Cardiocondyla gallilaeica

This species is known from the holotype worker and nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla bulgarica group. The closely approximated frontal carinae that do not converge immediately caudal of the FRS level, the less concave anterior petiole profile, the shorter spines, the more pronounced pronotal corners, and the more excavated occiput are the best differential characters to separate Cardiocondyla gallilaeica from Cardiocondyla ulianini and Cardiocondyla israelica.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel.

Nomenclature

 *  gallilaeica. Cardiocondyla gallilaeica Seifert, 2003a: 230, fig. 13 (w.) ISRAEL.

Worker
Holotype: CS 480, CL/CW 1.131, SL/CS 0.807, PoOc/CL 0.403, EYE 0.254, dFOV 14.0, FRS/CS 0.225, SPBA/CS 0.230, SP/CS 0.071, PEW/CS 0.275, PPW/CS 0.552, PEH/CS 0.308, PPH/CS 0.298, PEW/PPW 0.498, sqrtPDG 4.66, PLG/CS 6.24 %, PigCap 8, PigMes 7, MGrlCS 3 .75 %.

Similar to Cardiocondyla ulianini. Head rather short (CL/CW 1.131) and with notably excavated occipital margin. Postocular distance rather low (PoOc/CL 0.403) and eye rather large (EYE 0.254). Clypeus with straight anteromedian margin, glabrous. Frontal laminae almost smooth and shining, with only weak fragments of microcarinulae. Vertex completely without carinulae or microrugae, in overall impression much more shining than in Cardiocondyla elegans, and with smaller, less clearly demarcated foveolae, whose diameter is clearly smaller than width of brilliantly shining interspaces (dFOV 14); weak rugulae restricted to genae. Frontal carinae immediately caudal of FRS level almost parallel. Frons much narrower than in C. ulianini, FRS/CS 0.225. Dorsal area of mesosoma in overall impression smooth and shining; dorsal area of promesonotum with scattered and shallow foveolae of 10-12 mm diameter; dorsal area of propodeum with fragments of very fine microrugae. Caudolateral area of pronotum, mesonotum, mesopleuron, and metapleuron laterally, and propodeum below spiracular level reticulate. Pronotal corners more pronounced than in C. ulianini. Outer spine base distance small, SPBA/CS 0.230; spines sharp but much shorter than in C. ulianini, SP/CS 0.071. Metanotal depression rather deep (MGr/CS 3.75 %). Waist segments almost smooth and shining. Petiole very narrow (PEW/CS 0.275), its frontodorsal profile less concave and more directed caudad, petiole node in lateral aspect lower than in C. ulianini, node in dorsal aspect as long as wide. Postpetiole in dorsal aspect almost twice as wide as long, twice as wide as petiole (PEW/PPW 0.498), and with slightly concave anterior margin; postpetiolar sternite with shallow anteromedian bulge. Colour of head, mesosoma, and gaster pale yellowish brown to dark brown.

Type Material
holotype worker labelled “ISRAEL Sede Eliyyahu 6.ix.1983 Argaman”,.

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.
 * 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.