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Uh ll ~s AAG ¢ ee: Gyr? Ane - wee Vewee wt) IN a Wren TA z wy UTS Geewz Ray Thehaet @erern* Ue 0 tel me iui A ok mAh “Wwe oT nee bs | = WA ab. eH ah biti Mtg” MALI Rael Tica A a, ae a , Vet ~~ >t PEN RIOR Su NY JT). et A eeh! F “s < vary Aad Ce: od Ang wre latte Fe witiveveyein: a % 0) ‘ Maal a6 taleheteenen tana al “yn Sd a + | Bae a, I A a SY pt Vth th Mal ) meme o Bd “ ey! a | at he ie Ty 1 “. | ae: . NU per ttas \ y' 4 4 Pia iid reat ndy PPE ) ha . ree te! : bal " g = Wr : we ' 5 Zee? =i fe iy Q ee se ws rat = ft sai @ Wr = i» owe, fr uk’ . io wroeey , dts Sd UUE *Wycy 3 we o6 eygyr: "H, Br ee at ee EE Pace iw., Abe. te Woygyer “th, rem tyatiterwu nit WN | Wai) hiieveen: =, Winns See OAL th ee ee ett ite att We »" Vi f ws Clas] wet Srnvierels oh ENN AA RT ng : peter pecan Tne Mtr CHEN Rei Samra lia jiananlPNAL ra aeseA N Ne Sc veneer -* “WU } @ | a (3 q iA Sap “ar ' oe iv bye @ he Vv . Yee) | dei aT | ee ASAT PEERS wit mes weet Neate we wey beh yy wg V'@ WL eCeae > So ed ett bf A ew Nae & A TY oa hd Gere me WS TayeataMMtceNELiN) SAA Sat Wirt vat elite re SO eh ran 8 VAY 1 Kore D 4 di ao me | bi bree tury ; cel he vu ; ri) my vee Ned wt * Pvry tt ey eh uy Why dyeing, ye o< eAuly Aoi Wh bet bid) | Na at. Pantha yg Te Au brea matty MLL qh ert bbe it rye PUEDES ual SNe a mat my WOU Lee Ls ft S. é lier” Sy ee Py | Nyy ad vwUrE ive: SATA ol | ae | . b ters “es “(ioe be — 2 Rs cdi By. aif a — OL yw WNUaD wy Jaf ee 7 Vo < ~ ag al | fora | weee e , 4 peo, Rasp eee |e eS eo . PE a: Se yes a ke i = S . f W mine = we Rg ES Od Bi SNA = % rs * WL veyets a= i PrP tne is. 4 wy™ ote ere f oh AS. ee NWA anaes a as A “in Ld Bal EEA vee ty NT Hyver cers tS et ao Pend aidel eNom hk: ane ca AA qpnAnt aT A= r ‘Ne Xr ' e 3) fea 6 RON eal 1a Mee saver re wow” tne | ro : ‘ hes Erect in) io Wiggin carne eUoe eRe Pi (WAAtthe. | are Gee NA A etc fae TEL sania wee i! + | | rt SOs le Te ue. ww yr oe | saat Li hed Treat ates Mn, Mersin) iy iP ero Jit irs aid Ue Dnantan Weversccasn “Novena yen mere PUL ae wv) a ete ‘ ; & a : St wey 4 ) 1X ALA a nn is ‘ TOM sated hn, vel Ws wie cea a MALO in v : had Fy ‘Oey | Ne Pah ‘eo Ue rs. “i eye ea a ee stn ST UCE i tewrrtrcceee ise a bagel By, CaN ve | @ ie “Wy Teg . ‘vy - JULES oe Tee one 4 = Ke 1 AT. | TT ow ty aa AS Pathan‘ 9yt . we Fes ‘ “Ny i Se sgasles, Tt thaw eUCueeeiue M4 bAA A | Lh Thy ; Shy TTA A ay Ret ce ia + “ere ier y) se ' 0 ir ad atyou edie ghthtret piers 2 SS Oy WOE A yy. eee |E Se ce § ceut® eet sareantell gé ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM VOLUME XIV ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM VOTO WHAIH WCIENG 269106 PRINTED FOR THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., 212 CAUSEWAYSIDE, EDINBURGH. 1915-1924. TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM. The Right Hon. Joun Xavrer Merriman, P.C. Sir Tuomas Murr, Kt., C.M.G., LL.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.E. The Hon. JoHn WILLIAM JacGceEr, M.L.A., F.R.Stat.S. SCIENTIFIC STAFF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM. Louis ALBERT PhRINGUEY, D.Sc., F.Z.8., F.E.S., Director. KerpreL Harcourt BARNARD, M.A., F.L.S., F.R.S.S.Afr., Assistant Director and in Charge of Fish and Marine Invertebrate Collections. Star GARABEDIAN, B.A., Assistant in Charge of Herbarium. RecinaLD Freperick Lawrence, B.A., Assistant in Charge of Arthropoda (Insects and Crustacea excluded). ALBERT JOHN HeEssk, B.Sc., Ph.D., Assistant in Charge of Insects. ArTHuUR Lewis Haun, M.A., Hon. Keeper of the Geological and Mineralogical Collections. Sipney Henry Haveuton, B.A., D.Sc., F.G.S., F.R.S.S.Afr., Hon. Keeper of the Palaeontological Collections. CONTENTS. G. ARNOLD. PAGE A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa : F : : 1 LIST OF NEW GENERIC AND SUBGENERIC NAMES INTRODUCED IN THIS VOLUME. PAGE Leptopone subg. n. (Formicidae, Ponerinae, Glyphopone) ARNOLD 5 = liG3 Pseudosysphincta g. n. (Formicidae, Ponerinae) ARNOLD . : : 5 GI Zealleyella subg. n. (Formicidae, Camponotinae, Plagiolepis) ARNOLD . 5 B79 DATE OF ISSUE OF THE PARTS Part 1. 11th February 1915. Part 2. 20th May 1916. Part 3. 9th August 1917. Part 4. 1920. Part 5. October 1922. Part 6. April 1924. vi LIST OF PLATES. PLATE Cerapachys peringueyi Emery. ( Probolomyrmex filiformis Mayr. Platythyraea lamellosa Roger, race rhodesiana Forel. Platythyraea cribrinodis Gerst. Streblognathus aethiopicus Smth. Paltothyreus tarsatus F. Megaponera foetens F. ‘ M. (Hagensia) havilandi Forel. ( Ophthalmopone berthoudi Forel. Ophthalmopone hottentota Emery. Centromyrmex constanciae Arnold. Pachycondyla laevissima Arnold. Pachycondyla granosa Roger. Euponera caftraria Smth. Euponera wroughtoni Forel. Euponera peringueyi Emery. Euponera fossigera Mayr. Kuponera sennaarensis Mayr. II. a Euponera caffraria Smth. Plectroctena subterranea Arnold. Leptogenys maxillosa Smth. Anochetus levaillantei Emery. L Anochetus punctaticeps Mayr. Leptogenys arnoldi Forel. Dorylus fulvus, race badius Gerst. Dorylus helvolus L. Dorylus affinis Shuck. D. (Rhogmus) fimbriatus Shuck. Aenictus rotundatus Mayr. Aenictus eugeniae Emery. Technomyrmex arnoldinus Forel. Technomyrmex albipes Smth., race foreli Emery. Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr. Tapinoma voeltzkowi Forel, race rhodesiae. Tapinoma arnoldi Forel. Semonius schultzei Forel. III. IV. vill PLATE : VII. Inst of Plates. Simopone marleyi Arnold. Sima natalensis Smth., race cuitensis Forel, var. bulawayana Forel. Sima clypeata Emery, race bransi Forel, var. equidentata Arnold. Melissotarsus beccarii Emery. Ocymyrmex weitzaeckeri Emery, var. arnoldi Forel. Ocymyrmex barbiger Emery. Leptothorax angulatus Mayr. Cardiocondyla emeryi Forel. Monomorium afrum Andre. Messor barbara L., race capensis Mayr., var. pseudoaegyptiaca Emery. Monomorium arnoldi Forel. Monomorium albopilosum Emery, race thales Forel. Monomorium emeryi Mayr. Pheidole crassinoda Emery, race ruspolii Emery. Pheidole punctulata Mayr. Pheidole xocensis Forel. Pheidole excellens Mayr, race rhodesiana Forel. Pheidole spinulosa Forel, race nexa Forel. Pheidole liengmei Forel. Cremastogaster tricolor Gerst. Cremastogaster sordidula Nyl, var. rectinota Forel. Cremastogaster bulawayensis Forel, var. oraclum Forel. Cremastogaster kneri Mayr,. var. amita Forel. Cremastogaster neuvillei Forel, race cooperi Forel. Cremastogaster tricolor Gerst., var. mediorufa Forel. Solenopsis punctaticeps Mayr. Carebara vidua Smth. Pheidologeton perpusillum, race arnoldi Emery. Cremastogaster bulawayensis Forel, var. rhodesiana Forel. Cremastogaster peringueyi Emery. Atopomyrmex mocquerysi Andre, var. curvispinosa Forel. Tetramyrma braunsi Forel. Myrmicaria eumenoides Gerst. Myrmicaria striata Stitz. Myrmicaria nigra Mayr. Myrmicaria nigerrima Arnold. Triglyphothrix arnoldi Forel. Triglyphothrix constanciae Arnold. Triglyphothrix marleyi Forel. Tetramorium longicorne Forel. Tetramorium joffrei Forel. Tetramorium solidum, var. signata Hmery. Tetramorium jauresi Forel. Tetramorium popovici Forel. Tetramorium setuliferum Emery. Tetramorium simulator Arnold. Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, var. Lopensis Forel. Tetramorium squaminode Santschi. Tetramorium grassi Emery. Tetramorium guineense Mayr, race striata Stitz. T. (Xiphomyrmex) fossulatum Forel. T. (Xiphomyrmex) humbolti, var. victorensis Forel, PLATE VIII. IX. c L List of Plates. : hs Tetramorium laevithorax Emery. Tetramorium decem Forel. Rhoptromyrmex transversinodis Mayr. Calyptomyrmex arnoldi Forel. Meranoplus peringueyi Emery. Meranoplus nanus Andre, race nanior Emery. Strumigenys arnoldi Forel. Strumigenys escherichi, race limbata Forel. Cataulacus baumi, race batonga Forel. Acantholepis longinoda Arnold. Acantholepis foreli Arnold. Acantholepis egregia Forel. Plagiolepis custodiens Smth. Plagiolepis steingroveri Forel. Polyrachis schistacea Gerst., race rugulosa Mayr. > Polyrachis arnoldi Forel. Polyrachis gagates Smth. Polyrachis militaris Fab. Polyrachis schluteri, race indigens Forel. Polyrachis spinicola Forel. Polyrachis revoili Andre. Polyrachis viscosa Smth. Prenolepis longicornis Labr. Oecophylla smaragdina Fab. Camponotus troglodytes, var. rhodesiana Forel. Camponotus petersi Emery. Camponotus sericeus Fab. Camponotus mayri Forel. Camponotus braunsi Mayr. Camponotus fulvo-pilosus de Geer, race storeatus Forel. Camponotus ostiarius Forel. Camponotus longipes Gerst. Camponotus mystaceus Emery. Camponotus cuneiscapis Forel. Camponotus scalaris Forel. Camponotus dofleini Forel. Camponotus angusticeps Emery. Camponotus emarginatus Hmery. Camponotus maculatus Fab. Camponotus maculatus Fab., race liengmei Forel, var. hansingi Forel. Camponotus maculatus Fab., race liengmei Forel, var. importunoides. Camponotus maculatus Fab., race pictiventris Mayr. Camponotus maculatus Fab., race traegaordhi Santschi, var. muger Forel. Camponotus crepusculi Arnold. INDEX OF GENERA AND SUBGENERA. A Acantholepis Aenictus Aeromyrma Alaopone subg. . Allopheidole subg. Anacantholepis subg. Aneleus Anochetus Anomma subg. . Anoplolepis subg. Aphomomyrmex Atopogyne subg. Atopomyrmex . B Bothroponera subg. Brachyponera subg. Calyptomyrmex Camponotus Cardiocondyla Carebara . Cataulacus Centromyrmex . Cerapachys Colobopsis subg. Cremastogaster. D Decamorium subg. Decracrema subg. Dichthadia subg. PAGE 552, 171, 115, Ae 171, 554 136 256 133 450 578 254 103 114 593 552 544 190 xi PAGE Dicroaspis 171, 362 Dinomyrmex subg. . 6 - 612 Diplomorium o = Lil, 240 Discothyrea 5 6 : ~ IBY Dorylus. 5 a : qi UN E Ectomomyrmex subg. 6 oe Kpitritus . ; lO 384 Euponera . s : ; 6 Gk G Glyphopone. : ; Gs: I Tridomyrmex . : j . 145 L Leptogenys 3 : : 5 Ye Leptopone subg. : c = IG Leptothorax : a wi25 251 Lobopelta subg. ‘ : 6) OF M Megaponera AG Melissotarsus 171, 188 Meranoplus 171, 363 Mesoponera subg. . 64 Messor 172, 404. Microdaceton 170, 383 Mitara subg. 204, 238 Monomorium U7, 203 xi Index of Genera and Subgenera. Myrmablys subg. Myrmepomis subg. Myrmicaria Myrmophyma subg. Myrmopsamma subg.. Myrmosaga subg. Myrmosericus subg.. . Myrmosphincta subg. . Myrmotrema subg. Myrmoturba subg. Ocymyrmex Odontomactus . Oecophylla Ophthalmopone. Orthonotomyrmex subg. Oxygyne subg. . Pachycondyla Pachysima subg. - Paltothyreus Pheidole Phyracaces Plagiolepis Platythyrea Plectroctena Polyrachis Ponera Prenolepis Probolomyrmex Pseudosysphincta PAGE 613 . 614 171, 261 612, 661 612, 672 613 613 614 613 612, 617 172, 194 103, 108 608 49 613 542 53 173, 174 43 R Rhogmus subg. Rhoptromyrmex Semonius . Sima Simopone . Solenopsis. Streblognathus . Strumigenys Sysphincta Tapinoma. Technomyrmex Tetramorium Tetramyrma Tetraponera subg. Trachymesopus subg. . Triglyphothrix . Typhlopone x Xiphomyrmex subg. . Zealleyella subg. PAGE 115, 129 172, 351 114, 125 274, 345 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM VOLUME XIV. PART I. containing :— 1,—A Monograph of the Formicide of South Africa (Ponerinae ; Dorylinae), By Grorae Arnontp, M.Sc., A.R.C.S., F.E.S., Curator of the Khodesia Museum, Buluwayo, (Plate I.) ISSUED FEBRUARY 11th, 1915. PRICE 7s. 6d. PRINTED FOR THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM By West, Newman & Co., Lonpon. ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM. (ols 2IDY,)) nian Insthti7a < aN < Ae - \ Se | Muse 1.—A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa.—By GrorcE Arnoup, M.Sc., A.R.C.S., F.E.S., Curator of the Rhodesia Museum, Bulawayo. INTRODUCTION. Up to the present time, no work has been published which deals with the Formicidae of South Africa in monographic form. The descriptions of nearly three hundred species are scattered over a large number of scientific journals, of which many are rare or otherwise difficult to obtain. The task of identifying the ants of this region is therefore rendered very arduous, if not altogether impossible, since each isolated description has to be searched for amongst numerous, and often very obscure publications, many of which are not to be found in the few scientific libraries of South Africa. It is therefore not to be supposed that the following pages contain a complete account of all the known South African species, since some may have escaped my notice, but it is hoped that they will serve as a basis of study for future workers. The difficulty of obtaining such publications for reference has been surmounted in this instance largely through the kindness of friends and of officials of kindred institutions. Many descriptions of species which I have not been able to see, have been copied for il 2 Annals of the South African Musewm. me in London by Miss M. Munro. Dr. Louis Péringuey has given me most generous aid in searching for references, and in lending me books from the library of the South African Museum, and also in submitting to my inspection the whole of the collections of ants in that institution. I have also received much valuable help from Dr. Hans Brauns, of Willowmore, who has lent me selections from his library and has collected for me many specimens which I could not otherwise have obtained. I am particularly indebted to Dr. A. Forel, who has identified nearly all the species which have been taken by my friends or by myself, and without whose generous assistance the difficulties in attempting this work could hardly have been overcome. Messrs. Cooper, Marley, Zealley, and Macgregor have also collected for me, and to them and to Father Kendal, S.J., of Bulawayo, who most kindly corrected translations from the Italian for me, I wish to tender my sincere thanks. I also wish to express my gratitude to the Royal Society of South Africa for a grant of £45 in aid of this work, whereby I was enabled to travel to Capetown and copy many references from the works in the library of the South African Museum, and to proceed subsequently to Willowmore and Durban for the purpose of collecting the ants of those regions. The title, ‘South African,” chosen for this work is admittedly rather indefinite, for in the geographical distribution of the ants, as in the case of nearly all the Aculeate Hymenoptera, no definite limits, such as Sclater’s original South African Region, or its various modifications, can be adopted. Our present knowledge of the ants of Africa is not sufficient to enable us to draw any solid deductions from a survey of their distribution. The Sahara, however, forms a fairly strong boundary, separating off the North African (i.e. Mediterranean) forms from those of the Ethiopian Region, yet several species pass through it by the gap of the Nile Valley; there are also not a few species which occur all along the Hast Coast from Abyssinia downwards, and several species originally discovered in the equatorial regions of the Congo have been taken by myself in Southern Rhodesia. Tt is therefore with a view to reducing the work to convenient proportions that I have decided to limit this monograph to the inclusion of those species which have been found in British South Africa, part of Portuguese Hast Africa, and German South-west Africa, but also including some species which, although recorded outside these limits, may yet be expected to be found in them in the future. A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 3 In the following pages I have copied the original descriptions of those species of which I have not been able to see specimens, such copies being indicated by inverted commas. For the generic descriptions and keys to genera, I have borrowed to a large extent from Prof. Emery’s work on the Ponerinae in the ‘“ Genera Insectorum,” an invaluable work which is indispensable to all students of the family. Species represented in the Rhodesia Museum’s collection are anlerrer, oF cnfron L, or forwards. <<< [POSLETUO r, or behind, or backwards 5. Fie. 1. HUPONERA SENNAARENSIS, Mayr. ?. 1, 2, 3 = pro-, meso-, and meta-notum. E = epinotum. P = Petiole. J, II, Ill, IV, V = Ist-5th segments of abdomen. BA = base and apex of the whole gaster (abdomen). A = apex) B = base J Thorax and head shaded ; true abdominal segments unshaded. of the different parts and segments. indicated by the initials R.M., in that of the South African Museum by 8.A.M., and in my own collection by G.A.; such initials being placed after the descriptions of the species. It is hardly necessary to give an introductory outline of the external anatomy of the Formicidae, since that information is easily obtained in various entomological textbooks.” But it will be necessary, for the understanding of the following descriptions, to give a short explanation of certain features in the anatomy of these insects, and of some modifications in the termin- ology which I have thought desirable to adopt. As is well known, the posterior portion of the “thorax”’ of the * A very clear and full account may be seen in Wheeler’s ‘‘ Ants,” Columbia Uniy. Biol. Series, 1910. 4 Annals of the South African Museum. Hymenoptera is not a true thoracic segment, but is composed of an abdominal segment which has shifted forwards during embryonic development. Hence arises what at first sight appears to be a needlessly confusing terminology of the different parts. Since the posterior portion of the thorax, variously termed the propodeum, epinotum, middle segment, metanotum, etc., is in reality the true 1st abdominal segment, the 1st joint of the petiole is therefore the true 2nd abdominal segment. For taxonomic purposes, and more particu- Fie. 2. Fie. 3. THORAX OF PACHYCONDYLA KruGErt, STREBLOGNATHUS AETHIOPICUS. Om Forel. ¢. Seen obliquely from the side and above. d = dorsum ) s = side pn = pronotum. sc = scutum of mesonotum. of epinotum. M.f = Mayrian furrows. ps = parapsidal furrow. p = parapsis. J = face or declivity ) n = node of petiole. vl = ventral lamella of petiole. sct = scutellum of mesonotum. met = metanotum. ep = epinotum. tg = tegula. J = 1st abdominal segment. mes = mesonotum. pr = pronotum. larly in dealing with the comparative dimensions of head, thorax, and abdomen, the epinotum is regarded as a part of the thorax, the petiole (whether of one or two joints), is treated of as a distinct region, and the lst segment behind the petiole is described as the 1st abdominal segment. The latter is termed by some authors the post-petiole, and the segment following it is in that case called either the lst abdominal segment or simply the 2nd segment. In this work, the segment following the petiole, whether the latter be of one or two joints, will always be treated as the 1st abdominal. A glance at Fig. 1, p. 3, will explain more clearly the terminology adopted. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 5) Another important point which the reader should particularly note is that if we regard the epinotum as the basal segment of the abdomen, the thoracic and abdominal regions are contiguous at their bases, ¢.c. the metanotum on one side and the epinotum on the other. Hence the bases and apices of the separate segments of those two regions lie im opposite directions ; it should therefore be distinctly remembered that when the base of the epinotum is referred to, that portion of it is indicated which adjoins the meso-metanotal part of the thorax. In the worker caste the metanotum is usually InN PL \ Fie. 4. HEAD oF EUPONERA SENNAARENSIS. 2. Fia. 5. mm = masticatory or terminal margin of mandible. HEAD OF OPTHALMOPONE BERTHOUDI. ¢. bm = basal margin of mandible. en. = external margin of mandible. c = clypeus (dotted). fe = frontal carina. fs = frontal sulcus. E = (compound) Eye. o = ocellus. om = occipital margin of the head. Showing fa = frontal area. small, and so completely fused with the mesonotum as not to be recognizable, so that the dorsal suture which separates the metanotal region from that of the epinotal is commonly called the meso- epinotal suture, although strictly speaking it should be called the meta-epinotal. In the male and female the metanotum is distinctly defined (see Figs. 1 and 2, pp. 3, 4). The epinotum is so closely attached to the thorax, in the worker, that its boundaries are not always easily distinguishable. For purposes of description it will be convenient to treat of it as composed of three parts, viz. the sides, the dorsum, and the declivity (see Fig. 3, p. 4). The declivity is the sloping part of the epinotum, adjoining at its apex the base of the petiole. The dorsum, when flat or concave, is 6 Annals of the South Africdn Museum. tolerably distinct from the sides, but is confluent with them when it ig rounded or convex. Similarly the dorsum merges into the declivity when the slope of the latter is very gradual. For the convenience of the student who wishes to consult the original descriptions of the Continental authors, the following glossary of synonyms is appended :— Hpistome = clypeus. Arétes frontales = frontal carinae. Fosses antennaires = antennal sockets, or antennal hollows in the Odontomachini. Metanotum, in the ¥ =epinotum. Propodeum = epinotum. Face basale, of epinotum or metanotum = dorsum of epinotum. Post-petiole = first abdominal segement. Sillons de Mayr=convergent Y-shaped grooves on the mesonotum in the male, or, Mayrian furrows. Famiry FORMICIDAE. The family Formicidae is divided into five sub-families, viz. Ponerinae, Dorylinae, Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae, and Campono- tinae. Of these the first, with which we are now concerned, is the most primitive, and from which, it is generally agreed, the others have originated. The Ponerinae flourish chiefly in the tropical regions of the globe, being poorly represented in the temperate zones; in South Africa they compose about 20 per cent. of the known ant fauna, a not inconsiderable portion. The phenomenon of polymorphism which is so frequently observed in the Dorylinae, Myrmicinae, and Camponotinae is almost entirely absent in this sub-family. Megaponera foetens may possibly furnish an exception : in this ant the individuals are of two sizes, the smaller form, which differs considerably in appearance from the larger, having been described originally as a distinct species (crassicornis, Gerst.). It is, however, very probable that the larger form represents an ergatoid female, in which case this species is exceptional in haying not onesuch female as is usually the rule when they occur, but as many or more females as there are true workers.