Cardiocondyla rolandi, Seifert, 2023

Seifert, Bernhard, 2023, A revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery 1869 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 5274 (1), pp. 1-64 : 51-52

Cardiocondyla rolandi n. sp.

Etymology: the name dedicated to the collector Roland Schultz who substantially contributed to the knowledge of Middle and Central Asian ants.

Type material:

Holotype plus 2 paratype worker labeled “CHI: 41.9739°N, 84.4906°E, Tarim Basin, 1038 m, edge of oasis Yengisar, below poplar, Schultz 2004.09.03 —091”; 3 paratype workers labelled “CHI: 41.2374°N, 84.4421°E, Tarim Basin, 914 m, edge of occasionally flooded area, Schultz 2004.09.08 —128”; 3 paratype workers, two paratype males and two paratype gynes labelled “CHI: 41.8173°N, 86.1880°E, Tian Shan, 993 m, near brook, below stone, Schultz 2004.09.08 —121”; all material, including a big number of unmounted paratypes, deposited in SMN Görlitz.

All material examined. NUMOBAT data were recorded in 21 samples with 49 worker specimens. For details see supplementary information SI1, SI2. This material originated from China (17 samples), Kazakhstan (1), Mongolia (2) and “Turkestan” (1) .

Geographic range. Southeast Kazakhstan (46.7°N, 80.6°E), southern Mongolia (43.2°N, 99.0°E), the north of the Chinese province Xinjiang (i.e., the ranges between Tarim River and East Tianshan and the Bogda Shan). The altitudinal distribution ranges between 358 and 1060 m . If Gustav Mayr’s samples labelled “Tibet” should apply to the margin of the Tibetan Plain with the Tarim Basin, the geographical range should extend south to 38°N and the altitudinal range could surpass 2000 m .

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 4 , Figs. 94–97 ; key): Smaller than koshewnikovi, CS 538 µm. Head short, CL/CW 1.149. Postocular index smaller than in koshewnikovi, PoOc /CL 0.439. Hind margin of head convex, sometimes with a weak concavity in the median level. Scape longer than in koshewnikovi, SL /CS 0.815. Eye small, EYE/CS 0.222. Frons very broad (FRS/CS 0.319), frontal carinae not or weakly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/ FR 1.036). Dorsal profile of promesonotum strongly convex, metanotal depression deep (MGr/CS 4.06 %), dorsal profile of propodeum posterior of metanotal depression linear. Propodeal spines very short, in lateral view triangular and blunt (SP/CS 0.065), their supposed axis in lateral view differing by 55° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; the distance of their bases is moderately large (SPBA/CS 0.253). Petiole less than half as wide as postpetiole and much higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.276, PeH/CS 0.372), in profile with a shorter peduncle than in koshewnikovi and the node with very steep and linear anterior and posterior slopes, the anterior one slightly less inclined—as result the node profile is not fully symmetric. Petiole node in dorsal view wider than long. Postpetiole wide, less than twice as wide as high (PpW/CS 0.565, PpW /PeW 2.05, PpH/CS 0.313), in dorsal aspect with a rather straight anterior margin, postpetiolar sternite rather flat, but with a weak anteromedian bulb. Microsculpture stronger than in koshewnikovi . Whole clypeus, frontal laminae, and anterior vertex longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Remaining vertex strongly longitudinally rugulose with the rugulae often fusing to form a reticulum. The interspaces between rugulae are shiny with small flat tubercles of 6–10 µm diameter which have the base of a pubescence hair in their center ( Fig. 97 ). Dorsal mesosoma on most of its surface longitudinally carinulate-rugulose; sculpture usually stronger than in koshewnikovi . Lateral promesonotum slightly and mesopleurae, lateral propodeum and metapleurae more strongly longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny. Pubescence on gaster tergites longer than in koshewnikovi but similarly dense, PLG/CS 6.60 %, sqPDG 3.28. Concolorous light to medium brown with yellowish tinge.

Taxonomic comments and clustering results. The strong separation of C. rolandi n. sp. from C. koshewnikovi and C. stambuloffii has already been demonstrated in the section treating the latter species (p. 49).

Biology. Habitats are moister spots in semideserts or dry steppe, oases in deserts, and open riverbanks. Males are ergatoid and have shear-shaped mandibles with a strongly developed apical dent. Excavation of complete nest populations was not intended by the collector. Hence, the largest sample containing 180 workers should certainly not represent the upper limit of population size. Four nest samples contained 1, 2, 4 and 4 adult males which did not show signs of any injury. Thus it seems, as in stambuloffii and koshewnikovi , that at least the adult males do not perform injury or lethal fightings. Alate gynes were seen in the nests between 31 August and 10 September 2004.

Figures

FIGURES 94–97. Cardiocondyla rolandi n. sp., holotype; Fig. 94: head in dorsal view; Fig. 95: lateral view; Fig. 96: dorsal view; Fig. 97: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. China: Oasis Yengisar, 2004.09.03