Cardiocondyla wheeleri

This species is so far known only from a handful of specimens collected from Papua New Guinea.

Identification
Seifert (2022) - Worker: Medium-sized, CS 515 µm. Head rather long (CL/CW 1.152); with head adjusted in measuring position for CL, its posterior margin straight and median third of anterior clypeal margin only very feebly concave; the maximum depth of clypeal concavity is only 1.0–2.1% CL. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.446. Scape long, SL/CS 0.870. Eye small, EYE/CS 0.220. Frons rather narrow (FRS/CS 0.287), frontal carinae immediately caudal of the FRS level slightly converging (FL/FR 1.023). Metanotal depression moderately deep and with shallow slopes (MGR/CS 2.68%), dorsal profile of promesonotum and propodeum convex. Pronotal corners in dorsal view prominent, but blunt and forming an angle of 90–100°. Dorsal plane of mesosoma rather continuously narrowing from pronotal corners caudal to metanotal groove; there is only a weak convexity at the mesonotal level. Propodeal spines strong and extremely long (SP/CS 0.404), with a very large basal distance(SPBA/CS 0.366), in lateral view down-curved and their average orientation almost parallel to longitudinal mesosomal axis. Petiole rather high (PeH/CS 0.344); in lateral view with a very short peduncle, a weakly concave frontal and broadly convex dorsal profile, in dorsal view moderately wide (PeW/CS 0.284) and its node longer than wide. Postpetiole in dorsal view broad (PpW/CS 0.557), with semicircularly rounded sides and clearly excavated anterior margin, in lateral view much lower than petiole (PpH/CS 0.273), its sternite shallowly convex and without any prominent structures. Central vertex finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose; paramedian and lateral vertex longitudinally rugulose-foveolate, foveolae rather shallow, often bicoronate, not eye-catching, with 18–20 µm diameter, interspaces wider than foveolar diameter. All interspaces between microsculptural elements on dorsal head including frontal laminae and clypeus perfectly matt (but surfaces are polluted, so perhaps in clean condition slightly shiny?). Mesosoma matt, entirely microreticulate-corrugated. Petiole rather matt, microreticulate. Postpetiole in dorsal view moderately shiny and finely microreticulate. Gaster tergites moderately shiny, with a fine microreticulum (which are really the margins of clinker-like surface structures. Tergite pubescence short and dilute (PLG/CS 4.44%, sqPDG 5.71). Whole body except of the dark brown gaster and the infuscated antennal club yellowish.

For differences from Cardiocondyla excavata and Cardiocondyla goroka see Cardiocondyla excavata.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla wheeleri Viehmeyer, 1914c: 518, fig. 2 (w.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Papua New Guinea: Rawlinson Mts (no collector’s name).
 * Type-depository: MNHU.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1922e: 126; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 84; Bolton, 1995b: 133.
 * Distribution: Papua New Guinea.

Type Material
This taxon was described from the Rawlinson Mountains in Papua New Guinea. Investigated were 2 syntype workers labelled by H.Stitz “D.N.Guinea. Rawlinsongeb. Coll. Viehm.“ and “Cardiocondyla wheeleri Viehm”, ZM Berlin. (Seifert, 2022)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Lucky A., L. E. Alonso, E. Sarnat, and J. Hulr. 2015. Ants and scolytine beetles. In: Richards, S.J. and N. Whitmore (editors) 2015. A rapid biodiversity assessment of Papua New Guinea's Hindenburg Wall region. Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Program. Goroka, PNG.
 * Snelling R. R. 1998. Insect Part 1: The social Hymenoptera. In Mack A. L. (Ed.) A Biological Assessment of the Lakekamu Basin, Papua New Guinea, RAP 9. 189 ppages
 * Viehmeyer H. 1914. Papuanische Ameisen. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1914: 515-535.
 * Wilson E. O. 1976. Which are the most prevalent ant genera? Studia Entomologica 19: 187-200.