Dolichoderus ypsilon

This species is restricted to south-west Western Australia. The male was described by Forel (1907).

Identification
Pronotum rounded, lacking spines; propodeum with elongate spines directed upward at angle of 45° or less to horizontal plane, the angle between them at least 90°; dorsum of petiolar node angular, base of propodeal spines forming a "V" with a narrowly rounded angle connecting their bases; legs entirely light red or orange.

This species can be distinguished from Dolichoderus inferus and Dolichoderus scabridus by the dorsum of its petiolar node being angular rather than broad, and the base of the propodeal spines forming a narrowly angled "V" rather than a broad "U" when viewed from the front. Additionally, D. ypsilon can be distinguished from Dolichoderus rufotibialis and Dolichoderus niger by the distinctive colour of its entirely red or orange legs.

Key to Australian Dolichoderus Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  ypsilon. Dolichoderus scabridus r. ypsilon Forel, 1902h: 461 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Forel, 1907h: 284 (m.). Combination in D. (Hypoclinea): Emery, 1913a: 13; in D. (Diceratoclinea): Wheeler, W.M. 1935c: 69. Subspecies of scabridus: Forel, 1915b: 76. Raised to species: Forel, 1907h: 284; Clark, 1930b: 258.

Description
Generally similar but with legs more yellow (slightly less red) in some individuals. Also, a few specimens have the sculpturing on the mesosomal dorsum reduced medially, this region being nearly smooth.

Measurements (n=5). CI 92–96; EI 20–25; EL 0.21–0.29; HL 1.14–1.29; HW 1.05–1.22; ML 1.60–1.81; MTL 0.95–1.15; PronI 69.93–74.15; PronW 0.76–0.90; SI 109–118; SL 1.22–1.36.

Additional References

 * Shattuck, S.O. & Marsden, S. 2013. Australian species of the ant genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3716, 101–143 (doi 10.11646/zootaxa.3716.2.1).