Eurhopalothrix spectabilis

The holotype dealate queen was collected in a Berlese sample from Santa Catarina State. Subsequently Kempf described the worker from several series collected by K. Lenko in Barueri, São Paulo. These were from "sifted nest material of Camponotus rufipes (F.)," from three different nests.

Identification
This is a highly distinctive species. The clypeus is smooth, highly polished and glassy; the face is uniformly punctate but with the same highly polished integument; the basal lobes of the scape are very strongly developed; the ventral surface of the head has a pair of longitudinal carinae, particularly prominent in the queen; the face, dorsal mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral tergite are completely devoid of specialized setae and ground pilosity is similarly obsolete; the propodeal spines are acute but still subtended by a broad foliaceous crest; and the posterior margin of the petiolar node is strongly carinate. (Longino 2013)

Distribution
Brazil (Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina), Paraguay

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  spectabilis. Eurhopalothrix spectabilis Kempf, 1962b: 27, figs. 25-27 (q.) BRAZIL. Kempf, 1968b: 398 (w.).

Worker
Kempf, (1968) - Total length 2.8 mm; head length 0.71 mm; head width 0.64 mm; scape length 0.45 mm; thorax length 0.77 mm; cephalic index 91. Ferruginous. Legs and funiculi of antennae medium brown. Outline of head and body shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Mandibles very sparsely and finely punctate, almost smooth and quite shining; basal tooth represented by a broadly truncate lamella, followed apicad by approximately 9 small triangular denticles. Clypeus sparsely, rest of head more densely foveolate, intervals smooth and shining. Antennal scrobe with a prominent foliaceous and lamellate inferior border. Gular face of head bordered on each side by another carina (feebler than in female and not lamellate) running parallel to, and mesad of, the inferior border of the scrobe. Impressed and densely punctate area on occipital lobes, present in female, absent in worker.

Thorax densely foveolate-punctate, except on bottom half of sides and declivous face of epinotum, where the sculpture becomes feebler and almost obsolete; integument quite shining. Mesoepinotal suture distinct and impressed. Epinotal teeth compressed, lamelliform, the infradental lamelia very broad and foliaceolls, not receding below the tooth. Bulla of metasternal gland greatly projecting. Legs densely punctate and subopaque. Tibiae and metatarsi of hind legs somewhat broadened and compressed.

Petiole and postpetiole as in female, densely foveolate-punctate. Subpetiolar tooth elongate, fingerlike. Node of petiole excavate beneath posterior dorsal border, which is carinate and shows up as a tooth in side-view. Postpetiole postero-dorsally with a pair of weak tumuli separated by a short, shallow, median furrow. Gaster somewhat more coarsely foveolate, but a bit shinier than pedicel. Tergum I with a transverse carinuae on anterior border. Sting well developed.

Ground pilosity of body consisting of minute, decumbent and inconspicuous setulae, rising from the foveolae. Edge of inferior border of antennal scrobe, dorsal face of scape, legs and apical half of gastric sternum with small, decumbent, spatulate hairs. Larger, squamate or spatulate hairs present only on extensor face of tibiae, tarsi, apical half of gaster and leading edge of scape.

Type Material
Longino (2013) - Holotype queen: Brazil, Santa Catarina: Nova Teutonia, May 1960, sifted from leaf mold (F. Plaumann) (not examined).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Favretto M. A., E. Bortolon dos Santos, and C. J. Geuster. 2013. Entomofauna from West of Santa Catarina State, South of Brazil. EntomoBrasilis 6 (1): 42-63.
 * Kempf W. W. 1962. Miscellaneous studies on neotropical ants. II. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 5: 1-38.
 * Kempf W. W. 1968. Miscellaneous studies on Neotropical ants. IV. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 11: 369-415.
 * Kempf W. W. 1978. A preliminary zoogeographical analysis of a regional ant fauna in Latin America. 114. Studia Entomologica 20: 43-62.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Longino J. T. 2013. A review of the Central American and Caribbean species of the ant genus Eurhopalothrix Brown and Kempf, 1961 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a key to New World species. Zootaxa 3693(2): 101-151.
 * Mentone T. O., E. A. Diniz, C. B. Munhae, O. C. Bueno, and M. S. C. Morini. 2011. Composition of ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at litter in areas of semi-deciduous forest and Eucalyptus spp., in Southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 11(2): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v11n2/en/abstract?inventory+bn00511022011.
 * Oliveira Mentone T. de, E. A. Diniz, C. de Bortoli Munhae, O. Correa Bueno and M. S. de Castro Morini. 2012. Composition of ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at litter in areas of semi-deciduous forest and Eucalyptus spp., in Southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop 11(2): 237-246.
 * Pacheco, R., R.R. Silva, M.S. de C. Morini, C.R.F. Brandao. 2009. A Comparison of the Leaf-Litter Ant Fauna in a Secondary Atlantic Forest with an Adjacent Pine Plantation in Southeastern Brazil. Neotropical Entomology 38(1):055-065
 * Rosa da Silva R. 1999. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) do oeste de Santa Catarina: historico das coletas e lista atualizada das especies do Estado de Santa Catarina. Biotemas 12(2): 75-100.
 * Silva R.R., and C. R. F. Brandao. 2014. Ecosystem-Wide Morphological Structure of Leaf-Litter Ant Communities along a Tropical Latitudinal Gradient. PLoSONE 9(3): e93049. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093049
 * Suguituru S. S., D. R. de Souza, C. de Bortoli Munhae, R. Pacheco, and M. S. de Castro Morini. 2011. Diversidade e riqueza de formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) em remanescentes de Mata Atlântica na Bacia Hidrográfica do Alto Tietê, SP. Biota Neotrop. 13(2): 141-152.