* * See note to the description of this species, p. 48. Sf A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. T In many species of the larger Ponerinae no winged females have ever been discovered, from which it may be assumed that the functions of the female are usurped by one or more of the workers. Where winged females occur, they are seldom much larger than the workers. The larvae of the Formicidae, like those of all the Aculeate Hymenoptera, are legless grubs. The larva has a small head and thirteen segments. Three of these belong to the thorax, and the rest to the petiole plus the abdomen. The mouth-parts of the larva consist of a pair of mandibles, a pair of maxillae, and an unpaired labium. The spinning glands, with which the larva spins its cocoon, open on little papillae situated on the labium. lLHyes are entirely absent. In some species the larvae are naked, but usually are pro- vided with chitinous hairs which vary very considerably in their structure and arrangement according to the species. The hairs may be simple pointed setae, or plumose, furcate, serrate, or ramose. They prevent the larvae from lying in direct contact with the moist soil of the nest, and also help to hold the young ones together in packets, thereby enabling the nurses to transport large numbers from place to place with little trouble. In addition to the hairs, some larvae, especially of the Ponerinae, have tubercles on some or all of the segments. In Ponera some of the segments are provided with pairs of dorsal tubercles, secreting a glutinous substance which serves to attach the larva to the walls of the nest. In the Dolichoderinae, Camponotinae, and some of the Myrmicinae, the larvae are fed with liquid food regurgitated by the workers. In the Dorylinae, Ponerinae, and some of the Myrmicinae on the other hand, the larvae are nearly always fed with pieces of solid food, which in the case of the two former families is nearly almost invariably animal matter (Dorylus orientalis, which feeds on the soft bark of plants, is a notable exception). Possibly Ponera semmaarensis, Mayr, is also an exception to the rule: this ant preys unceasingly on termites, but its nest very often contains considerable accumulations of grass seeds, which may perhaps be used as food. The economic value of the Ponerinae in tropical countries can hardly be overestimated, for it may be safely asserted that at least 80 per cent. of their food consists of termites, and they thereby con- stitute one of the chief checks to these pests of the tropics. Certain species are exceptional, such as Plectroctena mandibularis, which feeds chiefly on millipedes and beetles, and Platythyrea Arnoldi, For., whose food consists entirely of small beetles, mostly Tenebrionidae. 8 Annals of the South African Museum. The colonies are usually small in Ponerine ants, but may be very numerous in some species, such as Paltothyreus tarsatus, Mega- ponera foetens, Huponera sennaarensis, many species of Leptogenys and Odontomachus haematoda. The habit of foraging in files has been observed in several species of Ponerinae in different parts of the world. In our region this habit is displayed by Megaponera foetens, and to a slight extent by Palto- thyreus tarsatus. The former marches in double file, and the striking disparity in size between the two forms composing the colony has a very singular appearance. Their prey consists entirely of termites, and when a suitable hunting-ground containing these animals has been found, the columns break up and pour into every hole and crack which leads to the invaded galleries. The method then adopted is as follows: Hach ant brings to the surface one or more termites, and then re-enters the galleries to bring up more victims. This is continued until each ant has retrieved about half a dozen termites, which, in a maimed condition, are left struggling feebly at the surface. The whole army reassembles again outside, and each marauder picks up as many termites as it can conveniently carry, usually 3 or 4. The columns are then re-formed and march home. Less order is shown by P. tarsatus, but I have often seen this ant carrying termites, in short single files composed of about a dozen workers. According to my experience of the Ponerinae of Rhodesia, para- sites and ant’s-nest guests are remarkably scarce in the nests of these ants. I have never met with any of the larger Paussidae which are known or suspected to frequent their nests.* But in the colonies of nearly all the Ponerinae, and in a large number belonging to the other sub-families, a very common Thysanuran, of a slaty colour, is found in abundance, and also a white Isopod. I have also found in the nests of Platythrea cribrinodis a Cossyphodes (Arnoldi, Brauns) in small numbers. Probably all the Ponerinae are able to make stridulatory sounds, which in the case of the smaller species may be of so acute a pitch as to be imperceptible to our ears. The stridulation is produced by transverse striae on the under and upper surfaces respectively of the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments. In larger species, such as Paltothyreus tarsatus and Megaponera foetens, the sound is plainly audible at a distance of several feet. Other bionomic notes, when available, will be appended to the * Cerapterus natalensis has been found in the galleries of Platythyrea cribrinodis in Natal.—Tur Eprror. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 9 descriptions of the species, but it must be admitted that we know very little of the life histories of the Ponerinae, and a considerable amount of work remains to be done before we can claim to have a comprehensive knowledge of their natural history. In the following descriptions, the length is given for each species, from the apex of the closed mandibles to the apex of the abdomen. It is also convenient to treat of the short downy hairs as distinct from the longer, thicker, and more rigid ones. The former kind is termed the pubescence, the latter the pilosity. Occasionally the one merges into the other, in which case the whole hairy covering is treated as the pilosity. Unless otherwise stated, the density and size of the punctures and other sculptural characters are understood to be visible with a lens magnifying from 20 to 25 diameters, or less. The dimensions of the head (length compared to width), and the shape, are given exclusive of the mandibles. Key to the Sub-Famulies of the Formicidae. Workers. (8). 1. Petiole one-jointed. (3). 2. A more or less distinct constriction between the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments; % always with well-developed sting; pupa always enclosed in A} COE oo 65 oo 06) 06 66 bo 90 bo 00 100 co JPOMGIIMEG. . No constriction between Ist and 2nd abdominal segments. . Anal aperture transverse. 6). 5. Eyes entirely absent; clypeus very small; sting present, sometimes vestigial ; pupae naked or enclosed inacocoon.. .. .. .. Dorylinae. (5). 6. Eyes always present; clypeus not very small; sting very small and mimeo! ~s5 oe ba, oo db | og 06 660 0g. 00 on Deolhiolnodioronaie. (4). 7. Anal aperture circular. Sting absent; pupae usually enclosed in cocoons. : Camponotinae. (1). 8. Petiole two-jointed ; sting present; pupae alwaysnaked .. Myrmicinae. Seo “1 YS — He OO In some 8 Dorylinae the petiole is almost two-jointed, but the absence of eyes, and the small clypeus will distinguish them from the Myrmicinae. Sup-Famiry PONERINAKH. (Dalla Torre. Cat. Hymen., vol. 7, p. 13). Characters. Except in some males of the Ponerini, and in the Odontomachini, the 1st abdominal segment is marked off by a more or less distinct constriction from the 2nd segment. 10 Annals of the South African Musewm. Females and workers with well-developed sting. Females and males. The anterior wings generally have 2 closed cubital cells. Nymphs always enclosed in a cocoon. Emery divides the Ponerinae into three sections, based on characters derived from the larvae and males, but of which there are no corresponding characters in the female and worker. As far as our present knowledge enables us to judge, these divisions appear to be sufficiently natural, and are as follows :— I. Proporyninar. Larva uniformly hirsute, without piligerous tubercles; g. Mandibles well developed; genital armature retractile, sub-genital valve widely excised; cerci absent. IT. PRoponrRiInaE. Larva as in I.; g. Mandibles well de- veloped; genital armature usually non-retractile ; sub-genital valve entire ; cerci absent. III. Huponerinaz. Larva with piligerous tubercles; g. Man- dibles more or less reduced; genital armature non-retractile; sub-genital valve always entire; cerci present. The first section includes the following South African genera, Cerapachys, Phyracaces, and Simopone. The second section includes Platythyrea, Sysphincta, and Probolo- myrmex. To the third section belong all the other South African Ponerinae. The following dichotomic tables of the tribes, based on the characters of the @ and 8, is derived from Hmery’s work (‘ Gen. Insectorum’’). Unfortunately the males of many species are still unknown, and moreover, in quite a large number of species winged females have never been found, so that a key for these sexes (in many genera) cannot be provided. There is a tendency among the Ponerinae for the suppression of the winged ?, which is replaced by ergatoid females differing but little from the workers except in size and pilosity. Key to the Tribes of the Ponerinae, based on the Characters of the 8 and &. (Bo to Clays josey so 6-64 60 66 06 00 50 ALG pOgeIOTO, INORG. . Claws simple or toothed. ; (4). 3. Mandibles articulated to the middle of the anterior margin of the Ingen) 56 5000 66 bo. bo 06 96 oo vo Odlonuomaoiini, Mayr . Mandibles articulated to the anterior angles of the head. (6). 5. At least one ocellus in the % ; body elongate, pygidium armed at the sides with several stumpy spines .. ... Cylindromyrmicini, Emery. — = WH bo — iw A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. iti (5). 6. Usually no ocellus in the % ; pygidium without spines at the sides. . Insertion of the antennae not covered by the frontal carinae. (9). 8. Abdomen strongly reflexed ventrally, or, if not, the frontal carinae are fused together and to the clypeus .. .. .. .. Proceratiini, Emery. (8). 9. Abdomen not reflexed ventrally; frontal carinae distinct from each other. Antennal sockets delimited laterally by carina. Cerapachyini, Forel. (7). 10. Insertion of the antennae at least partly covered by the frontal carinae.* (12). 11. Frontal carinae with a lateral lobe; antennae inserted close together. Ponerini, Forel. (11). 12. Frontal carinae with a lateral lobe, but antennae inserted widely apart ; clypeus flat, and whole body covered with a very fine pruinose pubescence. Platythyreini, Emery. — H iS — J Section PRODORYLINAH, Emery. Tre CERAPACHYINI, Forel. Characters. Frontal carinae nearly vertical in all the sexes, and not covering the insertion of the antennae. 8% without ocelli; petiole narrowly articulated to the Ist abdominal segment. Wings with only one closed cubital cell. Including two South African genera, distinguished as follows :— 1. Last antennal joint much larger than the preceding, forming a single-jointed club; petiole not margined .. .. . - oe oe Cerapachys, F. Smith. 2. Last antennal joint only slightly larger then the preceding, not forming a club; petiole with lateral margins sharply defined .. .. .. Phyracaces, Emery. GENUS ee Smith, Journ. Proc. Linn. Soe. Zool., ii., p. 74, 1857. Characters. %. Head emarginate posteriorly and the posterior angles promi- nent. Clypeus very short and fused with frontal carinae, which are short and close together; the latter do not cover the insertion of the antennae. The antennal socket (or more accurately, the space on the front of the head surrounding the socket) is limited laterally by a carina. Antennae with 9 to 12 joints, the terminal joint large and forming a club, and at least as long as the three preceding joints together. * Tixcept in Opthalmopone, in which the insertion is almost bare. 12 Annals of the South African Musewm. Thorax without, or with indistinct sutures. Lateral margins of the petiole not sharply defined. The Ist abdominal segment sharply constricted off from the 2nd. The latter as long as the succeeding segments taken together. @. Winged and resembling the worker, or apterous and ergatoid. g. Antennae of 13 joints; anterior wings with only one complete (closed) cubital cell. Key to the % % of Cerapachys. (4). 1. Eyes absent, small reddish yellow species. (3). 2. First abdominal segment wider than long, nearly as wide behind as the 2nd seoment .. .. . .- Wroughtoni, Forel, v. rhodesiana. (2). 3. 1st abdominal SoA as nom as wide, distinctly narrower than the 2nd segment .. .. do oc to oo oo IJiponialoiopy, \atoweil. (1). 4. Eyes present, black or brownien species. (6). 5. Puncturation of head, thorax, petiole, and 1st abdominal segment dense and very large; posterior dorsal margin of the petiole bisinuate. Cooperi, Arnold. (5). 6. Puncturation small and not very dense; posterior dorsal margin of petiole straight. (8). 7. Body black and very shining, sparsely punctured, pubescence and pilosity SOM, 64 6 .. .. cribrinodis, Emery, v. natalensis, Forel. . Body castaneous Brown: not very shining, more closely punctured, pubes- cence and pilosity rather abundant .. .. .. .. Peringueyi, Emery. — | D C. CRIBRINODIS, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 43, p. 463, 3, 1899. “8%. 37 to 4mm. Blackish brown, shining; the front of the head, mandibles, antennae, tarsi, and apex of Srahineh rusty red, last jot of antennae and tarsi ferruginous. Head a little longer than wide, the sides rounded, as wide in front as behind and widely emarginate posteriorly; the posterior angles sub- acute. The eyes large and flat, inserted in about the middle of the sides of the head : the frontal carinae fused with the clypeus, forming on each side a projecting lobe, itself bilobed anteriorly. The antennae are therefore placed farther forwards than in other species of the genus; the frontal carinae are parallel in front, high and close together, but separated by a groove; posteriorly they are fused together and abruptly terminated by a depression continuous with the antennal sockets. The genal carinae are raised anteriorly into a prominence, below which is a depression sufficiently large to accommodate the scape when the latter is directed forwards. Mandibles narrow, their apical margin very oblique, with four A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 13 small and obtuse teeth at the base, and a larger obtuse tooth in the middle of the basal margin. Antennae 12-jointed, the scape reaches back to the posterior edge of the eyes. All the joints of the flagellum are broader than long, except the terminal joint which is as long as the four preceding taken together. The thorax is parallel-sided, depressed dorsally but not marginate and without trace of sutures; the declivity of the epinotum finely marginate. Head and thorax smooth, sparsely and finely punctured, a hair being inserted in each puncture. The puncturation of the petiole is much coarser, that of the Ist abdominal segment a little smaller, the rest of the abdomen finely punctured. The petiole is half as wide again as long, truncate anteriorly and posteriorly, round above and not marginate; below and in front there is a large rounded projection. The 1st abdominal segment is as wide at its base as the posterior edge of the petiole, widening towards the apex ; the 2nd segment is longer than the petiole, but the 2nd and following segments are together shorter than the petiole plus the lst segment. The legs are hirsute. Hab, Cameroons.” The type species does not occur in our region, but I have thought it best to reproduce the original description which applies in the main to the following variety. Var. NATALENSIS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 423, 1910. %. This is a little larger than the type, and has the petiole sparsely punctured. Hab. Natal. C. PERINGUEYI, Emery. (Plate I., fig. 1, 1a.) Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p.335, %, 1886. 8. 4mm. Castaneous brown, scape, apical joint of flagellum and legs ferruginous. In some specimens the head and abdomen darker, almost piceous. Shining ; thorax, petiole and Ist abdominal segment largely and coarsely punctured, the punctures of the petiole being particularly large. Head and 2nd abdominal segment with smaller and more abundant punctures, the remaining abdominal segments finely and sparsely punctured ; antennae finely and closely punctured. The whole body covered with rather long whitish recumbent hairs, 14 Annals of the South African Museum. densest on the apical margins of the abdominal segments. Head longer than wide, convex above, moderately emarginate behind, posterior angles sub-acute, sides convex. Hyes rather large, situated a little in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Clypeus narrow and sloping inwards. Frontal carinae very narrow and raised, continued in front (along the margin of the clypeus), round to the antennal socket ; above, the carinae are angularly bent near their middle, then converge and end abruptly. There is a semicircular carina on each cheek, externally. The scape, strongly incrassate towards the apex, hardly reaches to the posterior margin of the eyes: Ist to 10th joints of the flagellum wider than long, apical joint much longer than wide, as long as the 6th-10th joints taken together. Thorax slightly narrowed in the middle, submarginate anteriorly, with pronounced anterior lateral angles, all the sutures obliterated, the sides seen from above moderately convex; the thorax is as long as, or only very little longer than the petiole and lst abdominal segment taken together. The declivity of the epinotum vertical and bounded by a feebly raised margin. Petiole wider than long, slightly narrower in front than behind, convex above, moderately so at the sides, vertically truncate in front and behind. First abdominal segment wider behind than in front, one-fifth longer than the petiole, convex above and at the sides; the constric- tion between the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments deep and strong ; 2nd segment one-quarter longer than the Ist, globose, and with the sides very convex. The ventral lamella of the petiole is produced anteriorly and is sharply truncate. Hab. Cape. (G.A., S.A.M., R.M. colls.) Var. LATIUSCULA, Hmery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 19, 1895. 3. 4mm. This differs from the type in its slightly larger size, and in haying the petiole broader by one-quarter than it is long, the Ist abdominal segment is also a little broader. The puncturation is also slightly closer and larger. Hab. Makapan. C. CooPERI, n. sp. 3. 33mm. Piceous, clypeus and anterior part of the head a little lighter ; mandibles, antennae, and legs yellowish red. The whole body, including the tibiae, femora, and antennae covered with long, yellowish, semi-recumbent hairs, the pilosity being more plentiful A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 15 and longer than in Peringueyi or cribrinodis. The whole body sub- nitidulous, the head above, thorax, petiole, and 1st abdominal segment closely and coarsely punctured. The punctures on the head are smaller and more regular than elsewhere ; the cheeks below the eyes are smooth and impunctate. The puncturation of the thorax becomes coarser towards the posterior end. The punctures of the petiole and 1st abdominal segment are large and deep, but strongest on the petiole. The declivity of the epinotum, and the anterior and posterior faces of the petiole are smooth and shining. The 2nd abdominal segment is evenly but sparsely punctured, the punctures being smaller than those on the head; the margins of the remaining abdominal segments, the scape of the antenna and the legs sparsely punctured. The head is a little longer than wide, a little narrower in front than behind, with the sides moderately convex and the posterior margin straight. The eyes, situated in the middle of the sides of the head, are more convex than in C. Peringueyr. The mandibles are very finely denticulate on the masticatory margin. Antennae 12-jointed, the scape strongly incrassate towards the apex and not reaching back quite as far as the posterior margin of the eyes. The one-jointed club is more globose and comparatively larger than in our other species, and is as long as the 2-10 joints of the flagellum together ; the latter are twice as wide as long, and the ist joint is as wide as long. The angles terminating the genal carinae are more prominent, but otherwise the characters of the head are similar to those of C. Peringueyi. The thorax is flatter above than in that species, and much more distinctly wider behind than in front. The declivity of the epinotum is nearly vertical, strongly margined above, less strongly at the sides, the junction of the dorsal and lateral margins being produced into a small and inconspicuous angle on each side. The petiole is slightly wider behind than in front and moderately convex above from side to side; the sides are almost straight or only feebly convex, the anterior and posterior faces vertical, the anterior dorsal margin straight, the posterior margin above bisinuate so as to form a median and two lateral rounded angles. The first abdominal segment is nearly half as wide again as long, the 2nd segment as wide as long. Otherwise like C. Peringueyt. ?. 