Rogeria minima

Known only from the queen holotype.

Identification
Kugler (1994) - Most similar to but not quite like other species in the curvipubens species group. WL of worker probably < 0.60mm. Mandibles triangular. Palpal formula 2,1. Sting shaft and lancets spatulate. Postpetiole widest in anterior half; anterior lip of sternum not prominent. Mesosoma predominantly rugose. No microsculpture on head dorsum, little on mesosoma sides; but microareolate sculpture present on gaster T1 and 51. No erect hairs on scapes or extensor surfaces of legs. Head dorsum with abundant erect hair; mesosoma dorsum with more than 12 pairs; petiolar node with 2 pair projecting posterodorsally. Most erect hairs cuneate-fimbriate.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Castes
Known only from a single queen.

Nomenclature

 *  minima. Rogeria minima Kusnezov, 1958a: 44, figs. 1-3 (q.) ARGENTINA. [R. minima Kusnezov, 1954b: 35. Nomen nudum.] See also: Kugler, C. 1994: 70.

Queen
Kugler (1994) - TL 2.3, HL 0.55, HW 0.53, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, WL 0.65, SpL 0.12, PetL 0.22, PpetL 0.11mm, CI 0.96, SI 0.64, PSI 0.18.

Mandibles with 5 teeth; basal only slightly larger than penultimate basal. Palpal formula 2,1. Clypeus tom; shape of apron unclear. Eyes moderately large, with about 20 facets. Mesosoma as shown in Fig. 72. Parapsidal furrows cannot be discerned. Petiole with ventral tooth and nonlamellate keel. Postpetiole wider (0.18mm) than long; sides of postpetiole seem to be convex in front, then tapered, as in many curvipubens; sternum seems low and not prominent or wedge-shaped. Pygidial gland sculpture present, no tubercles on posterior surface. What is visible of the sting apparatus looks like that of inermis, except that lancet apices lack barbules and sting shaft seems to have little, if any, terminal flange. Since both sting shaft and lancets are folded, they are probably weakly sclerotized.

Median head with diverging rugae continuing on posterior head as diverging rugose-areolate sculpture; laterodorsa areolate-rugose. No macrosculpture on median pronotum; sides weakly and incompletely areolate, especially ventrad. Mesonotum longitudinally rugose. Dorsal half of mesopleura longitudinally rugose; most of mesokatepisterna smooth, but with some weak areolate sculpture along posterior margins. Metapleural and propodeal sides confused areolate-rugose. Mesosoma lacks microsculpture, except on median pronotum, sides of propodeal spines, and metapleural lobes (metanotum and median propodeum could not be examined). All surfaces of petiole, at least venter and sides of postpetiole, and at least sterna of gaster minutely and shallowly areolate with sharp, thin partitions. Much of dorsal aspect of gaster difficult to see, but at least anterior and lateral portions of T1, and the terminal terga are also shallowly microareolate.

Body covered with appressed to decumbent setiform pilosity. In addition, dorsa of head, mesosoma nodes, and gaster T1 and S1 with erect cuneate-fimbriate hairs. Mesosoma dorsum with more than 12 pairs of erect hairs; petiolar node with 2 pairs of posterodorsally projecting erect hairs (postpetiolar hairs hidden). All hair on terminal segments of gaster are setiform.

Type Material
Kugler (1994) - Holotype dealate queen, ARGENTINA: Tucuman [Holotype examined].

Known only from a single queen mounted on a microscope slide showing dorsal head (nearly split in half lengthwise), ventral maxillae and labium, lateral mesosoma and petiole, and a mostly ventral view of postpetiole and gaster.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.