Rogeria belti

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Rogeria belti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Rogeria
Species: R. belti
Binomial name
Rogeria belti
Mann, 1922

Rogeria belti casent0178653 profile 1.jpg

Rogeria belti casent0178653 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

A widespread and common species of wet forests but as currently defined this name is likely to represent a species complex.

Identification

Kugler (1994) - creightoni species group. Most similar to but not quite like other species in the ' species group. WL 0.61-0.94mm. Clypeal apron usually with median notch, sometimes convex. Eyes large, oval. Propodeal spines moderately long, inclined (bisecting line usually passes well below anteroventral corner of pronotum). Promesonotal dorsum usually strongly areolate; postpetiolar node smooth. Scapes with erect hair. Hair on mesosoma dorsum decumbent to erect; not clearly sorting into two kinds. Head dorsum and gaster T1 with short decumbent and long erect/suberect hair. No erect hair on extensor surfaces of tibiae.

Some Rogeria alzatei specimens strongly resemble specimens of Rogeria belti from Costa Rica in size, habitus, spine length, and sculpture, but alzatei: 1) is smaller (WL 0.52-0.65mm), 2) has a truncate clypeal apron in Central America, 3) has smaller eyes (11-14 facets), and 4) lacks erect hair on the scapes.

The geographic ranges of Rogeria creightoni and belti overlap in much of Central America and some members look quite similar in size, sculpture, and pilosity. Workers of creightoni can be distinguished by: 1) generally smaller, elliptical eyes with longer propodeal spines (<19 facets; EL/SpL 0.29-0.64 vs. 0:62-1.23 in belti), 2) more horizontal propodeal spines, 3) promesonotal dorsum rugose to rugose-areolate, and 4) hair on mesosoma dorsum clearly sorting into two distinct kinds.

See discussions of Rogeria inermis, Rogeria tonduzi, Rogeria merenbergiana, and Rogeria exsulans for comparisons with other similar species.

This species is quite variable and Longino (Ants of Costa Rico, 1998) states this name represents a species complex. Two other distinctive forms have been noted.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Southern Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela. Elevations range from 200m to 1500m in Mexico and 50m to 950m in Panama.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 19.60083333° to -14.79861111°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras (type locality), Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela.

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

Labels with ecological data show collections from rain forest "in Philodendron," "frond sheaths on ground," leaf litter, around an epiphyte mat on a fallen branch, rotten wood, and in dead trees or branches on the ground. Jack Longino found a colony "nesting under loose bark of a still solid log fallen across trail." On another rotten log he lured workers from under the bark to a freshly killed tabanid (Longino, unpublished field notes).

Also, within Costa Rica, Longino (Ants of Costa Rico, 1998) has found: collected from both the ground (foragers, Winkler samples) and from the canopy (under epiphytes on branchfalls). Longino collected a nest from under loose bark of a still solid log fallen across a trail, and in another collection observed workers recruiting to a freshly killed tabanid from under the bark of a rotten log.

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

Nomenclature

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

  • belti. Rogeria belti Mann, 1922: 31 (w.) HONDURAS. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1989a: 324 (l.); Kugler, C. 1994: 61 (q.m.).

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

Kugler (1994) - Specimens from Miami, Costa Rica differ from typical belti in having: 1) an evenly convex clypeus, 2) a larger eye (31-36 facets vs. 20-30 in typical belti), 3) smaller propodeal spines (PSI 0.15-0.18 vs. 0.19-0.24 in typical belti), 4) generally narrower head, 5) head and mesosoma more rugose than areolate, and 6) weaker macrosculpture in general, but microsculpture stronger on head and petiolar node. Queens from Miami, Costa Rica like their workers have narrower heads, shorter ropodeal spines and weaker sculpture than the four from Guatemala, Panama and the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. I considered these Miami ants a new species until the arrival of new specimens from Costa Rica and Colombia. One worker from Heredia, Costa Rica has a convex clypeus like the Miami ants, but eye and propodeal spine size just within the typical belti range. Other workers from Colombia have eyes as large as any of the Miami specimens, but an emarginate clypeus like typical belti, and they have intermediate sculpture. While it is still possible that the Miami population represents a different species, I am not confident of that at present.

Description

Worker

Kugler (1994) - TL 2.4-3.4, HL 0.56-0.80, HW 0.48-0.69, SL 0.39-0.55, EL 0.10-0.14 (20-36 facets), PW 0.34-0.51, WL 0.61-0.94, SpL 0.11-0.20, PetL 0.25-0.39, PpetL 0.13-0.21mm, CI 0.82-0.89, OI 0.18-0.25, SI 0.76-0.89, PSI 0.14-0.24. N=31

Mandibles with 5-6 teeth; typically 5 teeth evenly decreasing in size basad followed by a large basal tooth, or 4 teeth are followed by 1 or 2 denticles and a large basal tooth. A few specimens in scattered localities have an additional denticle between the third and fourth teeth. Palpal formula 3,2. Clypeal apron medially emarginated in most, but evenly convex in specimens from Miami, Costa Rica. Body of clypeus not projecting over clypeal apron. Posterior outline of head weakly convex, sometimes with a slight median concavity. Eyes sometimes narrower than shown in Fig. 35; widest in Miami, Costa Rica

Kugler 1994 fig 32-39

specimens. Pronotum from the side usually subangular at junction of anterior and dorsal faces; from above, shoulders well rounded. Metanotal groove either hardly visible, or a distinct narrow groove, or a small step in mesosoma profile; usually marked behind by a transverse ridge. Propodeal spiracles small, slightly more than 1 diameter from posterior edge of propodeum, facing slightly caudad. Metapleural lobes narrowly to broadly rounded. Petiolar keel not lamellate. Petiolar node usually dome-shaped, but sometimes slightly flattened on top. Postpetiolar node highest in posterior half; dorsal view subtrapezoidal as in Fig. 49; sternum long and flat. Sting apparatus as in creightoni-group diagnosis.

