Cardiocondyla venustula

Distribution
Cardiocondyla venustula belongs to the C. shuckardi species complex of which 6 species occur in the Ethiopian, W Palaearctic, and Malagasy faunal regions. The nominal population found in Puerto Rico and Florida is most probably an anthropogeneous introduction from Africa (Seifert 2003).

This taxon was described from Puerto Rico. It is also found in Mozambique, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Barbados,United States, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  venustula. Cardiocondyla venustula Wheeler, W.M. 1908a: 128, pl. 11, fig. 5 (w.q.) PUERTO RICO. Senior synonym of badonei, globinodis: Seifert, 2003a: 257. See also: Smith, M.R. 1944a: 37.
 * globinodis. Cardiocondyla globinodis Stitz, 1923: 154 (w.) NAMIBIA. Junior synonym of shuckardi: Bolton, 1982: 316; of venustula: Seifert, 2003a: 257.
 * badonei. Cardiocondyla badonei Arnold, 1926: 225, fig. 64 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE. Subspecies of shuckardi: Santschi, 1932a: 387. Junior synonym of shuckardi: Bolton, 1982: 316; of venustula: Seifert, 2003a: 257.

Worker
Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.185. Anterior clypeal margin between levels of frontal carinae usually slightly concave. Median occipital margin usually slightly excavated. Postocular distance large, PoOc 0.454. Scape long, SL/CS 0.842. Eye rather small,0.228. Frontal carinae immediately caudal of FRS level slightly converging or parallel. Paramedian area of vertex strongly reticulate (in the C. globinodis type reticulate-rugulose), meshes having 16 - 20 µm inner diameter and showing flat central tubercle of 8 - 9 µm diameter. Anteromedian area of vertex and frontal laminae strongly longitudinally carinulate; caudal area of clypeus finely carinulate-rugulose. Anterior area of clypeus with 5 - 10 longitudinal curved carinulae. In Caribbean population and the C. globinodis type pronotum dorso frontally finely transversally rugulose-reticulate, dorsal area of pronotum moderately shining but clearly microreticulate-microrugulose; dorsal area of propodeum mildly shining but regularly reticulate; lateral area of pronotum, and meso- and metapleurae finely to strongly reticulate, region of metapleural gland bulla with 3 - 4 weak longitudinal rugae. In specimens of SE African population whole mesosoma frequently strongly microreticulate, though small smooth patches may occur. Spines reduced to blunt obtusely-angled dents, interspinal area shining, very delicately microreticulate-rugulose. Metanotal groove deep but with shallow slopes. Petiole and postpetiole more or less shining but very finely reticulate-rugulose. Petiolar node in dorsal view nearly as wide as long and almost globular, in lateral view with rounded dorsal profile which slightly produced caudad in some SE African specimens. Anterior margin of postpetiole in dorsal view slightly concave, its sides convex. Ventral area of postpetiole with indication of 2 paramedian curved carinae. Gastral pubescence long and rather dense. Whole ant dark brown. For morphometric data of 24 workers see Tab. 10.

Queen
Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.182. Anterior clypeal margin between levels of frontal carinae usually slightly concave. Median occipital margin usually slightly excavated. Postocular distance large, PoOc 0.441. Scape long, SL/CS 0.815. Frontal carinae immediately posterior of FRS level slightly converging or parallel. Vertex strongly reticulate, in centre of meshes with flat tubercle; anteromedian vertex, frontal laminae, and clypeus strongly carinulate. Dorsal area of pronotum, whole mesonotum and scutellum, dorsal area of propodeum, postpetiole, and dorsal area of petiole strongly reticulate; mesonotum and scutellum with few superimposed longitudinal rugulae. Interspinal area smooth. Lateral area of petiole shining but finely reticulate. Lateral area of mesosoma reticulate, but finer than on dorsal area of mesosoma. Metapleuron longitudinally rugulose, more coarse and upcurved in region of metapleural gland bulla. Spines reduced to short dents. Petiolar node in dorsal view slightly wider than long, in lateral view semicircular and slightly produced caudad. Anterior margin of postpetiole in dorsal view concave, its sides angulate-convex. Anteroventral area of postpetiole with 2 suggested paramedian, curved carinae (or longitudinal bulbs). Whole body with profuse and subdecumbent pubescence. Dark to medium brown. For morphometric data of 4 gynes see Tab. 18.

Type Material
Seifert (2003) lists the following type material that he examined:

Cardiocondyla venustula: lectotype worker (by present designation, in NHM Los Angeles) and 5 paralectotype workers labelled "Coamo Springs Porto Rico W.M. Wheeler", NHM Los Angeles and SMN Görlitz. 7 paralectotype workers labelled "Culebra I. W.M. Wheeler.", NHM Los Angeles and SMN Görlitz.

C. globinodis: 1 type worker labelled "Deutseh-Sw.-Afr. Omaruru 21.-22.6.1911", "Hamb. Dtsch.-sw.afr.Studienr.1911 W. Michaelsen leg.", and "Cardiocondyla globinodis Stz", ZM Berlin.

C. badonei: 1 syntype worker labelled "Amatongas forest P.E.A. -2.1917 Nat Museum S. Rhodesia", "M.C.Z. Paratype 29057", "Cardiocondyla shuckardi For. r. badonei Arn. det. G. Arnold 1953", MCZ Cambridge. 2 syntype workers labelled "Cardiocondyla shuckardi For st. badonei Ar" \"Port. East Afr. Amatongas forest IX 17" \ "Type", NHM Basel.