Cataglyphis nodus ( Brulle , 1833)

Lapeva-Gjonova, Albena, Antonova, Vera, Radchenko, Alexander G. & Atanasova, Maria, 2010, Catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria, ZooKeys 62, pp. 1-124 : 38

Cataglyphis nodus ( Brulle, 1833)

Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola Foerst.: Forel 1892

Records

(Map 74): Bulgaria ( Agosti and Collingwood 1987a, Atanassov and Dlusskij 1992); Central Predbalkan: Dermantsi vill. (Lukovit), Balgarski izvor vill. (Teteven), Lukovit [ Atanassov 1936 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Central Stara Planina Mts: Shipka pass ( Csősz and Markó 2005); EasternStara Planina Mts: Sliven [ Forel 1892 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)], along Belenska river [ Atanasov 1936 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Zemen Gorge: Skakavitsa station (Kyustendil) [ Atanassov 1936 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Sofia Basin: surroundings of Sofia ( Antonova and Penev 2006); Podbalkan Basins: Rose valley ( Atanassov et al. 1955); Ihtimanska Sredna Gora Mts: Benkovski peak ( Atanassov 1934); Lozenska Planina Mts ( Vassilev and Evtimov 1973): north of Pasarel vill. ( Antonova and Penev 2008); Thracian Lowland: Pazardzhik [ Forel 1892 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)], Svilengrad,Ognyanovo ( Atanassov and Vassileva 1976, Hubenov et al. 1998), Plovdiv [ Atanassov 1936 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Bakadzhik-Burgas district: Aytos [ Forel 1892 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)]; Strandzha Mt. ( Antonova et al. in press): Papia peak [ Atanassov 1936 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Osogovska Planina Mt.: Osogovo hut (Kyustendil) [ Atanassov 1936 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Ograzhden Mt. [ Atanassov 1964 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Boboshevo-Simitli Valley: Kocherinovo [ Forel 1892 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)]; Krupnik-Sandanski-Petrich Valley: west of Petrich, along Strumeshnitsa river, around Marikostino vill., Marino pole vill. [ Atanassov 1964 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Pirin Mt.: Vihren ( Csősz and Markó 2005); Slavianka Mt. [ Atanassov 1934 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus )]; Western Rhodopi Mts: Asenovgrad [ Forel 1892 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)], Peshtera [ Atanassov 1934 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. and Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)]; Eastern Rhodopi Mts: Momchilgrad, Madzharovo, between Dabovets vill. and Kamilski dol vill. (Ivaylovgrad) ( Lapeva-Gjonova 2004a); Northern Black Sea coast: Evksinograd palace ( Atanassov 1936); Southern Black Sea coast: Veselie vill., Sozopol [ Forel 1892 (as Myrmecocystus viaticus Fab. var. megalocola)].

Notes:

Atanassov and Dlusskij (1992) without any comments referred to records of Myrmecocystus viaticus var. megalocola ( Forel 1892, Atanassov 1934), and Cataglyphis viaticus ( Atanassov 1934, 1936, 1964, Atanassov et al. 1955, Vassilev and Evtimov 1973) to Cataglyphis nodus . The first name is now considered as a junior synonym of Cataglyphis bicolor ( Förster) - the species is distributed mostly in North Africa and probably in the Middle East. Cataglyphis viaticus is definitely known from Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. At the same time, in Balkans, lives single species from the bicolor species-group: Cataglyphis nodus . As the taxonomy of this genus was studied insufficiently previously to the last two decades, all old records of Cataglyphis bicolor and Cataglyphis viaticus for Bulgaria most probably belong to Cataglyphis nodus .