Cardiocondyla weserka, Bolton, 1982

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 : 137-138

Cardiocondyla weserka Bolton 1982

[investigation of type]

This taxon has been described from Cameroun. Investigated was the holotype worker labelled ‘ Cameroun Nkoemvon 1980. M D.Jackson’ and ‘ Cardiocondyla weserka Bolton det. B.Bolton, 1981’, BMNH London .

All material examined. Morphometrically investigated was only the type specimen.

Geographic range. Known so far only from Cameroun.

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab.2, Figs 41–43 , key). Small, CS 404 µm. Head very long, CL/CW 1.232. Median third of anterior clypeal margin slightly concave, median third of occipital margin straight. Postocular distance rather low,

PoOc/CL 0.440. Frons relatively narrow (FRS/CS 0.230); frontal carinae slightly diverging frontad (FL/FR 1.050). Eye rather small, EYE/CS 0.247 and without microsetae. Scape rather long, SL/CS 0.790. Dorsal mesosoma profile from pronotum caudad to propodeum at spiracular level rather linear, convex curvatures only suggested. Metanotal depression shallow (MGr/CS 1.79 %). Pronotal shoulders rather developed but rounded, not angulate. Propodeal spiracle very small, its inner diameter only 5 µm. Propodeal spines long (SP/CS 0.213) and rather thin, their axis in profile deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by only 21°, in dorsal view incurved and their bases widely distant (SPBA/CS 0.296). Petiole narrow but very high (PeW/CS 0.265, PeH/CS 0.356); its node clearly longer than wide, with a narrow dorsal plane; node in lateral view massive, petiolar peduncle moderately long. Postpetiole moderately wide and high (PpW/CS 0.455, PpH/CS 0.290), in dorsal view wider than long with angulate-convex sides and concave anterior margin; postpetiolar 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. Clypeus with two carinae running to the lateral margins of the anterior concavity. Frontal laminae and clypeus foveolate. Whole head and mesosoma without longitudinal sculpture, except for small patches with weak carinulae mentioned below. Vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 16–18 µm diameter in a densely-packed honey-comb arrangement; foveolae showing an inner corona (tubercle) of 8–10 µm diameter; median vertex posterior of the frontal triangle with 2–3 very short longitudinal carinulae. Dorsal promesonotum irregularly reticulate, width of meshes 5–7 µm, scattered foveolae are present. Dorsal propodeum irregularly reticulate-foveolate; whole lateral mesosoma strongly microreticulate. Petiole except for its more smooth and finely microreticulate dorsum with a well-pronounced and dense microreticulum. Postpetiole, rather smooth, finely microreticulate. First gaster tergite with a rather long and rather dilute pubescence (PLG/CS 7.62 %, sqPDG 4.07). Head, mesosoma, waist, and gaster dark brown; lateral pronotum and appendages lighter.

Taxonomic comments. C.weserka is most similar to neferka in surface structures, shape of head and waist segments, and morphometry. The only significant difference seems to exist in mesosomal shape. The dorsal propodeal profile is much less convex in weserka which gives the whole dorsal mesosoma profile a more linear appearance ( Fig. 42 ) though this difference is less expressed than suggested by the figures in Bolton (1982). Furthermore the pronotum of the weserka type shows less developed anterolateral pronotal corners as it is seen in neferka . I have doubts if these differences between both taxa suggested by the poor sample size can be confirmed in larger material but I recommend to maintain the heterospecific status until more information is available.

Biology. Unknown.

Figures

Figure 41–43: Cardiocondyla weserka, holotype, Nkoemvon / Kamerun, 1980; from www.antweb.org CASENT0901748, images by Ryan Perry. (41) head in dorsal view; (42) lateral view; (43) dorsal view. Figure 44–46. Cardiocondyla heinzei n.sp., holotype, Comoe / Ivory Coast, 4 April 2019. (44) head in dorsal view; (45) lateral view; (46) dorsal view.