Epopostruma vitta

The only biological details are from a collection made under a small rock in a relict patch of poor mallee.

Identification
This species lacks lateral extensions of the postpetiole, has short petiolar teeth which are approximately vertical and have their tips about the same width as the petiole, lacks rugae on the anterior margin of the gaster immediately behind the postpetiole, has sharp angles or short teeth at the posterolateral corners of the postpetiole, has a dark brown band on the yellow gaster and a dark yellow-red body colour.

The ACT specimen differs in having the posterolateral corners of the postpetiole slightly less angular and the banding of the gaster more sharply defined (in the South Australian specimens the edges of the band form a more gradual change). In most other characters these specimens are essentially the same (allowing for normal intraspecific variation in colour and sculpturing as seen in other species of this genus).

Key to Epopostruma Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  vitta. Epopostruma vitta Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 67, figs. 68, 78, 89 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
In full face view the lateral margin of the head between the eye and the posterior corner with a weakly defined angle. Pronotal spines distinct, elongate. Posterior section of metanotum in approximately the same plane as the dorsal face of propodeum, the junction of these plates indistinct. Posterior face of propodeum between bases of spines and propodeal lobes with thin, sometimes incomplete, flanges. Petiolar spines distinct. Anterior face of postpetiole shorter than the dorsal face; sides of postpetiole approximately vertical and rounding gradually from dorsal to posterior surfaces; with angles at the posterior corners; lateral margins of postpetiole weakly concave. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with weakly curved erect hairs. First gastral tergite, including area immediately behind attachment with gaster, smooth. Body colour dark yellow-red; gaster bicoloured yellow and light to dark brown.

Measurements

Holotype worker. TL 3.7mm, HL 0.81mm, HW 0.74mm, CI 91, MandL 0.40mm, MandI 49mm, SL 0.46mm, SI 62, PronW 0.50mm, ML 0.99mm.

CI (cephalic index) - HW/HL X 100. HL (head length) - The length of the head capsule excluding the mandibles, measured in full face view in a straight line from the mid point of the anterior clypeal margin to the mid point of the occipital margin. In species where one or both of these margins is concave the measurement is taken from the mid point of a transverse line that spans the apices of the projecting portions. HW (head width) - The maximum width of the head in full face view, excluding the eyes. MandI (mandibular index) - ML/HL X 100. MandL (mandible length) - The straight line length of the mandible at full closure, measured in the same plane for which the HL measurement is taken (i.e. full face view), from the mandibular apex to the anterior clypeal margin, or to the transverse line connecting the anteriormost points in those taxa where the margin is concave medially. ML (mesosomal length) (= Weber's length) - The diagonal length of the mesosoma in profile from the point at which the pronotum meets the cervical shield to the posterior basal angle of the metapleuron. PronW (pronotal width) - The maximum width of the pronotum in dorsal view. (Projecting spines, tubercles or other cuticular prominences at the pronotal humeral angles are ignored.) SI (scape index) - SL/HW X 100. SL (scape length) - The maximum straight line length of the scape, excluding the basal constriction or neck that occurs just distal of the condylar bulb. TL (total length) - The total outstretched length of the ant from the mandibular apex to the gastral apex; when measured in profile the sum of ML + HL + ML + lengths of waist segments + length of gaster.