Epopostruma topendi, Pettit & Andersen, 2021

Pettit, Magen J. & Andersen, Alan N., 2021, A new species of Epopostruma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from monsoonal Australia, Zootaxa 5048 (1), pp. 141-144 : 142-143

Epopostruma topendi sp. n.

( Figs 1a–d )

Holotype worker: Australia, Northern Territory, Nitmiluk National Park 14°14’02’’S, 132°14’28’’E, April–May 2015, S. Oberprieler, pitfall trap, sandstone woodland. Unique specimen identifier 32 163815.

Paratype worker: Australia, Northern Territory, Taracumbi, Melville Island 11°37’08’’S, 130°42’12’’E, 27–30 Jul 2009, M. Pettit, pitfall trap, savanna woodland. Unique specimen identifier 32 163816 . Holotype and Paratype deposited at Australian National Insect Collection , Canberra, ACT, Australia .

Description: Holotype worker. TL 3.9; HL 0.81; HW 0.75; CI 93; ML 0.43; MI 53; SL 0.49; SI 65; PW 0.51 AL 1.01. In full-face view the lateral margin of the head between the eye and the occipital lobe slightly angular. Posterior margin of head deeply concave, with occipital lobes somewhat angled posteriorly. Pronotal spines present, elongate. Posterior section of mesonotum in approximately the same plane as the dorsal face of propodeum, the junction of these plates forming a very shallow depression. Posterior face of propodeum with thin flanges between bases of spines and propodeal lobes. Petiolar node with a pair of conspicuous, semi-erect denticles on the dorsolateral margins. In dorsal view, petiolar node narrow and parallel-sided. Anterior face of the postpetiole distinctively flattened, with angular lateral margins. Sides of postpetiole not expanded laterally. In dorsal view, postpetiole bluntly square anterolaterally and conspicuously dentate posterolaterally, with denticles broader than long. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole and gaster with numerous short, blunt and often clubbed erect hairs. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole with well-spaced foveolae and to a large extent smooth and shiny, especially dorsally. First gastral tergite entirely smooth. Colour uniformly reddish-brown.

Etymology: The name is a non-Latin noun (and thus invariant), named after the Top End region of the Northern Territory in which the specimens were recorded.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Epopostruma topendi sp. n. holotype worker: (a) frontal head full face; (b) lateral view; (c) dorsal view; (d) petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view.