Cardiocondyla brachyceps

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla elegans group. Cardiocondyla brachyceps workers are similar to eastern Cardiocondyla elegans workers, which may show an elongated petiolar peduncle as it is typical for C. brachyceps. Discrimination from C. elegans seems possible by the more strongly reticulate meso- and metapleurae which appear at lower magnifications more dull, contrasting the shining lateral parts of mesonotum and pronotum and by the orange-yellowish colour component of mesosoma.

Cardiocondyla brachyceps differs from any species of the C. batesii group by the shape of postpetiolar sternite, the elongated petiolar peduncle, the longer gastral pubescence, and the well-demarcated, bicoronate vertex foveolae with narrow interspaces.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey.

Nomenclature

 *  brachyceps. Cardiocondyla brachyceps Seifert, 2003a: 228, fig. 23 (w.) IRAN.

Worker
Head very short and rather straight-sided, CL/CW 1.132. Postocular distance small, PoOc/CL 0.381. Scape long, SL/CS 0.835. Occipital margin slightly excavated. Eyes moderately large, EYE 0.253. Frontal laminae, paramedian vertex, and lateral area of clypeus with weak longitudinal sculpture. Frontal carinae immediately posterior of FRS level parallel or converging. Vertex with strongly demarcated, bicoronate foveolae of 18 - 21 mm diameter; interspaces narrower than foveolar diameter. Most of mesosoma surface shining and with very fine microreticulum. Dorsal area of promesonotum finely longitudinally rugulose and with bicoronate foveolae. Meso- and metapleurae laterally reticulate; at lower magnifications appearing more dull, contrasting the shining lateral parts of mesonotum and pronotum. Propodeal spines relatively thin and steep. Dorsum of waist glabrous except for a very delicate microreticulum. Petiole with elongated peduncle that is about 1 .8x as long as wide; petiole node as high as wide, much wider than peduncle. Postpetiolar sternite with anteromedian portion significantly more bulging than anteroparamedian portion; in lateral view this anteromedian bulge forming small, obtusely-angled, rounded corner and changing into helcium with distinct angle. Pubescence longer. Colour variable: head medium brown to blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole usually light-orange-brown, in specimens with dark brown mesosoma orange-yellowish colour component still visible; postpetiole and gaster dark to blackish brown.

Type Material
Type material: holotype worker and 15 paratype workers labelled “Iran, Fars 1997 (15), 51 road-km W Shiraz, Chehel Chesmeh, 1940 m, 17.9.; leg. Schodl”, NHM Wien. 9 worker paratypes from the same sample in Gorlitz. 3 worker paratypes labelled “ARTVlN - Taslica, 10 km W Artvin, 1000 mH, Laubmischwald, Steinmauer, leg. Schulz 02.07.89 TURKEI", SMN Gorlitz.