The ant genus Cataglyphis Forster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Cyprus

The comprehensive survey of the ant fauna conducted in Cyprus revealed that the island is inhabited by two species of the genus Cataglyphis Forster, 1850. Both species are endemic and are described as new to science. Cataglyphis chionistrae n. sp., a member of the C. cursor species complex, occurs only in the high montane pine forest of Mt. Chionistra (= Mt. Olympos). While C. aphrodite n. sp., a member of the C. nodus species complex, is common at low and mid altitudes in open habitats or luminous pine forests. This work also provides the key to Cataglyphis from Cyprus and the very first synopsis lists of all the members of the cursor and nodus species complexes known from the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Automated summary

The comprehensive survey of the ant fauna in Cyprus discovered two new endemic species of the genus Cataglyphis. One species is found exclusively in the high montane pine forest of Mt. Chionistra, belonging to the cursor group, while the other species is common in low and mid altitudes in open habitats or luminous pine forests, belonging to the nodus group. This study also provides a key to Cataglyphis species in Cyprus and the first synopsis of all known members of the cursor and nodus groups in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.