Cardiocondyla allonivalis

Little is known about this species from Papua New Guinea. One nest was found by P.S. Ward in soil of a semi-dry littoral forest.

Identification
Worker (Figure 17, Table 3, pictures CASENT0914964 in ww.antweb.org): Very small size, CS 380 µm. Head moderately long (CL/CW 1.137); with maximum CL and CW in visual plane, its posterior margin straight or very slightly concave and anteriorclypeal margin slightly concave. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.440. Scape short, SL/CS 0.808. Eye rather small, EYE/CS 0.242. Frons rather narrow with short and almost parallel frontal carinae, FRS/CS 0.299. Mesosoma slender; dorsal profile of promesonotum and propodeum slightly convex but with a notable metanotal depression. Anterior pronotum in dorsal view rounded, without pronounced corners. Propodeal spines short (SP/CS 0.185), in dorsal view slightly diverging, in lateral view nearly straight and their axis deviating 26–28° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma. Petiole in lateral view more massive and higher than in C. nivalis (PeH/CS 0.363), only slightly higher than postpetiole, with a short peduncle, a concave anterior margin, a weakly convex dorsal profile of node that more or less linearly slopes down to caudal cylinder. Petiole in dorsal view wide (PeW/CS 0.319), its node semiglobular and slightly wider than long. Postpetiole moderately wide and but distinctly higher than in C. nivalis (PpW/CS 0.470, PpH/CS 0.356), in dorsal view much wider than long and with a concave anterior and slightly convex posterior margin when these margins are adjusted to the same focal level; profile of postpetiolar sternite in contrast to C. nivalis strongly bulging; this bulge is formed by bilateral lobes which strongly protrude compared to median level of sternite; these lobes appear as corners in anterolateral view (Figure 17D). Whole surface of dorsal head with circular foveolae that show a flat central tubercle, mean dFov 15.5 µm; the interspaces between foveolae on vertex smaller than foveolar diameter and delicately longitudinally striate. Microsculpture on dorsum of mesosoma weaker than on vertex, microreticulate-corrugated and without foveolae; lateral mesosoma microreticulate. Petiole laterally finely microreticulate, dorsally more microcorrugated. Postpetiole finely microcorrugated and in overall appearance matt. Basal part of 1st gaster tergite very finely microreticulate but appearing rather shiny at lower magnifications. Pubescence on 1st gaster tergite of medium length and rather dilute (PLG/CS 6.44%, sqPDG 4.36]. Gaster jet black and all remaining body parts excluding the eyes very pale yellowish brown.

Cardiocondyla nivalis and C. allonivalis are morphometrically rather similar. Yet they appear to be allopatric and are easily separable by the shape of postpetiolar sternite which is flat in the former but shows in the latter a bulging lobe on each side of the sternite.

Distribution
The species is so far only known from sea level up to 350 m in four sites in Papua New Guinea: Cape Wom (3.533° S, 143.583° E); Wanang (5.250° S, 145.267° E), Goldie River (9.30° S, 147.42° E) and Popondetta (8.77° S, 148.24° E).

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

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla allonivalis Seifert, 2022: 48, fig. 17 (w.) PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Type Material
Holotype and one paratype worker on separate pins, both labelled “PNG: 5.25° S, 145.267° N, Wanang, Sogeram riv. 95 m, Bait trap—ground—D4, coll. Janda 2007.10.23”; depository SMN Görlitz.