Cardiocondyla koshewnikovi

Seifert (2023) reports that moister spots in deserts or semideserts, which are frequently salty and situated at the margins of lakes or rivers, are reported as habitats of this species. Two nests were completely dug out by the author in the Saissan Depression 25 July 2001 in a moist Phragmites stand in the dune valley of a semidesert. One or two simple entrances (in one nest hidden under fragments of dead Phragmites leaves) led to one vertical duct that passed through three levels of horizontal galleries or chambers in the upper 10 cm of soil. One nest (SaNo 207 in SI2) contained 7 ergatoid males, 5 freshly eclosed alate gynes, 35 gyne pupae, 5 gyne prepupae and 440 workers and another nest contained 409 workers and as much as 27 dealate gynes the reproductive status of which was not checked. The fact that the seven males found in one nest did not show any signs of injury indicates that males do not fight for reproductive dominance.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla stambuloffii group. Cardiocondyla koshewnikovi is considered here as a Central Asian sister species of the W Palaearctic Cardiocondyla stambuloffii. The gynes are outstanding by a head size clearly above the upper extremes of any known Palaearctic species including C. stambuloffii and they additionally differ from the latter by a much stronger sculpture. The workers are more similar but can be separated on the individual level by a discriminant function.

Accessory discriminative characters of C. koshewnikovi are the sharper propodeal spines and the more sloping prespinal profile of propodeum.

Seifert (2023) - Larger than Cardiocondyla stambuloffii, CS 568 µm. Head rather short, CL/CW 1.168. Postocular index large, PoOc/CL 0.450. Hind margin of head convex, sometimes with a weak concavity in the median level. Scape short, SL/CS 0.780. Eye very small, EYE/CS 0.213. Frons very broad (FRS/CS 0.331), frontal carinae not or weakly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.027). Dorsal profile of promesonotum strongly convex, metanotal depression rather deep (Mgr/CS 3.20 %), dorsal profile of propodeum posterior of metanotal depression linear. Propodeal spines short, but more acute than in stambuloffii (SP/CS 0.076), their supposed axis in lateral view differing by 51° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; the distance of their bases is large (SPBA/CS 0.264). Petiole less than half as wide as postpetiole and much higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.306, PeH/CS 0.384), in profile with a rather long peduncle and the node with very steep and linear anterior and posterior slopes, the anterior one slightly less inclined—as result the node profile is not fully symmetric. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly wider than long. Postpetiole wide, less than twice as wide as high (PpW/CS 0.598, PpW /PeW 1.95, PpH/CS 0.319), in dorsal aspect with a rather straight anterior margin, its width nearly twice its length, ratio PpW/ maximum median length 1.70, postpetiolar sternite rather flat, but with a weak anteromedian bulb. Whole clypeus, frontal laminae, and anteromedian vertex longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Remaining vertex strongly longitudinally rugulose; sometimes these rugulae form together with weaker anostomosae a semi-reticulum (in other specimens the reticulum is almost lacking). The interspaces between rugulae are shiny with small flat tubercles of 6–9 µm diameter which have the base of a pubescence hair in their center (Fig. 93). Anterior pronotum transversely rugulose. Dorsal mesosoma on most of its surface longitudinally carinulate-rugulose; rugae usually stronger than in stambuloffii; a triangular area anterior of the spine bases or whole dorsal propodeum glabrous and only with very fine superficial reticulum. Lateral mesonotum, mesopleurae, lateral propodeum, and metapleurae longitudinally rugulose. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny. Pubescence on gaster tergites shorter than in stambuloffii but more dense, PLg/CS 5.83 %, sqPDg 3.23. Concolorous medium to dark brown with yellowish tinge.

The strong separation of C. koshewnikovi from Cardiocondyla stambuloffii and Cardiocondyla rolandi has already been demonstrated under the latter two species.

Distribution
From western coast of Caspian Sea (44.53°N, 46.69°E, here in contact with Cardiocondyla stambuloffii) over Kazakhstan east to Mongolia (45.14°N, 100.90°E, here in contact with Cardiocondyla rolandi). All sites are between 37.62°N and 46.47°N and from 26 m below up to 1230 m above sea level. (Seifert, 2023)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Biology
Seifert (2003) - Moister spots in deserts or semideserts, which are frequently salty and situated at the margins of lakes or rivers, are reported as habitats of this species. Two nests were completely dug out by the author in the Saissan Depression 25 July 2001 in a moist Phragmites stand in the dune valley of a semidesert. One or two simple entrances (in one nest hidden under fragments of dead Phragmites leaves) led to one vertical duct that passed through three levels of horizontal galleries or chambers in the upper 10 cm of soil. One nest contained 7 ergatoid males, 5 freshly eclosed alate gynes, 35 gyne pupae, 5 gyne prepupae and 440 workers. Another nest contained 409 workers and as much as 27 dealate gynes, the reproductive status of which was not checked.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla koshewnikovi Ruzsky, 1902b: 480 (w.q.) KAZAKHSTAN.
 * Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Seifert, 2003a: 266), 4 paralectotype workers.
 * [Note (i): neotype designation by Radchenko, 1995b: 450 (in ZMUM), is made redundant by rediscovery of original syntypes; (ii) original description also indicates at least 1 syntype queen.]
 * Type-locality: Kazakhstan: bank of Aral Sea, mouth of Syr Darya (Fedtschenko?).
 * Type-depositories: MHNG (lectotype); MHNG, NHMW (paralectotypes).
 * [Also described as new by Ruzsky, 1902c: 16.]
 * [Misspelled as koshewnikowi by Forel, 1902h: 440.]
 * Junior synonym of stambuloffii: Pisarski, 1970: 308.
 * Subspecies of stambuloffii: Forel, 1902h: 440; Ruzsky, 1905b: 629; Emery, 1909a: 24; Emery, 1922e: 126; Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927d: 37; Pisarski, 1967: 388; Tarbinsky, 1976: 72 (redescription); Dlussky, 1981a: 17; Dlussky & Zabelin, 1985: 213.
 * Status as species: Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 195; Bolton, 1995b: 132; Radchenko, 1995b: 450; Seifert, 2003a: 266 (redescription); Schultz, R. et al. 2006: 206; Pfeiffer, et al. 2007: 4; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 40.
 * Distribution: Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan.

