Rogeria tonduzi

With the exception of one specimen from Guatemala, all Rogeria tonduzi specimens come from Costa Rica at elevations of 0-100m on both sides of the cordillera. Most specimens were collected by Jack Longino as strays on ground and vegetation. He found one worker in a Cyphomyrmex nest and another " ... on the base of a small tree, amongst some Pheidole workers" (unpublished field notes). Lyn Garling found a nest with a "tubular entrance with white 'fuzz'" in a cacao tree (field note on label). (Kugler 1994)

Identification
Kugler (1994) - Most similar to but not quite like other species in the scandens species group. WL 0.81-0.90mm. Eye large. Palpal formula 2,2. Propodeal spiracle faces laterally. Propodeal spines long. Postpetiolar sternum not enlarged. Posterior head with transversely arching rugae. Rugae on mesosoma and petiolar node thick and rounded. Decumbent hair abundant on head dorsum and legs; little on gaster; no decumbent or appressed hair on mesosoma or nodes. Scapes, head dorsum, mesosoma, nodes and gaster with abundant flexible, tapered, erect hair; none on extensor surfaces of legs. The following as in scandens-group diagnosis: metapleural lobes, petiole, pygidial gland sculpture, sting apparatus, and sculpture.

Rogeria belti occurs in the same localities and could be confused with Rogeria tonduzi, but belti has a distinct petiolar node and predominantly areolate pronotal sculpture. Rogeria lirata from northern South America is similar to tondllzi in size, clypeus, and sculpture, but lirata has smaller eyes (6-12 facets), a distinct petiolar node, and scapes with suberect hair only.

Distribution
Central America

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua.

Castes
Queens have been collected but have not been described. Males have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  tonduzi. Rogeria tonduzi Forel, 1899c: 53 (w.) COSTA RICA. Combination in R. (Irogera): Emery, 1915i: 191; in Irogera: Brown, 1953h: 4 (in text); in Rogeria: Kempf, 1965: 185. See also: Kugler, C. 1994: 41.

Worker
Kugler (1994) - TL 3.0-3.2, HL 0.72-0.78, HW 0.61-0.68, SL 0.48-0.53, EL 0.12-0.15 (39-48 facets), PW 0.46-0.50, WL 0.81-0.90, SpL 0.18-0.21, PetL 0.37-0.40, PpetL 0.17-0.19mm, CI 0.85-0.88, OI 0.19-0.24, SI 0.78-0.81, PSI 0.20-0.25. N=7

Mandibles triangular; most specimens with 6 teeth, the first 5 decreasing in size basad then a large basal tooth. In others, the penultimate basal is replaced by 2-3 denticles. Clypeal apron convex with median angle or small tooth. Body of clypeus rises perpendicularly. Eyes oval with narrow anterior point. Nuchal groove inconspicuous.

Pronotum in lateral view lacks a distinct angle between anterior and dorsal faces. Metanotal groove very weak to absent. Propodeal spines long, weakly inclined. Postpetiole sub trapezoidal from above; sternum flat, with a distinct peduncle. Sting apparatus like that of inermis except for more elongate anterolateral processes on sting bulb.

Middorsum of head longitudinally rugose; laterodorsa and dorsal part of sides rugose-areolate. Mesosoma with thicker rugae and narrower interrugal spaces than on head. Rugae transverse on anterior pronotum, transverse to confused on metanotum and dorsal face of propodeum, predominantly longitudinal on sides and pronotal disc. Petiolar node longitudinally rugose on sides; smooth along midline. Postpetiole smooth. Microsculpture weak or absent throughout, integument very shiny.

Scapes and head with erect to suberect hair along with the typical short decumbent pilosity. Mesosoma dorsum and waist generally with erect to suberect hair of a variety of lengths; no decumbent-appressed pilosity. Gaster with long, erect hair and a few short, decumbent hairs.

Color shiny black with dark brown mandibles, scapes and legs to reddish-brown with yellowish-brown appendages.

Type Material
Kugler (1994) - Holotype worker, COSTA RICA (Tonduz) [MHN] [Holotype examined].