4mm. Similar tothe % except for the usual sexual differences. The pro-mesonotal suture is unusually angular, so that the mesonotum and scutellum together, seen from above, have the outline of a lozenge. The mesonotum is strongly but sparsely punctured, smooth, and shining between the punctures. The dorsum of the epinotum is 16 Annals of the South African Musewm. three times as wide as long. Tegulae ferruginous, wings pale yellowish, the nervures and stigma a little darker. Umgeni, Durban. (C. B. Cooper.) The types in my collection. (S.A.M., R.M. coll.) The strong puncturation, especially of the petiole and 1st abdominal segment, the longer and more prominent club, and the bisinuate posterior dorsal margin of the petiole suffice to distinguish this species from all the other members of the genus in South Africa. C. WrovueGutTont, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 422, 3, 1910. “3. 2-93 mm. Mandibles smooth, punctured, narrow, and with terminal margin oblique. The insertion of each antenna lies in a depression bounded externally by a lateral carina concave inwards, internally by the frontal carina, and posteriorly by a transverse ridge which joins the lateral and frontal carinae. Head rectangular, one and a quarter times as long as wide, sides convex, as wide at the back as in front, and with a lateral raised margin on each side of the occiput. Hyes absent. Scape thick, hardly reaching the middle of the head; 1st joint of the flagellum broader than long, 2nd—6th joints twice as broad as long, last joint slightly swollen and as long as the four preceding joints together. Dorsum of thorax sub-depressed, faintly and obtusely marginate and about three times as long as wide. Pronotum and epinotum of about equal size; mesonotum shorter and narrower; declivity of the epinotum sub-vertical, smooth, and marginate at the sides and above. Petiole seen from above, almost square, corners rounded, as long as wide. First segment of abdomen also almost square, one and a half times as long and as wide as the petiole, and with apical margin straight. The articular portions between the Ist and 2nd segments form a stridulatory surface. The whole body and legs smooth and shining, largely and clearly punctured; of a reddish-yellow colour and covered with a yellowish, short and oblique pubescence.” Hab. Natal. (R. Wroughton.) (G.A., 8.A.M.) Var. RHODESIANA, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 112, ¥ , 1913. 2°3mm. This differs from the type in its larger size, in the shape of the node which is wider than long (in the type as long as wide), A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 17 in the less developed carina above the base of the antennae, and in the much less distinct pro-mesonotal suture. The lst segment of the abdomen is also much wider than long, whereas in the type it is as wide as long. The thorax is also a little shorter. Hab. Bulawayo. (G.A. coll.) Genus PHYRACACHS, Emery. Rend. Accad. Se. Bologna, p. 27, 1901. Characters. % and @. Antennae 12-jointed, apical joint not clubbed and not longer than the two preceding together. Petiole, and sometimes the 1st abdominal segment with distinctly defined lateral margins. Hyes in the 8 large, otherwise resembling Cerapachys. &. Unknown. This small genus, with the exception of two species from Mada- gascar and the two described below, is confined to the Australian region. P. Braunsi, Emery. Loe. cit. “%. 35 mm. Piceous; mouth, antennae, apex of abdomen a little lighter, shining, with numerous fine hairs which are most abundant on the abdomen. Pubescence on the legs obliquely exserted, scape with some long hairs; all the body finely punctured, more densely so on the abdomen. Head with rounded sides and with the occipital margin almost straight, or arcuate; the eyes occupy a little less than one-half of the sides. The mandible, narrow at the base, gradually enlarges towards the masticatory margin which is obtusely dentelate on the buccal portion. The frontal carinae are raised and parallel, but dip down and converge abruptly posteriorly. The scape does not extend further back than the eye, is shorter than the half of the flagellum, and is incrassate towards its apex; the 2nd—6th joints of the flagellum are wider than long, the terminal joint being longer than the preceding but not wider. Thorax short and stout; the declivity of the epinotum: marginate. Petiole with sharp, lateral margins, seen from above, much wider than long, the anterior face fairly straight, the sides arcuate, and the 9 a“ 18 Annals of the South African Musewm. posterior margin deeply excavated below the lateral angles, which project backwards and are rounded. The 1st abdominal segment is wider and longer than the petiole, but less than the following segment, and is rounded at the sides. Hab. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Brauns.)” “ P. CooPeERt, n. sp. %. 42-45 mm. Black, femora and mandibles piceous, tibiae, tarsi, and antennae dark ferruginous. Petiole, abdomen, and legs with a very sparse pale pubescence. Whole body with a scanty pilosity of long, whitish yellow oblique hairs, more abundant on the abdomen, shorter and denser on the legs. Whole body shining, head and thorax particularly so. The head is smooth and impunc- tate between the eyes and below them, rugoso-punctate between the frontal and genal carinae, and above, from the posterior margin of the eyes to the occipital margin, coarsely and irregularly punctate. The thorax is punctate-striate anteriorly and posteriorly, almost impunctate in the middle except at the lateral margins where there are a few large punctures. The petiole and 1st abdominal segment are closely and strongly punctured, the punctures are large, and on the petiole somewhat elongated. The 2nd abdominal segment is closely and rather finely punctured, the punctures being much smaller and more even than those of the Ist segment; 3rd—d5th segments finely punctured but less densely than the 2nd segment. Head a little longer than wide, narrower in front of the eyes than behind them, sides moderately convex, occipital margin concave, posterior angles sub-acute. Hyes convex, occupying a little more than one-quarter of the sides of the head, and situated somewhat dorsally just within the anterior half of the head. Frontal carinae considerably raised and parallel, convergent posteriorly and meeting at a point at a level with the anterior margin of the eyes. Seen from the side, the profile of the carinae is strongly convex in its anterior half, then shallowly concave for a quarter of its length and straight along its posterior quarter. The posterior margin of the clypeus is raised, and meets on each side a low genal carina which runs forward from the inner margin of each eye, and forms with it a distinct angle or tooth, just above the base of the mandibles. A shallow crenate groove surrounds the posterior two-thirds of the eye, and is continued below it to the base of the mandible. Antennae A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 19 12-jointed; the scape extends very slightly beyond the posterior margin of the eyes, it is strongly incrassate towards the apex, and is longer than half the flagellum, or as long as the Ist—9th joints together ; the 2nd-9th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the apical joint not wider than, but about as long as the two preceding joints taken together. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin concave and without teeth. Thorax without trace of sutures, twice as long as wide, widest at its posterior fourth, margined above, very distinctly so anteriorly and posteriorly, but less so at the sides. Seen in profile, the dorsum of the thorax is decidedly convex longi- tudinally, and the sides are vertical. The declivity is almost vertical and strongly margined all round. The petiole is sharply margined above, and three-quarters as wide again as long; the anterior face is vertical, the anterior dorsal margin almost straight, the sides are moderately convex, the posterior margin depressed, and the posterior lateral angles are raised and form a blunt triangular tooth on each side. The 1st abdominal segment is as wide as the petiole, a trifle wider than long, the sides parallel; the sides are somewhat angularly but obtusely delimited from the dorsum, but not marginate. The 2nd abdominal segment hardly longer, but one-quarter wider than the 1st. Posterior metatarsi longer than the tibiae. Nesting under the roots of a tree. Umgeni, Durban. (C. B. Cooper.) This species appears to differ from P. Brawnst, which is known to me only from the description, by its larger size, smaller eyes, longer scape, and much stronger puncturation. Type in my collection. (R.M.,S.A.M. and G.A. colls.) Tre CYLINDROMYRMICINI, Emery. Characters. 8 and ?. Frontal carinae elongate and projecting laterally so as to form a short scrobe into which the base of the scape can be inserted. Hyes large, at least one ocellus in the ¥. Body elongate. Pygidium furnished laterally with short stumpy spines. g. Antennae 13-jointed; scape short, Ist joint of flagellum very short, the following joints longer than wide. This tribe includes two genera, Cylindromyrmex, Mayr, which is confined to South America, and Simopone, Forel, of which 5 species 20 Annals of the South African Musewm. are known, 3 being recorded from Madagascar and 2 from Africa, viz., S. conradti, Emery, from the Cameroons, and the new species described below. Genus SIMOPONEH, Forel. In Grandidier’s Hist. Madagascar, vol. 20, p. 139, 1891. Characters. %. Body more or less cylindrical; head parallel-sided. Antennae 11-jointed, scape very flattened and strongly incrassate towards the apex. Thoracic sutures usually indistinct. Petiole articulated to the 1st abdominal segment by a narrow surface. The constriction between the lst and 2nd abdominal segments very wide and rather low down. Legs short; claws dentate or pectinate. ?. Unknown. g. Clypeus very short; frontal carinae convergent behind and separated by a longitudinal sulcus. Mandibles triangular and edentate. Antennae 13-jointed, scape short and thick, 1st joint of flagellum very small. Mayrian furrows on the mesonotum strongly defined. Petiole nodiform; the constriction between the lst and 2nd abdominal segments very strong. Anterior wings with two. cubital cells, not completely closed. SmmoponeE MARLEYI, 0. sp. 8. 7mm. Reddish ochreous yellow, mandibles and flagellum a. little darker, apical segment of abdomen except at its extreme base, and the articular surface between the 1st and 2nd abdominal seg- ments, black. Posterior half of thorax, petiole, legs and scape very shining, the rest of the body moderately shining. Head, thorax,. petiole and Ist-4th abdominal segments sparsely and shallowly punctured; the punctures are ill-defined and largest on the head, smallest on the abdomen. The legs, antennae and mandibles are sparsely and finely punctured. The anterior half of the head is microscopically longitudinally striate. The pubescence is sparse and consists of short recumbent golden hairs. It is more abundant. on the Ist and 2nd segments of the abdomen, and very scanty on the head and thorax. The apical margins of the petiole and abdomen, and the sides of the apical segment bear some longer and thicker hairs; legs and antennae very sparsely pubescent. Head slightly narrower in front than behind, almost one-third longer than wide, sides moderately convex, posterior margin feebly A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 21 arcuate, posterior angles rounded. Clypeus smooth and without carinae, sloping inwards, fused posteriorly in the middle with the frontal area ; its posterior margin is raised, and bears on each side just below and external to the frontal carinae, a rounded, prominent tubercle which projects over the mandible when looked at from the side. The frontal carinae are flattened and produced into a rounded lobe in front, they diverge in front and behind and terminate at a point on a level with the anterior margins of the eyes. The latter are very large. The ocelli are very small; the space between them is fuscous. ‘The mandibles are triangular, very convex dorsally, the external margin shallowly concave, the masticatory margin edentate. The scape of the antenna is strongly compressed dorso-ventrally, widest at the apex and almost triangular, or twice as long as the apical width ; it just reaches back as far as the anterior margin of the eyes. The flagellum is 10-jointed, the 1st joint is about as long as wide, the 2nd—9th joints much wider than long, the apical joint longer than wide, and half as long again as the preceding. The thorax is parallel-sided, its dorsum is flat longitudinally and feebly convex from side to side. The pro-mesonotal suture fairly distinct, the meso-epinotal ill-defined. The pronotum is distinctly margined anteriorly by a dark raised line; the declivity of the epinotum is similarly margined above and at the sides. The petiole is wider behind than in front and feebly convex above. The anterior face of the node is vertical and slightly concave; it is margined above by a fine but very distinct and dark raised line, which is con- tinued along the sides inferiorly to the dorsal margin of the posterior face; the posterior angles are produced backwards, so that the posterior margin is arcuate. The Ist abdominal segment is at least one-third longer than the petiole, and as wide as long; it is separated from the 2nd segment by a wide and deep constriction; the 3rd and following segments are wider than long. The pygidium is produced at the apex into a bidentate projection. Behind this projection the pygidial area of the 5th segment is flattened, smooth and shining in the centre, rugoso-punctate at the sides and armed on each lateral margin with six short spines or teeth (see figs. 46, 46a, Plate V.). Legs short, posterior metatarsi as long as the tibiae and nearly as wide. Three specimens were found by Mr. Marley in hollow stems of the castor-oil plant, Stella Bush, Durban. At first glance this species bears a deceptive resemblance to Suma natalensis, Smith. The type in my collection. 22 Annals of the South African Museum. Section PROPONERINAE, Emery. Pee, PAYEE emery, Comprising only the following genus. Genus PLATYTHYRHA, Roger. Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 7, p. 172, 1863. Characters. %. Whole body finely punctured, covered with a pruinose pubes- cence. Clypeus flat and indistinctly defined posteriorly ; frontal area generally indistinct; frontal carinae widely separated, thick and dilated in front. Mandibles triangular, with the masticatory edge large, finely dentate or without teeth. Maxillary palps 6-jointed, labial palps 4-jointed. Antennae 12-jointed, eyes moderately large, no ocelli. The pro-mesothoracic suture slightly mobile, the rest of the thorax completely fused together. Petiole large but not squamiform, narrowly articulated to the 1st abdominal segment at about the centre of the latter, the abdominal constriction not very deep. Middle and posterior tibiae with two calcaria; claws unidentate. ?. Winged; resembling the worker but slightly larger; eyes larger and ocelli present : pronotum large, mesonotum depressed. 3g. Clypeus more convex than in the %; frontal carinae not dilated in front; mandibles triangular. Antennae 13-jointed, scape slightly shorter than the 3rd joint. Eyes and ocelli very large. Pronotum large, not covered by the mesonotum, the latter not very convex, and with Mayrian furrows indistinct. Wings with 2 cubital cells. Petiole asin the 8. Pygidium rounded, cerci present. Key to the % % of Platythyrea. (10). 1. Dorsum of mesonotum as high as, or higher than the epinotum; con- striction between the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments moderate. (7). 2. Node of petiole with the posterior dorsal margin produced on each side into a more or less distinct tooth. . Larger species, 14-16°5 mm. Whole body black .. cribrinodis, Gerst. . Smaller species, less than 10 mm., legs and antennae red. 6). 5. Posterior dorsal margin of node with a median rounded tooth, longer than the lateral angles ; puncturation feeble, 7 mm. Mocquerysi, Emery, var. matopoensis, Arnold. (5). 6. Posterior dorsal margin of node without a median rounded tooth; puncturation moderately strong, 8°5-9°5 mm. .. .. Schultzei, Forel. (2). 7. Node of petiole without lateral dorsal teeth on the posterior margin. ao we Se Oe He CO A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa, 23 (8). 8. Larger species, 12-13 mm. Node at least twice as long as wide. Arnoldi, Forel. (8). 9. Smaller species, 6°5 mm. Node not more than half as long again as wide. Cooperi, Arnold. (1.) 10. Dorsum of the mesonotum on a lower level than that of the epinotum ; constriction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments very strong. (12). 11. Node of petiole truncate posteriorly .. .. .. .. Jlamellosa, Roger. (11). 12. Node of petiole rounded posteriorly. lamellosa, Roger, race longinoda, Forel, and var. rhodesiana, Forel. P. crIBRINODIS, Gerstaecker. (Plate I., fig. 4.) Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 3%, p. 504, 1858. Emery, Ann. Mus. Stor. Nat. Genoa, vol. 37, p. 154, g, 1896?. Forel, Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 208, g, 1913. 8. 14-165 mm. Black and dull, calcaria and last two joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Whole body covered with an exceedingly fine pruinose pubescence, yellow and somewhat longer on the clypeus ; apical abdominal segment clothed with short reddish-yellow hairs ; apex of anterior tibiae and anterior tarsus beneath clothed with short golden hairs. The head (excluding clypeus and anterior half of frontal carinae) thorax, node of petiole and lst abdominal segment, punctured; the spaces between the punctures are microscopically rugulose, the punctures are fairly evenly distributed, round and shining, and the floor of each puncture is pitted with two or three minute points. The punctures are larger and closer on the posterior half of the head and on the node. 2nd to 5th abdominal segments rugulose but impunctate, Head with posterior angles well defined, occipital margin straight, sides moderately convex. Eyes of medium size, situated at about the middle of the sides of the head. Mandibles triangular, slightly shining, and striato-punctate. Posterior margin of clypeus indistinct, but produced into a wide angle between the frontal carinae. The latter are broad in front and flat, much narrower and convergent behind. The scape reaches beyond the occipital margin. The flagellum is as long as the thorax, with the 2nd joint longer than the drd. Pronotum wider than long, anterior margin arcuate and with prominent anterior angles. Pro-mesonotal suture well defined, meso-metanotal suture absent. The epinotum has a short triangular and blunt tooth on each side above the declivity ; the latter is very steep, excavated, and with the dorsal margin considerably raised, the lateral margins less so. Node 24 Annals of the South African Musewn. of petiole longer than wide, distinctly wider behind than in front, slightly convex, rounded above and truncate in front and behind ; the posterior dorsal margin is bi-emarginate, so as to form a tooth on each side and a median obtuse angle. The ventral lamella of the petiole is produced anteriorly into a truncated lobe. First abdominal segment narrower at the base than at the apex, a little shorter and narrower than the 2nd segment. Abdominal constriction distinct. g. 13mm. Black, pruinose pubescence as in the ¥. On the head, epinotum, and petiole the puncturation is much sparser than in the % ; the Ist abdominal segment is sparsely and very shallowly punctured, so as to appear almost impunctate. Mesonotum strongly punctured in its basal half, scutellum feebly punctured. Head somewhat triangular, occipital margin straight, posterior angles rounded. Hyes very large and prominent; ocelli large but not raised. The frontal carinae reach far back, frontal area distinct. Clypeus convex, posterior margin very ill-defined. Mandibles large, sinuate externally, masticatory margin obtusely denticulate, the apex incurved. The antennae reach back as far as the posterior extremity of the thorax; the scape is slightly shorter than the 2nd joint of the filiform flagellum; the 1st joint of the latter is very short. Pronotum exposed, one-third as long as the mesonotum, and with a short lateral fovea on each side of the apical margin; the parapsi- dial areas are marked off by a raised line. The declivity of the epinotum sub-concave and marginate, the dorsal lateral teeth very much reduced. The petiole is like that of the % but is less dis- tinctly truncate posteriorly, and the posterior dorsal margin is only sub-angular and not toothed on each side. The abdomen is as in the %. Pygidium with apex rounded. Wings smoky, especially round the stigma; nervures pale brown, stigma dark brown, legs slender. Hab. Southern Rhodesia. (G.A., S.A.M., R.M. colls.) V Var. PUNCTATA, 0. V. This variety differs from the type in having the posterior region of the head, the pronotum and epinotum more densely punctured. The node of the petiole is as wide in front as behind, the posterior lateral teeth shorter and more obtuse, and the ventral lamella acute anteriorly, the apex of the projection not being truncate as in the type. Hab. Victoria Falls. (G.A., §.A.M.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 25 P. ScHuLTzet, Forel. Schultze, Zool. Anthrop. Reise Siidafrika, vol. 4, p. 3, 1910. “ 8. 