Rasopone subcubitalis, Longino, John T. & Branstetter, Michael G., 2020

Longino, John T. & Branstetter, Michael G., 2020, Phylogenomic Species Delimitation, Taxonomy, and ‘ Bird Guide’ Identification for the Neotropical Ant Genus Rasopone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (2), No. 1, pp. 1-33 : 27

Rasopone subcubitalis New Species

( Fig. 10; Supp Fig. S32 [online only]) (u r n:l s i d:z o o b a n k.o r g:a c t: DAC5 2 8 6 6-D D2 0-4B9 0- 8 4E F - DC01811CB9A3)

HOLOTYPE: 1 worker, Honduras, Comayagua: PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.87137 −87.90032 ± 20 m, 1,120 m, 20-v-2010, ridgetop cloud forest, ex sifted leaf litter, LLAMA,Wa-C-04-1-02 [ CAS, unique specimen identifier CASENT0615367 ] . PARATYPES: same data as holotype [1 worker, JTLC, CASENT0644540 ; 1 worker, UNAM, CASENT0644539 ] ; same data except 14.87112 −87.89938 ± 300 m, 1,100 m, Wm-C-04-1-01 [1 worker, DZUP, CASENT0644538 ; 1 worker, UCD, CASENT0644537 ] ; 14.8712 −87.90011 ± 20 m, 1,120 m, Wa-C-04-1-08 [1 worker, MCZC, CASENT0615252 ; 1 worker, USNM, CASENT0617285 ] .

Geographic range. Mexico (Chiapas) to Honduras.

Diagnosis. Mandible striate; anterior clypeal margin truncate; side of head with evenly distributed short erect setae; face sculpture of dense, minute puncta overlain with larger, more widely spaced puncta visible in particular orientation and lighting; petiolar node subcuboidal. Three species are within geographic and size range of R. subcubitalis :

Rasopone ferruginea ( Fig. 11; Supp Figs. S12 and S 13 [online only]): anterior clypeal margin sinuous; petiole more scale-like.

Rasopone guatemalensis ( Fig. 8; Supp Figs. S14 and S15 [online only]): mandible smooth; petiole more scale-like.

Rasopone politognatha ( Fig. 9; Supp Figs. S28 and S29 [online only]): mandible smooth and shining.

Measurements, worker: HW 1.25 (1.21–1.30, 9); HL 1.40 (1.36– 1.44, 9); SL 1.06 (1.03–1.09, 3); PTH 0.94 (0.90–1.00, 8); PTL 0.52 (0.50–0.55, 8); CI 89 (88–90, 9); SI 84 (84–85, 3); PTI 55 (53–60, 8).

Biology

This species occurs in a range of wet to moist forest habitats, with records from 390 to 1400 m elevation. Only workers are known, all from Winkler or Berlese samples of forest floor litter and rotten wood.

Comments

UCE and COI data support this species delimitation.