Genus Opisthopsis (Formicinae)

• Myrmecopsis Smith, F. 1865a: 68 (as subgenus of Formica) . Type species: Formica (Myrmecopsis) respiciens Smith, by monotypy. Junior homonym of Myrmecopsis Newman, 1850 (Lepidoptera). Replacement name is Opisthopsis Dalla Torre, 1893.
• Opisthopsis Dalla Torre, 1893: 219. Replacement name for junior homonym Myrmecopsis F. Smith, 1865.

• OVERVIEW.   These unusual looking ants have large eyes placed on the rear corners of the head. The 20 described species and subspecies occur from eastern Indonesia to the Solomon Islands and south to Australia. The workers are often brightly colored and forage on the ground and vegetation. Nests are either in the soil or in tree branches. Some nests can be found in termite mounds or large nests of other ant species (Shattuck, 1999. Australian Ants: 103-104).
• ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS.  Indo-Australian, Australasian.
• TRIBE.  Camponotini.