Cardiocondyla carbonaria

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Seifert (2003) - Morphometry and body shape of C. carbonaria clearly allocate it to the Cardiocondyla minutior group. The unique microsculpture of the gaster tergites separate C. carbonaria and Cardiocondyla opaca from every species of the group. Furthermore, the ratio FRS/SPBA/SL is only 0.965 in C. carbonaria but is 1.124 ± 0.042 [l.039 - 1.228] in all other 6 species of the C. minutior group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  carbonaria. Cardiocondyla carbonaria Forel, 1907a: 17 (w.) INDIA. See also: Seifert, 2003a: 289.

Worker
Seifert (2003) - type: CS 434, CL/CW l.282, SL/CS 0:789, PoOc/CL 0.474, EYE 0.243, dFOV 15, SP/CS 0.136, FRS/CS 0.233, SPBA/CS 0.306, PEW/CS 0.297, PPW/CS 0.482, PEH/CS 0.348, PPHICS 0.265, PEW/PPW 0.617, sqrtPDG 3.01, PLG/CS 8.30 %, PigCap 11, PigMes 12, MGr/CS 0.9 %.

Head much elongated, CL/CW 1.282. Scape longer than in other members of the C. minutior group but shorter than in C. opaca, SL/CS 0.789. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.474. Eye medium-sized, EYE 0.243. Eye setae well-developed, the longest about 15 mm. Occipital margin and anterior clypeal margin rather straight. Frons narrow, frontal carinae immediately behind the FRS level parallel. Whole body including gaster with perfectly mat surface appearance caused by a very dense and fine microsculpture. Clypeus posteriorly shagreened, with six longitudinal, curved carinae. Frontal lobes shagreenate-microfoveolate. Frontal triangle narrow and smooth. Median area of vertex longitudinally carinulate, intercarinular spaces foveolate. Paramedian and lateral areas of vertex with deeply impressed, closely adjacent foveolae of 14 - 16 mm diameter that usually show a flat inner tubercle of 8 - 9 mm diameter. Dorsal area of mesosoma finely shagreenate-foveolate with few short, longitudinal microcarinae; lateral area of mesosoma densely reticulate. Dorsal profile of mesosoma almost straight, with nearly absent metanotal depression. Spines acute, of medium length, their bases more distant than in related species. Petiole high, with rather short peduncle, its dorsal profile truncate-convex; its surface microreticulate-shagreened, the dorsum more shagreened. Postpetiole low; its sternite very flat, anterolaterally with a short and curved costa on each side; in dorsal aspect distinctly wider than long, with convex sides, straight anterior margin, and completely shagreened. Exposed surfaces of tergites completely mat, very finely and densely shagreened; tergite pubescence long and dense, PLG/CS 8.3 %. Head and mesosoma dorsally with apressed pubescence. Whole body blackish brown except for light-yellowish antennae, trochanter, distal ends of femora, tibiae, and tarsi.

Type Material
Seifert (2003) - Matheran / India [type investigated]. One type worker labelled by Fore1 "C.earbonaria, d type Forel\ India or. Bir6 1902 \ Matheran [Bombay 50 kIn E, Matheran 1 9°N, 73°E] 800 m",.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Sinu P. A., M. Nasser, and P. D. Rajan. 2006. Feeding fauna and foraging habits of tiger beetles found in agro-ecosystems in Western Ghats, India. Biotropica 38(4): 500-507.