Echinopla lateropilosa

Heterick & Kitching (2022) collected this species in a canopy malaise trap within a lowland dipterocarp forest in Brunei.

Identification
Zettel & Laciny (2017) - A member of the Echinopla striata species group. Predominantly black species with delicate bluish-green shimmer; slender and relatively long (TL = 6.6 mm). Dorsal surface almost smooth, with fine hair pits only; dorsal margins of mesosoma with sharp tubercles. Head hardly wider than long (CI = 103). Mesosoma elongated (MI 129), its dorsal outline biconvex, with deep mesometanotal suture. Pronotum much narrower than head. Propodeum shorter than promesonotum. Petiole relatively narrow, very low, relatively long behind lateral spines; without dorsal crest between spines; posteroventrally of spines with three pairs of denticles. Gaster tergite 1 not completely covering the following tergites; hind margin convex and smooth, without denticles. Standing setae long and abundant, blackish. Short appressed pilosity abundant on body sides, especially on mesosoma, lacking dorsomedially. Long setae on legs abundant, white.

Echinopla lateropilosa is a very peculiar species, belonging to the E. striata species group (sensu Xu & Zhou 2015), but – as an exception – has no longitudinal dorsal striation. In addition, the low and relatively long petiole differs strongly from all congeners, and the sides of the mesosoma are covered by a characteristic dense, white, fur-like pilosity.

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

Nomenclature

 *  lateropilosa. Echinopla lateropilosa Zettel & Laciny, 2017: 10, figs. 1-4 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA.

Description
Measurements of holotype: TL 6.65; HW1 1.52; HW2 1.48; HL 1.48; EL 0.34; SL 1.36; SW 0.17; HaL 0.31; PML 1.09; PMW 1.28; PpL 0.96; PpW 1.07; PH 0.40; PL 0.63; PW 1.08; GL 1.63; GW 1.52. Indices: CI 103; SI 89; MI 159.

Structures: Head hardly wider than long, subtrapezoidal, with slightly convex sides and medially slightly protruded hind margin; smooth and shiny, with minute setiferous punctures, except for the relatively densely punctured clypeus. Compound eye relatively small, moderately protruding, positioned behind middle of head. Frons with median carina which is higher anteriorly; frontal lobes chiefly horizontally orientated, covering medial halves of antennal fossae in dorsal aspect, maximum distance of margins smaller than half of HW2. Clypeus with median carina in basal half, anterior margin straight. Mandibles striate, masticatory margin with five teeth. Antennal scape moderately long, almost straight, weakly widened from base to apex; antennomeres 8–10 longer than wide.

Mesosoma elongated, length more than 1.5 times pronotum width; propodeum shorter than promesonotum. Surface smooth and shiny, with minute setiferous punctures, which are very sparse on disks of promesonotum and propodeum; dorsal margins with sharp tubercles. Pronotum with blunt angles pronounced by sharp tubercles, clearly narrower than head excluding eyes. Promesonotal suture absent. Mesometanotal suture sharp, narrow and deep. In dorsal aspect mesosoma with waist-like incision in front of propodeum, in lateral aspect dorsal outline of mesosoma biconvex. Legs moderately long; forefemur strongly, middle and hind femora moderately widened.

Petiole narrow in comparison with other members of the E. striata group, very low, relatively long behind lateral spines, anteriorly pedunculate; between lateral spines without dorsal crest, but with several small, irregularly arranged denticles; posteroventrally of spines with three pairs of denticles. Gaster tergite 1 slightly longer than wide, moderately convex, smooth and shiny, with minute setiferous punctures; hind margin convex, smooth; tergites 2–5 slightly protruding.

Pilosity: Trunk dorsally with numerous long standing setae which vary from blackish to pale grey; short appressed pilosity absent or very sparse. Clypeus with dense, moderately long, whitish pilosity. Body sides with short, white, appressed pilosity that is dense and fur-like on mesosoma. Scape with very long, white setae; length of longest setae about twice as long as scape width. Femora, tibiae, and basitarsi with numerous long, white standing setae.

Colour: Black, with weak bluish to greenish reflections. Apex of mandible brown. Palpi, coxae and trochanters of middle and hind legs orange coloured; apex of tarsi pale brown.

Etymology
The Latin adjective refers to the whitish pilosity of body sides, especially on the mesosoma.