Diagnosis
Lordomyrma rugosa is one of the most distinctive species of Lordomyrma in Fiji. Like L. levifrons , L. polita and L. curvata , this species possesses long propodeal spines, well-developed, upturned propodeal lobes, and a robust petiole. It differs from the general appearance of the aforementioned species in its small eyes, darker coloration, and the heavy rugoreticulum covering all surfaces of its face. The only other Fijian congener with such strong facial sculpturing is L. striatella , from which L. rugosa can be distinguished by its larger size, coarser sculpture, rugoreticulate antennal scrobes, longer propodeal spines and lobes, and more robust petiole. Additionally, L. rugosa is the only known species of all Fijian Lordomyrma to bear strong striations on its mandibles and procoxae.
Measurement Table
| n = 10 | |||||||||
| min | 3.36 | 0.77 | 0.71 | 0.86 | 0.68 | 0.19 | 1.28 | 0.92 | 0.98 |
| max | 3.77 | 0.85 | 0.76 | 0.94 | 0.72 | 0.22 | 1.48 | 1.00 | 1.10 |
Distribution & Biology
Lordomyrma rugosa is known only from the Nadarivatu, Mt. Tomanivi area. Mann (1921) notes that the colonies are small and live beneath stones or in the ground, and that the workers are slow moving. I collected 66 workers and four males from a nest that was excavated in a clay soil with a 1mm entrance in the bare soil, and additional workers were observed on stones in another locality.
Distribution Table
| x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Type specimens
Rogeria rugosa Mann. Syntypes, 1 dealate queen, workers, Nadarivatu, [Viti Levu] Fiji (W. M. Mann).
Citation of original description
Mann, W. M. (1921). The ants of the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 64: 401-499.
Synonyms
Rogeria rugosa
Classification
Vespoidea: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Stenammini