Cardiocondyla opistopsis Seifert 2003

Seifert, Bernhard, 2023, A revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery 1869 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 5274 (1), pp. 1-64 : 43

Cardiocondyla opistopsis Seifert 2003 [type investigation]

This taxon has been described from Kuwait. Investigated were the holotype worker and one paratype worker labelled “ KUWAIT: Burgan, 1988 W.Büttiker ” and 3 worker paratypes labelled “ KUWAIT: 1985”, all in SMN Görlitz .

All material examined. Numeric phenotypical data were available for two samples with four workers. For details see supplementary information SI1, SI2. This material originated from Kuwait (2 samples) .

Geographic range. The species is only known from the type locality.

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 3 , Figs. 62–65 , key). Rather large, CS 553 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.171. Postocular index lower than in any species considered here, PoOc/CL 0.316. Hind margin of vertex rather straight or weakly concave. Scape rather long, SL/CS 0.825. Eye very large, EYE/CS 0.280. Median third of hind margin of head slightly concave. Frons moderately broad (FRS/CS 0.241), frontal carinae strongly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.122); dorsal extension of scape joint capsule in dorsal aspect strongly surpassing the frontal carinae laterad. Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a rather shallow metanotal depression (MGr/CS 2.15 %). Spines very short and blunt, triangular (SP/CS 0.073), their assumed axis in profile deviating by about 50° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases more approached (SPBA/CS 0.234). Petiole very low, lower than wide (PeW/CS 0.283, PeH/CS 0.271); in profile with a more distinct peduncle and a semicircular node with the anterior slope appearing less steep than the caudal slope; node in dorsal aspect as wide as long and almost circular. Postpetiole narrower than in any related species and but not very low (PpW/CS 0.463, PpH/CS 0.259), in dorsal view not heard-shaped, with feebly concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Clypeus rather smooth, with 4–5 weak longitudinal carinulae. Frontal laminae rather smooth, very delicately microreticulate-carinulate. Vertex with numerous bicoronate foveolae of 17–19 µm diameter, the margins of foveolae only rarely breached by microrugulae running partially or entirely through the foveolae, foveolar interspaces about as wide as foveolar diameter, glabrous, with scattered fragments of fine cross-branched structures or microcarinulae. A narrow median stripe on vertex perfectly smooth, paramedian vertex only in its anterior part weakly longitudinally microcarinulate. Despite of microsculpture all parts of mesosoma and waist appear in overall impression rather shiny. Dorsal promesonotum irregularly microreticulate-carinulate, with scattered suggestions of foveolae. Whole lateral mesosoma reticulate but moderately shiny. Region of the metapleural gland bulla with 2–4 short and weak longitudinal carinae. Propodeum and petiole microreticulate; Postpetiole more shiny, with very delicate microreticulum. Pubescence on gaster tergites moderately long and moderately dense, PLG/CS 5.13 %, sqPDG 5.34. Whole body dark to medium brown.

Taxonomic comments and clustering results. As a combination of extremely small postocular index, petiolar height and postpetiolar width Cardiocondyla opistopsis is unmistakable.

Biology. Unknown

Figures

FIGURES 62–65. Cardiocondyla opistopsis, holotype; Fig. 62: head in dorsal view; Fig. 63: lateral view (flipped horizontally); Fig. 64: dorsal view; Fig. 65: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. Kuweit: Burgan, 1988