Colobostruma leae

This rare tropical species is found in rainforest and is likely arboreal (although nests have yet to be found).

Identification
This rare species is the only member of the genus with a phragmotic head (although Colobostruma lacuna, and to a lesser extent Colobostruma bicorna and Colobostruma unicorna, are subphragmotic). This distinctive head shape will readily separate this species from all others in the genus (Shattuck 2000).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  leae. Epopostruma (Colobostruma) leae Wheeler, W.M. 1927f: 32, fig. 40 (q.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Colobostruma: Brown, 1948e: 118. See also: Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 44.

Worker
Shattuck (2000) - Anterior region of head extremely flattened and disc-like, the clypeus and frontal lobes expanded laterally into thin, sharply-edged flanges, the anterior sections of head separated from posterior sections by an angle at about the level of the eyes. Frontal lobes and lateral margins of clypeus smooth relative to the surrounding surface of the head. Mandibles broadly triangular. Hairs absent from dorsum of head. Posterior margin of head uniformly concave. Antenna with 6 segments, the scape weakly elbowed and without a subbasal lobe. Propodeum high, its posterior face approximately the same height as the petiolar node and with broad, thin lamellae. Lateral postpetiole drawn outwards into thin flange-like wings, the wings with translucent windows along both their anterior and posterior margins, the windows separated by a band of thickened integument and the anterior windows always smaller than the posterior windows. First gastral tergite very weakly and delicately sculptured, superimposed with low, closely spaced carinae on the anterior one-quarter. Body colour yellow, the gaster with an indistinct, broad medial band.

Etymology
Named for the collector of the type specimens.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.