Rogeria besucheti

Rogeria besucheti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Rogeria
Species:	R. besucheti
Binomial name
Rogeria besucheti Kugler, C., 1994 Specimen Label

Paraguayan specimens come from gallery forest with some bamboo. Peruvian specimens are from mixed broadleaf primary forest on a steep hillside at 1000m. In both localities collections resulted from Berlese and Winkler sampling of leaf litter and rotten wood.

Identification

Kugler (1994) - stigmatica species group. WL 0.67-0.75mm. Eye small (8-10 facets). Propodeal spiracles small, more than 3/4 diameter from infradental lamella. PSI 0.17-0.20. Metapleural lobes well developed. Inferior petiolar process a small step. Head, mesosoma, nodes and gaster with abundant decumbent pilosity and more sparse erect hairs.

Rogeria besucheti differs from Rogeria ciliosa, Rogeria gibba, Rogeria prominula, and Rogeria blanda in pilosity. It differs from Rogeria stigmatica and Rogeria megastigmatica in mesosoma shape, propodeal spine length, and generally smaller eye size.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Rogeria Species

Distribution

Paraguay and Peru.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 6.702222° to -23.45°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina, Paraguay (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

The following is modified from Kugler (1994): Little is known about these cryptic ants. Collection records typically range from sea level to 1000m, but five species extend higher and two (Rogeria unguispina and Rogeria merenbergiana) can be found at 2000m. Rogeria are generally collected in moist forests (primary or secondary forests, coffee or cacao plantations), but at higher elevations can be found in pastures (Rogeria leptonana, Rogeria merenbergiana). Several species (Rogeria creightoni, Rogeria cuneola, Rogeria foreli) have been found in moist and dry climates. Rogeria foreli is the most unusual, with some members dwelling at over 1800m in the temperate mountains of southern Arizona.

Most species have only been collected as strays or by Berlese or Winkler sampling, from leaf litter and rotten wood, but occasionally among epiphytes and moss (Rogeria belti, creightoni, Rogeria exsulans). Nests of several species (belti, Rogeria blanda, merenbergiana) have been found under the loose bark of rotten logs. Nests of blanda and Rogeria tonduzi have been taken from the trunks of cacao trees. A nest of Rogeria leptonana was found at 1750m under a rock in a pasture.

Nests are rarely found. Males are known for only four species (belti, blanda, leptonana and Rogeria stigmatica) and queens associated through nest series for only nine species.

Castes

Known only from workers.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• besucheti. Rogeria besucheti Kugler, C. 1994: 36, figs. 15-16 (w.) PARAGUAY.

Description

Worker

Holotype and Paratype - TL 2.7-3.1 (2.85), HL 0.65-0.71 (0.66), HW 0.59-0.63 (0.60), SL 0.43-0.49 (0.44), EL 0.05-0.08 (0.06) (8-10 facets), PW 0.42-0.46 (0.43), WL 0.67-0.75 (0.69), SpL 0.12-0.15 (0.13), PetL 0.30-0.34 (0.32), PpetL 0.16-0.18 (0.18)mm, CI O.87-0.90 (0.90), OI 0.08-0.13 (0.10), SI 0.72-0.78 (0.72), PSI 0.17-0.20 (0.18). N=7

Holotype mandible with 5 visible teeth decreasing in size basad. In paratypes, mandibles always with 3 apical teeth, but basal teeth may have additional denticles or be replaced by pairs of denticles. Palpal formula 3,2. Clypeal apron truncate; body of clypeus projecting enough to block view of apron in full dorsal view. Pronotal shoulders rounded. Shallow metanotal groove shallow present on dorsum and sides of mesosoma. Propodeum lacking a distinct transverse carina at anterior

Kugler 1994 fig 15-23

border. Peduncle of petiole with weak ventral keel; inferior process reduced to a small step. Petiolar node bulbous, wider than long. Postpetiolar node widest in anterior half (as in Fig. 74). Postpetiolar sternum short, anterior lip not greatly prominent. GW /WL 0.91-0.98. Terminal segments of gaster slightly rotated ventrad, but not enough to make T3 the distalmost point of the gaster. Sting apparatus much like that of ciliosa (Fig. 3), but: 1) anterior apodeme of spiracular plate widest mid length, 2) anterodorsal corner of quadrate plate longer, narrower, 3) anterior apodeme of oblong plate longer, 4) gonostylus a little longer, with two companion setae and less distinct gap in setation and 5) sting base lower and without anterolateral processes (Fig. 16).

Longitudinally rugose macrosculpture on frontal lobes becomes rugose-areolate on middorsum. Laterodorsa, sides, and posterior head areolate with rather small areolae; intervals smooth and shining, except for piligerous punctures. Pronotal disc varies from all rugose-areolate to all areolate. Rest of promesonotum slightly less coarsely areolate. Intervals smooth, except for piligerous punctures. Dorsal face of Propodeum densely microareolate, with or without overlying transverse rugulae.

Dorsum and anterior face of petiolar node smooth; rest of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes effaced areolate. Gaster predominantly smooth and shiny; T1 and Sl with piligerous punctures that in some specimens become weaker caudad. Remaining terga and sterna very weakly roughened and shiny.

