Cardiocondyla littoralis 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 : 34

Cardiocondyla littoralis Seifert 2003 [types investigated]

This species has been described from SE Kazakhstan. Investigated were the holotype worker and 11 worker paratypes, all labelled “KAZ: 46.41.57 N, 80.35.00 E, 358 m, W-Ufer des Sassy Kol, Lössboden, versalzt, hart, selten überschwemmt leg. Seifert 2001.08.07 -1”, SMN Goerlitz .

All material examined. Numeric phenotypical data were taken in five workers of the type sample from Kazakhstan. For details see supplementary information SI1, SI2 ..

Geographic range. Only known from the type locality (46.6992 °N, 80.5833 °E, 356 m).

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 2 , Figs. 26–29 , key). Small, CS 486 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.167. Postocular distance much larger than in C. ulianini and C. caspiense n. sp. PoOc/CL 0.442. Scape shorter, SL/CS 0.792. Eye rather large, EYE/CS 0.249. Occiput in dorsal aspect with evenly rounded corners, its median third straight or weakly concave. Frons moderately broad (FRS/CS 0.241), frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.044). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a well-developed metanotal depression (MGr/CS 3.70 %). Propodeal spines very short (SP/CS 0.087, more triangular but with sharp tips), their axis in profile deviating by about 48° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases much approached (SPBA/CS 0.223). Petiole narrow and lower than in C. ulianini but still higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.274, PeH/ CS 0.306), its node in dorsal aspect as long as wide, tapering frontad; in lateral aspect its frontodorsal profile not concave, more directed caudad (about 50° relative to ventral profile). Postpetiole much narrower than in C. ulianini , less than twice as wide as high (PpW/CS 0.500, PpH/CS 0.277), in dorsal view heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite with a shallow anteromedian bulge. Clypeus between the level of the paramedian 1st order setae, smooth, its anteromedian margin straight or weakly concave. Frontal laminae and a small area posterior of them finely and densely longitudinally rugulose. Anteromedian vertex glabrous and whole vertex without longitudinal microsculpture, in overall impression similar to situation in C. ulianini , foveolar interspaces glabrous and on the average as wide as foveolar diameter (dFOV 13–16), the interspaces with scattered very fine stickman-like fragments of a microreticulum, internal foveolar surface often with longitudinal carinulae ( Fig. 29 ). Dorsal mesosoma in overall impression shiny; dorsal promesonotum with shallow foveolae of 9–16 µm diameter, interspaces clearly wider than foveolar diameter; dorsal propodeum shiny but very finely microrugulose-reticulate. Caudolateral pronotum, ventrolateral mesonotum, mesopleuron, and propodeum below spiracular level finely reticulate. Lateral metapleuron with 2–4 curved longitudinal carinae. Waist segments almost smooth and shining. First gaster tergite glabrous. Pubescence on whole body rather long but dilute, PLG/CS 6.90 %, sqPDG 4.63. Color of head, mesosoma, femora, and gaster dark brown; waist segments sometimes slightly lighter with yellowish tinge.

Taxonomic comments and clustering results. The taxonomic separation of Cardiocondyla littoralis from those of sympatric C. ulianini and C. caspiense n. sp. is supported by a PCA considering the characters PoOc/CL, Pew/CS, PpH/CS and PLG/CS ( Fig. 136 ). The type specimens clearly differed from syntopic ulianini by the much larger PoOc/CL, larger PeW/PpW, a lower petiole with a less steep anterior slope, and by shorter spines. C. littoralis shows some similarity to the W Palaearctic gallilaeica from which it differs by the much larger PoOc/CL and PeW/PpW, the more excavated dorsofrontal postpetiolar margin, the almost straight median third of occipital margin, and the wider frons with more curved frontal carinae.

Biology. The workers were collected when foraging on the surface of a salty loess soil with very sparse vegetation near the margin of a lake in a semidesert.

Figures

FIGURE 136. Separation of individual workers of Cardiocondyla caspiense n. sp. (black rhombs, n=2), C. ulianini (white dots, n=44) and C. littoralis (crosses, n=5) by a principal component analysis considering the morphometric characters PoOc/CL, PeW/CS, PpH/CS and PLG/CS.

FIGURES 26–29. Cardiocondyla littoralis; Fig. 26: head in dorsal view; Fig. 27: lateral view; Fig. 28: dorsal view; Fig. 29: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. Kazakhstan: Sassy Kol, 2001.08.07.