Cardiocondyla sp.

Seifert, Bernhard, 2024, A taxonomic revision of the ants of the Cardiocondyla wroughtonii group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a checklist of the Cardiocondyla species of the world, Soil Organisms (London, England) 96 (2), pp. 113-144 : 135

Cardiocondyla sp. SPIT

This species of the Cardiocondyla wroughtonii group is intended to be validly described by Peter Hawkes (pers. com. 2024) based on a larger sample size. I describe it here the morphological characters under a taxonomically invalid code designation.

All material examined. Only one sample labelled ‘S AFRICA Limpopo Province, Spitskop 333 portion 12, 811 m 24.80525 S 30.14368 E, P. Hawkes, J. Fisher, 30. iii.2009 P3-SS-25’, ‘ Bushveld, Net sweeping’ and ‘ Cardiocondyla AFRC-LIM-01’, depository SMN Görlitz .

Geographic range. Only known to me from the a single locality (24.80525°S, 30.14368°E, 811 m) in South Africa .

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 2, Figs 36–39, key). Small, CS 409 µm. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.162. Median third of anterior clypeal margin slightly concave, median third of occipital margin straight or very feebly concave. Postocular distance small, PoOc/CL 0.415. Frons very wide (FRS/CS 0.277), widening frontad (FL/FR 1.097). Eye moderately large, EYE/CS 0.244 and with microsetae of 4–6 µm length. Scape shorter than in any species of the wroughtonii group, SL/CS 0.694. Metanotal groove in profile in absolute terms rather deep (MGr/CS 3.29 %) but with shallow slopes to mesonotum and propodeum. Prododeal spines rather long (SP/CS 0.189), thin and acute; in profile deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by only 25°, in dorsal view slightly diverging; their bases rather narrow (SPBA/CS 0.257). Petiole wide and high (PeW/CS 0.304, PeH/CS 0.369); in lateral view with a concave anterior face and a conspicuous node with a convex dorsal profile; petiole node in dorsal view as long as wide and slightly narrowing frontad. Postpetiole very wide and high (PpW/CS 0.510, PpH/ CS 0.337); the sternite anterolaterally with a rounded lobiform protrusion on each side which clearly elevates above the level of median surface of sternite; the surface of the sternite thus appearing deeply concave in frontal view. Postpetiole in dorsal view with a concave anterior margin and convex sides. Anterior clypeus deeply foveloate-microrugulose. Vertex with densely-arranged, flat-bottomed but very deep and moderately large foveolae (dFov 17.0). The largest foveolae show a flat tubercle around the hair base having 5–7 µm diameter (Fig. 39). Dorsum of promesonotum deeply and densely-packed foveolate. Propodeum and whole lateral area of mesosoma deeply microreticulate. Waist segments deeply microreticulate-foveolate. First gaster tergite with a strongly developed microreticum, with the hair bases placed in microfoveolae of 5–6 µm diameter (Fig. 40) and with long and very dense pubescence (PLG/CS 6.68 %, sqPDG 3.49). As result, the surface appears rather matt at low magnification. Whole ant homogenously orange brown.

Taxonomic comments. As a combination of very short scape, very dense pubescence on first gaster tergite, wide waist segments, and the more pronounced microsculpture on all body parts not to confuse with any known species of the wroughtonii group.

Biology. Unknown.

Cardiocondyla yemeni Collingwood &