Cardiocondyla persiana

Cardiocondyla persiana seems to be restricted to the Near East where it is a rather abundant species (Seifert, 2003). Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) found this species in Iran under a tree in a low rainfall forest.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla bulgarica group. The C. persiana worker differs from the heterogeneous Cardiocondyla sahlbergi and Cardiocondyla bulgarica cluster in particular by larger pubescence length, shorter head, and more developed microsculpture. Cardiocondyla persiana has larger, more strongly demarcated foveolae on vertex with a more pronounced inner corona and interspaces much narrower than foveolar diameter. The promesonotum usually shows in addition to the foveolae a fine longitudinal rugosity (that is in C. sahlbergi and C. bulgarica usually absent or weaker).

The separation of the gyne is probably more difficult. Most similar is C. sahlbergi from which C. persiana can be separated by the larger maximum length of lateral prescutellar lobe and larger ML/CS. The maximum sagittal extension of the lateral prescutellar lobe is 10.9 % of ML in the C. persiana gyne and 8.54 - 9.51 % in 8 gynes of C. sahlhergi. The colour pattern is possibly diagnostic in discriminations against both C. sahlbergi and C. bulgarica.

Seifert (2023) - Medium-sized, CS 536 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.165. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.441. Scape moderately elongated, SL/CS 0.794. Eye rather small, EYE/CS 0.233, with notable microsetae. Median third of hind margin of head suggestively concave. Frons rather broad (FRS/CS 0.254), frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.056). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a deep metanotal depression (Mgr/CS 4.30 %). Spines rather short and acute (SP/CS 0.125), their axis in profile deviating by about 48° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases rather distant (SPBA/CS 0.270). Petiole narrower than in C. sahlbergi and distinctly higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.316, PeH/CS 0.347), the node is slightly wider than long; petiole in profile with a moderately long peduncle and moderately steep anterior and very steep posterior slope of the node (about 63° and 88° relative to ventral profile—i.e. more asymmetric than in C. sahlbergi). Postpetiole wide, but narrower than in C. sahlbergi and moderately high (PpW/CS 0.543, PpH/CS 0.297), in dorsal view suggestively heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite with weak anteromedian bulge. Head in overall impression less shiny than in C. sahlbergi. Whole vertex with densely-packed, large (dFOv 19.4 µm) and well-demarcated foveolae showing an inner corona; the interspaces much smaller than foveolar diameter (Fig. 53). Median and paramedian clypeus and a small stripe on median vertex smooth; lateral clypeus and frontal laminae usually shining and finely longitudinally carinulate. Mesosoma due to more developed foveolae and carinulae less shiny than in C. sahlbergi. Waist segments very shiny with barely visible microreticulum. Pubescence on whole body distinctly longer than in C. sahlbergi and moderately dense, PLg/CS 6.77 %, sqPDg 4.36. Dorsal head often bicolored: anterior head back to the antennal socket level dirty yellowish, remaining vertex dark dirty brown. Mesosoma usually dirty yellowish brown to dirty brown. Waist, gaster, and hind- and midfemora often blackish brown. This color pattern is typical but not consistent throughout the population.

The separation from Cardiocondyla sahlbergi and Cardiocondyla bulgarica has been presented in sections treating these species.

