Cardiocondyla heinzei

Cardiocondyla heinzei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Cardiocondyla
Species:	C. heinzei
Binomial name
Cardiocondyla heinzei Seifert, 2024

This species is only known from the two type localities in Ivory Coast.

Identification

A member of the Cardiocondyla wroughtonii group.

Seifert (2024) - Due to the combination of a large CL/CW and small PeW/CS and FRS/CS, it should not be confused with other members of the C. wroughtonii group.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 8.84° to 8.77°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: Seifert, 2024

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Ivory Coast (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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.

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.

Biology

Seifert (2024) - The workers foraged on the ground in both open and wooded areas.

Explore Overview of Cardiocondyla biology  Little is known about Cardiocondyla heinzei. Until further studies reveal more about this species we can infer that its natural history and biology is likely similar to other members of the genus. Seifert revised the holarctic species of Cardiocondyla in 2003 and the following synopsis is based on his excellent treatment of the genus. References to other publications and more details about what is reported here can be found in Seifert (2003). Many Cardiocondyla species inhabit areas that experience frequent disturbance and/or are quite open. These may be human altered areas, where a number of Cardiocondyla tramp species thrive, but also natural areas such as semi deserts and steppes, immature soils at rivers, lakes, and sea shores and to a lesser extent forest margins or burned-down woodland patches. In contrast to this open-land group, the natural habitat affinities of many tropical species are primary rain forests. Nests are typically in soil and sometimes under stones. Two species are known to nest in vegetation but this is unusual for the genus. The single nest entrances is small (1-1.5 mm) and inconspicuous. In the desert nests can be relatively deep (> 1m) and have many chambers but in areas where conditions are less extreme there is generally a single chamber (15-20 mm diameter and 3-4 mm height) that is not far below the ground surface (2-15 cm). Cardiocondyla tramp species (Cardiocondyla wroughtonii, Cardiocondyla obscurior, Cardiocondyla mauritanica, Cardiocondyla emeryi and Cardiocondyla minutior) are known to be polygynous, as are some less widespread species, while other species are known to be monogynous. Cardiocondyla ants are omnivorous. Zoophagy (zoo necrophagy and killing of small weakly sclerotised arthropods), granivory, and nectarivory have also been noted. Tandem running has been observed as a method of recruitment to food sources in a few species. Intranidal mating appears to be the norm for most species in the genus. Mating strategies are species dependent and may take various forms. Winged males may mate within their nest or fly to and enter other colonies to mate. Queen mate intranidally and fly from their nest to begin a new colony, become integrated into their natal colony, or may walk away from their nest and establish a new colony nearby. Cardiocondyla are unusual in having peculiar male forms. Male polymorphism is found in some species with typical males and an ergatoid form. These latter males are wingless and worker like in appearance. Ergatoid males fight with other males within their natal nest. By killing potential rival males, a dominant male can monopolize matings with the virgin queens in their colony. Morphological modifications that enhance the fighting abilities of ergatoid males have been documented, e.g., modified mandibles well suited to fighting and increased mesosomal size for better protection against attacks from rivals. Another unusual characteristic of ergatoid males is the continuation of spermatogenesis throughout their adult life. Males of most aculeate hymenoptera stop producing sperm once they are fully mature. Some species are known to produce different queen morphs. This presumably facilitates there being a longer range dispersal queen form and a shorter or non-dispersing form. Gyne polymorphism appears to be an adaptation for species inhabiting continental desert or semi-desert habitats. The cosmopolitan tramp species, on the other hand, do not exhibit this gyne polymorphism. ‎

Castes

This species is known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

• heinzei. Cardiocondyla heinzei Seifert, 2024: 134, figs. 47, 48 (w.) IVORY COAST.

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

Type Material

• Cardiocondyla heinzei: Holotype (designated by Seifert, 2024), 1 worker, Comoé National Park Research Station, Ivory Coast, 8.7703°N 3.7897°W / 8.7703; -3.7897, 4.iv.2019, Jürgen Heinze, SMNG20240630, SMNG.
• Cardiocondyla heinzei: Paratypes (designated by Seifert, 2024), 3 workers, Comoé National Park Research Station, Ivory Coast, 8.7703°N 3.7897°W / 8.7703; -3.7897, 4.iv.2019, Jürgen Heinze, SMNG.
• Cardiocondyla heinzei: Paratypes (designated by Seifert, 2024), 3 workers, Comoé Park, Iringo River, Ivory Coast, 8.84028°N 3.77111°W / 8.84028; -3.77111, 6.iv.2019, Jürgen Heinze, SMNG.
• Cardiocondyla heinzei: Paratypes (designated by Seifert, 2024), 2 workers, Comoé National Park Research Station, Ivory Coast, 8.7703°N 3.7897°W / 8.7703; -3.7897, 7.iv.2019, Jürgen Heinze, SMNG.

Description

Worker

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. 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.

Etymology

The name is given in honor of Jürgen Heinze who has done and supervised outstanding research on the fascinating biology of Cardiocondyla ants over three decades.

References

• Seifert, B. 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 96 (2):113-144. (doi:10.25674/415)