Epopostruma natalae

Epopostruma natalae, one of the most commonly collected species in the genus, is known from just south of Sydney, New South Wales, south and west through the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and northern Tasmania to the vicinity of Adelaide, South Australia. It has been found in dry sclerophyll, dry sclerophyll on a hillside and near a hill top, medium sclerophyll, a wet sclerophyll flat and in low heath vegetation. Nests or foragers have been encountered under rocks, in a mossy clump at the base of a tree in dry white powder soil, in a damp patch of soil (Permian) at the base of a Box tree, in soil, in soil at base of tree and in leaf litter.

Identification
Epopostruma natalae can be separated from others in the quadrispinosa species group by the following combination of characters.


 * Petiolar teeth diverging slightly laterally so that their tips extend outwards beyond the lateral margins of the petiole.
 * A row of short longitudinal rugae are present on the anterior margin of the gaster immediately behind the postpetiole.
 * The posterolateral corners of the postpetiole form a weak angle and are not drawn outwards into a tooth or spine.
 * The gaster is uniform brown in colour.
 * The body colour is generally brown or sometimes light brown.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  natalae. Epopostruma natalae Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 65, figs. 66, 77, 93 (w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
In full face view the lateral margin of the head between the eye and the posterior corner angular. Pronotal spines present, elongate. 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 generally present and thin, sometimes reduced to a protuberance. Anterior face of postpetiole shorter than the dorsal face and separated from it by a broadly rounded angle; sides of postpetiole approximately vertical and rounding gradually from dorsal to posterior surfaces, in dorsal view the lateral margins parallel. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with short, gently curved erect hairs. First gastral tergite smooth or nearly so, at most with only very weak, widely spaced striations; a row of short rugae present on the anterior margin immediately behind the postpetiole. Body colour generally brown, sometimes lighter; appendages generally same colour as body, occasionally lighter; gaster uniformly coloured.

Measurements

Holotype worker. TL 4.2mm, HL 0.93mm, HW 0.88mm, CI 95, MandL 0.45mm, MandI 48, SL 0.53mm, SI 60, PronW 0.61mm, ML 1.09mm.