Cardiocondyla wroughtonii, Forel, 1890

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 : 118

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.25674/415

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/577887E6-FF94-FFCC-6906-5F31FADE30DC

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Cardiocondyla wroughtonii
status

 

Cardiocondyla wroughtonii View in CoL group

This key focusses on character combinations instead YES/ NO decisions based on single characters and with the help of the figures a comparably feasible determination should be possible.

1a 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 ( Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). Mesosoma not stout (ratio ML/MH>2.2); dorsal mesomal profile not humpbacked, instead it is feebly convex with a metanotal depression – if the latter is absent, then dorsal profile rather linear; ratio SPBA/CS <0.314. C. wroughtonii group. ............................................ 2 1b Character combination different ................................... ................................... remaining species of Cardiocondyla 2a Scape extremely short (SL/CL <0.68), metanotal depression shallow (MGR/CS <1.7 %), Propodeal spines very short (SP/CS <0.140) (Figs 6–15). With all measurements in mm discriminant 50.34*SL -65.693*CL +109.51*SP+144.86*MGR +4.0 <0 [error 0 % in 9 specimens] .................................................... 3 2b Scape longer (SL/CL>0.68), metanotal depression distinct(MGR/CS>1.7 %), Propodealspineslonger (SP/CS>0.140). Discriminant> 0 [error 0 % in 249 specimens] ..... .................................................................................................. 4 3a Whole dorsum of gaster blackish brown, microsculpture on first gaster tergite stronger (Fig. 9). Africa: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger (Figs 6–10) ................ ....................................................................................... yoruba 3b All body parts yellowish or yellowish-brown, microsculpture on first gaster tergite weaker ( Fig. 15 View Figure 11–15 ). Arabian Penisula ( Figs 11–15 View Figure 11–15 ) .................................. yemeni 4a Frontal carinae not or only slightly diverging frontad (FL/FR 1.000 -1.053), head shorter (CL/CW 1.069 -1.174), pubescence on 1st gaster tergite more dilute. With sqPDG as square root µm and all other measurement in mm, discriminant 2.516*sqPDG+164.09*FRS+134.91*PeW -100.7*PPW-84.76*PeH -13.25> 0 [error 0 % in 256 workers]. Species with Orientalic-Australasian origin, but two are widely distributed as tramp species. .............. 5 4b Frontal carinae diverging frontad (FL/FR 1.050 - 1.106), head longer (CL/CW 1.145 -1.253), pubescence on 1st gaster tergite more dilute. Discriminant <0 [error 0 % in 15 workers]. Species with African origin. ..................................................................... 9 5a Very small (CS 366 µm), Scape index larger (SL/ CL 0.791). Paramedian and lateral areas of vertex with densely-arranged, deeply impressed, flat-bottomed and very large foveae of 19–23 µm diameter. The largest foveolae show a well-demarcated central ring of 8–9 µm diameter which is connected with the outer ring through 2–4 very fine microcarinulae in 90° cross-wire arrangement, such suggesting a four-leaf clover; in the smaller foveolae the number of microcarinulae may be reduced. Propodeal spines long and thin, rather steep, in profile deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by 43°. Petiole in profile with almost linear (only slightly concave) anterior face. Brunei (Figs 16–18). .............. nana 5b Larger (CS 361-470), Scape index smaller (SL/ CL 0.682 -0.785). Paramedian and lateral vertex with more simple foveolae which are often smaller. Propodeal spines less erect. Concavity of anterior petiolar face deaper. ......................................................... 6 6a Postpetiole massive (PpH/CS 0.348 –0.361). Foveolae on paramedian vertex regular but not densely packed, the interspaces between foveolae delicately longitudinally striate (Fig. 22). With all measurements in mm, discriminant 150.24*PpH -126.77*CW+167.57*FRS +9.0> 0 [error 0 % in 4 workers] Papua New Guinea (Figs 19–22). ...................... ................................................................................. allonivalis 6b Postpetiole less massive (PpH/CS 0.268 –0.341). Foveolae on paramedian vertex either densely packed and regular or difficult to discern, then more resembling smaller and larger meshes of reticular sculpture. Discriminant <0 [error 0 % in 232 workers]. .................... 7 7a Anterior pronotum in dorsal view with well-developed shoulders ( Fig. 23B View Figure 23 ). Sculpture on head and mesoma very irregular, sculpture on head more resembling a reticulum with smaller and larger meshes, clear foveolae difficult to discern (Fig.27). India (Figs 24–27). ....................................................... shagrinata 7a Anterior pronotum in dorsal view rounded, without shoulders ( Fig. 23B View Figure 23 ). Sculpture on head with clear and regular, densely packed foveolae( Figs 31 View Figure 29–31 , 35 View Figure 35 ). .................. 8 8a With all measurements in mm, discriminant 152.2*PpW-63.79*PoOc-152.2*EYE+83.64*SL-65.39* FRS-100.37*SP-10.35 <0 [error 3.9 % in 142 worker individuals and 0 % in 51 nest samples with at least two workers]. Note: color type 1 of wroughtonii , with the whole ant entirely light yellowish except for a diffuse brown band in the posterior half of 1 st gaster tergite is not known in obscurior , but color type 2 with entirely dark or blackish brown gaster tergite, typical for obscurior , also occurs in 24 % of the wroughtonii samples. (Figs 28–31). Cosmopolitan tramp species. .................................................. wroughtonii 8b Discriminant> 0 [error 3.9 % in 91 worker individuals and 0 % in 33 nest samples with at least two workers]. Color type 1 seems to be absent in this species (Figs 32– 35). Cosmopolitan tramp species. ................. obscurior 9a First gaster tergite with strongly developed microreticulum and dense pubescence (Fig. 40). Scape very short (SL/CS <0.737), postocular distance smaller (PoOC/CL <0.432), petiole wide (PeW/CS> 0.285). Sculpture on all body parts stronger. South Africa (Figs 36–40). .......................................................... sp. SPIT 9b First gaster tergite with a very delicate microreticulum and less dense pubescence ( Fig. 48 View Figure 47–48 ). Scape longer (SL/CS>0.737), postocular distance larger (PoOC/CL>0.432), petiole narrower (PeW/CS <0.285). Sculpture on all body parts weaker. ................................... ................................................................................................ 10 10a Dorsal profile of mesosoma rather linear, metanotal depression very weak ( Fig. 42 View Figure 41–43 ). Distance of spine bases large (SPBA/CS 0.296). Cameroun ( Figs 41–43 View Figure 41–43 ). ............ ..................................................................................... weserka 10b Dorsal profile of promesonotum and propodeum convex, metanotal depression distinct. Distance of spine bases smaller. ...................................................................... 11 11a Frontal carinae less strongly diverging FL/FR <1.087. Spine base distance smaller (SPBA/CS <0.256). Ivory Coast (Figs 44–48). .......................... heinzei n.sp. 11b Frontal carinae more strongly diverging FL/FR> 1.087. Spine base distance larger (SPBA/CS>0.256). Ghana (Figs 49–51). ................................................. neferka

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Cardiocondyla

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