Dolichoderus canopus

This species is currently known from only two specimens collected in a berlesate sample consisting of litter from under Casuarina cristata trees taken in southern South Australia. Nothing more is known of its biology.

Identification
Pale markings absent from lower margin of the eyes; sculpturing pattern of head and pronotum, although with large fovea, is indistinct; in dorsal view the pronotum with only weakly defined shoulders, with the area between the shoulders convex to flat; pronotum and propodeum lacking spines; dorsum of propodeum weakly and evenly convex, the length shorter (at most approximately the same length) than the posterior face; a narrow, distinct carina separating the dorsal and posterior faces; posterior face of propodeum weakly concave; gaster dark brown to black with sparse pubescence on the first gastral tergite, with hairs generally not overlapping or entirely absent; tibiae with erect or suberect hairs.

This species is most similar to Dolichoderus formosus and Dolichoderus nigricornis but can be distinguished by the weaker sculpturing pattern on the head compared to the distinct sculpturing pattern of D. formosus and D. nigricornis.

Key to Australian Dolichoderus Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  canopus. Dolichoderus canopus Shattuck & Marsden, 2013: 110, fig. 4 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
The two known specimens of this species are nearly identical.

Measurements (n=2). CI 85–85; EI 36–37; EL 0.31–0.32; HL 1.01–1.01; HW 0.86–0.86; ML 1.32–1.38; MTL 0.73–0.73; PronI 64.92–68.22; PronW 0.56–0.58; SI 114–117; SL 0.98–1.00.