Cardiocondyla tjibodana

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Cardiocondyla tjibodana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Cardiocondyla
Species: C. tjibodana
Binomial name
Cardiocondyla tjibodana
Karavaiev, 1935

Cardiocondyla tjibodana casent0178362 p 1 high.jpg

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Specimen Labels

Cardiocondyla tjibodana is supposed here to be the sister species of Cardiocondyla minutior, having its distributional centre in the Malayan region. It is found on the larger islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, nesting in shallow soil in open, disturbed areas with bare or weakly herbaceous ground (Yamauchi, pers. comm. 2001). The occurrence of C. minutior in this region seems to be concentrated to smaller islands, in particular to the islands of Polynesia. C. tjibodana seems not to have the dispersal capacity of C. minutior, though the C. tjibodana samples from Belize and Anatahan indicate spreading to remote zoogeographical regions. (Seifert 2003)

At a Glance • Invasive  

Identification

Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla minutior group. The workers of C. tjibodana differ from Cardiocondyla minutior by smaller waist measures and by a warm orange-yellowish tinge of the mesosoma. The latter character is rarely seen in C. minutior that usually shows a dirty colour component.

Seifert (2022) - Worker : Small size, CS 406 µm. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.258. Postocular distance very large, PoOc/CL 0.480. Scape short, SL/CS 0.761. Eye slightly larger than in Cardiocondyla minutior and Cardiocondyla goa, small, EYE/CS 0.232, with notable micropilae, the longest measuring 6–10 µm. Occipital margin straight or very weakly concave. Frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.072). Dorsal profile of mesosoma rather straight or weakly convex, metanotal groove only suggested or entirely absent (MGr/CS 0.61%). Spines rather short and acute (SP/CS 0.132), their axis in profile deviating by 40–45° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma. Petiole slightly narrower than in C. minutior and C. goa but similarly high (PeW/CS 0.266, PeH/CS 0.337), in profile with concave anterior face and rounded node that is in dorsal view circular and as long as wide. Postpetiole significantly narrower than in C. minutior and C. goa but similarly high (PpW/CS 0.445, PpH/CS 0.261), its sternite completely flat, without any anteroventral bulge; in dorsal view with angulate-convex sides and straight anterior margin. Paramedian vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 13–18 µm diameter in dense honey-comb arrangement (if not displaced by longitudinal carinulae). Foveolae with an inner corona (margin of a flat tubercle) of 7–8 µm diameter. Mesosoma on whole surface sculptured. Waist segments with shallower and finer reticulum than on mesosoma, nodes sometimes slightly shiny. First gaster tergite with fine microreticulum that may be obscured by polluted surfaces. Pubescence on whole body long and dense, PLG/CS 7.61%, sqPDG 3.17. Color of head, mesosoma, and waist varying considerably from dirty yellowish to dark dirty brown, gaster dark to blackish brown.

The differences in waist measures allow a rather good separation from C. minutior and C. goa (see Cardiocondyla minutior for details).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 16.38333333° to 0.583333333°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Guam, Indonesia (type locality), Kiribati, Krakatau Islands, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Philippines, Singapore.
Neotropical Region: Belize.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • tjibodana. Cardiocondyla tjibodana Karavaiev, 1935a: 87, fig. 13 (w.) INDONESIA (Java).
    • Type-material: 2 syntype workers.
    • Type-locality: 1 worker Indonesia: Java, Tjibodas, 1912-13, no. 5375 (W. Karawajew), 1 worker Java, Bantam coast, Sunda Strait, opposite Meeuwen I., 7.i.1913, no. 5376 (W. Karawajew).
    • Type-depository: SIZK.
    • Seifert, 2003a: 288 (q.).
    • Status as species: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 84; Bolton, 1995b: 133; Seifert, 2003a: 287 (redescription); Clouse, 2007b: 231; Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 44.
    • Distribution: Belize, Indonesia (Biak, Java, Sulawesi), Malaysia (Peninsula), Micronesia, Philippines (Bayagnan, Luzon, Mindanao).

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Seifert (2003) - Small size. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.261. Postocular distance very large, PoOC/CL 0.479. Scape short, SL/CS 0.762. Eye rather small, EYE 0.238, with notable setae, the longest measuring 6 - 10 mm. Occipital margin straight or very weakly concave. Frontal carinae more approached than in Cardiocondyla minutior, on average more diverging immediately frontad from FRS level. Anterior clypeal margin between level of frontal carinae straight or slightly concave. Lateral clypeus with 2 – 3 curved longitudinal rugae. Caudal clypeus, frontal laminae and narrow anteromedian stripe of vertex longitudinally carinulate. Except for longitudinal rugae on preocular surface, semicircular rugae around antennal fossae, and few short, longitudinal rugae on metapleuron, whole body without any rugosity. Paramedian area of vertex with densely-arranged, deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 13 - 18 mm diameter. Foveolae with inner corona (margin of flat tubercle) of 7 - 8 mm diameter. Mesosoma on whole surface sculptured, overall surface impression mat: mesosoma dorsally densely and strongly reticulate-foveolate, laterally densely and strongly reticulate; metapleuron with 1 - 4 longitudinal rugae. Waist segments with shallower and finer reticulum than on mesosoma, nodes sometimes slightly shining. First gaster tergite often with very fine microreticulum. Pubescence on whole body long and dense, sqrtPDG 3.23. Dorsal profile of mesosoma rather straight or weakly convex, metanotal groove only suggested or entirely absent. Spines short and acute, their axis in profile deviating by 40 - 45° from longitudinal mesosomal axis. Petiole in profile with concave anterior face and rounded node that is in dorsal view circular or slightly longer than wide. Postpetiole very low, its sternite completely flat, without any anteroventral bulge; in dorsal view with angulate-convex sides and straight anterior margin. Head light-orange brown to dark brown, mesosoma and waist always warm orange or yellow, gaster dark to blackish brown.

