Rasopone politognatha, 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 : 26

Rasopone politognatha New Species

( Fig. 9 ; Supp Figs. S28 and S29 [online only])

(Zoobank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C0B95FEC-48C6-468C-8E08-46D429972551 )

HOLOTYPE: 1 worker, Guatemala, Zacapa: 2 km SE La Unión , 14.95442 −89.27697 ± 50 m, 1,430 m, 12-v-2009, cloud forest, ex sifted leaf litter, LLAMA, Wa-B-03-2-08 [ CAS, unique specimen identifier CASENT0612523 ] . PARATYPES: same data as holotype except 14.95448 −89.27704 ± 50 m, 1,430 m, Wa-B-03-2-06 [1 worker, UNAM, CASENT0612522 ] ; 14.95454 −89.27711 ± 50 m, 1,430 m, Wa-B-03-2-04 [1 dealate queen, CAS, CASENT0612518 ] ; 14.9546 −89.27718 ± 50 m, 1,430 m, Wa-B-03-2-02 [1 worker, MCZC, CASENT0612516 ; 1 worker, UCD, CASENT0612517 ] ; 3.5 km SE La Union , 14.95 −89.26667 ±?, 1,500 m, 4-v-1991, cloud forest, forest litter, R. S. Anderson, RSA 91-050 [1 worker, UVGC, CASENT0603718 ] ; 6-v-1991, RSA 91-053 [1 worker, USNM, CASENT0603251 ] .

Geographic range. Mexico (Chiapas) to Nicaragua.

Diagnosis

Montane; mandible smooth and shiny; anterior clypeal margin truncate; side of head bare; petiolar node weakly tapering, subcuboidal. Three species are within geographic and size range of R. politognatha :

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

Rasopone guatemalensis ( Fig. 8 ; Supp Figs. S14 and S15 [online only]): petiole more scale-like; head narrower (mean CI 86 vs 92).

Rasopone subcubitalis ( Fig. 10 ; Supp Fig. S32 [online only]): mandible striate.

Measurements, worker: HW 1.16 (1.10–1.24, 12); HL 1.27 (1.20– 1.36, 12); SL 0.95 (0.87–0.99, 11); PTH 0.78 (0.71–0.82, 10); PTL 0.43 (0.40–0.47, 10); CI 92 (88–96, 12); SI 82 (79–86, 11); PTI 56 (52–60, 10).

Measurements, queen: HW 1.17, HL 1.28, SL 0.98, PTL 0.45, PTH 0.81, CI 91, SI 83, PTI 55 (n = 1).

Biology

This species occurs in cloud forest habitats, with records from 1,200 to 1,550 m elevation. All collections are workers and, in one case, a dealate queen in Winkler or Berlese samples of forest floor litter and rotten wood.

Comments

UCE and COI data support the delimitation of this species.

Figures

Fig. 9. Distribution map, face view, and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone costaricensis (holotype worker), R. politognatha (holotype worker), R. JTL035 (worker, Mexico, CASENT0640453), and Rasopone JTL049 (worker, Colombia, CASENT0644557). On distribution maps, red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality.

Fig. 11. Distribution map, face view, and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone ferruginea (worker, Nicaragua, CASENT0644264), R. JTL040 (worker, Colombia, MCZ-ENT00716609), R. JTL041 (worker,Colombia, MCZ-ENT00716614),and R. costaricensis form a (worker, Costa Rica, INB0003659312).On distribution maps, red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality (type locality for R. ferruginea is ‘Mexico’).

Fig. 12. Distribution map, face view, and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone JTL030 (worker, Panama, CASENT0633075), R. JTL037 (worker, Guatemala, CASENT0625283), R. mesoamericana (holotype worker), and R. JTL029 (worker, Panama, CASENT0633053). On distribution maps, red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality.

Fig. 13. Distribution map,face view,and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone cubitalis (holotype worker),R.titanis (worker,Mexico,Chiapas,MCZ-ENT00716640), R.breviscapa (holotype queen),and R.rupinicola (worker,Colombia,face view MCZ-ENT00716589,petiole CASENT0217567).On distribution maps,red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality.

Fig. 8. Distribution map, face view, and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone lunaris (worker, Brazil, Minas Gerais CASENT0644556), R. guatemalensis (holotype worker),R. costaricensis form c (worker,Costa Rica,INB0003659307),and R. JTL027 (worker,Panama,CASENT0633216).On distribution maps,red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality.

Fig. 10. Distribution map,face view, and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone costaricensis form b (worker,Costa Rica,INB0003223929),R. JTL047 (worker,French Guiana, CASENT0645960), R. panamensis (worker,Costa Rica, CASENT0644252), and R. subcubitalis (holotype worker). On distribution maps,red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality.