Neoponera rugosula

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Neoponera rugosula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Neoponera
Species: N. rugosula
Binomial name
Neoponera rugosula
Emery, 1902

Pachycondyla rugosula casent0249157 p 1 high.jpg

Pachycondyla rugosula casent0249157 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

From Mackay and Mackay (2010): Two series from Perú (Colpa Quebrada, Sotilejo) were collected in Cecropia sp. plants. The specimens collected in quarantine were in the orchid Cattleya mossiae [Orchidaceae]. Specimens from Venezuela were intercepted at Hoboken, New Jersey (USA) on Cattleya orchids [Orchidaceae], 23-x-1946, 9-i-1946 and 9-i-1947.

Identification

From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker and female of N. rugosula are very similar to those of Neoponera unidentata, but can be separated by the more coarse punctures on the dorsum of the pronotum, the prominent obliquely transverse striae on the side of the propodeum and the horizontal striae on the side of the petiole. The striae on the latter two structures are nearly always missing on workers and females of N. unidentata and if they are present, they do not cover the entire surface. The anterior border of the postpetiole is more concave than it is in N. unidentata.

The concavity of the posterior face of the petiole of the specimens of N. rugosula from Venezuela could cause confusion with the Colombian Neoponera recava. They can be easily separated as N. recava is much smaller (total length 6.5 mm) and the petiole, especially the posterior face, is smooth and glossy, not sculptured as in N. rugosula.

The male of N. rugosula is essentially identical to that of Neoponera moesta. Striae are poorly developed on the side of the propodeum of males of N. rugosula and essentially absent on the side of the petiole. The Neoponera rugosula male can be separated from the male of N. unidentata by the swollen medial region of the clypeus, which appears as an angle when the head is viewed in profile.

Distribution

COSTA RICA, ECUADOR, PERU, VENEZUELA, BRASIL, BOLIVIA (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.5° to -0.6383°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru (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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Habitat

This species was found in a wet forest along a river. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Biology

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Pachycondyla rugosula casent0903885 p 1 high.jpgPachycondyla rugosula casent0903885 d 1 high.jpgPachycondyla rugosula casent0903885 l 1 high.jpg
Specimen code casent0903885. .

Nomenclature

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

  • rugosula. Neoponera unidentata var. rugosula Emery, 1902c: 30 (w.) PERU, BRAZIL (Mato Grosso).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-localities: Peru: (no further data), and Brazil: Mato Grosso (no further data).
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • [Misspelled as rugatula by Santschi, 1919f: 38.]
    • Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 501 (m.).
    • Combination in Neoponera: Schmidt, C.A. & Shattuck, 2014: 151.
    • Subspecies of unidentata: Emery, 1911d: 72; Santschi, 1919f: 38; Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 5; Wheeler, W.M. & Bequaert, 1929: 30.
    • Junior synonym of unidentata: Brown, 1957e: 232; Kempf, 1972a: 163; Bolton, 1995b: 302.
    • Status as species: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 499 (redescription); Bezděčková, et al. 2015: 124; Feitosa, 2015c: 99.
    • Senior synonym of laevinodis: Emery, 1911d: 72; Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 499.
    • Distribution: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela.
  • laevinodis. Neoponera laevinodis André, 1902: 14 (w.q.) PERU.
    • Type-material: 1 syntype worker, 1 syntype queen.
    • Type-locality: Peru: Huallaga, Rio Mixiollo, 1200 m. (G.-A. Baer).
    • Type-depository: MNHN.
    • Junior synonym of unidentata: Kempf, 1972a: 163.
    • Junior synonym of rugosula: Emery, 1911d: 72; Bolton, 1995b: 306; Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 499.

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

Description

Worker

From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker is a medium-sized (total length 8 mm) dark reddish brown ant with brown or orange appendages. The mandibles have approximately 11 teeth, which alternate in size. The anterior border of the clypeus is convex with a medial lobe, which overhangs the anteclypeus. The posterior lateral corners of the head are angulate and the posterior margin is concave. The head length is 1.6 - 1.75 mm; the head width 1.5 - 1.6 mm. The malar carina is present and sharp. The eye (maximum diameter 0.40 - 0.45 mm) is approximately one diameter from the anterior margin of the head. The scape (1.5 - 1.6 mm) extends approximately the first funicular segment past the posterior lateral corner of the head. The sides of the head are convex and slightly narrowed anteriorly, slightly wider at a point just posterior to the eyes and the posterior border is concave. The carina on the pronotal shoulder is very sharp and slightly overhangs the side of the pronotum. The mesosoma is only slightly depressed at the metanotal suture, which is not evident on the dorsum of the mesosoma. The propodeal spiracle is elongated. The anterior face of the petiole is vertical and meets the broadly rounded posterior face at the anterior edge of the apex. The posterior face of the petiole is strongly outlined by sharp lateral carinae and is convex, possibly flat or even strongly concave. The subpetiolar process consists of a downward directed angle anteriorly followed by a concave region and a broadly rounded lobe at mid length, which gradually diminishes in width posteriorly. The anterior face of the postpetiole is concave and meets the dorsal face at a rounded angle. The stridulatory file is well-developed on the second pretergite. The arolia are poorly developed.