Queen

Seifert (2003) - Very small size. Head much elongated, CL/CW 1.223. Scape short, SL/CS 0.739. Postocular index very large, PoOc/CL 0.457. Eyes with numerous hairs, the longest measuring 12 mm. Occipital margin straight. Median section of anterior clypeal margin very slightly convex. Vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed, densely-packed foveolae of 14 - 16 mm diameter which show an inner corona of 7 – 9 mm diameter. Anteromedian area of vertex with 4 - 5 longitudinal carinulae. Frontal laminae and posterior area of clypeus longitudinally carinulate. Whole area of dorsal mesosoma with deep, densely-packed foveolae. Lateral lobes of praescutellum separated. Lateral area of mesosoma foveolate-reticulate, region of metapleural gland bulla with longitudinal rugae. Propodeal spines well-developed, their axis deviating from mesosomal axis in lateral view by 25°. Petiole less strongly reticulate, petiolar node in dorsal view circular. Postpetiole in dorsal view more strongly reticulate, distinctly wider than long, with straight anterior margin and strongly convex sides. Postpetiolar sternite very flat, without any bulge. Whole body covered by long and very dense pubescence that is on 1st gaster tergite more dense than in C. minutior. Dorsum of gaster shining, but with fine microreticulum. Head, antennal club, gaster, mesonotum, praescutellum, scutellum, and metanotum dark brown. Lateral area of pronotum, anepisternite, and waist segments warm yellowish-orange. Appendages light-yellowish.

Type Material

Seifert (2003) - Java [types investigated]. 2 syntype workers labelled “Tjibodas, Jawa Karavaiev \5375. Coll. Karavaiievi \Cardiocondyla tjibodana Karavaiev typ.”, Institute of Zoology of the Ukranian National Academy of Sciences.

The two specimens fully match the description of Karavajev. However, the number of specimens is in disagreement with the original description that states: “ ... Tjibodas, W. Java, W. Karawajew, Nr.5375, I Arbeiter...” and “ ... Kuste von Bantam, Java, an der Sundastrasse, gegeniiber Meeuwen Eiland, 7.I.1913, Nr.5376, 1 Arbeiter...”. Sample No. 5376 was not seen. In case of its discovery and if representing a different species, a lectotype of C. tjibodana should be fixed in a specimen of sample 5375.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Abe T., S. Yamane, and K. Onoyama. Ants collected on the Krakatau Islands 100 years after the great eruptions. Biogeography 14: 65-75.
  • Asfiya W., R. Ubaidillah, and Sk. Yamane. 2008. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Krakataus, and Sebesi and Sebuku islands. Treubia 36: 1-9.
  • Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
  • Clouse R. M. 2007. The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Micronesica. 39: 171-295.
  • Clouse, R.M. 2007. The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Micronesica 39(2): 171-295.
  • Evenhuis N. L., L. G. Eldredge, K. T. Arakaki, D. Oishi, J. N. Garcia, and W. P. Haines. 2010. Terrestrial arthropods surveys on Pagan Island, Northern Marianas. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office Honolulu, Hawaii. 72 pages.
  • Karavaiev V. 1935. Neue Ameisen aus dem Indo-Australischen Gebiet, nebst Revision einiger Formen. Treubia 15: 57-118.
  • Mezger D., and M. Pfeiffer. 2011. Influence of the arrival of Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the composition of an ant community in a clearing in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Asian Myrmecology 4: 89-98.
  • Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
  • Seifert B. 2003. The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a taxonomic revision of the C. elegans, C. bulgarica, C. batesii, C. nuda, C. shuckardi, C. stambuloffii, C. wroughtonii, C. emeryi, and C. minutior species groups. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. B, Botanik, Zoologie 104: 203-338.
  • Woodcock P., D. P. Edwards, T. M. Fayle, R. J. Newton, C. Vun Khen, S. H. Bottrell, and K. C. Hamer. 2011. The conservation value of South East Asia's highly degraded forests: evidence from leaf-litter ants. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 366: 3256-3264.
  • Yamane S. 2013. A Review of the ant fauna of the Krakatau Islands, Indonesia. Bull. Kitakyushu Mus. Nat. Hist. Hum. Hist. Ser: A, 11: 1-66