Anochetus rufostenus

This rare species has been encountered a limited number of times on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Available material is from pitfall traps placed in savannah woodlands.

Identification
Sculpture on front of head extending only slightly beyond eyes; pronotum longitudinally striate both dorsally and laterally; mesonotum smooth and without sculpturing; petiolar node in side view narrowing only slightly dorsally and trapezoid-shaped, with the striations along its entire height; propodeal angle gently rounded. This species is most similar to Anochetus rufolatus but differs in having the dorsum of the pronotum longitudinally striate rather than smooth, the head shorter (head length < 1.04mm) and the petiolar node narrower (maximum width < 0.28mm).

Key to Australian Anochetus Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  rufostenus. Anochetus rufostenus Shattuck & Slipinska, 2012: 21, fig. 14 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
Worker description. Sculpturing on front of head extending slightly beyond eyes. Scapes not reaching posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head; with limited pubescence and a limited number of erect hairs. Pronotum with distinct longitudinal striations grading into striate-rugose sculpturing posterolaterally. Anterior section of pronotum with transverse wrinkles followed by a distinct ridge. Mesonotum smooth and shining. Dorsum of propodeum slightly flattened laterally, with coarse striate-rugose sculpture and the majority of hairs strongly inclined. Propodeal angles rounded. Metapleuron with coarse striations. Petiolar node robust with thick, truncate apex; with transverse striations. Erect hairs on hind tibiae limited to the outer surfaces. Colour brown, head and legs yellow-brown, antennae and mandibles yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 2): CI 90–95; EI 23–24; EL 0.21–0.23; HL 1.02–1.03; HW 0.92–0.97; HFL 0.85–0.88; ML 1.26–1.32; MandL 0.54–0.56; MTL 0.59–0.61; PronI 64–64; PronW 0.59–0.62; SL 0.78–0.80; SI 82–84.