Epopostruma quadrispinosa

Individuals of this species have been found in rock crevices, Eucalyptus leaf litter, soil and have been swept off low shrubs in the evening. They occur in dry sclerophyll, mallee woodland, saltbush and red soil-box-pine habitats and have been collected from central coastal Queensland south through New South Wales to south-central South Australia. Although they have not been recorded from Victoria it is likely that they do occur in the state. The type locality, Mackay, Queensland, is the northern-most record of this species.

Identification
Epopostruma quadrispinosa can be separated from others in the genus by the lack lateral extensions of the postpetiole, the presence of an anterior postpetiolar face which is much shorter than the dorsal face and posterolateral postpetiolar corners which are rounded (rather than angular or toothed), and by having the first gastral tergite delicately but distinctly sculptured and with a matte appearance (rather than being smooth and shiny).

Key to Epopostruma Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  quadrispinosa. Strumigenys (Epopostruma) quadrispinosa Forel, 1895f: 422 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973c: 212 (l.). Combination in Epopostruma: Forel, 1910b: 51. Senior synonym of ferruginea: Taylor, 1991b: 602. See also: Brown, 1948e: 120; Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 65.
 * ferruginea. Epopostruma quadrispinosa subsp. ferruginea Forel, 1910b: 51 (q.) AUSTRALIA. Raised to species: Brown, 1948e: 120. Junior synonym of quadrispinosa: Taylor, 1991b: 602.

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 reduced to blunt protuberances or sharp angles, in some cases barely discernable from the surrounding sculpturing. Anterior face of postpetiole much shorter than dorsal face; sides of postpetiole approximately vertical and rounding gradually from dorsal to posterior surfaces; in dorsal view the posterolateral corners rounded. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with short, straight or gently curved erect hairs. First gastral tergite with fine, delicate sculpturing giving a matte appearance; gaster immediately behind attachment with gaster smooth. Body colour dark yellow-red to red-brown; with body lightly coloured, head is darker, red-brown; mandibles lighter, yellow-red; gaster uniformly coloured.

Measurements Worker (n=6): TL 3.1-3.8mm, HL 0.67-0.82mm, HW 0.61-0.74mm, CI 86-91, MandL 0.37-0.43mm, MandI 51-57, SL 0.42-0.52mm, SI 67-71, PronW 0.43-0.57mm, ML 0.80-1.05mm.

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.