Cardiocondyla semirubra 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 : 42

Cardiocondyla semirubra Seifert 2003 [type investigation]

This taxon has been described from Asia Minor. Investigated were the holotype worker and 2 paratype workers labelled “ TURKEY: Sanliurfa 20 km S Steppe, 500 m, leg. A.Schulz 1993.06.12, No 1036” and 1 paratype worker labelled “ TURKEY: Sanliurfa 25 km E, Camlidere, Steppe , 500 m, leg. A. Schulz 1993.06.13, No 1045”, 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 Turkey (2 samples) .

Geographic range. The two known samples from Asia Minor were collected at 36.94°N, 38.91°E, 400 m and 37.20°N, 39.00° E, 600 m. They are about 30 km apart .

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 3 , Figs. 58–61 , key). Rather large, CS 552 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.168. Postocular distance very small, PoOc/CL 0.374. Scape rather short, SL/CS 0.782. Eye rather large, EYE/ CS 0.256. Median third of hind margin of head slightly concave. Frons broad (FRS/CS 0.258), frontal notably converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.069). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a deep metanotal depression (MGr/CS 4.38 %). Spines short and blunt, more triangular (SP/CS 0.096), their axis in profile deviating by about 47° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases rather distant (SPBA/CS 0.254). Petiole very wide, nearly as wide as high (PeW/CS 0.322, PeH/CS 0.326); in profile with short peduncle, a rather straight to weakly convex anterior face and an ample node with the anterior slope less steep than the caudal slope (about 58° respectively 69° relative to ventral profile). Petiole node in dorsal view as wide as long and not gradually merging with the anterior peduncle. Postpetiole only 1.61-fold as wide as petiole and rather low (PpW/ CS 0.518, PpH/CS 0.267), in dorsal view suggestively heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Lateral and paramedian clypeus, frontal laminae, and area posterior of frontal laminae finely longitudinally carinulate. Dorsal head almost without longitudinal sculpture, a small stripe on median vertex often glabrous. Vertex with shallow foveolae of 16–19 µm mean diameter, the margins of foveolae often breached by microrugulae running partially or entirely through the foveolae; the interspaces on average wider than foveolar diameter, shiny and with fragments of a very delicate microreticulum ( Fig. 61 ). Mesosoma moderately shining, finely microreticulate. Median promesonotum finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Lateral meso- and metapleuron finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose.Waist segments very shiny, with barely visible microreticulum. Pubescence on gaster tergites moderately long and moderately dense, PLG/CS 5.39 %, sqPDG 5.37. Dorsal head, gaster, coxae, femora, and tibiae dark to blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole reddish brown; postpetiole, scape, and antennal club dark brown.

Taxonomic comments and clustering results. The extremely wide petiole is the outstanding character of Cardiocondyla semirubra . The only similar species with zoogeographic proximity is C. nigra which has a narrower frons and petiole and often a darker mesosomal pigmentation. A PCA considering FRS, PeW and PigMes separates the four workers of semirubra from the nigra cluster ( Fig. 141 ).

Biology. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 141. Separation of individual workers of Cardiocondyla nigra (black squares, n=95) and C. semirubra (white dots, n=4) by a principal component analysis considering the morphometric characters FRS/CS, PeW/CS and PigMes.

FIGURES 58–61. Cardiocondyla semirubra, paratype; Fig. 58: head in dorsal view; Fig. 59: lateral view; Fig. 60: dorsal view; Fig. 61: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. Turkey: Sanliurfa-20 km S, 1993.06.12