Type Material
Seifert (2003) - M. Ruzsky sent type specimens to A. Forel and to the late G. Mayr, which are still present in the collections of and. These ants were mounted by Forel and Mayr in a different way but the original labels of Ruzsky written with a pencil and the high morphometric (coefficient of variation in CS, SL/CS, PoOc, EYE, PEW/SC, PPW/CS only 1.3 - 1.5 %) and structural similarity indicate that all 5 syntypes in MHNG and NHMW came from the same source. In detail these types are: lectotype worker (by present designation) labelled by Ruzsky “Card. Koshewnikovi Umg.d.Aralsees 1902 M.R.” and carrying a blue printed label “Cotypus”; 1 paralectotype worker, originally from the same pin but transferred by the author to another pin and labelled with a laser printer and identical text “Card. koshewnikovi Umg.d.Aralsecs 1902 M.R.”, both in MHNG; 1 paralectotype worker labelled by Forel “Card. stambulotlii koshewnikovi Ruzsky Umgbg.d.Aralsees (Ruzsky)” and carrying a blue printed label “Cotypus”; MHNG. 1 paralectotype worker labelled by Ruzsky with a pencil “Card. koshewnikovi, Aralsee W 5.” and by G. Mayr in ink “Aralsee Ruzsky”, NHMW; 1 paralectotype worker with same mode of preparation labelled by G. Mayr “Aralsec, Coll. G.Mayr” and “stambuloffi v. koshasnikovi [writing error, B.S.] Ruzsky, Type”, NHMW.

The published type locality “Ust'ye rek Syr-Darya, Raim” (= “mouth of river Syr-Darya, Raim”) does not contradict to the labelling “Umgebung des Aralsee”. Hence, these specimens can be accepted as types of Ruzsky.

Radchenko (1995) believed that type specimens of C. koshewnikovi from Lake Aral have been lost and he “fixed” a neotype without, however, publishing its collecting date and locality. Furthemlore he did not publish any character of discriminative value. Hence, Radchenko's neotypc fixation is invalid according to the articles 75.3.2 - 75.3.6 of ICZN.

Seifert (2023) - This taxon has been described from Kazakhstan in the region where the river Syr Darya entered in 1902 into the then Lake Aral. M. Ruzsky sent type specimens to A. Forel and the late G. Mayr which are still present in the collections of and. These ants were mounted by Forel and Mayr in a different way but the original labels of Ruzsky written with a pencil and the high morphometric (coefficient of variation in CS, SL/CS, PoOc, EYE, PeW/SC, PpW/CS only 1.3–1.5 %) and structural similarity indicate that all 5 syntypes in MHN Genève and NHM Wien came from the same source. In detail these types are: worker lectotype labelled by Ruzsky “''Card. koshewnikovi Umg.d.Aralsees” and “1902 M.R.” and carrying a blue printed label “Cotypus”, “Lectotype Cardiocondyla koshewnikovi Ruzsky 1902 (des. B. Seifert 1999)” and “ANTWEB CASENT 0908348” ; 1 paralectotype worker, originally from the same pin but transferred by the author to another pin and labelled with a laser printer and identical text “Card. koshewnikovi Umg.d.Aralsees 1902 M.R.”, both in MHN Genève; 1 paralectotype worker labelled by Forel “Card. stambuloffii koshewnikovi'' Ruzsky Umgbg.d.Aralsees (Ruzsky)” and carrying a blue printed label “Cotypus”; MHN Genève. 1 worker paralectotype labelled by Ruzsky with a pencil “''Card. koshewnikovi'', Aralsee” and “W 5.” and by G. Mayr in ink “Aralsee Ruzsky”, NHM Wien; 1 worker paralectotype with same mode of preparation labelled by G. Mayr “Aralsee, Coll. G.Mayr” and “stambuloffi v. koshasnikovi [writing error, B.S.] Ruzsky, Type”, NHM Wien. The published type locality “gefunden an den Ufern des Aralsees und der Mündung des Syr-Darja” (Ruzsky 1902)” does not contradict to the labelling “Umgebung des Aralsee”. Hence, all these specimens can be accepted as types of Ruzsky. The lectotype fixation by Seifert was published in Seifert (2003). A lectotype label attached by Radchenko to a pin belonging to true type material of Ruzsky “LECTOTYPUS top specim. des. Radch.” is depicted in www.antweb.org under the specimen identifier CASENT 0904464. This lectotype fixation has not been published.