Distribution
From W georgia (41.8°E) east to Central Iran (54.0°E). The most southern and northern sites are in Iran at. 29.2°N and in Georgia at 41.8°N. The altitudinal range varies from 5 m in W georgia to 2000 m in Central Iran (Seifert, 2023).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Georgia, Iran, Israel.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla persiana Seifert, 2003a: 236, fig. 11 (w.q.) IRAN, ISRAEL.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 17 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Iran: Fars, Shiraz, ca 1570 m., 13-22.ix.1997 (S. Schödl); paratypes: 1 worker with same data, 13 workers Iran: Fars, 80 km. NW Shiraz, Chesmeh Bozghan, 2000 m., 22.ix.1997, no. 29 (S. Schödl), 3 workers Iran: Fars, Bamoo N.P., 7 km. NE Shiraz, Chesmeh Mehrab, 1800 m., 18.ix.1997, no. 17 (S. Schödl).
 * Type-depositories: NHMW (holotype), MHNW, SMNG (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Paknia, et al. 2008: 153; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 41; Borowiec, L. 2014: 48.
 * Distribution: Iran, Israel.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker labelled “IRAN, Fars 1997 (1), Shiraz, ca. 1570 m; 13.-22.9.; leg. Scheidl”,
 * 1 paratype worker with same labelling as holotype,
 * 6 worker paratypes labelled “IRAN, Fars 1997 (29), 80 km NW Shiraz, Chesmeh Bozghan, 2000 m; 22.9.; leg. Scheidl”,
 * 7 worker paratypes with same label as SMNG paratypes
 * 3 worker paratypes labelled “IRAN, Fars 1997 (17), Bamoo NP, 7 km NE Shiraz, Chesmeh Mehrab, 1800 m; 18.9.; leg. Scheidl”,

Taxonomic Notes
Pashaei Rad et al. (2018): Type location Iran, Fars and Shiraz, purported type specimen CASENT0919736 but it is substantially smaller (ca 80%) than that in Seifert’s drawing (assuming the scales are correct) and lacks the head sculpture, etc. The Torabi specimen reported here is an exact match for the drawn specimen.

Worker
Head relatively short, CL/CW 1.158. Postocular index large, PoOc/CL 0.441. Eye relatively small, EYE 0.235. Pubescence length large, PLG/CS 6.83 ± 0.27 %. Vertex with densely-packed, well-demarcated foveolae with strong inner corona; interspaces much smaller than foveolar diameter. Median and paramedian clypeus and small stripe on median vertex smooth; lateral area of clypeus and frontal laminae usually shining and finely longitudinally carinulate. By more developed foveolae and carinulae mesosoma in overall impression less shining than in Cardiocondyla sahlbergi and Cardiocondyla bulgarica. Metanotal groove deep. Anterior margin of postpetiole in dorsal view concave. Petiole rather narrow, its node slightly wider than long. Postpetiolar sternite with weak anteromedian bulge. Dorsal head often bicoloured: anterior head back to level of antennal socket dirty yellowish, remaining vertex dark dirty brown. Mesosoma usually dirty yellowish brown to dirty brown. Waist, gaster, hind- and midfemora often blackish brown. This colour pattern typical, but not consistent throughout the population.

Queen
Head relatively short, CL/CW 1.161. Postocular index rather large, PoOc/CL 0.431. Vertex with densely packed, well-demarcated, clearly bicoronate foveolae of 18 - 19 11m diameter, interspaces much smaller than foveolar diameter. Lateral and caudal area of clypeus and frontal lobes longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Mesonotum, praescutellum, and scutellum shining but with well-developed foveolae of 18 - 20 mm diameter. Propodeum shining. Lateral metapleuron longitudinally rugulose. Petiole with caudomediodorsal corner. Postpetiole with anteromedioventral corner, its anterior margin in dorsal view concave. Pubescence long and profuse, on first gaster tergite and postpetiole semierect (30 - 45°). Specimen showing a possibly diagnostic colour pattern: dorsal head posterior of antennal sockets dark yellowish brown, anterior of the antennal sockets light-yellowish brown; mesosoma and petiole yellowish brown; femora, postpetiole, and gaster dark to blackish 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.
 * Pashaei Rad S., B. Taylor, R. Torabi, E. Aram, G. Abolfathi, R. Afshari, F. Borjali, M. Ghatei, F. Hediary, F. Jazini, V. Heidary Kiah, Z. Mahmoudi, F. Safariyan, and M. Seiri. 2018. Further records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran. Zoology in the Middle East 64(2): 145-159.
 * 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.