Huberia brounii

Brown (1958) - This interesting little species resembles in its general habitus (though not in its large, convex eyes) the species of Stenamma found in the woodlands of the Northern Hemisphere. Like Stenamma, H. brouni forms small colonies, usually in the leaf litter of woodland areas. It is apparently rather widely distributed in both North and South Islands; I have records from Nelson and from Westland, as well as several for various parts of the North Island. It would be interesting to know whether H. brouni feeds, like its northern analogues in the genus Stenamma, on small arthropods in the soil cover.

Identification
Brown (1958) - Worker 3.2-3.5 in outstretched length; size and appearance rather constant in the series I have seen. Color rusty brown to deep, brown, with lighter, more yellowish legs, antennae and mandibles. The head is sharply and closely longitudinally, the alitrunk transversely, rugulose-striate; gaster largely smooth and shining, but striolate at extreme base. Mandibles closely striate. Mandibles short, triangular, with serially dentate masticatory margin. The female is larger than the worker, with more bulky alitrunk (wing-bearing in virgin females) and gaster. I have seen no males certainly referable to this species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: New Zealand.

Nomenclature

 *  brounii. Huberia brounii Forel, 1895a: 41 (w.) NEW ZEALAND. [Name misspelled braumi by Forel, 1905a: 354.] See also: Brown, 1958h: 27.

Type Material
Brown (1958) - Worker. Rotorua, New Zealand. Type presumably in Forel Coll., Geneva (not seen).