Cardiocondyla brachyceps 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 : 31

Cardiocondyla brachyceps Seifert 2003 [type investigation]

This taxon has been described from west of Shiraz / Iran. Investigated were the holotype worker and 15 worker paratypes labelled “Iran, Fars 1997 (15), 51 road-km W Shiraz, Chehel Chesmeh, 1940 m, 17.9.; leg. Schödl “, NHM Wien ; 9 worker paratypes from the same sample in SMN Goerlitz. 3 worker paratypes labelled “ ARTVIN —Taslica, 10 km W Artvin , 1000 mH, Laubmischwald, Steinmauer, leg. Schulz 02.07.89 TÜRKEI ”, SMN Goerlitz .

All material examined. Numeric phenotypical data were available in 4 samples with 13 workers. For details see supplementary information SI1, SI2. This material originated from Afghanistan (1 sample) , Georgia (1) and Iran (2).

Geographic range. From S Georgia and NE Turkey (41.7°E) eastwards over the Iran to E Afghanistan (69.5°E). The altitudinal range extends from 5 m in Georgia to 2000 m in Iran.

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 1 , Figs. 18–21 , key; pictures CASENT0919731 in www.antweb.org). Relatively large, CS 559 µm. Head rather short, CL/CW 1.131. Postocular distance very low, PoOc/CL 0.380. Scape rather long, SL/CS 0.831. Eye rather large, EYE/CS 0.251. Occipital margin suggestively concave. Frons rather broad (FRS/ CS 0.257), frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.044). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a deep metanotal depression (MGr/CS 4.39 %). Propodeal spines slightly longer and slightly thinner than in related species (SP/CS 0.128), their axis in profile deviating by about 35° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases more approached (SPBA/CS 0.237). Petiole narrower than in C. elegans and as high as wide (PeW/CS 0.299, PeH/CS 0.301); in profile with a long peduncle that is about 1.8fold as long as wide and an extremely steep anterior slope of the node (about 85° relative to ventral profile). Postpetiole much narrower and lower than in related species (PpW/CS 0.522, PpH/CS 0.260), in dorsal view heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite with the anteromedian portion significantly more bulging than its anteroparamedian portion; in lateral view this anteromedian bulge forms a small, obtusely-angled, rounded corner and changes into the helcium with a distinct angle. Frontal laminae, paramedian vertex, and lateral clypeus with weak longitudinal sculpture. Vertex with strongly demarcated, bicoronate foveolae of 18–21 µm diameter; interspaces narrower than foveolar diameter, near to eyes larger; the interspaces between foveolae shiny and in places with fragments of a very delicate microreticulum. Mesosoma on most of its surface shining and with very fine microreticulum. Dorsal promesonotum finely longitudinally rugulose and with scattered bicoronate foveolae. Lateral meso- and metapleurae delicately longitudinally striate-reticulate; at lower magnifications appearing duller, contrasting the shining lateral parts of mesonotum and pronotum. Dorsum of waist glabrous except for a very delicate microreticulum. First gaster tergite glabrous. Pubescence on whole body long but less dense than in related species, PLG/CS 7.96 %, sqPDG 4.65. Color variable: head medium brown to blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole usually light orange-brown, in specimens with to dark brown mesosoma an orange-yellowish color component is still visible; postpetiole and gaster dark to blackish brown.

Taxonomic comments and clustering results. Cardiocondyla brachyceps is obviously a member of the C. elegans species group but differs from C. elegans , C. dalmatica and C. dalmaticoides n. sp. by much narrower and lower waist segments, more dilute pubescence and the differing petiole profile (compare Figs. 7 , 11 , 15 and 19 ). In numeric terms, C. brachyceps is strongly separable from the other three species by a PCA of the characters PpH/CS, dFOV, SL/CS, PoOc/CL, sqPDG, SP/CS, PLG/CS and PeW/CS ( Fig. 135 ).

Biology. The nest sample from Georgia was collected on a sandy riverbank with scattered bushes.

Figures

FIGURE 135. Separation of nest samples of Cardiocondyla brachyceps (black rhombs, n=4), C. dalmatica (black dots, n=32), C. dalmaticoides n. sp. (crosses, n=3) and C. elegans (white dots, n=50) by a principal component analysis considering the morphometric characters PpH/CS, dFOV, SL/CS, PoOc/CL, sqPDG, SP/CS, PLG/CS and PeW/CS.

FIGURES 18–21. Cardiocondyla brachyceps; Fig. 18: head in dorsal view; Fig. 19: lateral view; Fig. 20: dorsal view; Fig. 21: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. Iran: Fars, 1997.09.19

FIGURES 6–9. Cardiocondyla elegans; Fig. 6: head in dorsal view; Fig. 7 lateral view; Fig. 8: dorsal view; Fig. 9: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. France: Brehemont-1.1 km E, 2010.07.15.

FIGURES 10–13. Cardiocondyla dalmatica, Fig. 10: head in dorsal view; Fig. 11: lateral view; Fig. 12: dorsal view; Fig. 13: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. Hungary: Balassagyarmat, 2007.06.31

FIGURES 14–17. Cardiocondyla dalmaticoides n. sp., holotype; Fig. 14: head in dorsal view; Fig. 15: lateral view, postpetiole and gaster in full lateral view shown upper left; Fig. 16: dorsal view, postpetiole and gaster in full dorsal view shown lower left; Fig. 17: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. Turkey: Reyhauli-2 km N, 1993.06.09