Cardiocondyla goa

Colonies live in small nests in the ground, frequently in disturbed areas near paths or gardens. They contain multiple fertile queens as in the related species Cardiocondyla minutior. Both ergatoid males and winged males have been observed for considerable time staying in the natal nest to mate with female sexuals and it was suggested that winged males have lost their function as an exclusive disperser morph (Fuessl et al., 2015). (Seifert, 2022)

Identification
Worker: Small size, CS 413 µm. Head elongated but less than in Cardiocondyla minutior, CL/CW 1.239. Postocular distance very large, PoOc/CL 0.480. Scape short, SL/CS 0.760. Eye rather small, EYE/CS 0.230, with notable micropilae, the longest measuring 6–10 µm. Occipital margin straight or very weakly concave. Frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.088). Dorsal profile of mesosoma rather straight or weakly convex, metanotal groove only suggested or entirely absent (MGr/CS 0.55%). Spines shorter than in C. minutior and rather acute (SP/CS 0.121), their axis in profile deviating by 40–45° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma. Petiole rather wide and high (PeW/CS 0.274, PeH/CS 0.336), in profile with concave anterior face and rounded node that is in dorsal view circular and as long as wide. Postpetiole rather wide and very low (PpW/CS 0.473, PpH/CS 0.263), its sternite completely flat, without any anteroventral bulge; in dorsal view with angulate-convex sides and straight anterior margin. Paramedian vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 13–18 µm diameter in dense honey-comb arrangement (if not displaced by longitudinal carinulae). Foveolae with an inner corona (margin of a flat tubercle) of 7–8 µm diameter. Mesosoma on whole surface sculptured. Waist segments with shallower and finer reticulum than on mesosoma, nodes sometimes slightly shiny. First gaster tergite with fine microreticulum that may be obscured by polluted surfaces. Pubescence on whole body long and dense but shorter than in C. minutior, PLG/CS 7.13%, sqPDG 3.23. Color of head, mesosoma, and waist varying considerably from dirty yellowish to dark dirty brown, gaster dark to blackish brown.

Considering character by character, there are only subtle morphological differences to C. minutior and C. tjibodana but a sufficient separation is possible by discriminant analysis (see Cardiocondyla minutior for details).

Distribution
Seifert (2022) found this species to have a much smaller range than Cardiocondyla minutior and a weaker tramp species potency. The available data suggest range borders along 23° S, 30° N, 40° E and 97° E and occurrence in strictly tropical climate. It was found in Nepal up to 1500 m.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla goa Seifert, 2003a: 285, fig. 65 (w.) INDIA (Kerala, Goa).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype India: 02, Kerala, Periyar Sanctuary, vic. Thekkady, 20, 500-1000 m., 2-5.i.1997 (A. Schulz & K. Vock); paratypes: 3 workers with same data, 1 worker India: 04, Goa, Canacona Dist., Cortigao Sanctuary, 100 m., 6-10.i.1997 (A. Schulz & K. Vock).
 * Type-depository: SMNG.
 * Status as species: Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 33.
 * Distribution: India.

Worker
Small size, CS 420. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.225. Postocular distance very large, PoOC/CL 0.476. Scape longer than in related species, SL/CS 0.775. Eye rather small, EYE 0.228; with notable microsetae, the longest 6 - 7 mm long. Occipital margin straight. Frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level or parallele. Anterior clypeal margin in median third straight. Posterior area of clypeus and a narrow anteromedian stripe on vertex longitudinally carinulate. Frontal laminae with few foveolae and few longitudinal rugulae. Paramedian area of vertex with deeply impressed and densely arranged, flat-bottomed foveolae of 15 - 17 mm diameter; foveolae with inner corona (margin of flat tubercle) of 7 - 8 mm diameter. Dorsal area of promesonotum irregularly foveolate-microrugulose, dorsolaterally with fragmentaric longitudinal rugae. Propodeum and whole lateral area of mesosoma strongly microreticulate, inter- and infraspinal area of propodeum more shining, more finely microreticulate-rugulose; 2 longitudinal curved rugae on metapleural gland bulla. Waist segments strongly microreticulate (on dorsum of nodes weakly); both segments in dorsal view and at lower magnifications appearing gently shining. First gaster tergite shining, with very fine microreticulum. Pubescence on whole body long and dense, sqrtPDG 3.49. Dorsal mesosoma profile slightly convex or straight, metanotal groove entirely absent, a very shallow mesopropodeal concavity individually present. Spines short and acute, their axis in profile deviating by 40 - 45° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma. Spine bases more approached than in Cardiocondyla minutior. Petiole in profile with concave anterior face and rounded node that is in dorsal view circular. Postpetiole very low, its sternite completely flat, without any anteroventral bulge; in dorsal view with convex sides and straight or slightly convex anterior margin. Head and mesosoma very dark to blackish brown, waist segments in one specimen lighter, gaster blackish brown.

Queen
Very small size. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.220. Scape short, SL/CS 0.739. Postocular index very large, PoOclCL 0.463. Eyes with numerous hairs, the longest 8 - 11 mm long. Occipital and anteromedian clypeal margin more or less straight. Vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed, densely-packed foveolae of 14 - 16 mm diameter; foveolae showing an inner corona of 7 - 9 mm diameter. Median area of vertex with few longitudinal rugae. Frontal laminae and clypeus longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Whole dorsal area of mesosoma with deep, densely-packed foveolae; median area of mesonotum with 3 - 4 longitudinal rugulae. Lateral area of mesosoma foveolate-reticulate, lateral area of metapleuron with longitudinal rugae. Propodeal spines shorter than in Cardiocondyla minutior, their axis deviating from mesosomal axis in lateral view by 30°. Petiole node foveolate-reticulate, in dorsal view circular. Postpetiole in dorsal view more strongly foveolate-reticulate, distinctly wider than long, with straight anterior margin and strongly convex sides. Postpetiolar sternite very flat, without any bulge. Whole body covered by dense pubescence that is shorter than in C. minutior. Dorsum of gaster shining, but with fine microreticulum. Whole body blackish brown, appendages lighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker labelled “Indien_02: Kerala, Periyar Sanctuary, vic. Thekkady, 20, 500-1000 m H, 02.-05.01.1997, leg. A.Schulz, K.Vock”; 3 paratype workers labelled “Indien_02: Kerala, Periyar Sacntuary, vic Thekkady, 12, 500-1000 mH, 02.-05.01.1997, leg. A.Schulz, K.Vock”; 1 paratype gyne labelled “lndien_04: Goa, district Canacona, Cortigao Sanctuary, 100 mH, 06.-10.01.1997, leg. A.Schulz, K.Vock”; all types.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.