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Rogeria minima
| Rogeria minima | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Rogeria |
| Species: | R. minima |
| Binomial name | |
| Rogeria minima Kusnezov, 1958 | |
Known only from the queen holotype.
Identification
Kugler (1994) - Most similar to but not quite like other species in the curvipubens species group. WL of worker probably < 0.60mm. Mandibles triangular. Palpal formula 2,1. Sting shaft and lancets spatulate. Postpetiole widest in anterior half; anterior lip of sternum not prominent. Mesosoma predominantly rugose. No microsculpture on head dorsum, little on mesosoma sides; but microareolate sculpture present on gaster T1 and 51. No erect hairs on scapes or extensor surfaces of legs. Head dorsum with abundant erect hair; mesosoma dorsum with more than 12 pairs; petiolar node with 2 pair projecting posterodorsally. Most erect hairs cuneate-fimbriate.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina (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
Known only from a single queen.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- minima. Rogeria minima Kusnezov, 1958a: 44, figs. 1-3 (q.) ARGENTINA. [R. minima Kusnezov, 1954b: 35. Nomen nudum.] See also: Kugler, C. 1994: 70.
Description
Queen
Kugler (1994) - TL 2.3, HL 0.55, HW 0.53, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, WL 0.65, SpL 0.12, PetL 0.22, PpetL 0.11mm, CI 0.96, SI 0.64, PSI 0.18.
Mandibles with 5 teeth; basal only slightly larger than penultimate basal. Palpal formula 2,1. Clypeus tom; shape of apron unclear. Eyes moderately large, with about 20 facets. Mesosoma as shown in Fig. 72. Parapsidal furrows cannot be discerned. Petiole with ventral tooth and nonlamellate keel. Postpetiole wider (0.18mm) than long; sides of postpetiole seem to be convex in front, then tapered, as in many curvipubens; sternum seems low and not prominent or wedge-shaped. Pygidial gland sculpture present, no tubercles on posterior surface. What is visible of the sting apparatus looks like that of inermis, except that lancet apices lack barbules and sting shaft seems to have little, if any, terminal flange. Since both sting shaft and lancets are folded, they are probably weakly sclerotized.
Median head with diverging rugae continuing on posterior head as diverging rugose-areolate sculpture; laterodorsa areolate-rugose. No macrosculpture on median pronotum; sides weakly and incompletely areolate, especially ventrad. Mesonotum longitudinally rugose. Dorsal half of mesopleura longitudinally rugose; most of mesokatepisterna smooth, but with some weak areolate sculpture along posterior margins. Metapleural and propodeal sides confused areolate-rugose. Mesosoma lacks microsculpture, except on median pronotum, sides of propodeal spines, and metapleural lobes (metanotum and median propodeum could not be examined). All surfaces of petiole, at least venter and sides of postpetiole, and at least sterna of gaster minutely and shallowly areolate with sharp, thin partitions. Much of dorsal aspect of gaster difficult to see, but at least anterior and lateral portions of T1, and the terminal terga are also shallowly microareolate.
Body covered with appressed to decumbent setiform pilosity. In addition, dorsa of head, mesosoma nodes, and gaster T1 and S1 with erect cuneate-fimbriate hairs. Mesosoma dorsum with more than 12 pairs of erect hairs; petiolar node with 2 pairs of posterodorsally projecting erect hairs (postpetiolar hairs hidden). All hair on terminal segments of gaster are setiform.
Type Material
Kugler (1994) - Holotype dealate queen, ARGENTINA: Tucuman Fundacion e Instituto Miguel Lillo [Holotype examined].
Known only from a single queen mounted on a microscope slide showing dorsal head (nearly split in half lengthwise), ventral maxillae and labium, lateral mesosoma and petiole, and a mostly ventral view of postpetiole and gaster.
References
- Herrera, H.W., Baert, L., Dekoninck, W., Causton, C.E., Sevilla, C.R., Pozo, P., Hendrickx, F. 2020. Distribution and habitat preferences of Galápagos ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Belgian Journal of Entomology, 93: 1–60.
- 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 70, see also)
- Kusnezov, N. 1954b. Phyletische Bedeutung der Maxillar- und Labialtaster der Ameisen. Zool. Anz. 153: 28-38 (page 35, Rogeria minima; nomen nudum)
- Kusnezov, N. 1958a. La posición sistematica del género Rogeria, con descripción de una nueva especie. Acta Zool. Lilloana 15: 41-45 (page 44, figs. 1-3 worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.