Cardiocondyla kushanica

Nothing is known about the biology of Cardiocondyla kushanica.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla batesii group. Low postocular distance, big eyes, and shape of waist segments indicate an allocation of C. kushanica to the Cardiocondyla batesii group. The gynes differ from both Cardiocondyla nigra and Cardiocondyla batesii in particular by head sculpture. On paramedian vertex, the C. kushanica gynes show rather deep, closely-set, and bicoronate foveolae; the interspaces are clearly smaller than the foveolar diameter and rugulose. The type gynes of C. batesii and C. nigra show rather shallow foveolae; the interspaces are at least as wide as the foveolar diameter, brilliantly shining, and with very delicate cross-branched microstructures.

The two available C. kushanica workers differ from those of C. batesii by lower PoOc/CL, PEH/CS, and MGr/CS, larger PLG, and more erect and acute spines. The only significant differences to C. nigra and Cardiocondyla bicoronata seem to be the larger PPW/CS and PLG and the deviating head sculpture.

Seifert (2023) - Rather small, CS 508 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.162. Postocular index small, PoOc/CL 0.373. Median third of hind margin of head slightly concave. Scape rather long, SL/CS 0.828. Eye large, EYE/CS 0.270. Frons broad (FRS/CS 0.262), frontal carinae clearly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.099). Dorsal profile of promesonotum only very weakly convex, metanotal depression shallow (Mgr/CS 2.56 %), dorsal profile of propodeum moderately convex. Spines rather short (SP/CS 0.100), steeper and more acute than in semirubra and batesii, their angle differing by 53° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; their bases more approached (SPBA/CS 0.248). Petiole distinctly higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.269, PeH/CS 0.306), in profile with a short peduncle, a rather straight to weakly convex anterior face and an ample node with the anterior slope less steep than the caudal slope; petiole node in dorsal aspect much longer than wide and gradually merging with the anterior peduncle. Postpetiole wide, twice as wide as petiole and rather high (PpW/CS 0.532, PpW /PeW 1.98, PpH/CS 0.287), in dorsal view with a weakly concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Clypeus on whole surface longitudinally carinulate, in anterior part 5–6 stronger carinulae, in posterior part 6–7 finer carinulae. Paramedian vertex with bicoronate foveolae of 16–17 µm diameter, the margins of foveolae not regularly circular but often kinked; the interspaces with perifoveolar rugae or with cross-branched carinulae that are significantly stronger than in batesii and nigra (Fig. 73)—consequently the overall surface impression is less shining. Mesosoma finely and irregular rugulose-reticulate; lateral meso- and metapleurae longitudinally rugulose. Petiole very finely irregular rugulose-reticulate. Dorsum of postpetiole in overall impression smooth and shining but clearly microreticulate. Pubescence on gaster tergites longer than in any related species and moderately dense, PLg/CS 6.89 %, sqPDg 4.73. Head blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole reddish brown; postpetiole and gaster brown.

As a combination of very long tergite pubescence, high postpetiole and characteristic head sculpture with irregular foveolar margins Cardiocondyla kushanica should be unmistakable.

Distribution
Seifert (2023) reports that this species is only known from the type locality of Darountah, Afghanistan (34.477°N, 70.365°E, 592 m). He does not comment on records of this species from Iran or Turkmenistan.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla kushanica Pisarski, 1967: 386, figs. 16-22 (w.q.) AFGHANISTAN.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers, 24 paratype queens.
 * Type-locality: holotype Afghanistan: Darountah (A231), Jalalabad, 4.i.1958, and 24.i.1958 (K. Lindberg); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: ZMLS (holotype); MIZW, SMNG, ZISP, ZMLS (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Dlussky, 1981a: 17; Bolton, 1995b: 132; Radchenko, 1995b: 451; Seifert, 2003a: 239 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Afghanistan, Turkmenistan.

Worker
Seifert (2003) - Head of medium length, CL/CW 1.162. Postocular distance small, PoOc/CL 0.373. Occipital margin slightly excavated. Frontal carinae immediately posterior of FRS level converging. Clypeus on whole surface longitudinally carinulate, anteriorly 5 - 6 stronger carinulae, posteriorly 6 - 7 finer carinulae. Paramedian area of vertex with irregular, bicoronate foveolae of 16 - 17 mm diameter; interspaces with perifoveolar rugae or with cross-branched carinulae which are significantly stronger than in Cardiocondyla batesii and Cardiocondyla nigra - as a consequence overall surface impression less shining. Mesosoma finely and irregularly rugulose-reticulate; similar but finer structures on petiole. Dorsum of postpetiole in overall impression smooth and shining, but clearly microreticulate. Lateral areas of meso- and metapleurae longitudinally rugulose. Spines steeper and more acute than in Cardiocondyla semirubra and C. batesii, their angle diverging by 55 - 60° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma. Petiole node in dorsal aspect much longer than wide. Postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Head blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole reddish brown; postpetiole and gaster brown.

Queen
Head elongated, CL/CW 1.194, with slightly excavated occipital margin. Postocular distance small, PoOc/CL 0.386. Paramedian area of vertex with rather deep, closely-set, bicoronate foveolae; the rugulose interspaces clearly smaller than foveolar diameter. Whole mesosoma more sculptured than in Cardiocondyla nigra and Cardiocondyla batesii; pronotum in addition to foveolae with transverse rugosity; meso- and metapleurae with longitudinal rugosity. Pronotal corners more developed than in nigra. Propodeal spines more acute and steeper than in C. nigra and C. batesii. Petiole node in lateral view roughly quadrate and not produced caudad as in C. batesii, dorsal peduncle profile and anterior node profile forming a distinct angle. Postpetiole almost twice as wide as petiole. Head blackish brown with reddish tinge. Mesosoma and petiole light-reddish brown. Postpetiole dark reddish brown. Gaster blackish brown. Type gynes are brachypterous, unable to fly, length of forewing only 1200 mm.

Type Material
Afghanistan: Darountah [types investigated]. Worker holotype, 1 worker paratype, 5 gyne paratypes, all labelled “Afghanistan: Darountah, A 231 (Djelalabad), 4 et 24.1.1958, leg. K.Lindberg” ( and )

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dlussky G. M., O. S. Soyunov, and S. I. Zabelin. 1990. Ants of Turkmenistan. Ashkabad: Ylym Press, 273 pp.
 * Pisarski B. 1967. Fourmis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) d'Afghanistan récoltées par M. Dr. K. Lindberg. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 24: 375-425.
 * 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.
 * 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.