Rhopalomastix

These rarely encountered ants nest under bark of living trees. They have been found foraging on low vegetation and have been collected in a pitfall trap, both in rainforests. In addition, males have been found at a light in a dry sclerophyll woodland. A species from the Philippine Islands is notable in that it walks with its middle legs raised above the body, presumably an adaptation to walking in small tunnels under bark, as occurs in the related genus Melissotarsus, although this does not seem to be the case in the Australian species.



Worker of R. rothneyi from Queensland.

Identification
The antennae are 10 segmented (including the scape) and have a 2 segmented club. The front margin of the clypeus just above the mandibles has pairs of elongate hairs or setae which straddle the mid-line of the head and lacks a single central hair or seta, and its central region is smooth and lacks ridges. The propodeum is rounded and without spines or teeth. All workers are approximately the same size (monomorphic).

The configuration of the antennae and the shape of the upper surface of the mesosoma will separate these ants from all others in Australia.

Distribution and Habitats
Australian distribution

Regional Species Lists

 * Australia

Keys to Species

 * Australia