Eurhopalothrix amati

This is an uncommon species, known only from 7 workers distributed in 5 nearby localities. Collections have been in dry forest and second-growth wet forest habitats, all from Berlese or Winkler samples of forest floor litter and rotten wood, in moderate to high elevations (above 1800 m) in the West Andes of Colombia.

Identification
Eurhopalothrix amati is likely most closely related to Eurhopalothrix bruchi, as they share a somewhat similar coloration pattern, general mesosoma shape, petiole shape, and propodeal lamellas. These two species can be easily distinguished by:
 * the general setation on the face mesosoma and metasoma (abundant specialized setae in E. amati vs. only abundant spatulate ground pilosity in E. bruchi, lacking any specialized setae) (Fig. 4A-C)
 * the head shape (posterolateral margin meeting the anterolateral margin at a sharp angle, giving head a more triangular appearance in E. amati vs. posterolateral margin and anterolateral margin continuously curved, giving head a bilobed and rounded appearance in E. bruchi) (Fig. 4A, B)
 * the mesonotum profile (irregular, with marked prometanotal and mesonotal grooves in E. amati vs. straight in E. bruchi) (Fig. 4C, D).

Remarkably, E. amati appears to be smaller than E. bruchi, with a HW between 0.42-0.44 vs. 0.45-0.47, making it, perhaps, the smallest known Eurhopalothrix species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 * . Eurhopalothrix amati Fiorentino et al., 2022: 3, figs. 2, 3, 4A,C (w.) COLOMBIA.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker. Colombia. Risaralda, Pereira. SFF El Otún Quimbaya, Vda. La Suiza Plantación Urapán 7, transecto 2, 04°43’55.91”N, 75°34’43.93”W, 1870 m, Winkler, coll. Reina, M.F and Franco, L.E. [IAvH--E-55017].
 * Paratype. 1 Worker. Colombia. Risaralda, Pereira, Vda. La Suiza, Fca. El Amparo de Niños, Bosque maduro 1, 04°44′47.86″N, 75°36′48.98″W, 1810 m, Winkler, coll. Franco, E.L. [IAvH-E -55018].