Longitudinal rugae on frontal lobes become rugose-areolate by midlength of head; middle pair of rugae usually remain free of cross-ridges until posterior head. Cheeks and laterodorsa areolate to rugose-areolate. Sides of head strongly areolate in most, but nearly smooth in Miami, Costa Rica specimens. Posterior head areolate with no clear transverse pattern in most, but transversely arching rugose to rugose-areolate in ants from Miami, Costa Rica and Colombia. Promesonotum generally coarsely areolate to areolate-rugose, but lower in relief and more rugose in specimens from Miami, Costa Rica and some from Colombia. Meso- and metapleura confused areolate to rugose. Dorsal face of propodeum predominantly transversely rugose, except for Boquete, Panama specimens, in which dorsal face is indistinctly areolate. Petiolarnode not as heavily sculptured as mesosoma, but distinctly areolate to weakly rugose-areolate; dorsal and anterior faces often free of macrosculpture. Intervals irregular and usually shiny. Microsculpture generally weak and indistinct, producing quite shiny intervals in macrosculpture, especially on sides of head, mesosoma, and on petiolar node. Head dorsum and petiolar node of Miami, Costa Rica specimens with more pronounced microsculpture, lending a granular appearance.

Most dark reddish-brown with yellowish-brown mandibles, antennae and legs. Specimens from Boquete, Panama and Miami, Costa Rica lighter, with more yellowish appendages and end of gaster. Mexican specimens reddish-black with brown appendages.

Queen

Kugler (1994) - TL 3.0-3.4, HL 0.68-0.74, HW 0.58-0.64, SL 0.48-0.52, EL 0.18-0.20, PW 0.48-0.59, WL 0.88-1.00, SpL 0.13-0.21, PetL 0.29-0.37, PpetL 0.18-0.20mm, CI 0.84-0.85, SI 0.77-0.86, PSI 0. 14-0.21. N=5

Like the worker except for normal queen structures and the presence of predominantly rugose sculpture on the mesonotum. Parapsidal furrows indistinguishable from furrows in sculpture. Habitus similar to that of merenbergiana queen, but mesonotum slightly more convex and propodeal spines longer and narrower. Wings as in male.

Male

Kugler (1994) - TL 3.4-3.5, HL 0.59-0.61, HW 0.65-0.70, SL 0.32-0.35, EL 0.32, PW 0.71-0.72, WL 1.12-1.19, PetL 0.40-0.41, PpetL 0.19-0.20mm, CI 1.11- 1.15, SI 0.50. N=2

All five specimens from La Ceiba, Honduras. Mandibles with 5 teeth. Clypeus weakly emarginate. Flagellomeres 2-1 1 straight, subequal in length and width. Wings, habitus and genitalia as shown in Figs. 37-39. Rs vein curves away from leading edge of wing; r-m vein lost; M vein short. Mandibles smooth except for piligerous punctures. Face very finely areolate, opaque. Posterior head longitudinally rugose. Pronotum weakly punctate. Mesonotum and posterior face of Propodeum finely rugulose and densely punctured. Mesopleura longitudinally striate right under wing, otherwise smooth and shiny with piligerous punctures. Metapleura and sides of Propodeum longitudinally rugose. Posterior face of Propodeum rugose-areolate. Petiolar node finely punctate to smooth. Postpetiole and gaster smooth and shiny. Hair as in worker, but more dense. Color brownish- black, with brown legs and antennae and brownish-yellow mandibles.

Type Material

Kugler (1994) - Syntype workers, HONDURAS: Progreso (Mann) National Museum of Natural History [2 of 12 syntypes examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Branstetter M. G. and L. Sáenz. 2012. Las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de Guatemala. Pp. 221-268 in: Cano E. B. and J. C. Schuster. (eds.) 2012. Biodiversidad de Guatemala. Volumen 2. Guatemala: Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, iv + 328 pp
  • Castano-Meneses, G., M. Vasquez-Bolanos, J. L. Navarrete-Heredia, G. A. Quiroz-Rocha, and I. Alcala-Martinez. 2015. Avances de Formicidae de Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
  • Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
  • INBio Collection (via Gbif)
  • 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.
  • Longino J. T. 2013. Ants of Honduras. Consulted on 18 Jan 2013. https://sites.google.com/site/longinollama/reports/ants-of-honduras
  • Longino J. T. 2013. Ants of Nicargua. Consulted on 18 Jan 2013. https://sites.google.com/site/longinollama/reports/ants-of-nicaragua
  • Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
  • Longino J. T., and R. K. Colwell. 2011. Density compensation, species composition, and richness of ants on a neotropical elevational gradient. Ecosphere 2(3): 16pp.
  • Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/
  • Philpott, S.M., P. Bichier, R. Rice, and R. Greenberg. 2007. Field testing ecological and economic benefits of coffee certification programs. Conservation Biology 21: 975-985.
  • Rocha-Ortega M., and M. E. Favila. 2013. The recovery of ground ant diversity in secondary Lacandon tropical forests. Journal of Insect Conservation 17(6): 1161-1167.
  • Rodriguez E. R., and J. E. Lattke. 2012. Diversidad de hormigas en un gradiente altitudinal de la cordillera de la Costa, Venezuela. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 50: 295?304.
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