Cardiocondyla breviscapa

A specimen from Oman was collected from "date palm" but it is not clear if this was taken in a date palm orchard or a specimen was found on an actual date palm (Phoenix dactylifera).

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla minutior group. Cardiocondyla breviscapus is a sister species of Cardiocondyla minutior, which shows SL/CS and FRS/CS data below the lower extremes known in the cosmopolitan C. minutior population. Heterospecifity is further indicated by the presence of the shallow anterolateral bulbs on the postpetiolar stemite and a stronger reduction of the foveolae on the vertex in C. breviscapus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India. Palaearctic Region: Oman.

Nomenclature

 *  breviscapa. Cardiocondyla breviscapus Seifert, 2003a: 288, fig. 64 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
Small size. Head much elongated, CL/CW 1.279. Postocular distance very large, PoOC/CL 0.485. Scape extremely short, SL/CS 0.716. Eye small, EYE 0.223; notable eye setae, the longest measuring 8 mm. Occipital margin weakly concave. Frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level and more approached than in C. minutior, FRS/CS 0.228. Anterior clypeal margin with a suggested median concavity. Clypeus, frontal laminae, frontal triangle, median and paramedian vertex longitudinally carinulate-shagreened. Except for semicircular rugulae around antennal fossae and few short, longitudinal rugae on lateral metapleuron, whole body without any rugosity. Vertex laterally with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 13 - 16 mm diameter in dense honey-comb arrangement. Foveolae with inner corona (margin of flat tubercle) of 7 - 8 mm diameter. Foveolae on median third of vertex reduced. Dorsal area of promesonotum longitudinally carinulate-shagreened, with scattered foveolae. Lateral area of mesosoma reticulate. Waist segments more shining but with fully developed and finer reticulum than on mesosoma. Pubescence on whole body dense, sqrtPDG 3.35. Dorsal profile of mesosoma rather straight or weakly convex, metanotal groove only indicated or entirely absent. Spines rather short, still acute, their axis in profile deviating by 40 - 45° from longitudinal mesosomal axis. Petiole in profile with concave anterior face and rounded node that is in dorsal view circular. Postpetiole low, its sternite rather flat, in contrast to C. minutior with a shallow anterolateral bulb on each side that is best-visible in laterodorsal view; postpetiole in dorsal view with semicircular sides and straight anterior margin. Head, meso soma, and waist light-yellowish. Scape light-yellowish, whole funiculus except 1st segment dark brown. Gaster contrastingly blackish brown.

Type Material
3 syntype workers labelled “INDIA: Coimbatorc 25.ix.79 J. Noyes”, London. [Coimbatore is situated at 11.00 N, 76.58 E].