Cardiocondyla elegans gibbosa Kuznetzov-Ugamsky 1927

Seifert, Bernhard, 2023, A revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery 1869 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 5274 (1), pp. 1-64 : 52-53

Cardiocondyla elegans gibbosa Kuznetzov-Ugamsky 1927 [types investigated]

This taxon has been described from Kazakhstan. 1 worker lectotype (by present designation) and 2 worker paralectotypes labelled “ Cardiocondyla elegans gibbosa nov. 1927, Suzak 3 VII 1923 ”, “Turkestan Suzak Kusnezov” and “ANTWEB CASENT 0912878”; depository NHM Basel. One paratype worker labelled only “Turkestan Suzak Kusnezov”, depository not recorded ( NHM Genève?) .

All material examined. NUMOBAT data were recorded in two samples with 4 worker specimens from the type sample. For details see supplementary information SI1, SI2. This material originated from Kazakhstan (2 samples).

Geographic range. Only known from the type locality (44.140°N, 68.467°E, 322 m).

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 4 , Figs. 98–100 ; images in www.antweb.org with specimen identifier CASENT 0912878; key): Smaller than koshewnikovi (CS 518 µm) and head longer (CL/CW 1.191). Postocular index large, PoOc/CL 0.458. Anterior clypeal margin convex to straight. Hind margin of head convex, sometimes with a weak concavity in the median level. Scape short, SL/CS 0.800. Eye very small, EYE/CS 0.218. Frons broad (FRS/CS 0.311), frontal carinae not or weakly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.052). Dorsal profile of promesonotum strongly convex, metanotal depression deep (MGr/CS 4.02 %), dorsal profile of propodeum posterior of metanotal depression rather linear. Propodeal spines short, reduced to obtusely-angled dents (SP/CS 0.058), the distance of their bases is rather low (SPBA/CS 0.244). Petiole less than half as wide as postpetiole and much higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.282, PeH/CS 0.374), in profile with a rather long peduncle and the node with the anterior slope less inclined than the posterior slope—as result the node profile is slightly asymmetric. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly narrower than long. Postpetiole wide, less than twice as wide as high (PpW/CS 0.570, PpW /PeW 2.02, PpH/CS 0.306), in dorsal aspect with a moderately concave anterior margin, its width less than twice its length, postpetiolar sternite rather flat. Clypeus, frontal laminae, and anterior vertex (about 60 % of total vertex surface) longitudinally carinulate-rugulose; the strongest rugae mediad and mediofrontad of the eyes. The interspaces between rugae relatively smooth, foveolae of any size are completely absent; tiny pits around the bases of pubescence hairs are occasionally just visible with high-resolution stereomicroscopy; tiny pits of 4–5 µm diameter are well-visible on the perfectly smooth posterior 40 % of vertex surface. Mesosoma in overall impression shining, with more profuse pubescence than in most other species. Frontal and dorsolateral pronotum and dorsal propodeum glabrous. Ventrolateral pronotum, whole mesonotum, ventrolateral propodeum, mesopleurae, and metapleurae to a differing degree longitudinally rugulose with shining interspaces; the strongest rugae on meso- and metapleurae. Waist segments entirely smooth. Pubescence on gaster tergites longer than in related species and less dense, PLG/ CS 7.62 %, sqPDG 3.74. More or less concolorous medium to dark brown.

Taxonomic comments and clustering results. C. gibbosa is similar to koshewnikovi and intraspecific variability in the latter is not known very well. However, the unique type of head sculpture, the much longer pubescence, the more elongated head and a separate clustering in a PCA considering the characters CS, CL/CW, SL/ CS, PoOc/ CS, EYE / CS, dFOV, SP/ CS, PeW/ CS, PpW/ CS, PeH/ CS, PpH/ CS, sqPDG, PLG / CS and MGr/ CS ( Fig. 144 ) are arguments against a synonymization .

Biology. unknown

Figures

FIGURE 144. Separation of individual workers of Cardiocondyla gibbosa (black rhombs) and C. koshewnikovi (white squares), C. rolandi n. sp. (white triangles) and C. stambuloffii (white circles) by a principal component analysis considering the morphometric characters CS, CL/CW, SL/CS, PoOc/CS, EYE/CS, dFOV, SP/CS, PeW/CS, PpW/CS, PeH/CS, PpH/CS, sqPDG, PLG/CS and MGr/CS.

FIGURES 98–100. Cardiocondyla gibbosa, lectotype; Fig. 98 head in dorsal view; Fig. 99: lateral view; Fig. 100: dorsal view. Kazakhstan: Suzak, 1923.07.03