85-9:'5mm. Black, mandibles, frontal carinae, antennae and legsred. Mandibles moderately shining, exceedingly finely rugulose, punctured, and with the anterior margin sharp. Clypeus with anterior margin feebly and obtusely projecting, posterior margin prominent and distinct between the frontal carinae. The latter are strongly curved and convex exteriorly. Head trapezoid, slightly wider behind than in front, feebly concave posteriorly and a little longer than wide. The eyes are situated a little in front of the middle of the sides, moderately convex and occupying nearly one- quarter of the sides of the head. Scape flattened at the apex, and nearly reaching beyond the back of the head to the extent of its own width ; 2nd joint of flagellum longer than the 1st and 3rd, 6th—10th joints slightly wider than long, the rest longer than wide. Thorax constricted a little posteriorly, anterior angles obtuse. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, with traces of sutures behind the meso- and the metanotum.. Basal area of epinotum convex, some- what longer than the declivity, which is terminated above by two flat, triangular teeth. Petiole longer than wide, slightly wider behind than in front, convex above, vertical in front and behind, the posterior margin convex in the middle and dentate laterally. Ventral lamella projecting longitudinally. Abdomen feebly constricted, 2nd segment as long and as wide as the Ist. The whole body, including the legs and antennae fairly densely reticulate-punctate and slightly shining; intermixed, are some rather coarse and shallow punctures, especially on the head. The coarse puncturation is absent on the clypeus, frontal carinae, legs, and abdomen, excepting the Ist segment. Finely and sparsely covered with yellow pubescence. Pygidium with short yellow hairs. Hab. Hereroland, Windhoek, G.S.W. Africa. (Schultze.)” Lonely Mine, 8. Rhodesia. (Dr. Swale.) (G.A., coll.) P. LAMELLOSA, Roger. Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., 4, p. 295, 3, 1860. “%. 125 mm. Black, dull, and pruinose, antennae and legs brown-black, mandibles and tarsi red. Head quadrangular, only slightly narrower behind than in front. Hyes moderately convex and situated at about the middle of the sides of the head. Frontal carinae broad and fused with the clypeus, 26 Annals of the South African Musewm. which is rounded anteriorly and flat. The scape projects beyond the back of the head, and is gradually thickened from the middle to the apex. The flagellum is 11-jointed, the 2nd joint is one-third longer than the 1st, the rest progressively shorter, except the last joint which is only slightly longer than the preceding. Mandibles short and triangular, curved in front and below, convex above, finely rugose and edentate. The whole body is finely rugulose, with a few coarse punctures. Pronotum rounded at the sides, anterior angies obsolete, slightly arched dorsally and separated from the mesonotum by a deep suture. Meso- and metanotum fused. The declivity of the epinotum is steep, shallowly excavated, with two small obtuse teeth close together on the upper margin. The puncturation of the thorax is similar to that of the head, but somewhat more strongly punctured on the prothorax and the pleurae. Petiole seen from above cylindrical, longer than it is wide or deep, rounded in front, abruptly truncated behind and coarsely punctured all over. Ventral lamella anteriorly, with a tooth-like projection, truncated at its apex. The 1st abdominal segment anteriorly moderately truncate but without a distinct edge, broader than long, campaniform, constricted at its apex; 2nd segment wider that long, longer than the Ist, both segments finely punctured. The legs are long; posterior tibiae with 2 calearia, the outer pectinate. Metatarsi much shorter than the tibiae, and slightly shorter than the tarsi together. Anterior tarsi and metatarsi with thick golden pubescence beneath. A few erect hairs occur on the last abdominal segment.” Hab. Cape Province. (G.A., S.A.M. colls.) Sub-sp. Lonernopa, Forel. Mitt. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 75, 3, 1894. “‘ Like the type, but as far as I can judge from Roger’s description without seeing the type, differing in the following characters- Mandibles with 3 to 4 teeth, separated from each other. Head rectangular, longer than wide. Mesonotum wider than long, very short, and separated from the metanotum by a plainly visible even if somewhat indistinct suture. The mesonotum is fairly flat and depressed, lying at a lower level than the pro- and mesonota. Declivity of the epinotum excavated, the margins sharply defined, above with two very stumpy rounded bosses (in place of teeth), Petiole cylindrical, more than twice as long as wide, hardly wider A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 27 behind than in front, roundly truncate in front and behind. Puncturation similar to that of P. cribrinodis. Valdezia, Transvaal. (Rev. P. Berthoud.)’’ Race longinoda. Var. RHODESIANA, Forel. (Plate L., fig. 3.) Anasoce nt wbele.. volo, iv. p. 10) 3 gy 1913. bids px 34%, OP, aS}. 8. 12-13 mm. This variety differs from lamellosa, in being more finely punctured, especially on the petiole ; the latter is almost twice as long as wide, and is widest in its posterior half, whereas in the type it is hardly more than one-quarter as long again as wide, and is widest in the middle; the projection of the ventral lamella is smaller and more acute, not widely truncated at the apex as in the type; the two obtuse tubercles or teeth of the epinotum are also much less prominent in this variety. It differs from race longinoda by its stronger puncturation, its larger size, the slightly longer petiole, and the greater width of the head behind. “@?. 14mm. Almost identical with the 3. Thorax nearly as wide as the head. Mesonotum and scutellum short. The teeth of the epinotum broader and more noticeable than in the % ; other- wise identical, but the antennae, tarsi, and mandibles are distinctly reddish. Dealated.”’ $. 135 mm. Black, tarsi brown, extreme base of scape ferruginous. Pruinose pubescence as in the %. Whole body finely rugulose and irregularly punctured with small shining punctures, most abundant on the head and thorax, sparser and much shallower on the abdomen. Head, including the mandibles, nearly half as long again as wide, widest across the eyes, posterior angles con- siderably rounded. Clypeus large and convex, posterior margin clearly defined. Mandibles large, triangular, shining and finely punctured ; masticatory margin denticulate, with an elongate sub- apical tooth, apex incurved and moderately acute. Antennae reach back as far as the base of the 1st abdominal segment; the scape is very nearly as long as the 2nd joint of flagellum; the 1st joint of the latter is very short, not one-third as long as the scape; 2nd-10th joints sinuate externally, so that they are all much wider at the apex than at the base. Frontal carinae wide. Hyes large and convex, the ocelli situated on a raised area. Pronotum exposed, sides slightly concave, anterior margin round; pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Mesonotum very convex in front, flatter at the base, and raised well above the level of the pronotum. 28 Annals of the South African Museum. Mayrian furrows well defined, and with a short shallow groove between the fork. Scutellum triangular, very gibbous and seen from the side, much higher than the mesonotum. Epinotum as long as the meso- and metanotum together, the dorsum is sloping and moderately convex ; the declivity is short and gradual, excavated dorso-ventrally, shining and bounded by a raised margin all round. Petiole long, two and a half times as long as wide, widest a little before the apex, the extreme base is angularly emarginate above, with the angles raised into two small flaps. Seen from the side, the petiole is convex above and concave below. The ventral lamella is produced into a small blunt angle at the extreme base. First abdominal segment almost triangular, the apical margin is quite four times as wide as the basal. 2nd abdominal segment is as long as the Ist, wider than long and moderately convex at the sides. Pygidium sub-acute. The apical third of the posterior wings, and two-thirds of the anterior wings externally, dark fuscous; stigma and nervures dark brown. Legs long and slender. Hab. §. Rhodesia. The nest of this species is so distinctive that it cannot be mistaken for that of any of our other Ponerinae. The entrance is surmounted by a dome, from 6 to 8 inches high, by about 12 inches broad at the base. The dome is built up of very even-sized small pebbles, about 5 to 8 mm. in their largest diameter. The entrance is situated in the centre above, and this is generally the only entrance, very exceptionally there may be a smaller and less regular opening at the base of the mound. The type form appears to be replaced entirely throughout 8. Rhodesia by this race. (G.A., 5.A.M., R.M. colls.) P. ARnoupt, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 206, 8, 1913. 8. 12-13 mm. Black, mandibles castaneous red. At first glance this species is not unlike lamellosa, especially var. rhodesiana of the race longinoda. It can, however, easily be distinguished from those three forms by the structure of the dorsum of the mesonotum, which is as high as the epinotum, and not on a lower level as in those forms. The 2nd segment of the abdomen is longer than wide, and is not wider than the Ist, whereas in lamellosa the 2nd segment is wider than the Ist, and distinctly wider than long, and the inter-segmental constriction 1s much more pronounced. The apex of the abdomen clothed with rufous hairs, otherwise the pubescence and pilosity as in lamellosa, var. rhodesiana. As in the latter, the whole body is microscopically rugulose, but the A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. ~ 29 head is less closely punctured, and the pro- and mesonotum dorsally, and abdomen, are almost impunctate. The epinotum has some punctures, large and very shallow on the dorsum, but smaller and deeper at the sides; the sides of the petiole are rather strongly punctured. Mandibles shining and punctate-striate, masticatory margin concave, apex acute but not ending in a tooth. The eyes are larger and flatter and placed farther forwards than in lamellosa- rhodesiana, and the head is not very noticeably wider than the pronotum. The epinotum is not unlike that of lamellosa, but the dorsum is wider and flatter, and the declivity is distinctly and rather sharply margined laterally and above, the margin above ending on each side in a rounded angle, hardly large enough to be called a tooth. The dorsum of the thorax is slightly angularly marked off from the sides, ¢.e. sub-marginate. The declivity of the epinotum is less sloping than in lamellosa. The node of the petiole, seen from above, is twice as long as wide, slightly concave in the middle of the sides, rising from front to back, rounded in front and truncate behind; the posterior face is moderately concave and feebly mar- gined all round ; the ventral lamella is produced at the extreme base into a blunt triangular tooth. Abdomen oblong, lst segment inverted cup-shaped, slightly wider than long; 2nd segment longer than wide, longer but not wider than the Ist, the constriction between the two segments feeble. Legs not so long as in lamellosa. Shiloh, S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) I have met with this species on only one occasion. The nest, situated on an open piece of ground, was surmounted by a mound with the entrance at the apex, as in lamellosa, v. rhodesiana, but unlike that species the mound of Arnoldi contains no large pebbles. The surface of the mound was covered with the elytra and carcases of hundreds of beetles, mostly Tenebrionidae. Workers were seen carrying live beetles to the nest, the prey being held by its mandibles in a position above and parallel to the body of the ant. Since a careful examination of the rubbish-heap of this nest failed to show the remain of other insects, it is probable that this species feeds entirely on Coleoptera, differing in this respect from most of the other members of the genus, which in Rhodesia, at any rate, are eminently termitophagous. Pr P. COOPERI, 0. sp. %. 65mm. Brownish black, mandibles, anterior half of head and 3rd—5th abdominal segments brownish red, antennae, coxae, and legs 30 Annals of the South African Museum. rust-red ; apical margins of Ist and 2nd abdominal segments, and sometimes also the posterior half of thorax, slightly tinged with red. Covered all over with a dense, yellowish recumbent pubescence, less abundant, however, on the flagellum. Pilose hairs entirely absent. Exceedingly finely punctate-striate all over, with a few shallow punctures on the sides of the head above the eyes, the petiole and first two segments of the abdomen. The head much narrower across the clypeal region than elsewhere, looks apparently much longer than wide, it is, however only one-sixth longer than its greatest width, 2.e. across the eyes. The sides of the head are almost straight, but the eyes project considerably beyond the level of the same; the posterior angles of the head are rounded, the posterior margin moderately arcuate. The eyes are large and situated at about the middle of the sides. The clypeus is approxi- mately triangular, the posterior margin hardly distinguishable, the anterior margin straight. The frontal carinae are very wide, obtusely angular above the insertion of the antennae (behind which they are a little wider even than in front), nearly parallel, not convergent posteriorly, and extending back to about the level of the middle of the eyes. A shallow depression extends from the posterior margin of the clypeus to about the middle of the vertex. Mandibles triangular, finely rugulose, edentate, the extreme apex truncate. Scape not reaching the occipital margin, incrassate towards the apex; flagellum about one-third longer than the scape, Ist and Qnd joints subequal, a little longer than wide, 3rd—10th joints a little wider than long, apical joint not quite as long as the 9th and 10th joints together. The dorsum of the thorax and epinotum is flat or only very feebly convex, and is angularly and obtusely delimited from the sides. Pronotum a little wider in front than behind, as long as wide, the anterior angles or shoulders almost obsolete. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, the meso-epinotal indicated by a slight depression; the mesonotum is nearly as long as the pronotum, but a trifle narrower. The declivity of the epinotum is almost vertical, angularly emar- ginate above (A-shaped), and distinctly concave; the lateral margins of the declivity rather tumid, forming at the junction with the dorsum a wide and rounded angle at each side. Node of petiole one-third longer than wide, nearly as wide as the epinotum, the sides almost straight, higher and wider behind than in front, the anterior face very rounded, the posterior face vertical and feebly margined. Ventral lamella of the petiole produced at the extreme base into a rounded projection. Abdomen elongate and narrow, A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 31 about as long as the thorax, the sides feebly convex. lst and 2nd segments distinctly longer than wide, 2nd segment longer than the Ist. Legs rather short, anterior femora thick and broad, posterior coxae not toothed. 3. 65mm. Rust-red, antennae and tarsi yellowish red, eyes black. Puncturation and pubescence as in the $, but the pune- turation is a little finer, and the pubescence shorter and less dense. Head, excluding mandibles, as long as it is wide across the eyes. The latter very large, the internal margins sinuate, occupying more than three-quarters of the sides of the head. Mandibles large and shaped as in the %. Clypeus similar to that of the 38, but the posterior margin is more distinctly defined. The frontal area is an elongate triangle, indistinctly defined but continued into the median depression of the vertex, which ends at the anterior ocellus. The ocelli not very large and not situated on a raised area. The frontal carinae are widely divergent behind. Antennae filiform, extending back as far as the lst abdominal segment; scape short, not longer than the distance separating the two posterior ocelli; 1st joint of flagellum less than half as long as the scape, 2nd joint as long as the third. Pronotum rounded in front and at the sides, at least three times as wide as long. Mesonotum rather flat posteriorly, moderately convex in front and at the sides, not rising very much above the level of the pronotum. Mayrian furrows and parapsidal sutures very distinct. Scutellum a little wider than long, not gibbous. Dorsum of the epinotum much wider at the base than at the apex, where it forms a distinct angle with the declivity. The latter is distinctly margined all round, nearly quadrangular, not vertical as in the 8, but sloping very obliquely. The node of the petiole is similar to that of the %, but is not so high, nor truncated behind, the dorsal profile forming a continuous curve rising from front to back. The abdomen as in the % ; the pygidium ends in a short curved spine. Legs longer and thinner than in the %. Wings smoky, nervures pale brown, stigma black. Types 8% and g in the Durban Museum. Stella Bush, Durban. (C. B. Cooper.) This species differs from the allied forms, frontalis, modesta, tenuis, Emery, etc., by the entire absence of teeth on the posterior dorsal margin of the node, and by the widely separated frontal carinae. (R.M., S.A.M., G.A. colls.) 32 Annals of the South African Museum. P. Mocquerysi1, Emery. Bull. Ent. Soc. Ital., vol. 31 p. 270, % 9, 1900. / Var. MATOPOENSIS, N. v. ? 7-75 mm. Black, mandibles, clypeus, antennae, legs and apex of the abdomen more or less ferruginous. Pubescence pruinose and rather thin, pilosity absent except on the last segment of the abdomen. Microscopically rugulose, sparsely and shallowly punctured on the head, meso- and epinotum, petiole and first two segments of the abdomen. The pronotum and apical segments of the abdomen with very sparse and minute punctures; the punctures on the sides of the head and on the epinotum are larger and deeper than on the rest of the body. Head sub-quadrate, as long as wide, sides feebly convex, posterior margin almost straight, posterior angles rounded. The anterior margin of the clypeus feebly arcuate, posterior margin indistinct. Mandibles dull, finely punctuate- striate, triangular, external margin convex or very slightly sinuate, masticatory margin finely denticulate. Frontal carinae broad, nar- rower and slightly convergent behind. LHyes large, their posterior margins lying in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Scape of the antenna reaches back a little beyond the occipital margin ; Ist-5th joints very little longer than wide, 6th—l0th joints about as long as wide, apical joint half as long again as wide. The pronotum is a little wider than the rest of the thorax, and narrower behind, the sides of the rest of the thorax nearly parallel. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct. The declivity of the epinotum is very steep but not vertical, concave and distinctly margined, the margin above ending on each side in a broad, rounded and stumpy tooth. Node of petiole half as long again as wide, a little longer than high, convex from side to side, a trifle wider behind than in front, anterior face nearly vertical but considerably rounded above, posterior face vertical and produced dorsally into three obtuse teeth, the median tooth being wider and longer than the lateral teeth. Ventral lamella very slightly produced. Abdomen oblong, 1st segment very little longer than wide, 2nd segment longer than the Ist, and one-fifth longer than wide. Legs rather short, posterior coxae armed on the inner margin with a blunt tooth.. Matopo Hills, 8. Rhodesia. Type in my collection. This variety appears to differ from the type form of Madagascar only by the longer node of the petiole. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 33 Tre PROCHRATIINI, Emery. Characters. 8%. Frontal carinae do not cover the articulations of the antennae, they are close together and are sometimes even fused into a single vertical lamella which is fused to the elypeus. Mandibles triangular; antennae 9 to 12 joints; eyes small or wanting. Thorax usually without dorsal sutures; petiole nodiform or squamiform; lst abdominal segment large, separated by a con- striction from the 2nd segment which is large and forms the greater part of the abdomen. Tibiae with only one spur; claws simple. ?. Winged; eyes and ocelli well developed, otherwise resembling the &. 3. Clypeus and frontal carinae much the same as in the 8 ; antennae 13-jointed ; wings with only one closed cubital cell. This tribe contains five genera, two of which are represented in South Africa. 1. Clypeus very short, but not projecting in a roof-shaped mass above the mouth; body not filiform, apical segments of abdomen incurved under the 2nd segment and reflected, so that the apex points forwards .. .. .. Sysphincta, Roger. 2. Clypeus fused with the frontal carinae and the cheeks, and projecting in a roof-like manner above the mouth; body filiform; apical segments of abdomen straight, not incurved and reflected -- -- «- .- Probolomyrmex, Mayr. Genus PROBOLOMYRMEX, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Museum, Vienna, vol. 16, p. 2, 1901. Characters. %. Body filiform, head long and narrow. The clypeus is fused with the frontal carinae and the cheeks, forming a projecting ledge over the mouth, in front of the antennae; the frontal carinae, fused in front, are separate behind. The mandibles are hidden by the clypeal projection, and are elongate-triangular and dentate. Antennae 12-jointed ; scape long, flagellum clayiform but not forming a club of a definite number of joints. Eyes wanting. Thorax without sutures, the declivity of the epinotum surrounded by a raised edge. Node of the petiole compressed, higher behind than in front, longer than wide; ventral lamella produced into a vertical projection, pointing backwards. Abdomen elongate, not reflexed ventrally; a slight constriction between the lst and 2nd segments. 