Dolichoderus omicron

Dolichoderus omicron is found in semi-arid open forested areas such as mallee woodlands and broombrush thickets across most of southern Australia. It forages during the day in columns primarily on the ground and nests in soil under rocks.

Identification
Pale markings absent from lower margin of the eyes; pronotum and propodeum lacking spines; in dorsal view the pronotum with only weakly defined shoulders, with the area between the shoulders more strongly convex to flat; dorsum of propodeum weakly and evenly convex, the length shorter (at most approximately the same length) than the posterior face, with a narrow carina separating the dorsal and posterior faces; posterior face of propodeum weakly concave, separated from the dorsal face by a distinct carina; gaster yellowish red and lighter in colour than the mesosoma; with sparse pubescence on the first gastral tergite and hairs generally not overlapping or entirely absent; tibiae with erect or suberect hairs.

This species is most similar to Dolichoderus canopus but can be distinguished by having a gaster yellowish red and lighter in colour that the mesosoma whereas D. canopus has a gaster which is at least similar in colour if not darker than the mesosoma.

Key to Australian Dolichoderus Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  omicron. Dolichoderus omicron Shattuck & Marsden, 2013: 127, fig. 18 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
Available specimens uniform and similar to the figured individual except in showing moderate variation in body colour, which varies from light reddish-brown to brown, and leg colour, which ranges from yellow-red to reddish-brown.

Measurements (n=5). CI 82–87; EI 31–34; EL 0.24–0.28; HL 0.87–0.99; HW 0.72–0.86; ML 1.14–1.34; MTL 0.61–0.71; PronI 66.49–70.16; PronW 0.49–0.59; SI 112–119; SL 0.85–0.96.