Cardiocondyla nigra

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Cardiocondyla nigra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Cardiocondyla
Species group: batesii
Species: C. nigra
Binomial name
Cardiocondyla nigra
Forel, 1905

Cardiocondyla nigra casent0281805 p 1 high.jpg

Cardiocondyla nigra casent0281805 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

One worker was collected from a thorn bush and nest populations collected in Cyprus and observed in the laboratory may contain several ergatoid males which did not fight (Schrempf, 2014). Little else is known concerning this species. (Seifert. 2023)

At a Glance • Limited invasive  • Ergatoid male  

Identification

Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla batesii group. Differs from Cardiocondyla batesii by the steeper, more acute, and in lateral view more narrow based spines and the lower SPBA/CS with 0.257 ± 0.009 [0.242, 0.271] in C. batesii and 0.231 ± 0.013 [0.199, 0.257] in nigra. The pigmentation contrast between head and mesosoma is significantly larger in C. batesii, but is no reliable discriminator because of the occasional occurrence of homogeneously dark specimens.

Seifert (2023) - Polymorphic. Rather small, CS 538 µm. Head moderately long, CL/CW 1.174. Postocular index small, PoOc/CL 0.366. Median third of hind margin of head slightly excavated. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.813. Eye large, EYE/CS 0.263. Frons rather narrow (FRS/CS 0.243), frontal carinae moderately converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.067). Dorsal profile of promesonotum moderately convex, metanotal depression moderately deep (Mgr/CS 3.65 %), dorsal profile of propodeum moderately convex. Propodeal spines short (SP/CS 0.098); in lateral view varying from short triangular to longer and acute with their axis differing by 47° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; spine bases approached (SPBA/CS 0.229). Petiole distinctly higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.266, PeH/CS 0.300), in profile with a rather short peduncle, a straight to weakly convex anterior face and the anterior slope of the node slightly less inclined than the posterior one. Petiole node in dorsal view varying between longer than wide in the bicoronata morph to as long as wide in the nigra morph. Postpetiole moderately wide and rather low (PpW/CS 0.503, PpW /PeW 1.89, PpH/CS 0.259), in dorsal view with a straight to weakly concave anterior margin; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Clypeus overall rather smooth and shiny, lateral clypeus longitudinally carinulate. Frontal lobes and area posterior of the frontal lobes longitudinally rugulose-carinulate. Longitudinal sculpture on dorsal head in the nigra morph weaker and restricted to the area posterior of the frontal laminae, in the bicoronata morph stronger developed; a rather narrow median stripe on vertex is in both morphs smooth and shiny. Foveolae on vertex shallow, of 14–19 µm diameter, with an inner corona that is weakly visible in the nigra morph, foveolar margins not ideally circular, sometimes kinked or breached by short microrugulae running partially or entirely through the foveolae; foveolar interspaces as wide or wider than foveolar diameter, shiny and with fine cross-branched to semireticulate microstructures (Figs. 81 and 85). Dorsal promesonotum in the bicoronata morph with shallow foveolae and finely microreticulate-carinulate, these structures are in the nigra morph absent or much weaker. Lateral meso- and metapleuron in the bicoronata morph with relatively strong and in the nigra morph with weak longitudinal rugosity. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny but delicately microreticulate. Pubescence on gaster tergites short and dilute, PLg/CS 5.46 %, sqPDg 5.08. Strong color polymorphism. Head and gaster usually dark to blackish brown but pigmentation of mesosoma and waist varying from dark to blackish brown to light reddish brown. Concolorous dirty yellowish brown workers were observed in the sample from Turkestan.

There is much polymorphism in morphometric and pigmentation data, petiole shape and sculpture within the 45 nest samples investigated here and classified as Cardiocondyla nigra. Yet, none of the five forms of exploratory data analyses run was able to reasonably dissolve separate clusters. As result, the taxa C. bicoronata and C. torretassoi were synonymized with C. nigra. Seifert (2003) proposed a character combination of more clearly bicoronate foveolae, stronger microsculpture on head and mesosoma as well as a longer petiole node as diagnostic to separate C. bicoronata from C. nigra. As these three characters were not numerically recorded, no objective testing of their real value is possible. The clear separation of Cardiocondyla batesii from the taxa synonymized here under C. nigra has been shown in the section treating Cardiocondyla batesii and in Fig. 112.

  • Seifert (2023), Figs. 109–113. Cardiocondyla obscurior; Fig. 109: head in dorsal view; Fig. 110: lateral view; Fig. 111: dorsal view; Fig. 112: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex; Fig. 113: frontolateral aspect of waist segments. Galapagos: Santa Cruz, 2012.11.19

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Probably continuously distributed from Portugal and Morocco (9.2°W) over Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt east to Iran (56.2°E). The southernmost and northermost sites are in Yemen at 15.4°N and in Portugal at 38.8°N. The altitudinal distribution ranges from 213 m below to 2254 m above sea level. One isolated site is from the island Sao Vicente of the Cape Verde Archipelago. (Seifert, 2023)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 42.596228° to 15.4°.

     
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Cape Verde, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Iberian Peninsula, Iran, Israel, Jordan (type locality), Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia (type locality), Türkiye.

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

Explore-icon.png Explore Overview of Cardiocondyla biology 
Little is known about Cardiocondyla nigra. 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

Cardiocondyla bicoronata focol0728 h 1 high.jpgCardiocondyla bicoronata focol0728 p 1 high.jpgCardiocondyla bicoronata focol0728 p 2 high.jpgCardiocondyla bicoronata focol0728 d 1 high.jpgCardiocondyla bicoronata focol0728 l 1 high.jpg
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  • Seifert (2023), Figs. 78–81. Cardiocondyla nigra; Fig. 78: head in dorsal view; Fig. 79: lateral view; Fig. 80: dorsal view; Fig. 81: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex (flipped horizontally). Cyprus: Linda Evangelista, 2003.03

Nomenclature

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

  • nigra. Cardiocondyla batesii var. nigra Forel, 1905b: 174 (w.q.) TUNISIA.
    • Type-material: syntype worker, syntype queen (numbers not stated).
    • [Note: Seifert, 2003b: 240, cites 5w, 5q syntypes MHNG.]
    • Type-locality: Tunisia: Kairouan (F. Santschi).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Santschi, 1907: 324 (m. ergatoid m. gynandromorph).
    • Subspecies of batesii: Emery, 1909a: 23; Forel, 1909e: 381; Karavaiev, 1912a: 4; Emery, 1922e: 125; Kugler, J. 1984: 12.
    • Junior synonym of batesii: Radchenko, 1995b: 451.
    • Status as species: Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 428; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987a: 56; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 276 (in key); Kugler, J. 1988: 258; Bolton, 1995b: 132; Schembri & Collingwood, 1995: 154; Seifert, 2003a: 240 (redescription); Petrov, 2006: 99 (in key); Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41; Lapeva-Gjonova, et al. 2010: 27; Legakis, 2011: 16; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2012: 485; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 40; Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 17; Borowiec, L. 2014: 47; Lebas, et al. 2016: 266; Salata & Borowiec, 2018c: 44; Arcos, Chavez, et al. 2022: 11; Seifert, 2023a: 45 (diagnosis).
    • Senior synonym of bicoronata: Seifert, 2023a: 46.
    • Senior synonym of torretassoi: Seifert, 2003a: 240; Seifert, 2023a: 45.
    • Distribution: Algeria, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, “Turkestan”, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
  • bicoronata. Cardiocondyla bicoronata Seifert, 2003a: 242, figs. 21, 22 (w.q.) JORDAN.
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers, 6 paratype queens.
    • Type-locality: holotype Jordan: Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, 31.47°N, 36.42°E, 21.iii.1996, no. 5 (C.O. Dietrich); paratypes: 2 workers, 1 queen with same data, 3 workers, 5 queens with same data but no. 6.
    • Type-depositories: SMNG (holotype); NHMW, SMNG (paratypes).
    • Status as species: Collingwood, et al. 2011: 421; Borowiec, L. 2014: 45; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2020: 4; Sharaf, Salman & Aldawood, 2023: 198.
    • Junior synonym of nigra: Seifert, 2023a: 46.
  • torretassoi. Cardiocondyla elegans var. torretassoi Finzi, 1936: 167 (w.) EGYPT.
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Seifert, 2003a: 240), 3 paralectotype workers.
    • Type-locality: lectotype Egypt: Wadi Hoff, 8.iii.1933 (K. Koch); paralectotypes with same data.
    • [Note: other original syntype localities: Egypt: Tor (Sinai), 25.ii.1935, Egypt: Wadi Garrawi, 24.iii.1935 (no collectors’ names given but expedition members were A. Schatzmayr, K. Koch, and W. Wittmer).]
    • Type-depository: MCZC.
    • Subspecies of elegans: Menozzi, 1940: 268; Bolton, 1995b: 133.
    • Status as species: Kugler, J. 1988: 258; Radchenko, 1995b: 451.
    • Junior synonym of nigra: Seifert, 2003a: 240; Seifert, 2023a: 45.

Type Material

Cardiocondyla batesii var. nigra

Cardiocondyla bicoronata

  • Holotype worker, 2 paratype workers, 1 paratype gyne labelled “JORDANIA: 1996.03.21, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, 31.47N 36.42E, leg. Dietrich No 5” and 3 worker paratypes labelled “JORDANIA: 1996.03.21, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, 31.47N 36.42E, leg. Dietrich No 6”; Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz. 5 paratype gynes labelled “JORDANIA: 1996.03.21, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, 31.47N 36.42E, leg. Dietrich No 6”; Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna.

