Rogeria unguispina

Venezuela specimens include collections from rain forest between 200m and 2000m elevation.

Identification
Kugler (1994) - creightoni species group. WL 0.64-0.83mm. Palpal formula 2,2. Clypeal apron with median concavity. Eye moderately large, elongate-oval. Strong carina across shoulders. Metanotal groove broad and shallow. Propodeal spines usually with downcurved tips. Postpetiole from above sub trapezoidal. Sculpture on side of head vestigial, leaving a small or extensive smooth area. Pronotal disc and sides with weakly undulating rugae and nearly smooth, shiny interrugal spaces. Erect-suberect hair on scapes, and middle and hind tibiae.

Rogeria nevadensis is a similar ant from the mountains of northeastern Colombia, but nevadensis: 1) is usually smaller, 2) has smaller eyes, 3) has straight propodeal spines, 4) has more effaced sculpture, and 5) lacks erect hair on the scapes and tibiae. Also similar to Rogeria merenbergiana.

Key to Rogeria workers

Distribution
Ecuador and Venezuela

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador, Venezuela.

Castes
Only known from workers.

Nomenclature

 *  unguispina. Rogeria unguispina Kugler, C. 1994: 47, fig. 49 (w.) VENEZUELA.

Worker
Holotype and Paratype. TL 2.4-3.1 (3.0), HL 0.60-0.72 (0.71), HW 0.50-0.61 (0.60), SL 0.40-0.49 (0.47), EL 0.10-0.11 (0.11) (15-19 facets), PW 0.36-0.46 (0.46), WL 0.64-0.83 (0.81), SpL 0.09-0.13 (0.13), PetL 0.26-0.34 (0.34), PpetL 0.14-0.19 (0.19)mm, CI 0.82-0.86 (0.84), OI 0.12-0.16 (0.13), SI 0.79-0.82 (0.78), PSI 0.14-0.16 (0.15). N=7

Mandibles with 5-6 teeth, basal larger than penultimate tooth; some with a denticle between basal and penultimate teeth. Body of clypeus not projecting over apron. Nuchal groove makes a notch in side of head. Pronotum rounded on front and sides. Propodeal spiracle large to moderate; less than one-half diameter from nearest edge of propodeum. Free edges of metapleural lobes form an oblique angle. Posterior face of petiole concave in holotype and some para types. Petiolar peduncle lacks a distinct keel. Postpetiolar node highest in posterior half. Postpetiolar sternum with a short, flat profile and square anterior corner.

Laterodorsa of head rugose, sometimes areolate caudad (holotype). Posterior head rugose-areolate in a more or less transversely arching pattern. Interstices on head vaguely roughened by effaced microsculpture; especially shiny on sides and back of head. Promesonotal dorsum longitudinally rugose in front, becoming more vermiculate with partial or complete cross-ridges behind. Pronotal sides longitudinally rugose with few cross-ridges. Meso- and metapleura with broken, irregular macrosculpture. Dorsal face of propodeum transversely areolate. Interstices on disc and sides of pronotum shiny, nearly smooth; rest of mesosoma vaguely microareolate and quite shiny. Petiolar node weakly to vestigially microareolate; posterior face of node with longitudinal carinulae. Postpetiolar node nearly covered with vague microsculpture to nearly smooth; always weaker than on petiole.

Color blackish-brown with yellowish-brown mandibles, flagellum of antennae, legs, and terminal segments of gaster.

Type Material
Holotype locality. VENEZUELA: Miranda state, Río Capaya at Quebrada EI Bagre, near Salmerón, E of Caracas, 200m, nest beneath log on forest floor in limestone gorge, 8-11-1982, #238 (J. Lattke).

Paratype localities. VENEZUELA: 9 workers, holotype locality [mouthparts, sting], , , MCZ, , ; 1 worker, Falcón State, Sierra de San Luis [mountain range just south of Paraguaná Peninsula], Haitoncitos, near Curimagua, 1180m, primary forest, 3-VIII-1982, #271 (J. Lattke) MCZ; 1 worker, Aragua State, Rancho Grande, 15-VI-1960, 4563a (J. Ojasti) [MCZ]; 1 worker, Aragua State, Rancho Grande 14-VIII-1967, 1 100m (R. W. Poole) MCZ; 2 workers, Lara State, vicinity of Caspo, 18km S Sanare, 1620m, forest rotten wood, 6-XII-1985 (J. Lattke and W. L. Brown).

Etymology
The name unguispina refers to the claw-like shape of the propodeal spines.