Cardiocondyla sima

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Castes

 * Queen

Nomenclature

 *  sima. Cardiocondyla (Prosopidris) sima Wheeler, W.M. 1935b: 41, fig. 1 (w.q.) PHILIPPINES. Combination in Prosopidris: Reiskind, 1965: 84; in Cardiocondyla: Bolton, 1982: 309.

Worker
Length 2-2.2 mm.

Head subrectangular, longer than broad, nearly as broad in front as behind, with straight, subparallel sides, broadly rounded posterior corners and feebly sinuate posterior border. Eyes moderately large and convex; somewhat longer than their distance from the clypeus. Mandibles convex, 5-toothed, the two apical decidedly larger than the basal teeth. Clypeus projecting over the bases of the mandibles, its anterior truncated surface flattened, its posterior portion extending back between the frontal carinae large, convex, subtriangular, its anterior border transverse, feebly sinuate in the middle and more deeply sinuate on each side. Frontal area small, triangular, impressed and rather indistinct; frontal groove distinct anteriorly. Antennae slender, scapes nearly straight, extending somewhat beyond the posterior corners of the head; second funicular joint longer than broad, joints 3-7 as long as broad, the two basal joints of the club longer than broad, subequal, together shorter than the distinctly swollen terminal joint. Pronotum with the neck as long as broad, with broadly rounded humeri; mesonotum broader than long, narrowed posteriorly where the pleurae are distinctly compressed; epinotum longer than broad, slightly narrowed anteriorly, its posteriorly sloping base one and two-thirds times as long as the perpendicular declivity, which is concave in the middle and marginate on the sides, metasternal angles prominent but rounded, the spines straight, blunt and stout, nearly as long as the distance between their bases but shorter than the declivity, directed backward and outward and slightly upward. Peduncle of petiole as long as the node, which is as high as long, rounded above and distinctly broader than long. Post-petiole transversely elliptical, lower and nearly twice as broad as the petiolar node, convex anteriorly, with its straight posterior border. Gaster broadly elliptical, convex, with broadly concave anterior border. Legs rather long.

Thorax, pedicel and gaster distinctly shining, microscopically and superficially reticulate or punctulate; mandibles, clypeus, head and appendages more opaque, the head and anterior portion of pronotum more sharply and coarsely punctulate and also covered dorsally with shallow and not very distinct foveolae.

Pilosity and pubescence yellowish, the former consisting of a few short, sparse, erect hairs on the clypeus and mandibles, the latter fine, dilute, appressed, longer and more distinct on the gaster and appendages.

Dull yellowish brown or pale ferruginous, the head very slightly darker, the mandibles, clypeus, peduncle of petiole and appendages slightly paler. Mandibular teeth dark brown.

Queen
Length 2.7-2.8 mm.

Very similar to the worker; joints 3-7 of funiculi distinctly broader than long; thorax short, as broad as the head; pronotum somewhat flattened, broader than long, subtriangular anteriorly; epinotal spines shorter and stouter than in the worker, subparallel; petiole and postpetiole not enlarged as compared with the worker.

Sculpture and pilosity as in the worker except that the whole thorax above is foveolate-punctate like the head, and the thorax, nodes of pedicel and gaster are darker and less yellowish, being as dark as the head. Wings grayish; veins brown, pterostigma dark brown.

Type Material
Described from eight workers and four females collected by Mr. L. M. Morato at Dansalan, on Lanao Island, Philippines, and received from Dr. J. W. Chapman.