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Rogeria tsumani
| Rogeria tsumani | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Rogeria |
| Species: | R. tsumani |
| Binomial name | |
| Rogeria tsumani LaPolla & Sosa-Calvo, 2006
| |
Known only from the type locality in Guyana. The two known specimens of Rogeria tsumani were collected from a rotten branch that fell off a tree from about 30 meters height as Weber was walking through the forest (N.A. Weber, field notes, in MCZC archives). Weber reported looking through the rotting branch for the Rogeria nest, but he could not locate it. Rogeria tsumani is probably a canopy-dwelling species. (LaPolla and Sosa-Calvo 2006)
Identification
LaPolla and Sosa-Calvo (2006) - Mesosoma smooth and shiny, with scattered short appressed hairs; propodeal spines long, slightly inclined posterad; petiole pedunculate and with a distinct node, convex in lateral view.
Only four species of Rogeria are known in which the mesosomal dorsum bears only appressed hairs: Rogeria bruchi, Rogeria foreli, Rogeria prominula, and R. tsumani. Both R. bruchi and R. foreli possess a much more erect and distinct petiolar node compared to R. tsumani, and the propodeal spines of R. bruchi and R. foreli are at roughly right angles to the longitudinal axis of the mesosoma. In R. tsumani, in contrast, the propodeal spines are roughly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mesosoma. Rogeria prominula has a unique propodeal shape and a rugoreticulate head and mesosoma. In Kugler’s (1994) key, R. tsumani would key to R. bruchi. Rogeria tsumani is a larger species (TL 3.7–3.9 in R. tsumani vs. 2.2–2.6 in R. bruchi) with smaller eyes and darker brown coloration. Kugler (1994) constructed six informal species-groups. While he placed the majority of species into these species-groups, there was still a substantial number that he could not reliably place. Rogeria tsumani similarly fails to fall neatly into a species group.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 2.75° to 2.75°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guyana (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.
- tsumani. Rogeria tsumani LaPolla & Sosa-Calvo, 2006: 61, figs. 11, 22 (w.) GUYANA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Head: subquadrate in dorsal view; dorsolateral surface of head with widely spaced punctures, smooth and shiny in between; dorsomedian surface of head weakly longitudinally carinulate; nuchal grooves very shallow, not visible in lateral view; mandibles triangular; inner margin with 5 teeth, apical tooth largest; clypeal apron with shallow median depression. Mesosoma: promesonotum faintly longitudinally carinulate; promesonotal suture weakly marked; mesopleural suture incomplete; anepisternum and metapleuron weakly rugose; katepisternum smooth and shiny; dorsum of propodeum transversely rugose; propodeal spines long (SpL= 0.20–0.22) and slightly inclined posterad. Metasoma: petiole pedunculate, weakly rugulose, becoming smooth ventrally; petiolar ventral process smooth and shiny with a short anterior keel; postpetiole node tall, smooth and shiny; postpetiolar ventral margin rugose, with a short anterior keel. Body with scattered short, appressed hairs. Overall body color reddish-dark brown, with propodeum darker brown, and light brown legs. Queen and male unknown. Measurement: holotype and paratype (N= 2): TL= 3.75–3.88, HL= 0.86–0.88, HW= 0.69–0.72, ML=0.39–0.41, SL= 0.52–0.55, EL= 0.12–0.15, PW= 0.55–0.55, WL= 0.95–0.97, SpL=0.20–0.22, PL= 0.44–0.48, FLW= 0.23–0.25, PPL= 0.22–0.23, GL= 0.89–0.89, CI=80–82, OI= 17–22, SI= 60–76, PSI= 21–23.
Type Material
Holotype worker, GUYANA: Oronoque River just above juncture with New River, 29 July 1936 [coordinates determined by JSL: 2° 45’00” N 57° 26’00” W], coll. N.A. Weber. Paratype worker same locality as holotype. Holotype in National Museum of Natural History, paratype in Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Etymology
Named in honor of Dr. Ted Suman, Research Associate at the National Museum of Natural History. Without Ted’s hard work and dedication to the Guyana Ant Project much of the research being conducted on the Guyana ant fauna would not be possible.
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Lapolla J. S., and J. Sosa-Calvo. 2006. Review of the ant genus Rogeria (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Guyana. Zootaxa 1330: 59-68.
- Lapolla, J. S., and B. L. Fisher. "Review of the ant genus Rogeria (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Guyana." Zootaxa 1330 (2006): 59-68.