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Rogeria megastigmatica
| Rogeria megastigmatica | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Rogeria |
| Species: | R. megastigmatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Rogeria megastigmatica Kugler, C., 1994
| |
Only known from a few collections from the Solomon Islands.
Identification
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Solomon Islands (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
The following is modified from Kugler (1994): Little is known about these cryptic ants. Collection records typically range from sea level to 1000m, but five species extend higher and two (Rogeria unguispina and Rogeria merenbergiana) can be found at 2000m. Rogeria are generally collected in moist forests (primary or secondary forests, coffee or cacao plantations), but at higher elevations can be found in pastures (Rogeria leptonana, Rogeria merenbergiana). Several species (Rogeria creightoni, Rogeria cuneola, Rogeria foreli) have been found in moist and dry climates. Rogeria foreli is the most unusual, with some members dwelling at over 1800m in the temperate mountains of southern Arizona.
Most species have only been collected as strays or by Berlese or Winkler sampling, from leaf litter and rotten wood, but occasionally among epiphytes and moss (Rogeria belti, creightoni, Rogeria exsulans). Nests of several species (belti, Rogeria blanda, merenbergiana) have been found under the loose bark of rotten logs. Nests of blanda and Rogeria tonduzi have been taken from the trunks of cacao trees. A nest of Rogeria leptonana was found at 1750m under a rock in a pasture.
Nests are rarely found. Males are known for only four species (belti, blanda, leptonana and Rogeria stigmatica) and queens associated through nest series for only nine species.
Castes
Only known from workers.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- megastigmatica. Rogeria megastigmatica Kugler, C. 1994: 35, fig. 13 (w.) SOLOMON IS.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype and Paratype. TL 4.5-4.9 (4.5), HL 1.01-1 .09 (1 .01), HW 0.90-1.00 (0.91), SL 0.77-0.83 (0.77), EL 0.16-0.19 (0.16) (41-52 facets), PW 0.62-0.70 (0.62), WL 1. 18-1.30 (1.18), SpL 0.10-0.11 (0.11), PetL 0.51-0.52 (0.52), PpetL 0.28-0.31 (0.28)mm, CI 0.88-0.92 (0.90), OI 0.18-0.19 (0.18), SI 0.83-0.87 (0.85), PSI 0.08-0.09 (0.09). N=5
Like Rogeria stigmatica in most respects, but markedly larger (at least 35% larger than stigmatica on other Solomon Islands). Metanotal groove not as narrow or sharply defined. Petiolar node strongly asymmetrical in side view (Fig. 13).
Mandibles triangular, with at least 6 teeth, some basal denticles may have been abraded. Median clypeal apron convex. Mandibular carinulae effaced. Pronotum areolate with a rugose-areolate patch in center of disc. Dorsal face of propodeum transversely rugulose. Petiolar peduncle smooth; sides of node areolate; posterior face transversely rugulose-areolate or areolaterugose.
Type Material
Holotype locality. SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal, Ilu Bush, 16-III-1962, #1181 (P.J. M. Greenslade) Museum of Comparative Zoology. Paratype localities. SOLOMON ISLANDS: 1 worker, holotype locality MCZ; 3 workers, San Cristobal, Kira Kira, 24-IV-1962, #1579 (P. J. M. Greenslade) MCZ.
References
- Kugler, C. 1994. A revision of the ant genus Rogeria with description of the sting apparatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Hym. Res. 3: 17-89 (page 35, fig. 13 worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Kugler C. 1994. A revision of the ant genus Rogeria with description of the sting apparatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 3: 17-89.