Eurhopalothrix caledonica

The types, three workers, were collected separately in berlesate of rain forest leaf litter.

Identification
Key to Old World Basicerotini

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: New Caledonia.

Nomenclature

 *  caledonica. Eurhopalothrix caledonica Brown & Kempf, 1960: 220, figs. 44, 51 (w.) NEW CALEDONIA.

Worker
Holotype: TL 2.9, HL 0.65, HW 0.73 (CI 112), scape L 0.36, greatest diameter of eye ca. 0.05, WL 0.73 mm.

Larger than Eurhopalothrix brevicornis and Eurhopalothrix australis, but with a similarly shaped head and much the same pattern of cephalic erect hairs. Also the following distinguishing characters:

1. Alitrunk with a distinct but broad and rather shallow metanotal groove; dorsal face of propodeum sloping posteriad, with a deep angular impression forming a step-like outline at its midlength as seen in lateral view.

2. Petiolar node as seen from side higher than long, rather narrowly rounded above; as seen from above, node much broader than long, with rounded sides and a nearly straight anterior border. Postpetiole reniform, not quite twice as wide as petiolar node, and nearly 2/3 as wide as widest part of gaster.

3. The small appressed hairs of the ground pilosity are a little less abundant than in australis over head and gaster; those on head are more or less obscured by matter adhering to the surface (a hardened secretion?).

4. The larger specialized hairs are clavate and erect to obliquely erect, much more slender than in australis, longer than in brevicornis. There are 16 of them on the head (the extra hair occurring beside each eye in australis is absent in the holotype and the two paratype workers of Eurhopalothrix caledonica). The alitrunk and both nodes completely lack larger specialized hairs, but the gaster bears about 24 short, caudally-inclined clavate hairs, most of which form 4 rough longitudinal rows, on the first tergite. Other clavate hairs on gastric apex and along a median strip on underside of gaster. Color medium reddish-brown, legs lighter.

Etymology
Holotype a worker, one of three taken separately in rain forest leaf litter berlesates from near Ciu, on the approach to Mt. Canala, 300 M. altitude (E. O. Wilson leg.), December, 1954. The two paratypes are the remaining workers, taken at this locality during January, 1955 MCZ. They are virtually identical with the holotype in size and form, though both have lost some hairs, apparently through rubbing. One has a narrower head (HL 0.65, HW 0.70 mm, CI 108).