2? and g. Unknown. 3 34 Annals of the South African Musewm. P. FitirorMis, Mayr. (Plate I., fig. 2, 2a.) Loc. cit. %. 3mm. Head nearly twice as long as wide, posterior angles feebly rounded. ‘The anterior portion of the head is produced into a roof-like projection or ledge which reaches as far as or a little beyond the apex of the closed mandibles. This projection is formed by the clypeus and the anterior portion of the fused frontal carinae and all that part of the face which lies between a point a little behind the antennal sockets, and the anterior margin of the clypeus. Viewed from the side, the antennae are seen to be inserted on this ledge half-way between its anterior and posterior limits, and therefore le above the middle point of the mandibles when the latter are closed. The frontal carinae which arise a little in front of the antennal sockets, leaving them uncovered, are curved inwards, fused together for half their length, diverge again posteriorly and reach to a point about as far back as the base of the mandibles. The fused portion of the carinae forms a rounded and raised crest, lying between the insertion of the antennae. ‘The latter are 12-jointed ; the scape, somewhat flattened, reaches back two-thirds of the head; the flagellum is gradually thickened towards the apex. The last joint is twice as long as the two preceding, and all the joints except the Ist and 3rd, are noticeably wider than long, the Ist joint is two-thirds as long again as it is wide, the 3rd joint is about as long as wide, and the 2nd joint is very small and nearly twice as wide as long. The colour is a rich burnt sienna, with the antennae, legs, and apex of abdomen lighter, or ferruginous yellow. The whole body is dull and microscopically and densely punctulate, intermixed with larger and shallower punctures on the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments and the back of the head. The general puncturation is only observable with a magnification of 60 diameters, and the larger punctures are barely recognizable under a magnification of even 20 diameters. Other characters as for the genus. Port Elizabeth. (Brauns.) 1 8 in my collection presented by Dr. Brauns. * Genus SYSPHINCTA, Roger. (Sysphingta), Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 7, p. 175, 1863. Characters . % and ?. The anterior margin of the clypeus is produced into a point (not in S. Arnoldi). Flagellum very slightly, if at all, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 30 incrassate towards the apex. Hyes very small, situated in the middle of the sides of the head. Petiole nodiform. 3g. Clypeus produced anteriorly in an obtuse point; frontal carinae separated by a sulcus. Scape longer than one-third of the flagellum. Hpinotum truncate. Petiole not so high as in the %. 2nd segment of abdomen only feebly incurved. Wings with one cubital and one discoidal cell. S. Arnoupt, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 210, ¥ , 1913. %. 38mm. Reddish yellow, the margins of the frontal carinae and the epinotal teeth piceous. Covered all over with a very dense yellowish-white semi-erect pubescence longer on the abdomen than elsewhere, very short on the flagellum ; a few short pilose hairs on the front of the head, long pale hairs on the ventral surface and sides of the abdomen. Whole body, excluding the legs and flagellum, dull, very minutely, shallowly and irregularly rugose, 2nd abdominal segment and legs slightly shining. Head globose, very little longer than wide, sides moderately convex. Hyes very minute, placed slightly behind the middle of the sides and consisting apparently of only a single facet. Clypeus very short and fused with the frontal carinae ; the latter are linear, convergent in front, divergent behind. Mandibles coarsely punctured, with about 4 blunt teeth on the masticatory margin. Scape strongly incrassate towards the apex, reaching back not quite as far as the occipital margin; flagellum 11-jointed, nearly half as long again as the scape, the terminal joints do not form a club, 1st joint a little longer than wide, last joint as long as the three preceding taken together, all the other joints wider than long. Thorax about one-fifth longer than the head, widest in front, but not so wide as the head, narrowing gradually to the epinotum, very convex from side to side and rounded in front. The dorsum of the epinotum is depressed towards the apex which carries a minute blackish tooth on each side; the declivity is short and vertical. The dorsum is faintly, and the declivity distinctly margined laterally by a raised dark line, confluent with the epinotal teeth. Node of petiole not squamiform, but thick and sub-globose, wider than long, convex at the sides and above, vertical in front and behind; ventral lamella very strongly produced, excised below posteriorly so as to form a sharp tooth pointing backwards. Seen from above, the abdomen is oblong, the 1st segment as long as wide and not much, if at all wider at the apical margin than at the base, 36 Annals of the South African Museum. 2nd segment longer than wide, and one-third longer than the 1st segment. Seen from the side, the lst segment is much deeper at the apical margin than at the base, the extreme base below is produced into a strong obtuse tooth pointing forwards; the 2nd segment is very convex above and posteriorly and covers the remaining segments, which are incurved and reflected, so that the apex of the abdomen points forwards. Seen from above, the apical segments are completely hidden from view by the 2nd segment. Bulawayo. 1 taken under a stone, and 1 taken in the nest of Platythyrea cribrinodis, Gerst. (G.A., coll.) As I have adopted the scheme of classification for the genera given by Emery in the ‘‘ Genera Insectorum,” I have retained this species under the genus Sysphincta. Dr. Forel in his description refers it to the genus Proceratiwm, and points out that this and other species share some of the characters of both genera, so that he considers it necessary now to sink Sysphincta to a sub-genus of Proceratium. Section HUPONERINAH, Emery. Tring PONERINI, Forel. Characters. 8 and @. Mandibles articulated near the anterior angles of the head; frontal carinae convergent posteriorly and nearly always produced into a lateral lobe anteriorly, which covers the insertion of the antennae. A more or less marked constriction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments. Claws simple or dentate. g. Claws simple or dentate. Key to the 8 and 9. (2). 1. Middle pair of tibiae with two simple calcaria; posterior tibiae with two calcaria, the inner large and pectinate.. .. .. Centromyrmex, Mayr. (1). 2. Tibiae not so formed. (14). 3. Middle and posterior tibiae with two well-developed calcaria, the inner the larger, and pectinate. (5). 4. Node of the petiole compressed above and forming a sharp edge, with a slight notch behind which is in front of a terminal blunt tooth; clypeus produced into a blunt tooth in the middle of each side; very large BIGGS c5 so of 00 “00 00 Streblognathus, Mayr. . Petiole not compressed above. (7). 6. Clypeus with a median raised portion; the latter is deeply excavated in the middle and projects beyond the anterior margin of the head; Ist — ~ = Or ‘ eS Or HE & vO A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 37 | abdominal segment produced ventrally at its junction with the petiole into a blunt, compressed tooth .. .. .. .. .. Paltothyreus, Mayr. . Clypeus otherwise formed. . Eyes situated behind the middle of the head; claws with a minute sharp tooth close to the base. Head narrow, excluding mandibles, at least one and a third times as long as wide across the eyes Opthalmopone, Forel. . Hyes situated ei akout the middle or a little in front of the middle of the head. . Claws with a single blunt tooth a little distance from the base. Megaponera, Mayr. . Claws simple. . Meso-metanotal suture obsolete in the %, medium-sized species, 10-14 mm. ax - .. .. Pachycondyla, Smith. . Meso-metanotal patie more or ase ‘Retin small species, mostly less thanl10mm. .. . .. .. Huponera, Forel. . Middle and posterior lee “aie aly o one wall developed calear, which is also pectinate ; the other is rudimentary or absent. . Sculpture fine ; at least the abdomen is Le outer calcar absent ; small species, lees than 10mm. .. .. .. Ponera, Latr. . Abdomen not pubescent ; whole ody very dittatinn , evenly and largely punctured ; medium-sized or very large species .. “Plactnapiana, Smith. / Key tothe 33. . Middle tibiae with two very small calcaria, posterior tibiae with one large pectinate calcar .. .. .. .. «. «.. Centromyrmex, Mayr. . Tibiae not so formed. . Middle and posterior tibiae with two calcaria, the inner pectinate. . Scape not considerably shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. . Scape a little longer than the 2nd joint of the flagellum ; frontal carinae rudimentary... .. ... .. Megaponera, Mayr. . Scape a little shorter bey the ond sofia of the flagellum ; frontal carinae distinct Se . .. Opthalmopone, Forel. . Scape soruclidtenste aTrouior ffnorn ie ond stout of the flagellum. . Pygidium prolonged into a curved spine; clypeus truncate or feebly produced .. .. .. Pachycondyla, Smith, Huwponera, Forel (pars). . Pygidium blunt or pointed, but not produced into a spine. . Ventral lamella of petiole not furnished with an acute spine pointing backwards. . First abdominal ventral segment produced at its extreme base into a sharp tooth pointing backwards; large species, 15 mm. at least. Paltothyreus, Mayr. . First abdominal ventral segment simple, small species. Euponera, Forel (pars). . Ventral lamella of petiole produced posteriorly into an acute spine pointing backwards .. .. .. . «> .. Streblognathus, Mayr. . Middle and posterior tibiae with a gael calear. . Pygidium pointed or produced into a spine; scutellum depressed or moderately convex; integument finely punctured, small species. Ponera, Latreille. . Pygidium obtuse; scutellum prominent; intesument coarsely punctured, WEES CUSPECICSiitnee Nfl se) cil ues) ) bows (ste ye) Evecbnoctenassmith 38 Annals of the South African Museum. Genus CENTROMYRMEX, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 16, p. 894, 1866. Spalacomyrmex, Emery, Ann. Mus. Stor. Genova, vol. 27, p. 489, 1889. Characters. %. Clypeus projecting far backwards between the frontal carinae ; the latter expanded in front, not close together, and with a long suleus between them. The scape of the antennae is rather flattened, the flagellum incrassate towards the apex. Hyes absent. Mandibles long, the masticatory margin unusually so, with fine denticulations or without teeth. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, meso-epinotal suture obsolete. Pronotum sharply marginate in front, the part below the margin almost vertical. The dorsum of the epinotum is contracted at its base so as to form a median saddle-shaped ridge, and is raised into a hump towards the apex above the declivity. Node of petiole somewhat conical, with a fine sharp spine beneath. Abdomen ovate. Legs very short and stout, the femora and tibiae broad and flat. Posterior tibiae with two calcaria, the inner pectinate, the outer simple; middle tibiae with two simple calcaria. ?. Similar to the ¥ but winged, slightly larger, with medium- sized eyes placed nearly in the middle of the sides of the head ; small ocelli present, situated close to the occiput. 3. Head rounded, the clypeus very convex. Mandibles short, triangular and edentate. Thorax rather short, the mesonotum with Mayrian furrows. Hpinotum very convex. Node of petiole emar- ginate above. Abdominal constriction feeble. Pygidium not pointed. Wings short, not reaching the end of the abdomen. Calearia of middle tibiae simple and small; posterior tibiae with two calcaria, the inner pectinate. No CONSTANCIAE, 0. 8p. (Plate II., figs. 14, 14a, 146, 14c.) 8. 5-5°3 mm. Dark reddish yellow, posterior half of head, anterior portion of pronotum, mesonotum, and epinotum above, the basal half of the abdominal segments, apices of the joints of the flagellum, except the apical, and the anterior tarsi, castaneous. There is no pubescence, and the whole body is very smooth and shining. Sides and posterior part of the head with very distinct small punctures; scape and frontal carinae and the central portion A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 39 of the clypeus with a few small punctures; mandibles very finely and sparsely punctured ; depressed area below the antennal sockets very finely striate. Pronotum above rugulose; mesonotum with about 15 large punctures on each side, the central longitudinal area impunctate. The pleurae, femora, tibiae, and abdominal segments very sparsely and finely punctured. The pilosity consists of yellow hairs arising from the punctures, rather short on the thorax and vertex of head, longer on the abdomen and node of petiole. There is a long hair on each side of the middle of the clypeus. Head seen from the side, nearly flat above, truncate behind and in front. Seen from above, the head is wider behind than in front, the posterior angles very rounded. Mandibles very convex longitudinally, more than two-thirds the length of the head, and with the masticatory margin almost smooth. Clypeus transversely impressed behind the straight anterior margin, raised in the middle (the raised portion forming a vertical and sub- quadrate area, shining and punctured), produced backwards between the frontal carinae as far as the beginning of the frontal sulcus, which is long and deep and ends abruptly in the middle of the vertex. The frontal carinae much widened anteriorly but not lobed. Scape about as long as the mandibles, considerably flattened dorso-ventrally ; flagellum 11-jointed, not quite so long as the head and mandibles together, Ist joint nearly as long as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th together, 2nd joint very short, 2nd to 8th joints wider than long, apical joint as long as the two preceding together. Hyes and ocelli absent. Pronotum with a raised margin anteriorly, the region between the latter and the neck, vertical. Seen from above, the pronotum has a crescentic outline, obtusely pointed in the middle in front. Mesonotum twice as long as the pronotum, with a raised margin in front, and at the sides anteriorly. The dorsum of the epinotum is depressed and saddle-shaped anteriorly and raised into a hump posteriorly, but the declivity also enters partly into the formation of the latter. The petiole is elongate, with a minute lateral tooth on each side of the extreme base; the node is slightly excavated and sub-vertical in front, very convex above and at the sides, vertical behind. The ventral lamella is produced at its anterior third into a short, sharp spine, pointing forwards. The node does not rise higher than the epinotum. Abdomen ovate, the Ist segment sub-truncate in front, and one a half times as long as the 2nd; the constriction between these two 40 Annals of the South African Museum. segments is feebly indicated dorsally. Sting very long, three- quarters the length of the abdomen. Coxae, especially of the Ist pair of legs, very large. Anterior femora and tibiae flattened and wide. The intermediate tibiae short, only half as long as the femora; the posterior tibiae also short, but a little longer than the intermediate. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th joints of all the tarsi wider than long; the apical angles of all the tarsal joints produced into stout, blunt spines ; the posterior metatarsi with three or four stout spines, the intermediate tibiae with two rows of spines on their external margins. ?. Tmm. Similar to the % but much darker, the Ist abdominal segment dark reddish brown, the apical margin lighter; the 2nd—4th segments piceous, the 5th ferruginous in the middle, piceous at the sides. The margin of the pronotum is much more prominent than in the %, the mesonotum is flatter, raised more above the pronotum and is vertically truncate in front. The scutellum is distinct, black, shining, and impunctate, and separated from the mesonotum by a shallow sulcus. The metanotum is very short; epinotum not forming a hump as in the %, the dorsum short, the declivity steep, rounded above and at the sides. Eyes and ocelli present; the former moderately large, their distance from the base of the mandibles being about two-thirds of their own length; the ocelli are set far back, close to the occipital margin. The legs are proportionately more slender than in the 8. Winged (de-alated in the single specimen in my possession). Bulawayo, Bembesi, under large stones. The genus is termi- tophilous, but this species does not appear to be so, since it was not found in or near the nests of termites. The species cannot be mistaken for any other Ponerine ant of our region, on account of the striking fossorial structure of the legs, and the marginate pronotum. This species is apparently closely related to C. sellaris, Mayr, from the Cameroons, although not having had an example of the latter for inspection, it is not easy to compare the two species, since Mayr’s description of sellaris is based mainly on a comparison between it and C. Feae, Emery, an Indian species. Judging, how- ever, by the descriptions of these two species, Constanciae has the following characters to distinguish it from sellaris. The colour is much darker; the striae below the antennal sockets do not extend back to the posterior angles of the head, hardly passing beyond the middle line of the head; the limits of the declivity above (seen from behind) are distinctly marked off from the humped shaped portion of the dorsum of the epinotum. The declivity is also distinctly A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. Ai convex from above to below, and from side to side, not flat in the middle and below as in sellaris. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A., coll.) Genus STREBLOGNATHUS, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 716, 1862. The genus includes only a single species. S. AETHIOPICUS, Smith. (Plate I., fig. 5.) Cat. Hymen. Brit. Museum, vol. 6, p. 91, 3, 1858. Emery, Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 43, p. 468, g, 1899. %. 18-22 mm. Black, mandibles piceous, anterior tarsi beneath with dense golden hairs. Head and thorax dull, petiole and abdo- men shining. A very short pale pubescence on the whole body, dense on the head and thorax, exceedingly scanty elsewhere. The pilosity consists of short thick hairs, dense on the head, scape and legs, scanty on the rest of the body. ‘The head is very finely reticulate-punctate, the thorax finely striate, the abdomen smooth and shining, with a few fine punctures; 3rd—5th segments a little more strongly and closely punctured, and with longer hairs. Head, excluding mandibles, almost rectangular, with the posterior angles rounded ; considerably wider than the thorax. Clypeus somewhat projecting, and sharply truncate inwardly in front, so that a deep depression liesbetween it and the labrum; it is raised roof-shaped in the middle, the declivity on each side ending at about half the distance from the external angles; on each side anteriorly it is produced into a blunt tooth which lies about half- way between its centre and the base of the mandible. Frontal area elongate and sharply defined, produced backwards almost two-thirds the length of the frontal carinae. The latter are short, dilated in front, and project over the insertion of the antennae. Mandibles two-thirds the length of the head, oblongo-triangular, coarsely punctured on the masticatory margin, which is oblique and longer than the basal. Antennae long, the scape reaching back to the middle of the mesonotum, scape and flagellum together reaching a little beyond the middle of the 1st abdominal segment; flagellum filiform, the Ist joint two-thirds the length of the 2nd. Eyes more dorsal than lateral, moderately large and situated in about the middle of the length of the head. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, the meso-metanotal suture less so. Mesonotum raised higher than the pronotum; the metanotum and 42 Annals of the South African Museum. epinotum narrow and compressed. The dorsum of the epinotum flat, with slightly raised lateral margins which end just before the apex in two short teeth which are continuous with the sharply raised lateral margins of the declivity (see Fig. 3, p. 4). Petiole convex anteriorly, sharply truncate and slightly concave posteriorly, com- pressed laterally so as to form an acute dorsal ridge which ends posteriorly in a curved point, with a small notch at its base. - The posterior apex of the petiole lies considerably higher than the thorax. Ventral lamella produced along nearly its whole length into a blade-like expansion which is truncate in front and semicircularly emarginate behind. Abdomen pear-shaped; Ist segment nearly as long as the 2nd, the latter as long as the remaining segments together. The apical segment is microscopically rugulose and with a sparse but coarse pilgerous puncturation. The legs are long, the posterior metatarsi as long as the tibiae. @. Unknown. 3. 