Rogeria micromma

In Guyana it was collected in a lowland rainforest dominated by Chlorocardium (Lauraceae) trees. (LaPolla and Sosa-Calvo 2006)

Identification
Kugler (1994) - Most similar to but not quite like other species in the curvipubens species group. WL 0.45-0.52mm. Clypeal apron medially flattened. Eye tiny. Postpetiolar node subrectangular in dorsal view and not strongly vaulted in side view; anterior lip of sternum not prominent, posterior edge angular in side view. Sides of head and mesosoma and dorsal face of propodeum opaque with dense microareolate sculpture. Laterodorsa and sides of head also finely macroareolate. Propodeum free of macro sculpture. No erect hair on scapes or extensor surfaces of legs. Dorsa of head, mesosoma, nodes and gaster T1 with short, appressed hairs and longer, erect to suberect hairs. Mesosoma dorsum with 8-10 pairs of erect hair; each node with 2 pairs of posterodorsally projecting hairs.

See the nomenclature section for additional identification notes.

Distribution
Guyana and Suriname

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname.

Castes
Only known from workers.

Nomenclature

 *  micromma. Rogeria micromma Kempf, 1961b: 509, figs. 12, 13 (w.) SURINAM. See also: Kugler, C. 1994: 69.

Kugler (1994) - It may be that the three micromma specimens are just unusual Rogeria curvipubens or Rogeria cuneola, but at present there are enough differences to provisionally retain this species. Eighteen curvipubens workers from other van der Drift collections in Dirkshoop and La Poulle, are very similar to micromma in size and shape, but differ as follows: 1) clypeal apron evenly convex, 2) sides of head and mesosoma shinier with effaced microsculpture, 3) sides of head with rugose macrosculpture, and 4) reduced pilosity.

Some cuneola specimens are also very similar to Rogeria micromma in shape and size, and one from Yucatán has stiff erect hairs on head, mesosoma, waist and gaster T1, but cuneola workers differ in shape of the postpetiolar sternum, as well as in clypeal shape and pilosity.

Some Rogeria alzatei from Panama, Colombia, Guyana, and French Guiana are only slightly larger (WL 0.51-0.6Bmm) than micromma and have the same pilosity and similar structure and sculpture, but they generally have distinctly larger eyes with more than 10 facets, have a higher, more compact mesosoma (MHI 1.00-1.04), and generally narrower propodeal spines. Several alzatei from northern Colombia have reduced eyes (7-8 facets) and one has wider propodeal spines, but those Colombian ants are larger, have a higher mesosoma, and more abundant erect pilosity. See also Rogeria minima’’.

Worker
Kugler (1994) - TL 1.7-1.8, HL 0.44-0.51, HW 0.37-0.45, SL 0.28-0.35, EL 0.02-0.04 (2-5 facets), PW 0.28-0.30, WL 0.45-0.52, SpL 0.07-0.08, PetL 0.17-0.18, PetW 0.10-0.13, PpetL 0.10-0.11, PpetW 0.13-0.15mm, CI 0.84-0.88, OI 0.05-0.08, SI 0.76-0.79, PSI 0.15-0.16, MHI 0.92-0.96. N=3

The following supplements diagnosis and Kempf (1961). Mandibles 5-toothed to 6-toothed; basal tooth not larger than penultimate basal. Mesosoma profile of holotype interrupted by a weak metanotal groove followed by two transverse carinulae, but profiles of La Poulle and Brazil specimens uninterrupted. Brazil specimen with narrower propodeal spines than in types, and propodeal spiracle closer to posterior edge of propodeum. Petiole short (PetL/WL 0.35-0.38), with ventral keel and tooth.

In Surinam specimens, vague microareolate microsculpture densely covers head, dorsum of mesosoma, dorsal face of propodeum, petiole and postpetiole of types, producing a weakly shining, granular appearance. Brazil specimen similar, except for smoother ventral petiolar peduncle and postpetiolar dorsum. Sides of mesosoma and posterior surface of head more distinctly microareolate. Anterior of pronotal disc with 1 to 2 transverse rugae followed by longitudinally rugose to areolate-rugose macrosculpture that disappears into microsculpture on meso- and metanota. Sides of mesosoma with sparse, faint longitudinal rugulae on meso- and metapleura. Nodes microareolate; more effaced on postpetiole.

Erect hairs of Dirkshoop specimen all trichoid; but thicker and stiff on the La Poulle specimen, at least some cuneate; erect hairs on the Belem specimen seem intermediate.

Color brownish-yellow; legs, mandibles and antennae sometimes slightly lighter. Frontoclypeal region not lighter than rest of head.

Type Material
Kugler (1994) - Holotype worker, SURINAM: Dirkshoop (J. van der Drift) [Holotype and La Poulle paratype examined].