Rogeria carinata

A rarely collected species that is only known from the worker caste.

Identification
Kugler (1994) - creightoni species group. Additions to creightoni-group diagnosis. WL 053-0.67mm. Clypeal apron convex. Eye small. Propodeal spines small. Mesosoma low (MHI 0.36-0.96). Postpetiole subrectangular in dorsal view; sternum with distinct, but not projecting anterior lip. Sides of head rugose. Promesonotal dorsum carinate, with broad, shiny intervals. Short erect-suberect hairs on scapes, but not on extensor surfaces of legs.

The carinate macrosculpture of the promesonotum with very shiny intervals serves to differentiate carinata from others of the creightoni group. See also Rogeria nevadensis which has similar sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: British Virgin Islands, Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico.

Castes
Only known from workers.

Nomenclature

 *  carinata. Rogeria carinata Kugler, C. 1994: 56, fig. 64 (w.) BRITISH VIRGIN IS.

Worker
Holotype and Paratype Workers. —TL 2.0-2.5 (2.2), HL 0.51-0.61 (0.55), HW 0.44-0.54 (0.46), SL 0.35-0.42 (0.38), EL 0.05-0.06 (0.06) (7-10 facets), PW 0.31-0.41 (0.34), WL 0.53-0.67 (0.57), SpL 0.05-0.10 (0.08), PetL 0.19-0.24 (0.22), PetW 0.10-0.13 (0.11), PpetL 0.11-0.14 (0.12), PpetW 0.14-0.18 (0.15)mm, CI 0.86-0.89 (0.86), OI 0.11-0.12 (0.13). SI 0.78-0.80 (0.83), PSI 0.09-0.15 (0.14), MHI 0.86-0.96 (0.92). N=15

Mandibles with 5 teeth and 0-2 denticles between the two basal teeth; basal tooth larger than penultimate basal. Eyes oval to elliptical. Nuchal groove weak. Posterior outline of head weakly convex to weakly concave. Mesosoma from above broad, angular at shoulders, but strongly constricted behind; metanotum half as wide as shoulders. Propodeal spiracle small, one diameter from posterior edge of propodeum. Metapleural lobes small, rounded. Ventral petiole with weak keel. Postpetiole highest in posterior half. Sting apparatus with slightly lower valve chamber than that of inermis.

Laterodorsa of head rugose-areolate in Puerto Rican specimens. Posterior head transversely arched areolate-rugose. Interrugal spaces on head weakly and irregularly roughened on dorsum; smoother on sides and posterior. Anterior face of pronotum with transverse carinules that continue onto shoulders and curve dorsad. Meso- and metapleura with irregular longitudinal rugae; intervals smooth dorsally, but vestigially microareolate below level of propodeal spiracle. Dorsal face of propodeum mostly smooth with 0-3 transverse rugulae. Petiolar node vaguely microareolate; macrosculpture absent or indistinct on sides. Postpetiole vaguely microareolate on venter; smooth and shiny on dorsum. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Mesosoma dorsum with 10 pairs of erect hairs.

Color brownish-yellow; head and mesosoma slightly darker than rest of body. Some Puerto Rican specimens slightly darker, with reddish hue to head and mesosoma.

Type Material
Holotype. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: Tortola, Long Bay, berlesate from soil and leaves, 25-VII-1965 (I. Proj. Staff).

Paratype localities. 1 worker, holotype locality (MCZ). PUERTO RICO: 3 workers, Guanica, 7-IV-1982, #75 (J. A. Torres) ; 1 worker, Cayo Ratones, 17-VII-1982, #77 0. A. Torres) LACM; 8 workers, Cayo L. Peña, Humacao, 9-X-1982, #91 (J. A. Torres) [2 stings] (,, LACM, MCZ, ]; 1 worker, Ensenada, #1409, (no collector).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
 * 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.
 * Torres, Juan A. and Roy R. Snelling. 1997. Biogeography of Puerto Rican ants: a non-equilibrium case?. Biodiversity and Conservation 6:1103-1121.