Rogeria neilyensis

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Rogeria neilyensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Rogeria
Species: R. neilyensis
Binomial name
Rogeria neilyensis
Kugler, C., 1994

Little is known about the biology of this species. The types were collected from "sifted litter (leaf mold and rotten wood) in second-growth rain forest." Longino collected additional material of the species in Winkler samples from Carara, Manuel Antonio, 19km S Ciudad Neily, Rancho Quemado, and Sirena.

Identification

Kugler (1994) - creightoni species group. WL 0.75-0.76rnrn. Clypeal apron convex, with weak median angle. Eye small. Nuchal groove makes a deep notch in lateral view of head. Propodeal spines short, wide. Propodeal spiracles ≥1 diameter from edge of infradental lamella. Postpetiolar sternum not enlarged. Terminal segments of gaster rotated ventrad. Sides of head with distinct areolate-rugose to rugose macro sculpture; mesosoma predominantly rugose. Scapes and legs lack erect hairs. Head dorsum with short, dense, decumbent pilosity and longer, more sparse, erect-suberect hairs. Mesosoma hairs range continuously from short, decumbent to long, erect (i.e. not sorting into two distinct kinds as on head.). Hair on gaster T1 dense, subdecumbent-suberect (decumbent hairs few or absent).

This species is similar in size and reduced petiolar spines to another Central American species, Rogeria inermis, which differs as follows: 1) clypeal apron medially emarginate, 2) nuchal groove weak, 3) eyes larger (OI 0.18-0.22; 15-28 facets), 4) propodeal spiracle ≤1 diameter from edge of prop ode urn, 5) scapes with erect hair, and 6) mesosoma and gaster T1 with little, if any, decumbent hair.

The Rogeria leptonana specimens from Cerro Pico Blanco, Costa Rica, have low, wide propodeal spines like neilyensis, but leptonana has: 1) an emarginate clypeus, 2) weak nuchal grooves, 3) lower lower mesosoma profile (MHI O.84-0.90), and 4) scapes with erect hair.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 8.683333333° to 8.407045°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Queens have been collected but have not been described. Males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • neilyensis. Rogeria neilyensis Kugler, C. 1994: 63, fig. 43 (w.) COSTA RICA.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Kugler 1994 fig 40-43

Holotype and Paratype. TL 2.8-2.9 (2.8), HL 0.66-0.68 (0.67), HW 0.58-0.60 (0.59), SL 0.45, EL 0.06-0.07 (0.06) (9-13 facets), PW 0.42-0.43 (0.42), WL 0.75-0.76 (0.75), SpL 0.08-0.10 (0.08), PetL 0.30-0.34 (0.30), PpetL 0.18-0.19 (0.18)mm, CI 0.88-0.89 (0.88), OI 0.10-0.12 (0.10), SI 0.76-0.77 (0.76), PSI 0.1 1-0.13 (0.11), MHI 0.96-1.00 (0.96). N=2

Mandible 6-toothed; basal tooth larger than penultimate tooth. On left mandible, fifth tooth replaced by 2 denticles. Body of clypeus slightly prominent. Frontal lobes rather wide (FLW / HW 0.43-0.44). Anteroventral corner of pronotum projecting tooth-like. No distinct metanotal groove. Propodeal spiracles moderately large, weakly bulging from sides. Metapleural lobes low, broadly rounded. Petiolar peduncle with large ventral keel and tooth. Postpetiolar node lacking a distinct posterior face; subtrapezoidal from above, as in Fig. 50.

Longitudinal rugae on frontal lobes become areolate-rugose half way to back of head. Posterior head transversely areolate-rugose. Laterodorsa areolate-rugose. Intervals in macrosculpture of head shiny, but wrinkled by vague, irregular microsculpture. Anterior edge of pronotal disc areolate; rest of promesonotal dorsum longitudinally rugose-areolate; more rugose mesad, more areolate laterad. Dorsal face of Propodeum transversely rugose. Intervals on mesosoma generally wider and smoother than on head. Petiolar node vaguely areolate; posterior face and peduncle with longitudinal carinae. Surface of postpetiolar node uneven, but predominantly smooth and shiny. Gaster T1 and Sl smooth and shiny, but other segments progressively dulled caudad by dense microareolate sculpture.

Color yellowish-brown, with slightly more yellowish appendages and anterior of head; first tergum of gaster dark brown.

Type Material

Holotype locality. COSTA RICA: Puntarenas Province, 3km N Ciudad Neily [=Villa Neily], 8.41N 82.57W, 210m, 31-VII-1985, #7771-5 (P. S. Ward). From sifted litter (leaf mold and rotten wood) in second-growth rain forest Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Paratype locality. 2 workers, holotype locality Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, MCZ.

Etymology

The name neilyensis refers to the type locality.

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 63, fig. 43 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.
  • Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.