Erect and suberect hairs are abundant on the mandibles, dorsal and ventral surfaces of the head, sides of the head, posterior margin, shaft of the scape, dorsum of the mesosoma, dorsum of the petiole and all surfaces of the gaster; the hairs on the legs are mostly suberect and sparse. Appressed pubescence is present on the head, dorsum of the mesosoma, anterior and posterior faces of the petiole and all surfaces of the gaster.

The mandibles are finely striate and weakly shining with scattered punctures. The medial angulate lobe on the clypeus has longitudinal striae. The head is densely punctate with the punctures being arranged in somewhat poorly defined striae, which diverge posteriorly. The dorsum of the pronotum is covered with moderately coarse punctures, which are arranged in poorly defined transverse striae, the side of the pronotum and the mesopleuron are finely sculptured and weakly shining. The punctures on the mesonotum and dorsum of the propodeum are not as well defined, the side of the pronotum is finely punctate smooth and glossy. The mesopleuron has poorly defined horizontal striae, the side of the propodeum has well defined coarse striae, which are obliquely horizontal. The anterior face of the petiole is smooth and glossy (finely punctate), the sides of the petiole have poorly defined horizontal striae, mostly concentrated mid height, the posterior surface is finely punctate and shiny. The gaster is finely punctate and shining.

Specimens from Venezuela (USNM) are unusual as most of the series has a strongly concave posterior face of the petiole. This appears to be an artifact and they are considered to be P. rugosula.

Queen

From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The female is a moderate sized (total length 8.5 mm) dark reddish brown specimen with lighter brown appendages. The mandibles have 12 or 13 teeth. The head is similar to that of the worker with the length being 1.8 mm and the width 1.7 mm. The eye (maximum diameter 0.5 mm) is located less than one diameter from the anterior edge of the head. The ocelli are small with the median ocellus (0.10 mm) located more than two diameters from the lateral ocellus (diameter 0.06 mm). The scape (1.6 mm) extends 1½ funicular segments past the posterior lateral corner of the head. The carina on the pronotal shoulder is sharp and slightly overhangs the side of the pronotum; the propodeal spiracle is elongate. The petiole and postpetiole are similar to those of the worker.

The pilosity is similar to that of the worker.

The sculpture is similar to that of the worker with the obliquely horizontal striae on side of the propodeum and with fine striae on the side of petiole.

Male

From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The male (undescribed) is a small (total length 6 mm) dark brown specimen. The clypeus is swollen (viewed in profile) and partly overhangs the anterior border of the clypeus. The eyes are moderate in size (maximum diameter in side view 0.59 mm), separated from the lateral ocellus by about ½ of the eye diameter (0.24 mm) as seen obliquely from the side and above. The median ocellus (diameter 0.14 mm) is separated from the lateral ocellus (0.14 mm) by 1 diameter. The pronotal shoulder is swollen but does not form a distinct carina. The Mayrian furrows are well developed and meet in the middle of the scutum. The propodeal spiracle is elongated. The petiole is unlike that of the worker and female and is nearly conical with a slightly convex anterior face and a broadly convex posterior face, which form the highest point near the middle of the apex. The subpetiolar process consists of a lobe, which gradually diminishes in width posteriorly. The anterior face of the postpetiole is broadly rounded into the dorsal face.

Erect hairs are present on all surfaces of the head, the mesosoma, the petiole and the gaster; the hairs on the legs are mostly suberect and not abundant. The middle tibia has three suberect hairs on the outer surface, the posterior tibia has seven hairs on the outer surface and two hairs on the inner margin.

The clypeus and head are very finely punctate and weakly shining. The punctures on the mesosoma are mostly fine, but a few striae are located on the posterior edge of the katepisternum and on the side of the propodeum. The side of the petiole has very poorly defined horizontal striae. The gaster is finely punctate and weakly shining.

Type Material

Perú

Etymology

The species name is derived from the Latin word ruga, meaning wrinkle and the diminutive ulus, together meaning small wrinkles, referring to the sculpture on the dorsum of the pronotum. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
  • Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/
  • Mackay, W.P. and E.E. MacKay. 2010. The systematics and biology of the New World ants of the genus Pachycondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press Lewiston, NY
  • Wheeler W. M. 1925. Neotropical ants in the collections of the Royal Museum of Stockholm. Arkiv för Zoologi 17A(8): 1-55.
  • Wheeler W. M., and J. C. Bequaert. 1929. Amazonian myrmecophytes and their ants. Zoologischer Anzeiger 82: 10-39.
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