Epopostruma areosylva

Epopostruma areosylva occurs from south-eastern Queensland south to central New South Wales. Collections have been made in dry sclerophyll, open grasslands and Eucalyptus forests.

Identification
Anterior face of postpetiole similar in length to or shorter than the dorsal and posterior faces. Sides of postpetiole approximately vertical and rounding gradually from dorsal to posterior surfaces and with spines or angles at the anterior and posterior corners. In dorsal view the posterolateral teeth of the postpetiole wider than the anterolateral teeth. First gastral tergite smooth or nearly so, at most with only very weak, widely spaced rugae.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  areosylva. Epopostruma areosylva Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 62, figs. 69, 81 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
In full face view the lateral margin of the head between the eye and the posterior corner angular. Pronotal spines present, distinct. Posterior section of metanotum in approximately the same plane as the dorsal face of propodeum, the junction of these plates a very shallow depression. Posterior face of propodeum between bases of spines and propodeal lobes with thin flanges. Petiolar spines present, distinct. Anterior face of postpetiole similar in length to or shorter than the dorsal and posterior faces; sides of postpetiole approximately vertical and rounding gradually from dorsal to posterior surfaces and with spines or angles at the anterior and posterior corners; in dorsal view the posterolateral teeth of the postpetiole wider than the anterolateral teeth; posterolateral margin of postpetiole (immediately anterior of gaster) weakly concave. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with numerous elongate erect hairs, the majority of which are bend near their tips. First gastral tergite smooth or nearly so; gaster immediately behind attachment with gaster with very short rugae. Body colour varying from yellow-red to red-brown with the dorsal surface of head darker than the body; gaster either uniform in colour or with a dark band across the posterior section of the first tergite.

Measurements

Holotype worker. TL 3.9mm, HL 0.83mm, HW 0.81mm, CI 98, MandL 0.48mm, MandI 58, SL 0.54mm, SI 67, PronW 0.53mm, ML 0.98mm.

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.