18mm. Testaceous, scutellum and last two abdominal seg- ments darker. Head, between the eyes and ocelli and posteriorly, black and shining. Wings pale fuscous, nervures and stigma piceous. Head strongly transverse. Hyes and ocelli very large, the former occupying almost the whole of the sides of the head. Clypeus trapezoid, arcuately emarginate in front, and separated from the frontal area behind by a suture. The frontal area is large and projects back in an acute angle between the antennal sockets. Frontal carinae rudimentary. Antennae filiform and very long, reaching back to the apex of the 4th abdominal segment; the scape very short, about as long as the long diameter of the ocellus. The mesonotum is dull and finely punctured, rounded, and with a shallow furrow on each side which extends from the posterior margin to a point beyond the anterior edge of the tegulae. A feeble ridge in the centre extends from the pro-mesonotal suture to about the middle of the mesonotum. Scutellum raised above the level of the rest of the notum; it is sloping in front and behind, somewhat compressed laterally and separated from the mesonotum by a deep and clathrate suture. Epinotum with a faint median sulcus at its extreme base; the declivity is not steep, but forms a continuous curve with the dorsum and its lateral margins are defined by rather feeble ridges which converge towards the base and almost meet below the median sulcus. The declivity smooth and shining below, the rest of the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 43 epinotum duller and feebly punctured. Node of the petiole longer than wide, convex in front, truncate behind and obtusely pointed above. The ventral lamella in the middle is produced into a sharp spine, pointing backwards. Abdomen smooth and shining, apical dorsal segment slightly carinate and ending in a short, sub-acute point. The whole body covered with a fine, pale pubescence. Pilosity absent except on the ventral surface of the abdomen, which is clothed with long pale hairs. Willowmore. (Brauns.) (S.A:M.,_ aes Gaal Colle) Genus PALTOTHYREUS, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 735, 1862. Formica (pars), Fabricius. Pachycondyla (pars), Smith. Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 105, 1858. Characters. 8%. Clypeus with the central portion raised, roundly truncate in front and projecting beyond the rest of the clypeus. This raised portion is deeply excavated in the middle, shining, and with two or three longitudinal striae; the sides of the raised part are also striate. Frontal carinae triangularly dilated in front, slightly divergent behind ; the frontal area, fused with the clypeus, reaches backwards as far as the ends of the frontal carinae, beyond which lies a short, shining depression. Mandibles elongate and triangular; the masticatory margin is long and furnished with numerous small teeth. Flagellum of antennae filiform; scape arcuate and somewhat flattened at the apex, longer by one-third than the head (excluding the mandibles). Hyes moder- ately large and situated in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, meso-epinotal suppressed dor- sally. Thorax widest in front, gradually thinning towards the base. Node of petiole high and rounded; ventral lamella produced into a broad, triangular tooth. First abdominal segment, at its junction below with the petiole, produced into a blunt tooth; the segment is vertical in front, and the basal margin above has distinet but obtuse lateral angles. Abdominal constriction feeble. Claws with a small tooth between the base and the middle. ?. Winged, larger than the % ; thorax depressed, with the pronotum largely visible. 44 Amnals of the South African Museum. 3. Clypeus triangular, with a small conical protuberance on the anterior margin. Frontal carinae very short and feebly developed. Ocelli small. Head not wider than the pronotum at its widest. Antennae filiform and long, reaching back to the apical margin of the 2nd abdominal segment; scape a little longer than the distance between the two posterior ocelli. Pronotum moderately long and plainly visible from above. Mesonotum with a central depression extending from the base to a little beyond the middle, and with traces of lateral grooves. Node of the petiole similar to that of the ¢, but not so high and with the lamellar tooth less acute. The basal, ventral tooth of the 1st abdominal segment is larger than in the 83. Abdominal constriction feeble. Pygidium pointed, but not spined. P. rarsatTus, Fabr. (Plate I., figs. 6, 10.) Suppl. Ent. Syst., p. 280, 1798. (Formica tarsata.) Mayr, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 16, p. 894, 9, 1866. Forel, Gran- didier Hist. Madag., vol. 20, p. 186, 9, 1891. Smith, Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 92, 9, 1858. (Ponera spiniventris.) Ibid., p. 105, 9. (Pachycondyla simuillima.) %. 17-20 mm. Black, masticatory margins of mandibles, lobes of frontal carinae and tarsi reddish black. Head, thorax, legs and antennae with a fine, isconspicuous yellow pubescence, and sparsely and irregularly beset with longer yellow hairs. Pilosity and pubescence of abdomen scantier, apical segment with yellowish-red bristles. Mandibles with a row of large punctures along the masti- catory margin, elsewhere with a few shallow punctures. Head evenly and finely striate, the striae running diagonally from the centre outwards. Pronotum with larger striae running arcuately from front to base. Meso- and epinotum transversely and rather obliquely striate, the striae finer than on the pronotum. Mesopleurae finely punctate. Dorsum of epinotum long, the declivity short and gradual. Node of petiole above with a few almost obsolete striae. Abdomen shining, 1st and 2nd segments with a few irregular punctures on the dorsum near the base, their apices more closely punctured. Third and 4th segments evenly and fairly closely punctured; apical segment microscopically rugulose at the base, shining and impunctate at the apex. Anterior tarsi densely clothed beneath with golden, bristly hairs. ? 23 mm., including the mandibles; similar to the % except for the usual sexual differences. Pronotum more than twice as wide as long; mesonotum wider than long, one-quarter longer than the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 45 pronotum. Node of petiole a little wider and thicker above than in the ¥. Wings brownish yellow, nervures and stigma brown. Alar expanse 29 mm. g.14 mm. Black; wings fuscous, nervures brown, stigma piceous. Head and thorax with a close yellow pubescence, especially on the epinotum and posterior face of the node, and a fairly abundant pilosity of yellowish hairs. Abdomen with a pale inconspicuous pubescence, less abundant on the 3rd and following segments ; ventral segments with long, pale hairs. Head and thorax moderately shining, irregularly and shallowly punctured ; the base of the mesonotum punctate-striate ; the scutel- lum finely punctured. Abdomen very shining and with a bluish reflection, all the segments very finely and sparsely punctured. The 1st segment has on each side of the apical margin a trans- versely elongate, and almost obsolete, angle or hump. Pygidium very smooth and shining, with a few fine punctures. Other characters as for the genus. This species is widely but locally distributed. Generally the 8 8 go about singly, but occasionally forage in short columns, in single file. The food is varied, but consists largely of termites. The nests have several entrances, which are sometimes surrounded by large heaps of finely divided earth. The species has a most powerful and offensive smell, which appears to me to resemble that of the juice in a foul tobacco pipe. Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Bembesi and Matoppos, Rhodesia ; Willowmore. (Brauns.) Zululand. (Marley.) (S.A.M., R.M.,G.A. coll.) Var. DELAGOENSIS, Emery. Ann, Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 48, p. 468, ¥, 1899. This differs from the type in having the median longitudinal raised line of the clypeus extending further back, and in the less distinctly striated mandibles. Delagoa Bay. (S.A.M. coll.) These characters are variable in Rhodesian specimens, in which as a rule the mandibles are only very faintly striate, and it appears to me doubtful whether the above form is worthy of even varietal distinction. If it is, the Rhodesian examples ought perhaps to be referred to it. In a specimen from West Africa in my possession the mandibles are almost smooth, and the clypeus projects back only a short distance between the frontal carinae, but the striation of the head is much stronger than in the Rhodesian examples. 46 Annals of the South African Museum. Genus MEGAPONERA, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 734, 1862. Emery, Megaloponera, Ann. Mus. Stor. Nat. Genoa, vol. 9, p. 368, Wey Ponera (pars), Guérin, Gerstaecker, Roger. Formica, Fabricius, Latveille. Characters. %. Clypeus rounded anteriorly, with the anterior border and middle portion raised, the latter convexly so, and produced back- wards angularly between the frontal carinae. The latter are slightly lobed in front, convergent in their middle portion and diverge before ending at about the level of the eyes. Mandibles triangular, the masticatory margin beset with alternating large and small teeth. Eyes a little in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Pronotum long, twice as long as the mesonotum; the latter margined all round by a tolerably distinct suture. Node of petiole large, trapezoid in horizontal cross-section ; the ventral lamella is produced into a blunt tooth, pointing backwards. Abdominal con- striction obsolete. Claws with a short tooth near the base. 2. (See footnote, p. 48.) 3. Clypeus gibbous, anterior margin rounded, posterior margin not projecting between the frontal carinae, which are short and indistinct. Mandibles very short and edentate. The antennal sockets are further apart from each other than they are from the sides of the head. Antennae moderately long, scape long, being longer than the longest joint (2nd) of the flagellum; the latter filiform. Hyes slightly sinuate on their inner margins, and occupy- ing less than half the sides of the head. The posterior dorsal margin of the head is produced into arim or collar. Mesonotum prominent and twice as long as the pronotum. Abdominal con- striction feeble. Pygidium not spined. Claws with 3 or 4 minute teeth near the base. M. FoETENS, Fabr. (Plate I., figs. 7, 8, 8a, and text-fig. 6.) (Formica), Ent. Syst., vol. 2, p. 354, ¥, 1793. (Megaloponera), Mayr, Sjostedt. Zool. Exp. Kilimandjaro, Formi- cidae, p. 9, &, 1907. (Ponera crassicorns), Gerstaecker, Sitzungsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 262, % mi., 1858. % major. 16mm. Black, covered with a fine, yellow pruinose A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. _ AT pubescence, and with golden-red hairs on the inner margin of the mandibles, the clypeus and apical abdominal segment. The latter is ferruginous at the apex. The apex of last joint of flagellum, the spines of the tarsi, and the calcaria also ferruginous. The apices of the dorsal segments of the abdomen dark ferruginous. Mandibles very strongly curved, the convexity being dorsal, two- thirds as long as the head from clypeus to occiput, and shallowly and sparsely punctured. A carina extends on the cheek from the anterior margin of the eye to the clypeus. Head, pro- and mesonotum and abdomen moderately shining, and the whole body impunctate. The pronotum has a longitudinal central impressed line anteriorly. The dorsum of the epinotum is flat, with a faint longitudinal impression centrally, and widens towards the brow of the declivity, which bears on each side a blunt prominence (hardly a tooth); the declivity is somewhat excavated and vertical. Mesapleurae, epinotum, and node of petiole duller than the rest of the body. Antennae reach back as far as the base of the 1st abdominal segment; scape as long as the head from the clypeus to the occiput, thickened and flattened towards the apex ; 2nd joint of the flagellum longest, but not quite twice as long as the first. 3 minor, 9-11 mm.=WM. crassicornis, Gerst. It differs from the % major in being considerably smaller and less pubescent. The abdomen, the vertex of the head, the pro- and mesonotum are much more shining than in the larger form. It also differs by the thicker and shorter scape, which is widest in the middle, and by the node of the petiole, which is less acute dorsally. Nevertheless small examples are met with which are just as pubescent and dull as the larger sort. g. 12mm. Black, the apical margins of all the abdominal segments widely ferruginous. The dorsum of the epinotum is short, not longer than the pronotum, and only slightly indented at the apex centrally. Wings short and narrow, fuscous, with the apical half darker, the nervures light brown, the stigma, costa, and whole of the marginal cell dark brown. Third, 4th, and 5th ventral segments of the abdomen with dense golden fimbriae. For the rest the characters of the genus. Formerly the small workers were separated as a distinct species, crassicorms Gerst., but the two forms are found together in the same nest, and the distinction cannot therefore be maintained. It is a common ant in Rhodesia, and lives almost exclusively on termites, 48 Annals of the South African Museum. which are carried off by means of carefully arranged raids in which the ants march in double file. This is the species which is popularly called the ‘‘Matabele”’ ant, and like its cousin Paltothyreus, it is also endowed with a very offensive odour. They stridulate very loudly when disturbed, and their sting is exceedingly painful. The entrance to the nest consists of one or more simple holes, without any mounds of earth around them.* (S.A.M., R.M., G.A., coll.) * Since the above descriptions were written, I have had the good fortune to witness the singular spectacle of a migration of this species, and to obiain thereby a specimen of the real queen of this ant. As I intend to give a fuller account elsewhere of the manner in which the migration was carried out, it will suffice here to remark that the old and new nests were situated about 60 feet apart, and that the journey was accomplished by the colony in stages, in the following manner. At about 15 feet from the old nest the first camp was formed and a halt made, until all the eggs, larvae, and pupae were collected together, and until most of the stragglers had come in. Similar halting-places or temporary camps were formed every 15 feet or so. I saw the queen in the first camp, but failed to seize her with my forceps; the same thing occurred when she was seen once again in the second camp, and it was only in the third camp that I managed to capture her, not an easy task when the viciousness of the % & is taken into account. In the Introduction to this work (p. 6) I pointed out that if Emery’s suggestion be correct that the larger worker-like form is the ergatoid ¢ , the species would be peculiar in having normally more queens than workers in the nest. The discovery of the true, although ergatoid, queen, disposes of this anomaly, and at the same time indicates the remarkable fact that the workers of this Ponerine ant are dimorphic. I append herewith a description of the queen, from which it will be seen that although similar in general appearance to the % major, it differs from it radically in important particulars, notably in the shape of the epinotum and petiole. @. 18°5 mm.; length of abdomen, 9 mm. (in the § major, 45-5 mm.) ; width of abdomen, 4mm. (in the § major, 2°3mm.),. The pubescence is a little more abundant and longer than in the ¥ major, but the pilosity of the body is much more abundant, especially on the sides of the pronotum, the mandibles and the margins of the abdominal segments. The fine sculpturation is similar to that of the 8 major, but the mandibles are more coarsely punctured, and the head, thorax, petiole, and abdomen have some scattered, shallow, and fairly large punctures, from which arise the pilose hairs, almost entirely wanting in the % major. The head, pro- and mesonotum as in the ¥ major, but the meso-epinotal suture is much deeper and wider. The dorsum of the epinotum is not longer than the pronotum (much longer in the ¥ major). Seen from the side, it is not horizontal as in that caste, but convex longitudinally from the base to the apex, and convex from side to side, not sub-margined as in the § 8. A longitudinal and very distinct median groove runs from the base almost to the brow of the declivity ; this groove is but faintly indicated in the ¥ major. The declivity is similar to that of the ¥ major, but not so steep, and the lateral tubercies above are flatter or less dentiform. The node of the petiole is not sub-cubic as in the § 3, but almost squamiform and slanting forwardly, so that the anterior and posterior faces are not vertical or almost so, as in the § 8, but obliquely sloping. ‘The anterior face is strongly concave, and the posterior face is only a little less so. Seen from the side, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 49 Genus OPTHALMOPONE, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. Vol. 34, C.R. p. 118, 1890. Pachycondyla (pars), Emery, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 360, 1886. Characters. %. Clypeus rounded in front, moderately convex, produced back- wards angularly between the frontal carinae; the latter are short, close together and narrow, sometimes lobed anteriorly. Mandibles triangular, long, and beset with alternating long and short teeth. HKyes large, placed behind or in the middle of the sides of the head. Pronotum much longer than the mesonotum ; the latter is cireum- scribed by a distinct suleus. Node of petiole thick, truncate behind, and with the ventral lamella produced into a more or less sharp point. Constriction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments very slight. Claws simple. ?. Unknown. &. Head longer than the pronotum; clypeus gibbous and pro- jecting beyond the base of the mandibles; frontal carinae distinct, divergent behind. Mandibles moderately long and pointed. An- tennae about as long as the head and thorax together; scape shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Pronotum largely exposed, at the node is four and a half times higher than long (about two and a half times in the ¥ major). Seen from above, the node is three and a quarter times as wide as long (about as wide as long in the ¥ major) ; the node above is longer, i.e. thicker in the middle than at the sides; it is also convex from side to side, but more acute dorsally than in the § %. The anterior face of the 1st abdominal segment is not perpendicular as in the § ¥, but slopes forwards. The abdomen is much larger than in the ¥ major, and all the segments are much wider than long. The teeth of the mandibles are larger and more acute. Other characters as in the ¥ major. Bulawayo. oe 7 Tiorax of- od i Fic. 6. MEGAPONERA FOETENS, Fabr. 4 50 Annals of the South African Museum. its widest only slightly, if at all, wider than the head across the eyes. Node of petiole thick, lamellar projection beneath arcuately emar- ginate, with a posterior tooth pointing backwards. There are two South African species, distinguished as follows: (2). 1. %. Head, excluding mandibles, only slightly longer than wide across the eyes. g. Frontal area very shining and indistinctly defined; mandibles narrow and obliquely truncate at the apex; 6th ventral segment furnished on each side with a flat and spatulate appendage .. hottentota, Emery. (1). 2. %. Head, excluding mandibles, one and two-thirds as long as wide across the eyes. $. Frontal area dull and distinctly defined ; mandibles broad and acute at the apex; 6th ventral segment simple ee) 2 Benthouds, Borel: O. BertHovunl, Forel. (Plate I1., figs. 11, 13.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 34, C.R. p. 112, %,1890. Mitt. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 6, p. 76, 3, 1894. 3. 12mm. Black, masticatory margin of mandibles, extreme base of scape and 2nd—5dth joints of all the tarsi dark red, calcaria reddish yellow. The whole body microscopically rugulose and covered with a very close and fine dull golden pubescence; the inner margin of the mandibles, the clypeus and last two segments of abdomen with a few golden bristles, more abundant on the last segment. Clypeus broadly angular in the middle and with three small grooves on each side of the middle area behind the anterior margin, the innermost the longest. Head very long, parallel-sided and rounded behind. The mandibles strongly convex longitudinally; seen from the side, as long as from the apex of the cheek to the posterior margin of the eyes. The latter are large and situated behind the middle of the sides of the head. The clypeus produced posteriorly between the frontal carinae, beyond which is a narrow, shining depression. The frontal carinae, divergent in front and behind, only just reach a point level with the anterior margin of the eyes. Antennae reach backwards as far as the base of the Ist abdominal segment; scape slightly thickened towards the apex, and as long as the head, excluding the mandibles. Pronotum two and a third times as long as the mesonotum. Epi- notum laterally compressed, with a shallow but distinct longitudinal groove in the middle, stretching from the base of the dorsum to the brow of the declivity. The latter is very steep, and seen from A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 51 behind is angular at the sides and bluntly so above, the lower and central portion of its face slightly gibbous. Node of petiole not so high as the 1st abdominal segment, rounded in front, truncate in front and behind, and with a well-defined posterior dorsal margin which is bisinuate in the middle and feebly angled at the corners. The ventral lamella ends in a sharp tooth pointing backwards, and does not extend beyond the middle of the petiole. Abdomen somewhat conical and widest at the base. Ist and 2nd segments sub-equal in length, constriction obsolete. Legs long and thin. 3. 