Paraguayan specimens have suberect hair on scapes; others do not. Head dorsum with suberect hairs. Pilosity on mesosoma dorsum and nodes ranges from short and decumbent to long and erect; all curving quite strongly toward midline. Gaster T1 similar, but with no erect hairs. Terminal segments of gaster with rather dense erect hair and decumbent pilosity. No hair on ventral petiole.

Extremities and mandibles light brownish yellow. Rest of body brown with more yellowish than reddish accents; frontoclypeal area and terminal segments of gaster lighter.

Type Material

Paratype Specimen Labels

Holotype locality. PARAGUAY: Alto Parana Province, Puerto Santa Teresa, 3-XI-1979 (F. Baud, et al.) Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.

Paratype localities. COLOMBIA: 3 workers, Putumayo Department, Villa Garzón, 23-VII –1977 (D. Jackson) The Natural History Museum . PERU: 2 workers, Pasco Department, near Pozuzo, 1000m (c. Kugler and R. R. Lambert) [mouthparts, sting] Museum of Comparative Zoology, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo. PARAGUAY: 1 worker, San Benito Province, Itapua, 29-X-1982 (F. Baud, et al.) MHNG.

Etymology

This species is named for Claude Besuchet, who as director of the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève in Geneva was most helpful and patient in loaning material valuable for this work.

References

• Albuquerque, E., Prado, L., Andrade-Silva, J., Siqueira, E., Sampaio, K., Alves, D., Brandão, C., Andrade, P., Feitosa, R., Koch, E., Delabie, J., Fernandes, I., Baccaro, F., Souza, J., Almeida, R., Silva, R. 2021. Ants of the State of Pará, Brazil: a historical and comprehensive dataset of a key biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon Basin. Zootaxa 5001, 1–83 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5001.1.1).
• Franco, W., Ladino, N., Delabie, J.H.C., Dejean, A., Orivel, J., Fichaux, M., Groc, S., Leponce, M., Feitosa, R.M. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674, 509–543 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4674.5.2).
• Kugler, C. 1994. A revision of the ant genus Rogeria with description of the sting apparatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Hym. Res. 3: 17-89 (page 36, figs. 15-16 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Achury R., and A.V. Suarez. 2017. Richness and composition of ground-dwelling ants in tropical rainforest and surrounding landscapes in the Colombian Inter-Andean valley. Neotropical Entomology https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-017-0565-4
• Dias N. D. S., R. Zanetti, M. S. Santos, M. F. Gomes, V. Peñaflor, S. M. F. Broglio, and J. H. C. Delabie. 2012. The impact of coffee and pasture agriculture on predatory and omnivorous leaf-litter ants. Journal of Insect Science 13:29. Available online: http://www.insectscience.org/13.29
• Dias N. S., R. Zanetti, M. S. Santos, J. Louzada, and J. H. C. Delabie. 2008. Interaction between forest fragments and adjacent coffee and pasture agroecosystems: responses of the ant communities (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre, 98(1): 136-142.
• Fichaux M., B. Bechade, J. Donald, A. Weyna, J. H. C. Delabie, J. Murienne, C. Baraloto, and J. Orivel. 2019. Habitats shape taxonomic and functional composition of Neotropical ant assemblages. Oecologia 189(2): 501-513.
• Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
• Groc S., J. H. C. Delabie, F. Fernandez, F. Petitclerc, B. Corbara, M. Leponce, R. Cereghino, and A. Dejean. 2017. Litter-dwelling ants as bioindicators to gauge the sustainability of small arboreal monocultures embedded in the Amazonian rainforest. Ecological Indicators 82: 43-49.
• Pires de Prado L., R. M. Feitosa, S. Pinzon Triana, J. A. Munoz Gutierrez, G. X. Rousseau, R. Alves Silva, G. M. Siqueira, C. L. Caldas dos Santos, F. Veras Silva, T. Sanches Ranzani da Silva, A. Casadei-Ferreira, R. Rosa da Silva, and J. Andrade-Silva. 2019. An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhao, Brazil. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 59: e20195938.
• Santos M. S., J. N. C. Louzada, N. Dias, R. Zanetti, J. H. C. Delabie, and I. C. Nascimento. 2006. Litter ants richness (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in remnants of a semi-deciduous forest in the Atlantic rain forest, Alto do Rio Grande region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre, 96(1): 95-101.
• Siqueira de Castro F., A. B. Gontijo, P. de Tarso Amorim Castro, and S. Pontes Ribeiro. 2012. Annual and Seasonal Changes in the Structure of Litter-Dwelling Ant Assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Atlantic Semideciduous Forests. Psyche doi:10.1155/2012/959715
• Siqueira de Castro F., A. B. Gontijo, W. Duarte da Rocha, and S. Pontes Ribeiro. 2011. As comunidades de formigas de serapilheira nas florestas semidecíduas do Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais. MG.BIOTA, Belo Horizonte 3(5): 5-24.
• Wild, A. L. "A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 1622 (2007): 1-55.