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Rogeria terescandens
| Rogeria terescandens | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Rogeria |
| Species: | R. terescandens |
| Binomial name | |
| Rogeria terescandens Kugler, C., 1994 | |
Specimens of Rogeria terescandens have been taken from trees in lowland forest on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The holotype was collected in a two week old treefall by general collecting on trunks. The paratype was on or beneath a thick epiphyte mat on the base of a fallen branch (J. Longino unpublished field notes). Longino also reports (Ants of Costa Rica 1998) "The ALAS project at La Selva Biological Station produced two more workers, from a canopy fogging sample. The species is apparently a rare canopy dweller."
Identification
Kugler (1994) - scandens species group. Like that of Rogeria scandens, except: 1) Propodeal spines shorter, 2) petiolar node lower, more slender (PetW/PetL0.40-0.41), 3) postpetiole narrower (PpetW/PpetL 1.08-1.16), and 4) macrosculp ture very weak, especially on mesosoma and waist, and 5) eye slightly smaller.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 10.99261° to 8.466666667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (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. |
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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
Only known from workers.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- terescandens. Rogeria terescandens Kugler, C. 1994: 39, fig. 21 (w.) COSTA RICA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype and Paratype. TL 3.6, HL (0.88)-0.89, HW (0.68)-0.70, 5L (0.70)-0.71, EL 0.16 (49-54 facets), PW (0.50)-0.52, WL 1.00, 5pL (0.18)-0.21, PetL (0.45)-0.47, PpetL 0.25mm, CI (0.77)-0.79, OI 0.23-(0.24), SI 1 .01-(1 .03), PSI (0.18)-0.21. N=2.
Also differing from Rogeria scandens in the following ways. Mandible with 6 teeth. Profile of mesosoma dorsum almost evenly convex; no metanotal groove or ridge at front of propodeum. Median carinulae on clypeus weak; no lateral carinulae. Head dorsum densely microareolate; overlain on mid dorsum by wisps of of longitudinal rugulae, on laterodorsa by faint reticulations, and on posterior of head by fragmented, transversely arching rugulae. Microsculpture on sides and posterior head effaced. Mesosoma dorsum, including dorsal face of propodeum, densely microareolate, with superimposed patches of fine rugulose-areolate macrosculpture. Pronotal sides shiny and coriarious with some effaced longitudinal rugulae. Mesopleura and metapleura also shiny near coxae, but more opaque dorsad with microareolate and confused rugulose sculpture. Sides of petiolarnode shiny, with effaced microareolate background and vestigial longitudinal rugulae. Postpetiole smooth and shiny.
Type Material
Holotype locality. COSTA RICA: Osa Peninsula, Sirena, 8.28N 83.3SW, 50m, 3-III-1982, #0950 (J. Longino) Museum of Comparative Zoology. Paratype locality. 1 worker, holotype locality, 28-V-1981, #1 100 (J. Longino) Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
Etymology
The name of this species refers to sculpture like that of Rogeria scandens, but smoother, as if rubbed (teres L., rubbed off).
References
- 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 39, fig. 21 worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- INBio Collection (via Gbif)
- 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. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/