Description

Worker

Seifert (2003) - Head of medium length, CL/CW 1.172. Postocular distance very small, PoOc/CL 0.366. Occipital margin slightly excavated. Eyes large, EYE 0.266. Frontal carinae immediately posterior of FRS level converging. Lateral clypeus longitudinally carinulate. Dorsal area of head almost without longitudinal sculpture; weak longitudinal carinulae present on and posterior of frontal laminae. Vertex with very shallow and simple foveolae of 14 - 19 mm diameter, their internal surface micro-corrugated; foveolar interspaces wider than foveolar diameter, moderately shining, and with fine cross-branched or semi-reticulate microstructures. Dorsum of mesosoma and waist moderately shining and finely microreticulate. Propodeal spines rather short, steep, and acute. Petiole profile with relatively long peduncle and relatively small node, which is in dorsal view about as long as wide. Postpetiolar sternites without any flat bulge. Whole body usually concolorous dark to blackish brown, specimens with distinctly lighter mesosoma occasionally occur.

Queen

Seifert (2003) - Head of medium length, CL/CW 1.170. Postocular index very small, PoOc/CL 0.376. Occipital margin straight or weakly concave. Dorsal area of head almost without longitudinal sculpture; very weak longitudinal carinulae present on and posterior of frontal laminae. Vertex with very shallow and simple foveolae of 16 - 18 mm diameter; interspaces as wide as foveolar diameter, shining, with fine cross-branched microstructures. Dorsal area of mesosoma foveolate; interspaces between foveolae shining, wider than foveolar diameter and with fine cross-branched microstructures. Lateral area of mesosoma shining, finely reticulate-carinulate, lateral metapleuron longitudinally rugulose. Propodeal spines rather short. Petiole node in dorsal view as wide as long, usually circular; dorsal and lateral petiole shape frequently as depicted for the type of Cardiocondyla nigra, but conditions similar to that of the Cardiocondyla batesii type do occur. Whole body concolorous dark brown. Gynes from Tunisia: Lac Kelbia- 1935.03 brachypterous, with forewing length 1350 - 1400 mm.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Agosti, D. and C.A. Collingwood. 1987. A provisional list of the Balkan ants (Hym. Formicidae) and a key to the worker caste. I. Synonymic list. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 60: 51-62
  • Barech G., M. Khaldi, S. Ziane, A. Zedam, S. Doumadji, M. Sharaf, and X. Espadaler. 2016. A first checklist and diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the saline dry lake Chott El Hodna in Algeria, a Ramsar Conservation Wetland. African Entomology 24(1): 143–152.
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Borowiec L., and S. Salata. 2012. Ants of Greece - Checklist, comments and new faunistic data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus 23(4): 461-563.
  • Cagniant, H.. "Liste actualisee des fourmis du Maroc (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 193-200.
  • Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474
  • Collingwood C.A., D.Agosti, M.R. Sharaf, and A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE, 4: 405–474
  • Finzi, B.. "Risultati scientifici della spedizione di S. A. S. il Principe Alessandro della Torre e Tasso nell'Egitto e peninsola del Sinai. XI. Formiche." Bulletin de la Société Entomologique d'Egypte 20 (1936): 155-210.
  • Forel A. 1905. Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905). Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 49: 155-185.
  • Forel A. 1909. Études myrmécologiques en 1909. Fourmis de Barbarie et de Ceylan. Nidification des Polyrhachis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 45: 369-407.
  • Forel, A.. "Miscellanea myrmécologiques II (1905)." Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 49 (1905): 155-185.
  • Gomez K. 2017. Two species of exotic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) new to Malta. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 61: 233-235.
  • Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
  • Karavaiev V. 1912. Ameisen aus Tunesien und Algerien, nebst einigen unterwegs in Italien gesammelten Arten. Rus. Entomol. Obozr. 12: 1-22.
  • Kiran K., and C. Karaman. 2012. First annotated checklist of the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3548: 1-38.
  • Kugler J. 1984. The males of Cardiocondyla Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with the description of the winged male of Cardiocondyla wroughtoni (Forel). Israel Journal of Entomology 17: 1-21.
  • Kugler J. 1988. The zoogeography of Israel. 9. The zoogeography of social insects of Israel and Sinai. Monographiae biologicae 62: 251-275.
  • Legakis Collection Database
  • Radchenko A. G. 1996. Palaearctic ants of the genus Cardiocondyla Emery (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomological Review (Washington) 75(7): 99-109.
  • Radchenko A. G. 1996. Palaearctic ants of the genus Cardiocondyla Emery (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomological Review (Washington). 75(7): 99-109.
  • Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. Taxonomic and faunistic notes on Greek ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-51.
  • Santschi, F.. "Fourmis de Tunisie capturées en 1906." Revue Suisse de Zoologie 15 (1907): 305-334.
  • Santschi, F. 1907. Fourmis de Tunisie capturées en 1906. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 15: 305-334.
  • Schembri, Stephen P. and Cedric A. Collingwood. A Revision of the Myrmecofauna of the Maltese Islands. 417-442.
  • 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.
  • Seifert, B.. "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." Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 104B (2003): 203-338.
  • Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1914. Gynandromorphous ants described during the decade 1903-1913. American Naturalist 48: 49-56.
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