Cataglyphis flavobrunnea Collingwood & Agosti, 1996

Sharaf, Mostafa R., Collingwood, Cedric A. & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2015, Notes on the ant genus Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species and a key to species of the C. pallida-group, ZooKeys 545, pp. 101-117 : 104-105

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Cataglyphis flavobrunnea Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 Figures 9, 10, 11, 12

Cataglyphis flavobrunneus Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 378, fig. 41 (w.), Saudi Arabia: Jeddah, 7.v.l978 (W. Buttiker) (NHMB), http://www.antweb.org/specimen/casent0249838 [one paratype worker is designated here as lectotype]. [new designation].

Description.

Major headHW = HL (CI 100), minor the same with a shallowly convex posterior margin and nearly straight sides; first funicular segment 1.35 × longer than second. Mesosoma. Metanotal spiracle distinctly raised. Petiole. Petiole in profile smoothly rounded but slightly assymetrical with the anterior more rounded and posterior near flat. Pilosity. Propodeal dorsum with two pairs of erect hairs; pronotum and mesonotum each with a single pair of erect hairs; posterior margin of head bare; gaster with sparse scattered and very short hairs; all body pubescence whitish or pale. Sculpture. Cephalic, mesosomal and petiolar surfaces finely punctate and dull, gaster smooth and shining. Colour. Head, mesosoma, petiole, coxae and femora brownish, antennae, tibiae and tarsi yellowish brown, gaster uniform dirty yellow.

Measurements.

TL 8.81; HL 1.92; HW 1.82 (major HL = HW = 2.31 Antweb scale); SL 2.21; FS1 0.38; FS2 0.28; PW 1.20; EL 0.53; Indices: CI 95 (Antweb image 100); EI 29; SI 121.

Material examined.

Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, 7.5.1978, (W. Buttiker Leg.), 9 workers, major available on http://www.antweb.org/specimen/casent0912239, and minor on http://www.antweb.org/specimen/casent0249839, (NHMB).

Remarks.

The original description of Cataglyphis flavobrunnea indicated differential diagnosis of this taxon with Cataglyphis laevior of the Cataglyphis bicolor -group, diehlii-complex (Agosti, 1990). However, examination of the newly designated lectotype and the remaining 11 paratypes indicates that the species are very different (casent0104615). Cataglyphis flavobrunnea has a uniformly brownish body and yellowish gaster whereas Cataglyphis laevior has yellowish brown body and dark brown gaster. The head and mesosoma of Cataglyphis flavobrunnea has dense white pubescence, whereas Cataglyphis laevior lacks pubescence on the head and mesosoma. Collingwood and Agosti (1996) mentioned that head Cataglyphis flavobrunnea is smooth and polished, but the head of the Lectotype is dull and is finely granulate.