Phylogenomic Species Delimitation, Taxonomy, and ‘ Bird Guide’ Identification for the Neotropical Ant Genus Rasopone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Author
Longino, John T.
Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112,
john.longino@utah.edu
Author
Branstetter, Michael G.
USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Utah State
text
Insect Systematics and Diversity
2020
2020-03-31
4
2
1
1
33
journal article
22150
10.1093/isd/ixaa004
430a96d1-f5cd-4234-a35d-3f324ed63974
2399-3421
3826703
0DE2398D-199F-40A7-8207-91148630CD76
Rasopone
JTL034
(
Fig. 7
; Supp Fig. S37 [online only])
Geographic range.
Mexico
(
Puebla
,
Veracruz
),
Honduras
.
Diagnosis
Mandible smooth and shining or very faintly striate; anterior clypeal margin truncate; side of head with short erect setae; petiolar node moderately tapering, intermediate between cuboidal and scale-like. Three species are within geographic and size range of
R
. JTL034:
Rasopone guatemalensis
(
Fig. 8
; Supp Figs. S14 and S15 [online only]): no known local sympatry, but ranges overlap; petiolar node slightly more tapering, scale-like; scape longer (mean SI 86 vs 76); head narrower (mean CI 86 vs 93).
Rasopone politognatha
(
Fig. 9
; Supp Figs. S28 and S29 [online only]): no known local sympatry, but ranges overlap; side of head bare; scape slightly longer (mean SI 82 vs 76).
Rasopone
JTL035 (
Fig. 9
; Supp Fig. S38 [online only]): no known local sympatry but in close proximity in Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, possibly segregating by elevation; somewhat larger and darker red brown; side of head bare.
Measurements, worker:
HW 1.11 (1.04–1.15, 3); HL 1.19 (1.12– 1.23, 3); SL 0.85 (0.79–0.91, 3); PTH 0.73 (0.68–0.77, 3); PTL 0.42 (0.39–0.45, 3); CI 93 (92–93, 3); SI 77 (75–79, 3); PTI 58 (56–61, 3).
Biology
This species occurs in wet to moist forest, with records from
170 to 980 m
elevation. It is known from four widely separated localities. The three known worker specimens are from Winkler samples of forest floor litter and rotten wood. A male was collected
14 June
2010
in a Malaise trap.
Comments
UCE results unite three workers from widely separated localities. The sister taxon is the single specimen of
R
. JTL035, which appears to be a more montane version of
R
. JTL034 that is slightly larger and darker. The specimen of
R
. JTL035 is from a cloud forest site in Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, while one of the specimens of
R
. JTL034 is from just a few kilometers away, in the lowland rainforest of Los Tuxtlas Biological Station. However, the Los Tuxtlas specimen of
R
. JTL034 forms a clade with specimens from
Puebla
(
Mexico
) and
Honduras
. COI data unite a male from Tela,
Honduras
, with the three worker specimens (
Fig. 3
).