Cardiocondyla papuana

The males are ergatoid and have long, sickle-shaped mandibles (Reiskind, 1965; Seifert, 2022).

Identification
Seifert (2022) - Note: Future investigations have to show if the differences between the types and the specimens from Bulolo and Port Moresby which are stated below are taxonomically significant. At the current stage, I consider these as expression of intraspecific polymorphism.

Worker: Medium-sized, CS 542 µm. Head longer than in Cardiocondyla sima, CL/CW 1.177. Postocular distance rather low, PoOc 0.413. Overall head shape in dorsal view in the types more quadratic with notably excavated hind margin, in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens less quadratic and weakly excavated. Anterior clypeal margin in the types evenly convex, in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens between the level of anterior frontal carinae straight. Anteromedian vertex in profile slightly bulging. Scape extremely long, SL/CS 0.954. Antennae 11-segmented, antennal club 3-segmented and very long, its length 60–63% of whole funicular length. Eye small (EYE/CS 0.213), in the types with scattered micropilae of 10–14 µm maximum length, in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens without micropilae and elongated (EL/EW 1.53). Frons wide, FRS/CS 0.327, frontal carinae immediately posterior of the FRS level converging, planes of frontal laminae sloping mediad by 40°, frontal carinae thus much elevating above the level of posterior clypeus. Mesosoma in lateral view compact, higher than in other species, its dorsal profile ± convex; in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens without and the types with a very wide and shallow metanotal depression (MGr/CS overall 1.01%). Spines with a moderate basal distance (SPBA/CS 0.319), acute and moderately long (SP/CS 0.214); spine axis in lateral view deviating in the types by 25° from longitudinal mesosomal axis, in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens by 40°. Petiolar peduncle long. Petiole low (PeH/CS 0.314), its node lower than in C. sima and in lateral view slightly produced caudad, with an almost linear frontal, semicircular dorsal, and slightly convex caudal profile. Petiole low (PeH/CS 0.314), in the types narrow (PeW/CS 0.259), in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens wider (PeW/CS 0.286). Petiole node in dorsal view distinctly wider than long. Postpetiole rather low (PpH/CS 0.301), in the types narrow (PpW/CS 0.454), in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens wider (PpW/CS 0.485). Postpetiole in dorsal view distinctly wider than long, with angularly-rounded sides that converge to a narrow and straight anterior margin the width of which is restricted to the junction with petiole. In the types, whole vertex including frontal laminae homogenously and finely shagreened-corrugated, other sculptural elements are completely absent except for few suggested foveolae of 10–13 µm diameter; in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens paramedian and lateral vertex with deeply impressed, rather densely-packed, bicoronate foveolae of 13–16 µm diameter and median vertex with shagreened surface and rather densely packed and slightly smaller bicoronate foveolae. Clypeus in the types slightly longitudinally rugulose, in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens matt with about 13 longitudinal rugulae. Whole mesosoma microreticulate-shagreened; in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens with scattered, shallow and small foveolae. Petiole rather shiny or matt, finely microreticulate; postpetiole more matt. Surface of first gaster tergite moderately shiny or almost matt and finely microreticulate-corrugated, in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens the hairs in anterior part are based in pits. Pubescence on dorsal gaster in the types longer and more dense (PLG/CS 6.80%, sqPDG 3.56) and in the Bulolo and Port Moresby specimens shorter and more dilute (PLG/CS 6.26%, sqPDG 4.13). Whole ant concolorous light yellow.

Cardiocondyla sima and C. papuana are zoogeographically separated by the Wallace Line. The latter species differs from the former by petiole profile, larger CL/CW, smaller PeH/CS and larger PLG/CS.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 * . Prosopidris papuana Reiskind, 1965: 81, figs. 1-8 (w.q. ergatoid m.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, paratype workers (number not stated but at least 4), 5 paratype queens, 1 paratype male.
 * Type-locality: holotype Papua New Guinea: Bisianumu, nr Sogeri, 15-20.iii.1955, no. 655 (E.O. Wilson); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); AMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
 * Combination in Cardiocondyla: Bolton, 1982: 311 (in text).
 * Status as species: Kugler, J. 1984: 16; Bolton, 1995b: 133.
 * Distribution: Papua New Guinea.

Type Material
This taxon has been described from Papua New Guinea. Investigated by Seifert (2022) were the holotype and three paratype workers labelled “Bisianumu nr. Sogeri PAPUA 500 m”, “Mar15/20-55 E.O.Wilson rain forest”, “M.C.Z. Type 31156”, and “Holotype Prosopidris papuana Reiskind S.P.Cover 5-00”; the paratypes with the same labelling except for “Paratypes Prosopidris papuana Reiskind S.P.Cover 5-00”; depository MCZ Cambridge.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Kugler J. 1984. The males of Cardiocondyla Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with the description of the winged male of Cardiocondyla wroughtoni (Forel). Israel Journal of Entomology 17: 1-21.
 * Reiskind J. 1965. A revision of the ant tribe Cardiocondylini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). I. The genus Prosopidris Wheeler. Psyche (Cambridge) 72: 79-86.