Rogeria nevadensis

Identification
Kugler (1994) - WL 0.58-0.65mm. Clypeal apron emarginate. Eye small. Shoulders rounded; promesonotum and Propodeum meet without a strong angle. Postpetiolar node widest in anterior half. Sides of head largely smooth and shiny. Promesonotal dorsum longitudinally rugose, with low, rounded ridges and no lateral spurs; interrugal spaces wide and nearly smooth. No erect hair on scapes or extensor surfaces of legs.

Rogeria merenbergiana, which is also found at high elevations in Colombia and Ecuador, has similar shapes of clypeus, mesosoma and propodeal spines, and somewhat reduced sculpture, but: 1) are a little larger than Rogeria nevadensis (WL 0.69-0.83mm), 2) have a metanotal impression, 3) have erect hair on second and third tibiae and scapes, and 4) are more distinctly sculptured, with sides of head rugose.

Rogeria carinata from Puerto Rico and Tortola have the same size, pilosity, shape of waist, and extensive shiny spaces on mesosoma, but: 1) the metanotal-propodeal junction is more angular, 2) the sides of the head are distinctly rugose, 3) the promesonotal dorsum has straighter parallel ridges and smoother intervals, and 4) the propodeal spines are generally shorter (PSI 0.11-0.15).

Distribution
This taxon was described from Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  nevadensis. Rogeria nevadensis Kugler, C. 1994: 57, figs. 65, 94 (w.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Holotype and Paratype. TL 2.2-2.5 (2.2), HL 0.59-0.62 (0.59), HW 0.49-0.51 (0.49), SL 0.40-0.42 (0.40), EL 0.06-0.08 (0.06) (7-10 facets), PW 0.34-0.38 (0.34), WL 0.58-0.65 (0.58), SpL 0.09-0.10 (0.09), PetL 0. 22-0.25 (0. 22), PpetL 0.12-0.14 (0.12)mm, CI 0.81-0.83 (0.82), OI 0.13-0.15 (0.13), SI 0.82, PSI 0.15, MHI 0.93-0.95 (0.93). N=3

Mandibles with 5 teeth plus two denticles, or six teeth plus 1-2 denticles among basal teeth; basal tooth not larger than penultimate basal. Eye elliptical. Nuchal groove weak. Promesonotum slopes to join dorsal face of propodeum without an angle or transverse carina; metanotal groove weak or absent. Propodeal spines narrow; a bisecting line passes through anteroventral corner of pronotum. Propodeal spiracle within one diameter of edge of infradental lamella. Petiolar ped uncle with indistinct keel. Postpetiolar node with a short vertical anterior face and long, sloping dorsal face; posterior face slightly concave in two paratypes. Postpetiole widest in anterior half as in Fig. 66. Postpetiolar sternum with flat ventral profile and somewhat prominent anterior edge. Sting shaft projecting from apex is like that of Rogeria inermis.

Laterodorsa of head rugose-areolate. Posterior head with transversely arching rugae. Head shiny with effaced microsculpture, especially on sides and back. Anterior pronotum crossed by several incomplete rugae. Lateral mesosoma with little distinct macrosculpture and smooth, shiny intervals. Dorsal face of propodeum with transverse rugae and effaced microareolate sculpture. Both nodes with weak, effaced microareolate sculpture and vague, vestigial rugose macrosculpture.

Mesosoma dorsum with 10-11 pairs of erect hairs; 2-3 pairs project posterodorsally from each node.

Color brown to dark reddish-brown (mesosoma and head dorsum may be darkest), with brownish-yellow appendages and frontoclypeal area.

Gynecoid Worker. —A nontype specimen is worker-like in most respects, but is larger (WL 0.70mm; PSI 0.19), has distinct mesonotal and metanotal sutures and partially formed wing attachments. Pronotum transversely rugose; mesoscutum longitudinally rugose. Sides of postpetiolar node from above more evenly convex.

Type Material
Holotype locality. COLOMBIA: Magdalena Department, SE Santa Marta, Cuchilla San Lorenzo, vicinity of EI Campano, 1340m, rain forest, VI-1976 (W. L. Brown).

Paratype localities. 1 worker, same site as holotype [coated for SEM] MCZ. 1 worker, COLOMBIA: Magdalena, E Orihueca, 74.03W 10.55N, San Pedro de la Sierra, 1300m, rotten log in coffee plantation, 10-11-1977 (c. Kugler).

Etymology
Rogeria nevadensis  takes its name from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, site of the type localities.