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.

Figures

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. 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.

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’).