Rogeria brunnea

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Rogeria brunnea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Rogeria
Species: R. brunnea
Binomial name
Rogeria brunnea
Santschi, 1930

Rogeria brunnea casent0913962 p 1 high.jpg

Rogeria brunnea casent0913962 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

Little is known about this rarely collected species.

Identification

Kugler (1994) - creightoni species group. WL 0.61-0.91mm. Clypeal apron convex. Eye small, elliptical. Nuchal groove weakly visible in lateral view. MHI 0.84-0.99. Pronotal shoulders well rounded. Propodeal spines straight, inclined. Propodeal spiracle less than 1 diameter from edge of infradental lamella. Postpetiole long (PpetL/PW 0.42-0.49), subtrapezoidal in dorsal view; sternum with long, flat profile and receding anterior edge (except Dominican Republic). Both macro- and microsculpture weak overall (stronger in. Dominican Republic). Rugae fine, low on head and mesosoma; vestigial on petiole. Erect hair sometimes sparse and only slightly longer than decumbent hair. Scapes have erect hairs; extensor surfaces of legs do not.

Workers of this species have two disjunct sizes. In the smaller size range (WL 0.62-0.70mm) are three specimens from (Cuba) Pinar del Río Province (including brunnea syntypes), one from Soledad (scabra syntype), one from I. Pinas, three from Dominican Republic, and one from Bahamas. The larger workers (WL 0.80-0.91mm) are from Sierra del Rosario (Rogeria cubensis holotype), Soledad, Playa Marianao (Rogeria habanica holotype), Sierra Maestra, and Sierra Anale. Aside from size, the smaller workers show little consistent difference from the larger workers, and in ways that often vary within Rogeria species: 1) slightly more macrosculpture on petiolar node, and 2) slightly more extensive microareolate sculpture on sides of mesosoma. The specimens from Dominican Republic differ from the rest in having a more compact mesosoma, more distinct postpetiolar node and sternum in side view, and slightly stronger sculpture.

Workers of Rogeria creightoni from San Jose, Costa Rica have the same size as larger brunnea and much the same pilosity, nuchal groove, and shape of mesosoma and petiole. Rogeria creightoni specimens from Yucatan and Chiapas have size, eye size, postpetiole, and pilosity like the larger brunnea, and the Yucatan specimen has similar mesosoma shape. But brunnea workers can be distinguished by the combination of characters in the diagnosis.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Known from Cuba, Dominican Republic and Bahamas.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 23.133° to 17.77385°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Bahamas, Cuba (type locality), Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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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

Males have not been collected.

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Rogeria brunnea casent0913963 h 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913963 p 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913963 d 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913963 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Rogeria caraibaWorker. Specimen code casent0913963. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.
Rogeria brunnea casent0913964 h 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913964 p 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913964 d 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913964 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Rogeria cubensisWorker. Specimen code casent0913964. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.
Rogeria brunnea casent0913965 h 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913965 p 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913965 d 1 high.jpgRogeria brunnea casent0913965 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Rogeria cubensis habanicaWorker. Specimen code casent0913965. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.

Nomenclature

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

  • brunnea. Rogeria (Rogeria) curvipubens st. brunnea Santschi, 1930e: 79 (w.) CUBA. Kugler, C. 1994: 49 (q.). Raised to species: Santschi, 1936b: 201. Senior synonym of caraiba, cubensis, habanica, scabra: Kugler, C. 1994: 48.
  • scabra. Rogeria (Rogeria) scabra Weber, 1934a: 27, fig. 2 (w.q.) CUBA. Junior synonym of brunnea: Kugler, C. 1994: 48.
  • caraiba. Rogeria (Irogera) caraiba Santschi, 1936b: 198, fig. 5 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of brunnea: Kugler, C. 1994: 48.
  • cubensis. Rogeria (Irogera) cubensis Santschi, 1936b: 199, figs. 3, 4 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of brunnea: Kugler, C. 1994: 48.
  • habanica. Rogeria (Irogera) cubensis var. habanica Santschi, 1936b: 200 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of brunnea: Kugler, C. 1994: 48.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Kugler (1994) - TL 2.3-3.3, HL 0.57-0.80, HW 0.45-0.70, SL 0.36-0.52, EL 0.06-0.09 (9-18 facets), PW 0.35-0.49, WL 0.61-0.91, SpL 0.09-0.15, PetL 0.25-0.34, PpetL 0.15-0.22mm, CI 0.79-0.87, OI 0.12-0.16, SI 0.73-0.89, PSI 0.15-0.17, MHI 0.84-0.94. N=16

Mandibles with 5-7 teeth; basal tooth equal to or slightly larger than penultimate basal; a denticle may occur between basal teeth. Body of clypeus not projecting over apron. Posterior outline of head convex to weakly concave. Mesosoma with broadly rounded shoulders; metanotal groove a weak impression or absent; no ridge at anterior of propodeum. Propodeal spines narrow,

Kugler 1994 fig 49-54

moderately long; a bisecting line passes dorsal to propodeal spiracle and through or below anteroventral corner of pronotum. Metapleural lobes low, angular. Petiolar peduncle with strong keel; node large and somewhat bulbous. Postpetiolar node with long, low profile and weakly defined posterior and anterior faces (more distinct in Dominican Republic).

Laterodorsa and sides of head rugose-areolate; in most Cuban specimens ridges become very weak on sides, even absent in spots. Posterior head with transversely arching rugose-areolate macrosculp-ture. Anterior pronotal disc transversely rugose to rugose-areolate; rest of pronotum longitudinally rugose, usually with incomplete cross-ridges between rugae. Mesonotum more rugose-areolate. Pronotal sides basically rugose (areolate-rugose in Dominican Republic); meso- and metapleura confused rugose-areolate with some smooth patches. Dorsal face of propodeum transversely rugose. Vague rugosities on sides and / or posterior petiolar node; postpetiolar node smooth.

