Rasopone

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 : 28

Rasopone JTL035

( Fig. 9 ; Supp Fig. S38 [online only])

Geographic range. Mexico (Veracruz).

Diagnosis

Mandible smooth and shining; anterior clypeal margin truncate; side of head bare; petiolar node moderately tapering, intermediate between cuboidal and scale-like. Two species are within geographic and size range of R. JTL035:

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

Rasopone JTL034 ( Fig. 7 ; Supp Fig. S37 [online only]): no known local sympatry but in close proximity in Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, possibly segregating by elevation; somewhat smaller and lighter brown; side of head with inconspicuous, short erect setae.

Measurements, worker: HW 1.17, HL 1.20, SL 0.89, PTL 0.41, PTH 0.76, CI 97, SI 77, PTI 53 (n = 1).

Biology

This species is known from one specimen from mixed hardwood cloud forest at 1,114 m elevation. The specimen is from a Winkler sample of forest floor litter and rotten wood.

Comments

See Rasopone JTL034.

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. 7. Distribution map, face view, and lateral view of petiole of Rasopone MAS010 (worker, Costa Rica, 08COSTA-1723), R. cryptergates (worker, Costa Rica, INB0003660648), R. JTL042 (worker, Colombia, MCZ-ENT00716611),and R. JTL034 (worker, Mexico, CASENT0640282). On distribution maps, red dots are sites with UCE sequence data. Red boxes are type locality.