LBC-IR00079 (MNHW, MHNG); major worker (CASENT0872298): IRAN, Chaharmahal Va | Bakhtiari, Koohrang (Bazoft) | 1 VII 2017, 1738 m | leg. Khalili-Moghadam | 32.3766 / 49.8594 || LBC | Formicidae | LBC-IR00079 (MNHW).

Diagnosis.

Bicolored body combined with thick, dense, black, decumbent setae on femora and tibiae resemble characters typical for species of the Cataglyphis setipes complex. Cataglyphis bazoftensis distinctly differs from them in the cuneiform petiolar node, which is distinctly nodiform among members of the Cataglyphis setipes complex. At first glance, large species of the Cataglyphis bucharica complex, with cuneiform petiole, resemble C. bazoftensis , but most of these species differ in femora and tibiae lacking thick, black, decumbent setae. Members of the Cataglyphis bucharica complex with setose femora and tibiae differ in the presence of black, erect setae on the posterior part of the head. Cataglyphis kurdistanica Pisarski is the most similar to C. bazoftensis , but differs in the presence of the major soldier caste, and posterior part of head and propodeum covered with long, black and erect setae. Cataglyphis altisquamis ( André) and C. foreli (Ruzsky) differ from C. bazoftensis in major workers with reddish brown to brownish black head and mesosoma; while C. bazoftensis has major workers with uniformly red head and mesosoma (only the smallest majors of C. bazoftensis can be sometimes reddish brown).

Description.

Major worker (n = 10): Measurements. HL: 2.945 (2.72-3.04); HW: 2.738 (2.42-2.88); SL: 3.600 (3.39-3.80); PW: 1.923 (1.77-2.05); PRL: 1.732 (1.59-1.78); PRW: 1.457 (1.27-1.58); PTH: 0.955 (0.81-1.05); PTW: 0.945 (0.87-1.00); WL: 4.580 (4.25-4.78); HFL: 5.308 (5.12-5.58); CI: 1.077 (1.056-1.124); SI: 1.223 (1.184-1.246); PI: 1.011 (0.931-1.114); FI: 1.160 (1.105-1.205). Color. Head, mesosoma, and petiolar node red in the largest major workers; the percentage of brown in body coloration increases in smaller major workers with the smallest major workers reddish brown. Legs most often black or black with brownish black coxa; in the largest major workers coxa and trochanters mostly reddish brown to brown with darker brown spots of diffused borders; in the palest specimens femora brownish black with reddish iridescence, tibiae sometimes reddish brown apically, and tarsi reddish brown to brown. Antennal scapus red to red-brown; only in the darkest major workers brown; funicles darker than scapus, from brown to almost black, only in the palest specimens red-brown (Fig. 3 ). Head. Square; approximately 1.05 × as long as wide; sides below eyes almost parallel, above eyes gently convex; posterior margin of head almost straight (Fig. 3 ). Anterior clypeal margin convex; without central impression; clypeal plate with three or four long black central setae and a pair of moderately long basal setae; anterior clypeal margin with a row of short black setae, and 8-10 long black setae, the longest as long as 0.75 length of clypeus; some workers have long setae often worn off or broken. Clypeus shiny and densely microreticulate; covered with very sparse and short, appressed pubescence. Eyes large and oval; approximately 1.3-1.4 × as long as wide. Frontal carinae short; not extending beyond frontal lobes; interocular area with thin and shiny line and a pair of long black setae. Antennal fossa shallow; opalescent and densely microreticulated. Head shiny and densely microreticulate; mostly without appressed pubescence; only antennal fossa, posterior margin of head, and gular parts covered with sparse, short, adpressed hairs. Ocellar region with 2-4 moderately long and black setae; posterior angles without black setae; rest of frontal and lateral faces of head without erect setae; ventral side with a dozen yellowish to brown setae; interocular and ocular setae often broken. Antennal scape long; in frontal view almost straight, 1.3 × as long as width of the head; base without tooth; apex slightly and gradually widening; funiculus long; pedicel elongated, approximately 0.82 × as long as segments II and III combined, 1.6 × as long as segment II (Fig. 3 ). Surface of scape densely microsculptured; distinctly to moderately shiny; covered with thick, moderately dense and decumbent setae. Mandibles rounded; basally smooth and shiny; apical ¾ length with deep grooves; surface shiny with several long yellow setae; masticatory margin with four large teeth. Mesosoma. Long; 2.4 × as long as wide; metanotal groove shallow (Fig. 2 ). Pronotum convex on sides (Fig. 1 ). In lateral view promesonotum slightly arched in profile; propodeum positioned lower than promesonotum, moderately convex in lateral view (Fig. 2 ). Mesosoma shiny and densely microreticulated; covered with sparse, short, appressed pubescence; lateral sides of pronotum and mesonotum almost hairless; anterior part of pronotum, posterior angles of both mesonotum and propodeum with indistinct vestiture. Pronotum and mesonotum without erect setae; propodeum without or with one or two short, black, erect setae. Petiole. Cuneiform; in lateral view almost triangular with very short peduncle. Anterior face in front of spiracle distinctly convex; posterior face almost flat; top of petiole in lateral view obtusely angulate, lacking erect setae; sometimes frontal face apically with a single short seta. In anterior or posterior view petiolar dorsum emarginated. Surface of petiole distinctly microreticulated; shiny to slightly opalescent. Gaster. Dull and distinctly microreticulate. Whole surface of gaster with indistinct, sparse, appressed pubescence; tergites I and II without erect setae; tergite III with 2-4 long, black, central setae placed close to anterior margin, and none or one seta at lateral margin; tergite IV in with 6-8 long black setae; setosity in older specimens usually broken (Fig. 2 ). Each of gastral sternites with three or four long, black, erect setae. Legs. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae covered with thick, dense, black, decumbent setae; interspaces between setae hairless. Ventral surfaces of femora and tibiae with numerous long, black, suberect to erect, spiniform setae.

Minor worker (n = 10): Measurements. HL: 1.308 (1.27-1.41); HW: 1.138 (1.09-1.22); SL: 1.270 (1.20-1.43); PW: 0.815 (0.76-0.88); PRL: 0.738 (0.68-0.82); PRW: 0.593 (0.55-0.65); PTH: 0.507 (0.47-0.56); PTW: 0.363 (0.34-0.40); WL: 1.957 (2.02-2.48); HFL: 1.697 (1.59-1.86); CI: 1.151 (1.142-1.174); SI: 0.970 (0.930-1.014); PI: 1.396 (1.342-1.559); FI: 0.867 (0.834-0.883).

Color. Head and mesosoma uniformly brown to black or brown with diffused red-brown parts; gaster, petiole, femora, and tibiae brown; trochanters and tarsi yellow-brown. Younger specimens often paler than older specimens, with large areas of body yellowish brown. Antennae bright brown, only in younger specimens mostly yellowish to yellowish brown (Figs 7 , 8 ). Head. More elongated than in major workers; 1.2 × as long as wide; below eyes parallel sided, behind eyes regularly rounded; posterior margin of head convex. Anterior clypeal margin convex with shallow impression in central part. Eyes large and oval; 1.3-1.4 × as long as wide. Sculpture and setation of head and legs same as in major worker. Mesosoma. Same as in major worker. Petiole. More conical than cuneiform; dorsum more rounded, anterior face slightly convex (Fig. 5 ). Gaster. Strongly microreticulated and dull. Tergites I and II without erect setae; tergite III with only a pair of black setae centrally; tergite IV with two long, and two short black setae; in older specimens, setae usually partially broken (Fig. 8 ). Each of gastral sternites with 2-4 long, black, erect setae.

Biology.

Little known, nests were found under stones inside a deciduous, oak forest surrounded by a grazing area. All collecting sites were in alpine zone, from 1738 to 1886 m a.s.l.

Etymology.

The species name Cataglyphis bazoftensis is a feminine Latin adjective in the nominative case and refers to the Bazoft region of the Koohrang County, the type locality for this species.

Figures

Figure 3. Major worker of Cataglyphis bazoftensis sp. nov., head and antennae. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figures 1, 2. Major worker of Cataglyphis bazoftensis sp. nov. 1 dorsal 2 lateral. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figures 4 - 6. Cataglyphis bazoftensis sp. nov. 4 petiole of major worker 5 petiole of minor worker 6 hind tibia (not to scale).

Figures 7, 8. Minor worker of Cataglyphis bazoftensis sp. nov. 7 dorsal 8 lateral. Scale bar 2 mm.

Figures 27 - 34. Photographs of members of the Cataglyphis altisquamis species group. C. asiriensis Collingwood 27 lateral 28 head (Michele Esposito, from www. antweb. org), C. bucharica Emery 29 lateral 30 head (Zach Lieberman, from www. antweb. org), C. foreli (Ruzsky) 31 lateral 32 head (Zach Lieberman, from www. antweb. org), C. kurdistanica Pisarski 33 lateral 34 head (Kate Martynova, from www. antweb. org).