11mm. Black, 3rd and following joints of flagellum ferru- ginous yellow, lighter towards the apex ; 1st joint of flagellum, base and apex of scape, the last joint, and apices of all the joints of the tarsi, dark rusty red. Wings fuscous, darker towards the apex, neryures pale brown, stigma piceous. ‘The whole body microscopi- cally rugulose and covered with a greyish pruinose pubescence similar to that of the Platythyreini. Base of head, the thorax and abdomen with large but shallow, piligerous punctures, sparse on the head and thorax, closer on the petiole and abdomen. The hairs are longer on the prothorax, epinotum, node of petiole and abdomen, shorter elsewhere, and of a fulvous colour. Head narrowest at the base, the portion which Bends from the base to a line joining the anterior margin of the eyes having the shape of an inverted triangle. Mandibles broad and acute at the apex; clypeus large, slightly acuminate in the middle in front, rounded at the sides and gibbous at the base. Antennae filiform, 1st joint of flagellum very short, the rest diminishing in length to- wards the apex. Frontal carinae broad and reaching to a point beyond the middle of the eyes. The latter are very large and placed in front of the middle of the sides of the head; ocelli not very large. Posterior margin of the head reflexed above and at the sides, forming a slight collar similar to that of the g¢ of MW. foetens. Pronotum widely exposed, two-thirds as long as the mesonotum. Pro- mesonotal suture distinct; mesonotum separated from the scutellum by a deep and wide sulcus; there is also a narrow lateral groove on each side reaching to a level beyond the anterior margin of the tegulae. The scutellum is sub-conic and finely striated at the sides. The base of the epinotum and the brow of the declivity rugose; the declivity is oblique. The tooth of the ventral lamella of the petiole is thinner and more acute than in the 8. Pygidium narrow, shin- ing, and ending in a short spine. Abdomen of a similar shape to that of the %, the hairs on the 3rd and following segments very long 52 Annals of the South African Museum. and bright fulvous. 3rd to 5th ventral segments with long golden hairs on their apical margins. This species is an exceedingly fast ant which occasionally may be seen foraging in very irregular columns. It is common in the neigh- bourhood of Bulawayo, and nests under stones or in deserted termite mounds. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) O. HortentoTa, Emery. (Plate II., fig. 12.) Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 360, 3, 1886. %. 10-1lmm. Black; very similar to Berthoudi, but differs in the following features. The pubescence is denser and of a more fulvous tint. The head is shorter and not so parallel-sided, the eyes are placed farther forwards and the mandibles are broader and not so long. The epinotum is less compressed laterally and broader on top, and not so long or so flat; it is compressed near the base and then rises in a slight hump and is continued in a gradual curve to the brow of the declivity. The latter, seen from above, has a much less angular outline than in Berthoudi. Seen from above, the node of the petiole is much narrower in front than in Berthoudz, and is only slightly emarginate in the middle posteriorly, and also not bisinuate nor obtusely angled laterally. The tooth of the ventral lamella is shorter and more acute. g. 11-12 mm. Black. Mandibles obtuse and obliquely trun- cate at the apex; posterior margin of the head not reflexed so as to form a collar. Frontal area shining and indistinctly defined. The head is more transverse than in Berthowdt, since the base of the head is much wider than in that species. Antennae, mandibles, tarsi and apical third of all the femora, ferruginous. It is easily distinguished from Berthoud: by the following characters. Head, thorax and base of abdominal segments with golden, not pruinose, pubescence. Piligerous punctures entirely absent, the whole body shining, especially the abdomen and node of petiole. The latter is more sharply truncate posteriorly and feebly sinuate in the middle. The ventral segments are more densely fimbriated and the 6th ventral segment is produced on each side into a long, flat and spatulate appendage, densely fimbriated at the apex. Wings wider and longer than in Berthoudi. Willowmore. (Brauns.) Cape Province generally, and Sebakwe, Mashonaland. I have not met with it in Matabeleland. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 53 Genus PACHYCONDYLA, Smith. Pachycondyla (pars), Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 105, 1858. Characters. % and ¢. Clypeus rounded in front, or obtusely pointed, pro- longed backwards angularly between the frontal carinae. Mandibles sub-triangular, dentate. Eyes situated in the anterior third of the sides of the head. Cheeks not carinated. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct ; meso-epinotal suture obsolete above. Petiole generally with a thick, squarish node. Abdominal constriction usually dis- tinct. Claws simple. 3. Head more or less transverse. Clypeus rounded and gibbous in the middle, or broadly carinate. Ocelli large; eyes very large, occupying nearly the whole of the sides of the head. Frontal carinae very feebly developed or obsolete. Antennae long, scape shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Pronotum largely ex- posed dorsally. Mesonotum usually with two lateral grooves and Mayrian furrows. Node of petiole compressed laterally and smaller than in the % . Ventral lamella with a small tooth. Abdominal constriction distinct. Pygidium prolonged into a sharp spine. Claws simple. Wings very broad, the greatest width being only a little less than half the length. The genus comprises three sub-genera, viz. Pachycondyla, Ecto- momyrmex and Bothroponera. Of these the first is confined to America, and the 2nd is mainly Asiatic. The following characters distinguish Bothroponera and Hctomonyrmex. 1. Dorsal surface of the head marked off from the cheeks and the posterior occipital region by a tumid angular margin; the mesothoracic episternum divided from the sternum in the ¥ by a strong suture -. .. .. Hctomomyrmex, Mayr. 2. Dorsal surface of the head not marked off from the rest by a margin; meso- thoracic episternum fused with the sternum, inthe %. Bothroponera, Mayr. SuB-Genus ECTOMOMYRMEX, Mayr. Tidjschr. y, Entom. vol. 10, p. 830, 1867. P. (EcromomyrmMex) Brounot, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 205, 8 , 1913. %. 446mm. Black, apical segments of abdomen lighter. Legs, frontal carinae and antennae dark yellowish red, the apical halves of the 2nd—10th joints of the flagellum darker, coxae and trochanters 54 Annals of the South African Musewn. brown, mandibles ferruginous. Legs, antennae, and body covered with a pale yellowish and rather long pubescence; mandibles, clypeus, and apical margins of abdominal segments with long pale, semi-erect hairs. Head dull, very finely and closely punctured. Thorax slightly shining, evenly but less closely punctured than the head. Abdomen shining, Ist segment finely and distinctly, 2nd segment faintly punctured. i Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than wide, sides convex, occipital margin straight, posterior angles rounded but distinct. The angulation of the surface of the head, between the dorsal and genal regions, characteristic of the genus, is so feeble in this species as to be hardly noticeable. Clypeus shining and very short, anterior margin moderately convex, raised in the middle to form a shining carina which is fused with the frontal carinae. Mandibles triangular, shining, sparsely punctured, furnished with about 7-8 teeth. Scape reaching back as far as the occipital margin, flattened and incrassate towards the apex ; flagellum strongly incrassate towards the apex, the last 4 joints forming a club; Ist joint longer than wide, 2nd—10th joints wider than long. Eyes consisting of about 6 ill-defined facets, very small and flat, situated in the anterior fifth of the sides of the head. Frontal carinae wide, their external margins very convex. Pronotum not quite so wide as the head, wider than long, rather flat above and at the sides, rounded in front and with the anterior angles rounded but fairly distinct. Pro-mesonotal suture strong, meso-epinotal suture feeble. Mesonotum ovoid, wider than long, hardly two-thirds as long as the pronotum. Dorsum of epinotum very narrow, widening towards the apex ; declivity rather abrupt and nearly vertical, smooth and shining. The upper surface of the node, seen from above, is in the shape of a wide-based triangle, the apex very rounded ; seen from the side, the node is convex above from side to side, the anterior face slopes backwards and is concave from below to above, the posterior face vertical and concave from side to side. Ventral lamella of petiole produced and widely truncate at the apex. Abdomen elliptical, Ist segment with the anterior face sloping forwards, wider at the apex than at the base, as wide as long; 2nd segment a little longer than the lst, the constriction between the two segments moderate. Anterior femora and tibiae stout. gS (hitherto undescribed). 4:2 mm. Black, scape and Ist joint of flagellum, trochanters, apices of femora and tibiae, extreme bases of tibiae and all the tarsi pale brownish yellow. Head and thorax very shallowly punctured, abdomen impunctate. Whole body A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 50 shining, clothed with a long adpressed pale pubescence, closer on the head and legs, very dense on the antennae and scantier on the thorax and abdomen; abdomen sparsely pilose with semi-erect long pale hairs, the rest of the body with a very scanty blackish pilosity. Head wider than long, excluding the clypeus nearly twice as wide as long. Clypeus raised roof-shaped towards the middle line, anterior margin straight and depressed; seen directly from above, the clypeus projects considerably in front of the line of the mouth. Frontal carinae flat and nearly obsolete. Mandibles atrophied to two triangular flaps at the sides of the mouth. Hyes large, not very prominent, their internal margins moderately concave. Ocelli large, on a slightly raised area. Antennae long and filiform, reaching back as far as the base of the 2nd abdominal segment ; scape shorter than the distance separating the two posterior ocelli, Ist joint of flagellum a little shorter than the scape, 2nd joint three times as long as the Ist, last joint nearly as long as the two preceding together. Pronotum exposed, not quite so wide as the head. Mesonotum a little longer than wide, with the parapsidal sutures and anterior Mayrian furrows sharply defined. Scutellum moderately gibbous, less than one-third the length of the mesonotum, from which it is separated by a deep crenate suture. Dorsum of epinotum wider than long, sloping gradually into the declivity. Node of petiole like that of the %, but narrower and more parallel-sided. First segment of abdomen convex in front and at the sides, 2nd segment a little longer than the Ist, and wider than long. Pygidium pro- duced into a long spine. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma pale yellow. Bulawayo, under stones, in small colonies of less than a dozen individuals. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Sus-Genus BOTHROPONERA, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 717, 1862. Key to the 8 % of Pachycondyla. (Sub-Genus Bothroponera, Mayr.) (10). 1. Head, thorax, and basal segments of abdomen coarsely punctured. 2. Mandibles striated. 3. Node of petiole widely emarginate posteriorly .. .. Cariosa, Emery. (3). 4. Node of petiole sharply truncate posteriorly .. .. cavernosa, Roger. (2). 5. Mandibles not striated. (7). 6. Node of petiole widely emarginate posteriorly, a golden pubescence on the wells Iaerhy 66 “96 66. 00 00 oa 60 goby oo oo (UREPORT Intoyeerr 56 Annals of the South African Museum. (6). 7. Node of petiole truncate posteriorly, no golden pubescence. (9). 8. Third, 4th, and 5th abdominal segments dull .. .. strigulosa, Emery. (8). 9. Third, 4th, and 5th abdominal segments more or less shining. pumicosa, Roger. (1). 10. Head, thorax, and basal segments of abdomen finely punctured. (14). 11. Larger species, 11 mm. or more. (13). 12. Head and thorax dull; head ovoid .. .. .. .. .. Kiigeri, Worel, (12). 13. Head and thorax shining ; head quadrate .. .- laevissima, Arnold. (11). 14. Smaller species, 8 mm. He ool) 500 oo OG 6) dal wan. HOMOne lasts: P. Kricert, Forel. Ann, Soc. Ent. Belg. vol. 54, p. 23, %, 1910. 3. 11 mm. Black; mandibles and last four joints of all the tarsi, apical half of last joint of flagellum, and extreme base of the scape, castaneous brown. Calcaria dirty yellow. Extreme apex of abdomen ferruginous. Whole body covered with a short and inconspicuous golden-grey pubescence, punctured all over with very fine, close, and shallow punctures ; these punctures are coarser and confluent on the head, thorax and node of petiole. Intermixed with these are some larger shallow piligerous punctures, which are most abundant on the epinotum, node of petiole and first two abdominal segments. The hairs are short, erect, and black, but on the apical abdominal segment longer and golden brown. Clypeus raised in the centre and somewhat projecting, ending anteriorly in a blunt point, emarginate laterally and fringed with a few golden bristles on the anterior margin. It is produced behind angularly between the frontal carinae. The latter are broad in front, arcuate at the sides and divergent behind, and extend back- wards to a point level with the posterior margin of the eyes. The latter are not large, and are placed at the middle of the sides of the head. Mandibles triangular, very finely striate and with a row of coarse punctures on the masticatory margin, which is furnished with about 8 or 9 teeth. Antennae reach back hardly as far as the node of the petiole. Scape flattened and incrassate apically, not longer than the head excluding the mandibles. Flagellum very slightly clavate, apical joint longest, the rest sub-equal. Pronotum large, rounded in front. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Epinotum rounded above, the declivity gradual and with the lateral margins well defined. Node of petiole, seen from above, trapezoid, wider behind than in front; seen from the side, sharply truncate in front and behind, rounded above. Ventral lamella not produced. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 57 First abdominal segment nearly twice as wide as the node of petiole, and with a small truncate projection below at the extreme base Abdominal constriction well marked. Second segment slightly wider than the 1st, but not longer. Anterior tarsi with thick golden- brown hairs beneath. Transvaal. Var. RHODESIANA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 109, 1913. This differs from the type in its larger size, 13 mm. 8, and more abundant pilosity. The node of the petiole is not so smooth, and is, like the abdomen, duller. $ (hitherto undescribed), 10 mm. Head black; mandibles, clypeus, antennae, legs, and last abdominal segment occasionally, reddish yellow. Thorax dark castaneous brown, pronotum somewhat lighter. Epinotum, petiole, and abdominal segments reddish brown, the apical margins of the latter testaceous yellow. Head transverse ; clypeus produced and raised in the middle anteriorly. The frontal carinae are very short and indistinct. Hyes very large and reniform. Antennae filiform, reaching back as faras middle of 2nd abdominal segment. Pronotum only slightly exposed dorsally. Mesonotum with a central impressed line, broken in the middle; the Mayrian furrows distinct, the lateral ones less so. A crenate sulcus separates the mesonotum from the rather gibbous scutellum. Epinotum rounded, the declivity with a raised central line. Node of petiole sloping in front, rounded above and with a faint median impression, vertical behind and longer than wide. Seen from above, the petiole has a minute tooth on each side at the extreme base, and a slightly larger tooth beyond the latter. The ventral lamella is produced intoa very short obtuseangle. First abdominal segment beneath with a truncate process at the extreme base similar to that of the ¥. Abdominal constriction distinct. Legs long and slender. Wings hyaline, nervures yellow, stigma dirty yellow. Body rather shining and covered with a silky grey pubescence. There is a sparse pilosity on the margins of the last three abdominal segments. Head and thorax very finely, closely, and shallowly punctured; base of epinotum a little more coarsely and rugosely punctured. Abdomen impunctate. This variety is common round Bulawayo. The nest is generally placed under a stone, with several entrances which are surrounded by loose earth; the male is very common at light. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A.) 58 Annals of the South African Museum. / P. LAEVISSIMA, n. sp. (Plate IL., figs. 15, 15a.) 8. 12mm. Black; antennae, mandibles, outer angles of frontal carinae, and articulations of the legs piceous red; extreme margins of abdominal segments pale. The whole body is very shining, punctured all over with very fine, sparse punctures, from which arise the pubescent hairs. Intermixed are other larger punctures which are very shallow and scanty on the 1st abdominal segment, deeper, larger and more abundant on the node of the petiole and on the head, and very sparse on the thorax. The pubescence on the body is very scanty and inconspicuous, but less so on the apical segments of the abdomen. Pilosity of the body meagre, consisting of a few short hairs; pale and denser on the legs. Head quadrate, sides slightly convex, posterior margin straight, very convex above, posterior angles rounded. Mandibles triangular, moderately shining and very finely striate, sparsely and strongly punctured, the punctures larger and elongated along the masticatory margin. The latter carries 7 teeth, and is but little shorter than the basal margin. Clypeus striato-rugose, angularly produced in the middle, sub-carinate, and with a row of deep punctures along the anterior margin. The frontal carinae are very broad in front, and excepting their extreme lateral margins which are smooth and shining, are more closely punctured than the rest of the head. Eyes rather small, situated a little in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Antennae extend back as far as the apex of the epinotum; scape incrassate towards the apex, the flagellum only slightly so. First joint of flagellum two-thirds as long as the 2nd, the latter hardly longer than the 3rd. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, meso-epinotal suture obsolete. Pronotum convex above, rounded in front and at the sides, a little wider than long. Mesonotum as long as the pronotum. Dorsum of epinotum merges into the declivity by a very gradual curve. The declivity is very oblique and feebly margined laterally. (The profile of the thorax is a segment of a circle and more convex than P. cavernosa, Roger.) Node of petiole trapezoid, wider behind than in front, wider than long, rounded above, vertically truncate in front and behind, and nearly as high as Ist abdominal segment. The sides of the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments very convex, the constriction between them strong. The lst segment is narrower at the base than at the apex, as long as the 2nd segment but not quite so wide. Legs moderately long. Saldanha Bay, Cape Prov., Type in my collection. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 59 P. soror, Emery. Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 48, p. 472, % 2, 1899. %. 7-85 mm. Black; mandibles and legs dark chestnut-red. Scape, flagellum, and clypeus red-brown, the last joint of flagellum dark red at the apex. Calcaria, and the long hairs on the thorax and abdomen, orange. A fine golden-grey pubescence all over, as in P. Kriigert. Occipital margin of head straight, the corners rounded, the sides slightly convex. Clypeus raised and sub-carinate in the centre, rounded in front, the raised area shining. Frontal carinae wide in front, narrow behind and divergent. Mandibles smooth and shining, with a few large, deep punctures, chiefly on the inner margin. First joint of flagellum a little longer than the 2nd, 3rd to 6th joints as long as broad, 7th to 10th slightly broader than long, apical joint flattened and nearly twice as long as the penultimate. Head and thorax finely and closely punctured, node of petiole more coarsely punctured, lst and 2nd abdominal segments finely but very distinctly punctured. There are large, shining, piligerous punctures on the body, proportionately larger than in Kriigert. The epinotum has the declivity widest in the middle, lozenge-shaped, slightly shining and distinctly margined at the sides. Proportionately the node of the petiole is wider than in Ariigert, and is also flatter on top, otherwise similar. The abdominal constriction is not so marked as in that species. In size and general appearance this species is deceptively like Huponera caffrarva, from which it can be distinguished on closer inspection by the thick node of the petiole, which in caffraria is squamiform. This is a rather rare species in the neighbourhood of Bulawayo. It usually nests under stones, and has a very strong smell of cockroaches. The colonies do not usually comprise more than two dozen individuals. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. coll.) P. cariosa, Emery. Ann. Soc. Hut. France, vol. 63, p. 20, ¥, 1895. “8. 