Echinopla tritschleri

Identification
Zettel and Laciny (2015) - Echinopla tritschleri differs from Echinopla melanarctos, Echinopla pallipes and Echinopla circulus by the position of the eyes that are close to the mid-length of the head. The short hair of the mesosoma is less conspicuous than in E. pallipes and E. circulus sp. n. The sculpture of gaster tergite 1 is very characteristic: anteriorly with a few tubercles, sides and disc with punctures that flow together to form longitudinal lines, and posteriorly with punctures that flow together into transverse lines.

Gynes similar to workers but differing by the following characters: body much larger (TL 8.4–8.7 vs. 6.1–6.8; HW1 2.12–2.19 vs. 1.58–1.86); eyes slightly larger; ocelli present; scape wider; pedestals comparatively low and restricted to posterior of head, pronotum, propodeum, and base of gaster tergite 1; scutum and scutellum with coarse, irregular rugae, scutum anteriorly with short median carina; short pilosity of dorsum less obvious; thoracic structures as typical for winged ant gynes (all examined specimens with wings broken off); scutellum laterally with a short lobe.

Distribution
Zettel & Laciny (2017) - Previous records of E. tritschleri were from Sumatra, Borneo (Forel 1901), and Kelantan in West Malaysia (Zettel & Laciny 2015). The record from Perak is the second from the Asian mainland.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  tritschleri. Echinopla tritschleri Forel, 1901h: 74 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). Forel, 1913: 134 (q.).

Type Material
Zettel & Laciny (2017) - 1 worker, from West Malaysia, Perak, 20 km N of Ipoh, Banjaran Keledang, Ulu Chepor, Peninjau Mountains, 800 m a.s.l., 22–24.III.2002, leg. Petr Čechovský.