Cardiocondyla gallilaeica

This species is known from the holotype worker and nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla bulgarica group. The closely approximated frontal carinae that do not converge immediately caudal of the FRS level, the less concave anterior petiole profile, the shorter spines, the more pronounced pronotal corners, and the more excavated occiput are the best differential characters to separate Cardiocondyla gallilaeica from Cardiocondyla ulianini and Cardiocondyla israelica.

Seifert (2023) - Small, CS 480 µm. Head rather short, CL/CW 1.131. Postocular distance very small, PoOc/CL 0.403. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.807. Eye rather large, EYE/CS 0.254. Hind margin of vertex in dorsal view notably excavated. Frons narrower than in any species of the C. ulianini group (FRS/CS 0.225), frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.041). Frontal carinae immediately caudal of the FRS level almost parallel, FL/FR 1.000. Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a well-developed metanotal depression (Mgr/CS 3.75 %). Pronotal corners more pronounced than in C. ulianini. Propodeal spines short but sharp (SP/CS 0.071), their axis in profile deviating by about 53° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases much approached (SPBA/CS 0.230). Petiole very narrow and distinctly higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.275, PeH/CS 0.308), its node in dorsal aspect as long as wide; in lateral aspect its frontodorsal profile slightly concave and moderately steep (about 52° relative to ventral profile). Postpetiole rather wide and high, only slightly lower than petiole (PpW/CS 0.552, PpH/CS 0.298), in dorsal view with a slightly concave anterior margin; postpetiolar sternite with a shallow anteromedian bulge. Clypeus between the level of the paramedian 1st order setae glabrous, its anteromedian margin straight or weakly concave. Frontal laminae almost smooth and shining, with only weak fragments of microcarinulae. Vertex completely without carinulae or microrugae, in overall impression shiny and with smaller, less clearly demarcated foveolae the diameter of which is clearly smaller than the width of the brilliantly shining interspaces (dFOv 14.0); weak rugulae are restricted to genae. Dorsal mesosoma in overall impression smooth and shiny; dorsal promesonotum with scattered and shallow foveolae of 10–12 µm diameter; dorsal propodeum with fragments of very fine microrugae. Caudolateral pronotum, lateral mesonotum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, and propodeum below spiracular level rather shiny but microreticulate. Waist segments almost smooth and shining. First gaster tergite glabrous. Pubescence on whole body moderately long and dilute, PLg/CS 6.24 %, sqPDg 4.66. Color of head, mesosoma, and gaster pale yellowish brown to dark brown.

Cardiocondyla gallilaeica is unmistakable as a combination of very small frontal carinae distance, small postocular index, more concave hind margin of head, and very short but acute spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla gallilaeica Seifert, 2003a: 230, fig. 13 (w.) ISRAEL.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Israel: Sedé Eliyyahu, 6.ix.1983 (Argaman).
 * Type-depository: SMNG.
 * Status as species: Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41; Borowiec, L. 2014: 47.
 * Distribution: Israel.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker labelled “ISRAEL Sede Eliyyahu 6.ix.1983 Argaman”,.

Worker
Holotype: CS 480, CL/CW 1.131, SL/CS 0.807, PoOc/CL 0.403, EYE 0.254, dFOV 14.0, FRS/CS 0.225, SPBA/CS 0.230, SP/CS 0.071, PEW/CS 0.275, PPW/CS 0.552, PEH/CS 0.308, PPH/CS 0.298, PEW/PPW 0.498, sqrtPDG 4.66, PLG/CS 6.24 %, PigCap 8, PigMes 7, MGrlCS 3 .75 %.

Similar to Cardiocondyla ulianini. Head rather short (CL/CW 1.131) and with notably excavated occipital margin. Postocular distance rather low (PoOc/CL 0.403) and eye rather large (EYE 0.254). Clypeus with straight anteromedian margin, glabrous. Frontal laminae almost smooth and shining, with only weak fragments of microcarinulae. Vertex completely without carinulae or microrugae, in overall impression much more shining than in Cardiocondyla elegans, and with smaller, less clearly demarcated foveolae, whose diameter is clearly smaller than width of brilliantly shining interspaces (dFOV 14); weak rugulae restricted to genae. Frontal carinae immediately caudal of FRS level almost parallel. Frons much narrower than in C. ulianini, FRS/CS 0.225. Dorsal area of mesosoma in overall impression smooth and shining; dorsal area of promesonotum with scattered and shallow foveolae of 10-12 mm diameter; dorsal area of propodeum with fragments of very fine microrugae. Caudolateral area of pronotum, mesonotum, mesopleuron, and metapleuron laterally, and propodeum below spiracular level reticulate. Pronotal corners more pronounced than in C. ulianini. Outer spine base distance small, SPBA/CS 0.230; spines sharp but much shorter than in C. ulianini, SP/CS 0.071. Metanotal depression rather deep (MGr/CS 3.75 %). Waist segments almost smooth and shining. Petiole very narrow (PEW/CS 0.275), its frontodorsal profile less concave and more directed caudad, petiole node in lateral aspect lower than in C. ulianini, node in dorsal aspect as long as wide. Postpetiole in dorsal aspect almost twice as wide as long, twice as wide as petiole (PEW/PPW 0.498), and with slightly concave anterior margin; postpetiolar sternite with shallow anteromedian bulge. Colour of head, mesosoma, and gaster pale yellowish brown to dark brown.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * 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.