Worker
Seifert (2003) - Head moderately long, CL/CW 1.155. Postocular distance rather large, PoOc/CL 0.444. Scape slightly longer than in Cardiocondyla stambuloffii, SL/CS 0.791. Eyes small, EYE 0.219. Frontal carinae immediately behind FRS level converging caudad. Whole clypeus, frontal laminae, and vertex anteromedianly longitudinally carinulate-rugulose. Remaining vertex strongly longitudinally rugulose (in the type specimens these rugulae form together with weaker anostomosae a semi-reticulum whose meshes carry in their centre flat tubercles of 7 - 9 mm diameter around bases of pubescence hairs; in other specimens reticulum almost lacking). Pronotum anteriorly transversely rugulose. Mesosoma dorsally on most of its surface longitudinally carinulate-rugulose; rugae usually stronger than in C. stambuloffii; triangular area anterior of spine bases or whole dorsal propodeum glabrous and only with a very fine superficial reticulum. Lateral area of mesonotum, mesopleurae, lateral area of propodeum, and metapleurae longitudinally rugulose. Spines as short as in C. stambuloffii, but more acute. Propodeal dome more steeply sloping caudad than usually seen C. stambuloffii. Spine bases much more approached than in C. stambuloffii. Nodes of waist segments smooth. Petiole with a high node that is in dorsal view slightly wider than long. Postpetiole in dorsal view with straight or very weakly concave anterior margin, relatively narrower than in C. stambuloffii: ratio PPW/PPL 1.704 ± 0.075 [1.612, 1.846] n=23. Concolorous medium to dark brown with yellowish tinge.

Queen
Seifert (2003) - Much larger than Cardiocondyla stambuloffii, CS 767 ± 27; head shorter, CL/CW 1.106. Postocular index very large, PoOc/CL 0.476. Postocular head much wider than preocular head, overall shape of head capsule trapezoidal. Occipital margin straight. Frontal carinae immediately caudal of FRS level converging caudad. Mesosoma massive, MW 624 ± 48. Whole dorsal head capsule fully microsculptured and covered with dense subdecumbent pubescence, thus appearing entirely mat, in particular occipital region in contrast to C. stambuloffii not shining. Clypeus, frontal laminae and vertex posterior of frontal laminae clearly longitudinally rugulose; remaining vertex more finely and densely longitudinally rugulose (the rugulae partially form a semireticulum); interspaces between rugulae with densely-packed tubercles of 8 - 10 mm diameter that form the bases of pubescence hairs. Foveolae on vertex completely lacking. Mesonotum because of shallower microsculpture more shining than vertex, rugulose, with small tubercles of 8 - 11 mm diameter at hair bases. Scutellum longitudinally rugulose, with similar tubercles in the interspaces. Whole propodeum, metapleuron, mesopleuron and anepisternite densely carinate, clearly stronger sculptured than in C. stambuloffii. Propodeal spines reduced to rather blunt dents. Petiole very high, dorsum less shining than in C. stambuloffii, clearly wider than long and not ending in a caudal corner. Postpetiole more than twice as wide as long and almost twice as wide as petiole, PPW/CS 0.862; postpetiolar sternite with strong and acute anteromedian dent. Whole body with dense subdecumbent to decumbent pubescence; pubescence on first gaster tergite extremely dense, sqrtPDG 2 .46. Whole body more or less concolorous medium brown, mesosoma sclerites occasionally with lighter patches; appendages lighter.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dlussky G. M., O. S. Soyunov, and S. I. Zabelin. 1990. Ants of Turkmenistan. Ashkabad: Ylym Press, 273 pp.
 * Dubovikoff D. A., and Z. M. Yusupov. 2018. Family Formicidae - Ants. In Belokobylskij S. A. and A. S. Lelej: Annotated catalogue of the Hymenoptera of Russia. Proceedingss of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences 6: 197-210.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Marikovsky P. I. 1979. Ants of the Semireche Desert. [In Russian.]. Alma Ata: Nauka, 263 pp.
 * Pisarski B. 1967. Fourmis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) d'Afghanistan récoltées par M. Dr. K. Lindberg. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 24: 375-425.
 * Radchenko A. G. 1996. Palaearctic ants of the genus Cardiocondyla Emery (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Entomological Review (Washington). 75(7): 99-109.
 * Ruzsky M. 1902. Neue Ameisen aus Russland. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 17: 469-484.
 * Schultz, R., A. G. Radchenko, and B. Seifert. "A critical checklist of the ants of Kyrgyzstan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 201-207.
 * 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.