Cardiocondyla heinzei, Seifert, 2024

Seifert, Bernhard, 2024, A taxonomic revision of the ants of the Cardiocondyla wroughtonii group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a checklist of the Cardiocondyla species of the world, Soil Organisms (London, England) 96 (2), pp. 113-144 : 134-135

Cardiocondyla heinzei n.sp.

Etymology: the name is given in honor of Jürgen

Heinze wo has done and supervised outstanding research on the fascinating biology of Cardiocondyla ants over three decades.

Type material:

Holotype worker labelled ‘IVO: 8.7703°N, 3.7897°W, Comoé Res. Station, 191m, foragers on path halfway between station and river, Heinze 2019.04.04 –CI 18’, ‘ SMNG20240630 ’ [unique specimen identifier]; three worker paratypes with same labelling on another pin; three worker paratypes labelled ‘IVO: 8.84028°N, 3.77111°W, Comoé Park, Iringo River 202 m, Heinze 2019.04.06 –CI 45’; two worker paratypes labelled ‘IVO: 8.7703°N, 3.7897°W, Comoé Res. Station , 191m, foragers on path halfway, between station and river, Heinze 2019.04.07 –CI 55’; depository SMN Görlitz.

All material examined. Only the three type samples from Ivory Coast were available .

Geographic range. Only known from the two type localities in Ivory Coast .

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 2, Figs 44–48, key). Extremely small, CS 377 µm. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.189. Median third of anterior clypeal margin slightly concave, median third of occipital margin straight. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.457. Frons very narrow (FRS/CS 0.219), widening frontad (FL/FR 1.063), caudal of FRS level parallel. Eye without any microsetae and rather smalll, EYE/CS 0.232. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.786. Metanotal groove in profile in absolute terms rather deep (MGr/CS 3.25 %) but with shallow slopes to mesonotum and propodeum. Prododeal spines long (SP/CS 0.201), thin and acute; in profile deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by only 25°, in dorsal view slightly diverging and and slightly incurved; their bases narrow (SPBA/CS 0.240). Petiole very narrow and moderately high (PeW/CS 0.234, PeH/CS 0.333); in lateral view with a concave anterior face and a long weakly convex dorsal profile; petiole in dorsal view very slender, its node 1.5 fold as long as wide and narrowing frontad. Postpetiole rather wide and low (PpW/CS 0.454, PpH/CS 0.276); the sternite anterolaterally with a rounded lobiform protrusion on each side which clearly elevates above the level of median surface of sternite; the surface of the sternite thus appearing deeply concave in frontal view. Postpetiole in dorsal view with a concave anterior margin and convex sides. Anterior clypeus with fine transverse rugulae. Vertex with densely-arranged, flat-bottomed and moderately large foveolae (dFov 16.7). The largest foveolae show a flat tubercle around the hair base of 6–8 µm diameter which is sometimes connected with the outer ring through 1–2 fine microcarinulae ( Fig. 47 ). Whole lateral area of mesosoma microreticulate, promesontum foveolate-reticulate. Petiole microreticulate, postpetiole more shiny. First gaster tergite with a rather long and dense pubescence (PLG/CS 7.12%, sqPDG 4.14) and a weak microreticulum ( Fig. 48 ). All body parts yellowish with exception of the blackish brown gaster.

Taxonomic comments. As a combination of large CL/ CW and small PeW/CS and FRS/CS not confuse with other members of the wroughtonii group.

Biology. The workers foraged on ground in both open and woody situations.

Figures

Figure 47–48. Cardiocondyla heinzei n.sp., holotype, Comoe / Ivory Coast, 4 April 2019. (47) head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. (48) anterior dorsum of 1st gaster tergite. Figure 49–51: Cardiocondyla neferka, holotype, Mampong / Ghana, 10 February 1970; from www.antweb.org CASENT0901747, images by Ryan Perry. (49) head in dorsal view; (50) lateral view; (51) dorsal view.