Cardiocondyla neferka

Very little is known about the biology of this species. Taylor et al. (2018) report it on mango (Mangifera indica) trees in Benin.

Identification
Bolton (1982) - C. neferka is closest related to Cardiocondyla emeryi but is quickly separable by its elongate narrow propodeal spines and conspicuously square-shouldered appearance when the pronotum is seen in dorsal view.

Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla emeryi group. The approximated frontal carinae, the elongated head, and the type of head sculpture suggest an allocation of Cardiocondyla neferka to the Cardiocondyla emeryi group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Benin, Cameroun, Ghana, Ivory Coast.

Castes
Only known from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla neferka Bolton, 1982: 314, fig. 7 (w.) GHANA, CAMEROON.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 3 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Ghana: Mampong, 10.ii.1970 (P. Room); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: BMNH (holotype); BMNH, MCZC, NHMB (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 132; Rigato, 2002: 172 (in key); Seifert, 2003a: 280 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.8, HL 0.48, HW 0.36, CI 75, SL 0.32, SI 89, PW 0.26, AL 0.49.

Antennal scapes of moderate length (SI 87-91 in type-series), when laid back on the head not reaching the occipital corners in full-face view. Maximum diameter of eye 0.11, about 0.31 x HW and with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. Head conspicuously longer than broad, CI < 80. Pronotum in dorsal view with narrowly rounded, somewhat prominent corners, giving the ant a conspicuously square-shouldered appearance. With the alitrunk in profile the promesonotum forming an even shallow convexity from front to back which grades into the metanotal groove without passing through an abrupt change of slope. Metanotal groove shallowly impressed, the propodeal dorsum shallowly convex behind the groove, then sloping downwards posteriorly towards the spines. Propodeal spines elongate and narrow, in profile much longer than their basal width; in dorsal view the spines slightly incurved and each as long as the distance separating their bases. Shape of pedicel segments as in Fig. 7. In dorsal view the petiole node longer than broad, the postpetiole distinctly broader than long and broadest at its midlength. Dorsum of head shagreened-granular, the sculpture very fine and dense, blanketing the surface. Promesonotal dorsum very finely and densely superficially shagreened and mat, but the propodeal dorsum with only vestigial sculpture and glossy, much less densely sculptured than the promesonotum. Dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and gaster unsculptured except for a faint and patchy superficial patterning. Hairs absent except on mouthparts but a fine appressed pubescence is present which is most apparent on the gaster. Colour uniform light brownish yellow, the dorsum of the head slightly darker than the sides; sides of the first gastral tergite a rich darker brown.

Paratypes. TL 1.80-1.81, HL 0.46-0.48, HW 0.35-D.37, CI 76-79, SL 0.32-0.33, SI 87-91, PW 0.24-D.27, AL 0.48-0.51 (3 measured).

Maximum diameter of eye 0.1O-D.11, about 0.27-0.31 x HW and with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. As holotype but in a couple the darker colour of the sides of the first gastral tergite extends onto the dorsum.

Seifert (2003) - Small size. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.224. Scape short, SL/CS 0.770. Postocular index large, PoOc/CL 0.447. Eyes medium-sized, EYE 0.243, EyeHL 5. Frons narrow, FRS/CS 0.227, frontal carinae immediately behind FRS level slightly converging and then diverging. Occipital margin more or less straight. Whole head and mesosoma without longitudinal sculpture. Anterior clypeal margin straight or with a suggested concavity. Vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 15 - 18 mm diameter in densely-packed arrangement; foveolae showing an inner corona (flat tubercle) of 8 - 9 11 m diameter. Frontal laminae and clypeus with scattered smaller foveolae. Pronotal shoulders well-developed, each forming a rounded angle of l 20°. Dorsal promesonotal profile slightly convex, dorsal propodeal profile with stronger convexity. Metanotal groove well-developed, in profile with shallow (30°) anterior and posterior slope. Propodeal spiracle very small, inner diameter 6 mm. Spines long, strong, slightly incurved; in lateral view deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by 20°. Dorsal area of promesonotum irregularly microreticulate-corrugated, frontal area of pronotum in the transitional zone from dorsal plane to declivity foveolate. Dorsomedian area of propodeum rather shining, finely microreticulate. Whole lateral area of mesosoma strongly microreticulate. Petiole node longer than wide, dorsal plane rather smooth, only microreticulate, node in lateral view massive and strongly microreticulate, peduncle relatively short. Postpetiole in dorsal view little wider than long, with distinctly concave anterior margin and angulate-convex sides; postpetiolar node shining, but finely microreticulate; postpetiolar sternite rather flat, with well-pronounced anterolateral corners, resembling situation in Cardiocondyla wroughtonii. First gaster tergite shining but with a very fine, widely-meshed microreticulum. Holotype: whole body light-yellowish brown; Gambari worker: head, mesosoma, and petiole light-yellowish brown, postpetiole little darker, antennal club dark brown, gaster blackish brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ghana: Mampong, lO.ii.1970 (P. Room).

Paratypes. 3 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH,, ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Belshaw R., and B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 3: 5-16.
 * Belshaw R., and B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 3: 5-16.
 * Kone M., S. Konate, K. Yeo, P. K. Kouassi, and K. E. Linsenmair. 2012. Changes in ant communities along an age gradient of cocoa cultivation in the Oumé region, central Côte dIvoire. Entomological Science 15: 324339.
 * Rigato F. 2002. Three new Afrotropical Cardiocondyla Emery, with a revised key to the workers (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 134: 167-173.
 * 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.
 * Stephens S. S., P. B. Bosu, and M. R. Wager. 2016. Effect of overstory tree species diversity and composition on ground foraging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in timber plantations in Ghana. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & management 12(1-2): 96-107.
 * Yeo K., T. Delsinne, S. Komate, L. L. Alonso, D. Aidara, and C. Peeters. 2016. Diversity and distribution of ant assemblages above and below ground in a West African forest–savannah mosaic (Lamto, Cote d’Ivoire). Insectes Sociaux DOI 10.1007/s00040-016-0527-6