Color brown to yellowish-brown, with lighter, more yellowish appendages and frontoclypeal region.

Queen

Kugler (1994) - TL 2.8-3.4, HL 0.59-0.74, HW 0.52-0.65, SL 0.39-0.50, EL 0.1 1-0.15, PW 0.45-0.52, WL 0.81-0.95, SpL 0.10-0.16, PetL 0.26 (estimated)-0.40, PpetL 0.17-0.22mm, CI 0.86-0.89, SI 0.74-0.78, PSI 0.13-0.16, MHI (Cuban only; could not measure in Bahamian) 0.97-1.06. N=3

Apparently collected as strays, so not definitely associated with workers described above. The Bahamian queen distinctly smaller (all of the smallest measurements above); Cuban queens nearly identical in size. Mandible with 6 teeth; basal and penultimate tooth subequal in size. Clypeus evenly convex. Posterior outline of head medially concave. Mesosoma of Cuban queens robust, shaped like that of scobinata, but larger and with more prominent, angular metapleural lobes. Mesosoma of Bahamian queen seems like that of Cuban queens, but is obscured by legs. Waist as in workers, except for lack of keel on the petiolar peduncle in Cuban specimen. PpetW / PpetL 1.05-1 .14. Sculpture much as in workers. Macrosculpture on sides of head weak. Most of ventral half of mesopleura smooth. Pilosity and color as in workers.

Type Material

Kugler (1994) - Syntype workers, CUBA: Pinar del Río, Sierra de los Organos, Rángel (A. Bierig) (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) (Both syntypes examined). N. comb.

Rogeria scabra Weber 1934:27, Fig, 2. Syntype workers, queen, CUBA: Cienfuegos, Soledad, Limones Seboruco (Darlington and Weber) (Museum of Comparative Zoology) (Queen and 1 of 2 worker syntypes examined).

Rogeria caraiba Santschi 1936:198, Fig. 5. Syntype workers, CUBA: Habana, Playa de Marianao (NHMB) (All 8 syntypes examined).

Rogeria ceubensis Santschi 1936:199, Figs. 3-4. Holotypeworker, CUBA: Pinar del Río, Sierra del Rosario (A. Bierig) (NHMB) (Holotype examined).

Rogeria eubensis habaniea Santschi 1936:200. Holotype worker, CUBA: Playa de Marianao (Bierig) (NHMB) (Holotype examined).

References

  • Deyrup, M. 1998. Composition of the ant fauna of three Bahamian Islands. Pages 23-31 in T. K. Wilson, editor. Proceedings of the 7th symposium on the natural history of the Bahamas. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas.
  • 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 48, Senior synonym of caraiba, cubensis, habanica and scabra)
  • Lubertazzi, D. 2019. The ants of Hispaniola. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 162(2), 59-210 (doi:10.3099/mcz-43.1).
  • Santschi, F. 1930e. Quelques fourmis de Cuba et du Brésil. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Egypte 14: 75-83 (page 79, worker described)
  • Santschi, F. 1936b. Contribution à l'étude des fourmis de l'Amérique du Sud. Rev. Entomol. (Rio J.) 6: 196-218 (page 201, raised to species)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Alayo D. P. 1974. Introduccion al estudio de los Himenopteros de Cuba. Superfamilia Formicoidea. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Serie Biologica no.53: 58 pp. La Habana.
  • Deyrup M., L. Davis, and S. Buckner. 1998. Composition of the ant fauna of three Bahamian islands. Proceedings of the seventh symposium on the natural history of the Bahamas. 23-32. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas
  • Fontanla Rizo J.L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba. Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
  • Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
  • Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
  • Kempf W. W. 1962. Miscellaneous studies on neotropical ants. II. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 5: 1-38.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Kugler C. 1994. A revision of the ant genus Rogeria with description of the sting apparatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 3: 17-89.
  • Kusnezov N. 1963. Zoogeografia de las hormigas en sudamerica. Acta Zoologica Lilloana 19: 25-186
  • Morrison L. W. 1998. A review of Bahamian ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) biogeography. Journal of Biogeography 25: 561-571.
  • Perez-Gelabert D. E. 2008. Arthropods of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti): A checklist and bibliography. Zootaxa 1831:1-530.
  • Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
  • Portuondo Ferrer E., and J. L. Fernández Triana. 2005. Species of hymenopterans (bees, wasps, and ants) recorded in Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, from literature records, revision of the collection at BIOECO, and collections before and during the rapid inventory, 12-22 February 2004. In Fong G., A., D. Maceira F., W. S. Alverson, y/and T. Wachter, eds. 2005. Cuba: Parque Nacional “Alejandro de Humboldt.” Rapid Biological Inventories Report 14. The Field Museum, Chicago.
  • Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.
  • Reyes, J. L. "Inventario de la colección de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba." Boletín de la Sociedad Aragonesa 36 (2005): 279-283.
  • Santschi F. 1930. Quelques fourmis de Cuba et du Brésil. Bulletin. Société Entomologique d'Egypte. 14: 75-83.
  • Santschi F. 1931. Fourmis de Cuba et de Panama. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro). 1: 265-282.
  • Santschi F. 1936. Contribution à l'étude des fourmis de l'Amérique du Sud. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro). 6: 196-218.
  • Weber N. A. 1934. Notes on neotropical ants, including the descriptions of new forms. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro) 4: 22-59.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1937. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 81: 439-465.