futurebird, 2 months ago

Cataglyphis lutea (UAE and parts of India) is a desert dwelling ant, the photos of this ant on iNaturalist caught my eye, since, like Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (the Spider Ant of Australia), this these little ants fold their gasters over their mesonoma.

Very little is known about Cataglyphis lutea, shockingly little. I can't even find a mention of gaster folding in any of the brief descriptions of this ant.

This is why descriptions are not enough. 1/

(photos by Jonghyn Park and TimL)

A black ant with a red head and black dot eyes clamors over a rock on remarkably long legs. The antennae and legs are very long and evenly spread giving the impression of a spider (hence the common name) The gaster is folded over the mesonoma.