Cardiocondyla tjibodana

Cardiocondyla tjibodana is supposed here to be the sister species of Cardiocondyla minutior, having its distributional centre in the Malayan region. It is found on the larger islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, nesting in shallow soil in open, disturbed areas with bare or weakly herbaceous ground (Yamauchi, pers. comm. 2001). The occurrence of C. minutior in this region seems to be concentrated to smaller islands, in particular to the islands of Polynesia. C. tjibodana seems not to have the dispersal capacity of C. minutior, though the C. tjibodana samples from Belize and Anatahan indicate spreading to remote zoogeographical regions. (Seifert 2003)

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla minutior group. The workers of C. tjibodana differ from Cardiocondyla minutior by smaller waist measures and by a warm orange-yellowish tinge of the mesosoma. The latter character is rarely seen in C. minutior that usually shows a dirty colour component.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Guam, Indonesia, Kiribati, Krakatau Islands, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Philippines. Neotropical Region: Belize.

Nomenclature

 *  tjibodana. Cardiocondyla tjibodana Karavaiev, 1935a: 87, fig. 13 (w.) INDONESIA (Java). Seifert, 2003a: 287 (q.).

Worker
Seifert (2003) - Small size. Head elongated, CL/CW 1.261. Postocular distance very large, PoOC/CL 0.479. Scape short, SL/CS 0.762. Eye rather small, EYE 0.238, with notable setae, the longest measuring 6 - 10 mm. Occipital margin straight or very weakly concave. Frontal carinae more approached than in Cardiocondyla minutior, on average more diverging immediately frontad from FRS level. Anterior clypeal margin between level of frontal carinae straight or slightly concave. Lateral clypeus with 2 – 3 curved longitudinal rugae. Caudal clypeus, frontal laminae and narrow anteromedian stripe of vertex longitudinally carinulate. Except for longitudinal rugae on preocular surface, semicircular rugae around antennal fossae, and few short, longitudinal rugae on metapleuron, whole body without any rugosity. Paramedian area of vertex with densely-arranged, deeply impressed, flat-bottomed foveolae of 13 - 18 mm diameter. Foveolae with inner corona (margin of flat tubercle) of 7 - 8 mm diameter. Mesosoma on whole surface sculptured, overall surface impression mat: mesosoma dorsally densely and strongly reticulate-foveolate, laterally densely and strongly reticulate; metapleuron with 1 - 4 longitudinal rugae. Waist segments with shallower and finer reticulum than on mesosoma, nodes sometimes slightly shining. First gaster tergite often with very fine microreticulum. Pubescence on whole body long and dense, sqrtPDG 3.23. Dorsal profile of mesosoma rather straight or weakly convex, metanotal groove only suggested or entirely absent. Spines short and acute, their axis in profile deviating by 40 - 45° from longitudinal mesosomal axis. Petiole in profile with concave anterior face and rounded node that is in dorsal view circular or slightly longer than wide. Postpetiole very low, its sternite completely flat, without any anteroventral bulge; in dorsal view with angulate-convex sides and straight anterior margin. Head light-orange brown to dark brown, mesosoma and waist always warm orange or yellow, gaster dark to blackish brown.

Queen
Seifert (2003) - Very small size. Head much elongated, CL/CW 1.223. Scape short, SL/CS 0.739. Postocular index very large, PoOc/CL 0.457. Eyes with numerous hairs, the longest measuring 12 mm. Occipital margin straight. Median section of anterior clypeal margin very slightly convex. Vertex with deeply impressed, flat-bottomed, densely-packed foveolae of 14 - 16 mm diameter which show an inner corona of 7 – 9 mm diameter. Anteromedian area of vertex with 4 - 5 longitudinal carinulae. Frontal laminae and posterior area of clypeus longitudinally carinulate. Whole area of dorsal mesosoma with deep, densely-packed foveolae. Lateral lobes of praescutellum separated. Lateral area of mesosoma foveolate-reticulate, region of metapleural gland bulla with longitudinal rugae. Propodeal spines well-developed, their axis deviating from mesosomal axis in lateral view by 25°. Petiole less strongly reticulate, petiolar node in dorsal view circular. Postpetiole in dorsal view more strongly reticulate, distinctly wider than long, with straight anterior margin and strongly convex sides. Postpetiolar sternite very flat, without any bulge. Whole body covered by long and very dense pubescence that is on 1st gaster tergite more dense than in C. minutior. Dorsum of gaster shining, but with fine microreticulum. Head, antennal club, gaster, mesonotum, praescutellum, scutellum, and metanotum dark brown. Lateral area of pronotum, anepisternite, and waist segments warm yellowish-orange. Appendages light-yellowish.

Type Material
Seifert (2003) - Java [types investigated]. 2 syntype workers labelled “Tjibodas, Jawa Karavaiev \5375. Coll. Karavaiievi \Cardiocondyla tjibodana Karavaiev typ.”,.

The two specimens fully match the description of Karavajev. However, the number of specimens is in disagreement with the original description that states: “ ... Tjibodas, W. Java, W. Karawajew, Nr.5375, I Arbeiter...” and “ ... Kuste von Bantam, Java, an der Sundastrasse, gegeniiber Meeuwen Eiland, 7.I.1913, Nr.5376, 1 Arbeiter...”. Sample No. 5376 was not seen. In case of its discovery and if representing a different species, a lectotype of C. tjibodana should be fixed in a specimen of sample 5375.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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