Colobostruma nancyae

Colobostruma nancyae is occurs in dry sclerophyll and heath habitats.

Identification
This distinctive species is immediately recognisable by its low, rounded alitrunk and reduced propodeal declivity. It is unlikely to be confused with other species in the genus.

Key to Australian Colobostruma Species

Distribution
Restricted to south-western Australia.

This taxon was described and is only known from Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  nancyae. Colobostruma nancyae Brown, 1965b: 22, figs. 1-3 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 45.

Worker
Shattuck (2000) - TL 2.9 - 3.7, HL 0.81 - 0.92, HW 0.84 - 1.08, CI 102 - 119, ML 0.18 - 0.20, MI 21 - 22, SL 0.38 - 0.51, SI 43 - 53, PW 0.66 - 1.02, AL 0.81 - 0.99 (4 measured). Anterior region of head rounding gradually from the dorsal to lateral surfaces, not phragmotic. In full-face view ridge immediately in front of eye weakly concave. Frontal lobes and lateral margins of clypeus smooth relative to the surrounding surface of the head. Mandibles triangular. Hairs absent from dorsum of head. Posterior margin of head weakly concave. Antenna with 6 segments, the scape strongly elbowed and with a weak lobe at the elbow. Anterior region of the pronotum expanded laterally as a weak flange. Propodeum low, its declivitous face greatly reduced and approximately the same height as the petiolar peduncle, the lamellae reduced to short, thickened ridges; in profile the dorsum of the alitrunk strongly convex. Petiole node low. Lateral postpetiole tapering gradually into a thin, semi-transparent flange. First gastral tergite with closely spaced fine longitudinal striations (absent from a narrow medial band) and with a narrow band of low, closely spaced carinae immediately posterior of the postpetiolar insertion. Body colour yellow brown, dorsum of head slightly darker.

Type Material
Holotype and paratype workers, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, 100 km. E of Esperance, about 8 km. NE of (old) Thomas River Station, 28-29.i.1955 (E.O. Wilson); paratype worker, Western Australia, 15 km. (reported as 25 km.) S Mt Ragged, 31.i.1955 (Wilson & Haskins) [examined].

Additional References

 * Shattuck, S. O. 2000. Genus Colobostruma. Genus Mesostruma. Genus Epopostruma. Pp. 31-67 in: Bolton, B. The ant tribe Dacetini. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 65: 1-1028.