Cardiocondyla semirubra

Known only from the type workers, collected in Turkey. Nothing is known about the biology of this species

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla batesii group. The C. semirubra worker differs from Cardiocondyla batesii, Cardiocondyla kushanica, and Cardiocondyla bicoronata in particular by its unusually massive petiole that is almost as wide as high. C. semirubra differs from Cardiocondyla brachyceps by longer head, shorter scape, much smaller PLG, much shorter petiolar peduncle, and characteristic colour pattern.

Seifert (2023) - Rather large, CS 552 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.168. Postocular distance very small, PoOc/CL 0.374. Scape rather short, SL/CS 0.782. Eye rather large, EYE/CS 0.256. Median third of hind margin of head slightly concave. Frons broad (FRS/CS 0.258), frontal notably converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.069). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a deep metanotal depression (Mgr/CS 4.38 %). Spines short and blunt, more triangular (SP/CS 0.096), their axis in profile deviating by about 47° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases rather distant (SPBA/CS 0.254). Petiole very wide, nearly as wide as high (PeW/CS 0.322, PeH/CS 0.326); in profile with short peduncle, a rather straight to weakly convex anterior face and an ample node with the anterior slope less steep than the caudal slope (about 58° respectively 69° relative to ventral profile). Petiole node in dorsal view as wide as long and not gradually merging with the anterior peduncle. Postpetiole only 1.61-fold as wide as petiole and rather low (PpW/CS 0.518, PpH/CS 0.267), in dorsal view suggestively heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Lateral and paramedian clypeus, frontal laminae, and area posterior of frontal laminae finely longitudinally carinulate. Dorsal head almost without longitudinal sculpture, a small stripe on median vertex often glabrous. vertex with shallow foveolae of 16–19 µm mean diameter, the margins of foveolae often breached by microrugulae running partially or entirely through the foveolae; the interspaces on average wider than foveolar diameter, shiny and with fragments of a very delicate microreticulum (Fig. 61). Mesosoma moderately shining, finely microreticulate. Median promesonotum finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Lateral meso- and metapleuron finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Waist segments very shiny, with barely visible microreticulum. Pubescence on gaster tergites moderately long and moderately dense, PLg/CS 5.39 %, sqPDg 5.37. Dorsal head, gaster, coxae, femora, and tibiae dark to blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole reddish brown; postpetiole, scape, and antennal club dark brown.

The extremely wide petiole is the outstanding character of Cardiocondyla semirubra. The only similar species with zoogeographic proximity is Cardiocondyla nigra which has a narrower frons and petiole and often a darker mesosomal pigmentation. A PCA considering FRS, PeW and PigMes separates the four workers of C. semirubra from the nigra cluster (Fig. 141).

Distribution
The two known samples of this species, from Turkey, were collected at 36.94°N, 38.91°E, 400 m and 37.20°N, 39.00° E, 600 m. They are about 30 km apart (Seifert, 2023).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Turkey.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla semirubra Seifert, 2003a: 238, figs. 18, 70 (w.) TURKEY.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 3 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Turkey: Sanliurfa, 20 km. S, Steppe, 500 m., 12.vi.1993, no. 1036 (A. Schulz); paratypes: 2 workers with same data, 1 worker Turkey: Sanliurfa, 25 km. E, Camlidere, Steppe, 500 m., 13.vi.1993, no. 1045 (A. Schulz).
 * Type-depository: SMNG.
 * Status as species: Kiran & Karaman, 2012: 17; Borowiec, L. 2014: 48.
 * Distribution: Turkey.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker and 2 paratype workers labelled “TURKEY: Sanliurfa 20 km S Steppe, 500 m, leg. A.Schulz 1993.06.12, No 1036”,
 * 1 paratype worker labelled “TURKEY: Sanliurfa 25 km E, Camlidere, Steppe, 500 m, leg. A.Schulz 1993.06.13, No 1045”,

Worker
Head moderately long, CL/CW 1.168. Postocular index very small, PoOc/CL 0.374. Occipital margin slightly concave. Scape short, SL/CS 0.782. Eyes relatively large, EYE 0.256. Frontal carinae immediately posterior of FRS level slightly converging. Lateral and paramedian area of clypeus, frontal laminae, and area posterior of frontal laminae finely longitudinally carinulate. A small stripe on median area of vertex often glabrous. Foveolae on vertex shallow, with weak inner corona and 16 - 19 mm diameter; interspaces shining, slightly wider than foveolar diameter, and with fine, scattered, simple or cross-branched carinulae. Mesosoma moderately shining, finely microreticulate. Median area of promesonotum finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Lateral area of meso- and metapleuron finely longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Metanotal furrow rather deep. Petiole profile with short anterior peduncle, ample node and, compared to Cardiocondyla batesii, with more concave anterior face and node not produced caudad. Petiole node in dorsal view gradually merging with a rather short anterior peduncle; much wider than in related species (PEW/CS 0.322). Postpetiolar sternite without any flat bulge. Dorsal head, gaster, coxae, femora, and tibiae dark to blackish brown; mesosoma and petiole reddish brown; postpetiole, scape, and antennal club dark brown.

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.