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.