Rasopone cubitalis, 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 : 22-23

Rasopone cubitalis New Species

( Fig. 13; Supp Figs. S10 and S 11 [online only])

(u r n:l s i d: z o o b a n k.o r g:a c t: 7 1B E7 5 8 1-2 9A F -4 0A 5-A5 7 9- 1ECFA88160EC)

HOLOTYPE: 1 worker, Costa Rica, Alajuela, 10 km E Monteverde , 10.30677 −84.7165 ± 50 m, 880 m, 17-v-2014, wet forest, nest in clay bank, J. Longino, JTL8670 [UCR, unique specimen identifier CASENT0635091 ] . PARATYPE: same data as holotype [1 worker, CAS, CASENT 0633211].

Geographic range. Southern Nicaragua to Costa Rica.

Diagnosis

Lowland; mandible smooth and shiny; anterior clypeal margin short, sinuous; side of head with abundant erect setae; face with abundant short erect setae; face sculpture of dense, minute puncta overlain

with larger, more widely spaced puncta visible in particular orientation and lighting; petiole cuboidal.

Measurements, worker: HW 1.56 (1.50–1.65, 4); HL 1.70 (1.65– 1.76, 4); SL 1.41 (1.34–1.50, 4); PTH 1.06 (1.00–1.13, 4); PTL 0.58 (0.54–0.64, 4); CI 91 (89–93, 4); SI 91 (90–92, 4); PTI 55 (51–58, 4). Measurements, queen: HW 1.82, HL 1.93, SL 1.61, PTL 0.66, PTH 1.26, CI 94, SI 88, PTI 52 (n = 1).

Biology

This species occurs in lowland rainforest, with records from 160 to 880 m elevation. Workers have twice been collected in Winkler samples of forest floor litter and rotten wood. An alate queen was collected in a Malaise trap in October. Two workers and a larva were collected in a small chamber in a clay bank, in mature rainforest.

Comments

This species is known from three localities, one in southern Nicaragua and two in northern Costa Rica. UCE and COI data show a single cluster with little sequence divergence among the three populations.