Prionopelta opaca

This species has been found in rainforests with workers being collected from leaf litter on the forest floor. Nests occur in soil under objects and in rotten wood. P. opaca and Prionopelta robynmae have been collected from the same litter sample in PNG. (Shattuck 2008)

Identification
Shattuck (2008) - Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded. Dorsal mesosomal sculpturing composed of foveae which are only slightly more dense on the pronotum than on the mesonotum and propodeum, and which are uniformly distributed across the width of the propodeum. Body small, head width less than 0.48mm but petiole relatively broad, PetW greater than 0.21mm.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands.

Nomenclature

 *  opaca. Prionopelta opaca Emery, 1897c: 596, pl. 15, figs. 44, 45 (w.q.m.) NEW GUINEA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 447 (l.). Senior synonym of mocsaryi: Brown, in Wilson, 1958a: 149. See also: Shattuck, 2008b: 29.
 * mocsaryi. Prionopelta mocsaryi Forel, 1907a: 1 (w.) PARAGUAY. Junior synonym of opaca: Brown, in Wilson, 1958a: 149.

Worker
Shattuck (2008) - (n=12) CI 76–80; HL 0.47–0.52; HW 0.37–0.41; ML 0.54–0.62; PetL 0.16–0.20; PetW 0.21–0.24; PI 110–136; SI 65–70; SL 0.24–0.27; T1W 0.31–0.36.

Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded and lacking a tooth. Dorsal pronotal sculpturing consisting of foveae which are only slightly more dense than on the mesonotum and propodeum. Foveae on dorsum of propodeum uniformly distributed across its width. Lateral mesosomal sculpturing consisting of small foveae on pronotum and anterior region of mesopleuron, ventral regions of mesopleuron and propodeum weakly striate, posterodorsal region of mesopleuron and majority of propodeum smooth. Fenestra present but weakly developed within subpetiolar process. Colour yellow-red to red-brown.