Cardiocondyla pirata sp. n. - a new Philippine ant with enigmatic pigmentation pattern (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

ABSTRACT: A new species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery, 1869 - Cardiocondyla pirata sp. n. - is described from the Philippines. The species belongs to an Indo-Malayan group of six species that is characterized by workers having a strongly bilobate postpetiolar sternite and a thickset mesosoma with strongly convex dorsal profile as well as wingless, ergatoid males with sickle-shaped mandibles. The female castes show a pigmentation pattern not known from any ant worldwide. If having any adaptive value, a possible function of this structure is supposed to be visual dissolution of body shape in order to irritate predators.

SUBMITTER: Seifert B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3689134 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature