Epopostruma alata

This species has been found in habitats including dry sclerophyll, dry flat sclerophyll on black soil, swampy dry sclerophyll without grass and dry sclerophyll and paperbark. Collection sites or situations include in soil, pitfall trap, in dry bank of earth, under rock, under log, in hard soil at base of Eucalyptus, nest in compact soil at base of Eucalyptus, in soil under Eucalyptus globulus, in hard laterite clay soil, tiny hole in lump of soil, and in clod of damp soil at base of gum tree very close to orange-brown Pheidole nest.

Identification
Posterior section of metanotum forming a distinct angle with the dorsal face of propodeum so that the junction of these plates forms an obtuse angle. Sides of postpetiole expanded laterally in the form of thin, solid wings. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with numerous erect hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  alata. Epopostruma alata Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 56 (w.) AUSTRALIA. [Note that alata Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973, above, is a subsequent misspelling of alinodis Forel, 1913g: 179 (now in Colobostruma) and therefore does not enter into homonymy.]

Description
In full face view the lateral margin of the head between the eye and the posterior corner with an indistinct angle. Pronotal spines present, short. Posterior section of metanotum forming a distinct angle with the dorsal face of propodeum so that the junction of these plates forms an obtuse angle. Posterior face of propodeum between bases of spines and propodeal lobes with thick flanges. Petiolar spines short, sometimes reduced to blunt, angular projections. Anterior face of postpetiole continuous with dorsal face and inseparable from it; sides of postpetiole expanded laterally in the form of thin, solid wings, their lateral margins flat to weakly convex; posterolateral margin of postpetiole (immediately anterior of gaster) varying from flat medially with a weak convexity laterally to weakly concave. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with numerous erect hairs. First gastral tergite smooth (including area immediately behind attachment with gaster). Body colour yellow-red; dorsal surface of head uniform yellow-red; gaster slightly lighter in colour than body and generally with a weakly infuscated band across centre of first tergite.

Measurements Holotype worker. TL 3.3mm, HL 0.74mm, HW 0.71mm, CI 96, MandL 0.36mm, MandI 49, SL 0.43mm, SI 61, PronW 0.49mm, ML 0.84mm.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
 * CSIRO Collection