11mm. Black; mandibles, flagellum, articular portions of the legs and tarsi rufescent, margins of the abdominal segments and the anus narrowly testaceous; very coarsely punctured and also longitudinally striate, with a dense flavous pubescence. Clypeus carinate and produced in the middle, mandibles striate and punctured, node of petiole sub-trapezoid, widely emarginate behind. . . . The petiole is wider behind than in front, depressed in the middle of the posterior margin so as to make it appear widely emarginate. The 60 Annals of the South African Musewn. insect is dull, more so than in pwmicosa, which is due to the spaces between the large punctures being also closely punctured, or almost striated in parts; . . . the pubescence is longer and more recum- bent than in strigulosa; the last two abdominal segments are not striated. The mandibles are finely striated and punctured. Delagoa Bay.” P. CAVERNOSA, Roger. Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 4, p. 288, ¥, 1860. “ %. 13 mm. Brownish black; antennae, mandibles, and legs red, slightly shining, covered with very short reddish-yellow pubes- cence. The whole body is densely punctate with coarse and somewhat confluent punctures. The punctures of the 2nd abdominal segment are sparser, shallower, and smaller, giving this segment a rather smooth appearance. The head is wider than the thorax, quadrangular, rounded in front and behind, and also very feebly emar- ginate behind. The eyes are situated in front of the middle of the sides of the head. The frontal carinae are thick, lobate, horizontal, and divided by a deep central line. The 12-jointed antennae are inserted in a deep depression at some distance from the anterior margin of the head, as well as from each other ; the scape is sparsely clothed with erect hairs and reaches back as far as the occiput; the 2nd and 3rd joints of the flagellum of equal length, and a little longer than the Ist; the apical joint as long as the two preceding together. Clypeus arched in the middle, feebly carinate and slightly impressed transversely along the anterior margin. The mandibles are triangular, not much elongated, finely and longitudinally striate or rugulose, more coarsely on the inner margin, which has 6 to 7 blunt teeth. The prothorax is wider than the rest of the thorax, rounded at the sides, narrow and lower in front and separated from the mesothorax by a depressed line; the rest of the thorax without sutures, compressed laterally and feebly convex towards the base, the declivity of the epinotum abruptly truncate. The sides of the thorax not rugose. The node of the petiole is as wide as the epinotum but narrower than the 1st abdominal segment, higher than long, perpendicular behind, rounded in front and strongly so above ; ventral lamella with a small tooth. The 1st abdominal segment is perpendicular in front, rounded above, wider than long, rounded at the sides and constricted behind. The 2nd abdominal segment is wider than long, with a fine median longitudinal line. All the tibiae with pectinate calcaria. The tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi almost of equal length. The front legs have the metatarsi shorter than the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 61 tibiae, and like the latter at their apices, are densely clothed with golden hairs. Claws simple. Cape.” P. stRIGULOSA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 19, 8, 1895. “ 8. 10 mm. Black; mandibles, antennae, and tarsi piceous, margins of abdominal segments and anus smooth and testaceous ; closely punctured with very coarse punctures and very finely longi- tudinally striate, dull, scarcely pubescent, and with a pilosity of short golden hairs. Clypeus carinate and produced in the middle, coarsely punctured but not striate; node of petiole truncate posteriorly. Kimberley.” “Closely allied to punvicosa, which it resembles in the shape of the body, unstriated mandibles and puncturation intermixed with fine striae; the latter, however, are more numerous and stronger, giving this species a duller appearance. The abdomen is wholly dull, even the apical segments. In pwnucosa the last three segments are shining, the antepenultimate less strongly striated than the pre- ceding, and the following segments only punctured.” P. aranosa, Roger. (Plate II., fig. 16.) Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 4, p. 290, ?, 1860. “8%. Black, apex of abdomen and tarsi rufescent, moderately shining, pilosity very short, pubescence golden yellow, punctured all over, node of petiole sub-emarginate posteriorly. 14mm.” «This species is very similar to cavernosa, but differs from it in the following characters : the whole body is covered with a very fine recumbent yellow or yellowish-red pubescence, which gives the body when seen from the side a yellow silky tinge. The sculpture of the head is noi so coarse as in cavernosa, the punctures are farther apart and are not confluent ; the punctures are also shallower. The space between the punctures is finely striate. The apex of the frontal carinae is smooth, shining, and of a reddish colour; the mandibles are dark red, shining, not striated but punctured with rather coarse and fine punctures intermixed. The head is somewhat longer than in cavernosa. The clypeus is sharply carinate. The punctures of the thorax are large and shallow, the interspace rugulose. The node of the petiole is slightly rounded in front, the posterior face is vertical but the dorsal margin of same widely emarginate, flat above, narrower in front than behind; below, the ventral lamella is produced into a tooth pointing backwards. The 1st abdominal segment, seen 62 Annals of the South African Museum. from above, is almost quadrangular and with the sides only slightly convex, a little wider than long, and like the node strongly but not closely punctured, more strongly so than the thorax. The 2nd segment is more feebly punctured than the Ist, the rest only indistinctly. The apical margins of the abdominal segments are reddish. The claws are small and simple.” P. pumicosa, Roger. Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 4, p.'290, 3, 1860. Forel, Rey. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 244, g, 1901. 8. 12-13 mm. Black; mandibles, flagellum, apex and base of scape, the legs, and apex of abdomen dark castaneous red. A thin golden pubescence all over; a golden-brown pilosity on the node of the petiole and on the abdomen. The sides of the head, thorax, node, and 1st abdominal segment strongly and deeply punctured. The punctures on the node and Ist segment are very large and rather confluent, making the sculpturation almost rugose. The vertex of the head somewhat finely punctured. Second abdominal segment with shallower punctures than the 1st segment,* 3rd and 4th very finely punctured, pygidium impunctate. The spaces between the punctures on the first three segments striate, very finely so on the 3rd segment. Sides of head slightly convex, rounded at the corners in front and behind, hardly emarginate posteriorly. Clypeus feebly produced and carinate in the middle, the carina obtuse at the apex. Frontal carinae wide in front, smooth and moderately shining, as in granosa. Mandibles triangular, shining and punctured. Eyes nearer the middle of the sides of the head than in granosa. The scape of the antenna hardly reaches back as far as the occiput; flagellum more clavate than in granosa, 7th to 10th joints wider than long. Pro- mesonotal suture distinct; declivity of epinotum shining, and less steep than in granosa. Node of petiole narrower in front than behind, rounded in front and above, sub-trapezoid, posterior face vertical and slightly concave. Ventral lamella angularly produced, but not toothed. Otherwise similar to granosa. “9, 95mm. Testaceous yellow ; head brown; mesonotum and scutellum brown with yellowish patches. The eyes occupy the whole of the sides of the head. Ocelli large and placed on a raised area. Wings pale yellowish, with nervures and stigma also pale. Sub-opaque, very finely punctured and pubescent.” Cape Prov. (Brauns, Drege.) Natal. (Haviland.) * Roger says, ‘‘ As coarsely punctured as the lst segment”; the punctures are as large, but certainly not so deep, when seen from above. A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 63 Race Brertuount, Forel. Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 344, 8, 1901. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., WO, Bi; yO OS); AUSyls\, This form has been sunk to the rank of a race by Forel, but I can find only the following differences, which appear to me to be worthy of only varietal rank. The node is slightly narrower posteriorly than in the type, the puncturation of the head is a little larger and the Ist abdominal segment a little wider. I append the following description of the 9, since that of the type is so meagre. g. 10mm. Legs, pleurae, epinotum, node, abdomen, and antennae bright ochreous yellow; head dirty yellow below the antennal sockets, brown above. Thorax yellow-brown. Clypeus slightly raised in the middle. Frontal carinae obsolete. The eyes occupy the whole of the sides of the head; the ocelli large, and situated on a raised area. Antennae filiform, reaching back almost to the apex of the Ist abdominal segment. Prothorax very little exposed. Pro-mesonotal and meso-metanotal sutures distinct. The scutellum gibbous with the sides strongly striated. Mesonotum very shallowly punctured. Epinotum punctured at the sides, very shining and smooth above. Node of petiole narrow and parallel-sided, rounded above and in front, and less so behind. Lamellar tooth distinct but small. Con- striction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments distinct. Abdomen impunctate. The whole body clothed with a dense, downy and pale pubescence. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Brauns.) Valdezia, Transvaal. (Berthoud.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. coll.) Genus HUPONHERA, Forel. Grandidier’s Hist. Madagascar, vol. 20, p. 126, 1891. Ponera (pars), Smith, Roger, Mayr, etc. Formica (pars), Fabricius. Characters. %. Mandibles sub-triangular, the masticatory margin dentate and forming a distinct angle with the basal margin. Hyes placed on or in front of the anterior third of the head, sometimes absent or con- siderably atrophied. Meso-epinotal suture distinct, otherwise like Pachycondyla. 9. Always winged. g. As in the sub-genera. 64 Annals of the South African Musewn. The genus is divided into four sub-genera as follows :— Key to the % % of the Sub-Genera of Euponera. \ (2). 1. Mandibles elongate, the masticatory margin long, with numerous teeth ; 1st joint of flagellum usually shorter or of the same length as the following, rarely, longer =. .. .. Jlesoponera, Emery. (1). 2. Mandibles rather Shot sii few feet 1st joint of flagellum much longer than the 2nd. (4). 3. Length 9-10 mm. ; mandibles with 8 teeth; Madagascan species. Euponera, Forel, 3). 4. Insect much smaller. (6). 5. Mesonotum gibbous; surrounded by a deep suture; Ist joint of tarsi of the middle pair of legs not bristly on the dorsal surface. Brachyponera, Emery. (5). 6. Mesonotum depressed, the surrounding suture not deep; tarsi of the middle pair of legs short, and bristly on the dorsal surface. Trachymesopus, Emery. Sus-Genus MESOPONERA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 45, p. 48, 1901. Characters. %. Clypeus rounded, rarely pointed on the anterior margin. Mandibles elongate, with numerous teeth. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed. 1st joint of flagellum shorter or of the same length as the 2nd, rarely longer. Thorax generally elongate; mesonotum more or less oval and surrounded by a suture; dorsum of epinotum in the elongate species equal in length to the pro- and mesonotum together. Legs, and especially the tarsi of the middle pair, long and slender, the tarsi rarely bristly. ®. Asim the 3. 3. Emery remarks (‘‘ Genera Insectorum ”’) that he knows of no character sufficient to distinguish the g g§ of this sub-genus from those of Pachycondyla. Key to the 8 8 of Mesoponera. . Large species, more than 6 mm. long. . Insect 9mm. long, whole body dull .. .. .. .. .. caffraria, Smith. . Longer than 9 mm., at least the Brentey part of ne body shining. . 10°5 mm. long, head duller than the thorax and abdomen, foyea on the mandibles shallow and transverse... .. .. .. .. Peringueyi, Emery. (4). 5. 11-13 mm. long, head not duller ion the thorax and abdomen, fovea on the mandibles deep, sharply defined and oblique... .. .. Havilandi, Forel. (1). 6. Small species, less than 6 mm. long. . Colour black or nearly so .. .. - .«. fossigera, Mayr. (7). 8. Colour brown cr yellowish brown .. leno, Morel var. rotundata, Emery. a bo AI SS mo Woe =~ ie) — 4 A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 65 HE. (MESoponERA) CAFFRARIA, Smith. (Plate II., fig. 17, 17a, and Plate III., fig. 22.) Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 91, 9, 1858. Mayr, Ann. Nat. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 124, 9, 1895. 8. 9mm. Black and dull; mandibles castaneous red; flagellum, tarsi, and last abdominal segment dorsally, brown. The whole body covered with an excessively fine and,short pubescence, which is, however, dense enough to give the surface, viewed obliquely, a greyish-yellow tinge. Head, thorax, and apical half of all the abdominal segments microscopically punctured, the basal invagin- able portion of the latter shining and impunctate. A scanty pilosity of short, thin, pale hairs on the head and thorax, and longer on the abdomen, particularly the last three segments. Clypeus raised in the middle, with a central shining line, hardly produced backwards between the frontal carinae. Mandibles smooth, with a few large punctures on the inner margin. Frontal carinae only slightly widened anteriorly, the impressed line between rather faint. Scape of antenna hardly reaching the occiput; flagellum feebly incrassate towards the apex. Hyes small, their long diameter not exceeding two-thirds the length of the apical joint of flagellum. Sides of head convex, anterior and posterior corners rounded, the former widely so; posterior margin feebly arcuate. Head wider than thorax. Pronotum convex in front and at the sides; dorsum of epinotum flat, narrowest at the base, where it is less than half as wide as the mesonotum; declivity shining and steep, lateral margins tumid. Node of petiole squamiform ; seen from above, triangular ; thickest at the base, much wider above than below, rounded above ; posterior face perpendicular and shining. Ventral lamella with an obtuse projec- tion. Abdomen oblongo-ovate, 1st and 2nd segments of about equal length, the constriction between them feeble. The 1st seg- ment ventrally, has a slight median projection at its junction with the petiole. ?. 10°5 mm. Mesonotum and scutellum together, seen from above, more than twice as long as the pronotum. Dorsum of epinotum short, not so long as scutellum. Wings smoky, nervures and stigma brown. Otherwise like the 8. 3. 8mm. Black and dull; tibiae and tarsi yellow-brown, the margins of the abdominal segments impressed, shining and _tes- taceous brown. Head, thorax, petiole and abdomen, except the apical segment, closely, finely and reticulately punctured ; the sides of the posterior portion of the mesonotum deeply excavated, shining 5) 66 Annals of the South African Museum. and striated. Head about one-third wider, across the eyes, than it is long. Clypeus raised and carinate in the middle. Frontal carinae distinct but very short. Antennae long and filiform, reaching back as far as apical margin of 3rd abdominal segment, scape very short, barely twice as long as the 1st joint of flagellum ; 2nd joint three and a half times as long as the scape. Hyes not very large, occupying but little more than the anterior half of the sides of the head; ocelli small, situated on a slightly raised area. Pro-mesonotal suture dis- tinct ; the gibbous scutellum is separated from the mesonotum by a crenate impression. Pronotum exposed, seen from above only two- thirds as long as scutellum; dorsum of epinotum as long as the scutellum, the declivity oblique and not abrupt. Node of petiole similar to that of the 2, but smaller and more convex posteriorly ; ventral lamella not produced. The abdomen widens towards the apex; lst segment not so wide as the 2nd and 3rd, the latter almost twice as wide as long; constriction between the 1st and 2nd feeble. Apical segment shining and nearly impunctate ; pygidium ending in a Short spine. Legs thin and slender; tarsi of middle and hind legs as long as the tibiae. Wings slightly smoky, nervures pale brown, stigma dark brown. S. Rhodesia, common; Willowmore. (Brauns.) Natal. (Cooper and Marley.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) E. (MEsoponeRA) PERINGUEYI, Emery. (Plate IL., fig. 19.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 48, p. 474, %, 1899. 3.105mm. Black; antennae, tibiae, and tarsi piceous brown, mandibles ferruginous brown. Shining, especially the abdomen and pronotum. Clypeus and sides of pronotum very finely rugulose, pleurae finely striate, all the rest of the body finely and evenly punctured. The punctures are very dense on the head and epinotum. Mandibles shining, with irregular and coarse punctures and a shallow, lateral and transverse fovea near the base. A fine grey pubescence on the whole body, inconspicuous and rather irregular; pilosity absent. Head very similar to that of H. sennaarensis, Mayr, but the frontal carinae are more divergent behind, and reach to the level of the posterior margin of the eyes. The latter are relatively smaller and more convex. The clypeus is obtusely carinate in the middle, smooth and shining. Mandibles with 12-14 alternating large and small teeth. Antennae long, reaching back as far as base of lst abdominal segment; flagellum very slightly incrassate towards the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 67 apex. Sides of head moderately convex, posterior angles rounded. Pronotum wider than long, the dorsal region distinctly, and rather angularly delimited from the sides. Mesonotum ovoid, narrower at the base. Pro-mesonotal suture well defined, meso-epinotal suture a little less distinct. Dorsum of epinotum narrow, very little longer than the mesonotum ; declivity triangular, with a faint median longi- tudinal impression. Node of petiole rounded above, convex from side to side in front, and flat behind. Seen in profile, vertically truncate in front, steeply sloping behind, and with sharply defined lateral margin separating the anterior and posterior faces. Ventral lamella triangularly produced along its whole length. The basal face of the 1st abdominal segment is vertically truncate, forming a dis- tinct, though obtuse, angle with the dorsal surface. Below, at its junction with the petiole, the segment is produced into a strong tooth. Second abdominal segment slightly wider and longer than the 1st, the constriction between the two segments feeble. Seen from in front or behind the node of the petiole is wider above than below, and of an ovoid shape. Legs comparatively long. Claws with a small tooth near the base. ; Nord Hoek and Saldanha Bay, Cape Prov. (Péringuey.) (S.A.M. and G.A. colls.) E Havinanpi, Forel. (Plate I., fig. 9.) (Megaponera, sub-genus Hagensia), Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 333, %, 1901. (Huponera sulcigera), Mayr, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 54, p. 593, 2, 1904. %. 11-12mm. Black, mandibles more or less castaneous red, legs and antennae brownish black. The whole body sub-opaque, the pos- terior face of the node of the petiole shining, finely pubescent, closely and very finely punctured all over, except the posterior face of the node which is less densely punctured, and the declivity of the epinotum which is reticulate-punctate or very finely rugulose. A few long hairs on the mandibles and apex of the abdomen. Head very little longer than wide, with the posterior angles considerably rounded, the sides moderately convex. Clypeus very convex in the middle, hardly carinate. Frontal area lanceolate, the depression or sulcus behind it moderately long. Hyes within the anterior half of the head, and separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance a little longer than their own long diameter. Mandibles shining, finely striate near the base, sparsely and coarsely punctured near the apex, with 13-15 irregular teeth, and a deep oblique fovea 68 Annals of the South African Museum. near the base, much more sharply defined than in Peringueyt- Scape of antenna cylindrical and reaching back beyond the occi- pital margin; 2nd joint of flagellum longer than the Ist, all the joints long and cylindrical. Pronotum as long as wide, its dorsum convex, sub-quadrangular, and margined behind and at the sides by a raised line (more pronounced than in Peringuweyi), which ter- minates before the anterior margin. Pro-meso, and meso-metanotal sutures well defined, the latter more strongly so than in Peringueyt. Dorsum of epinotum more compressed and much narrower than in Peringueyt, the declivity is triangular but narrower, and its sides are more sharply marginate than in that species. The declivity above, at its junction with the dorsum, has a longitudinal depression, which is bounded on each side by the lateral margins. Node and abdomen as in Peringueyi, but the abdomen is longer and narrower in proportion, and the constriction between the 1st and 2nd segments is entirely absent; the lst segment below, at its junction with the petiole is also produced into a strong tooth, as in Peringueyz, but the ventral lamella of the petiole is larger and less blunt at the apex than in that species. Legs long and slender, with two calcaria to the middle and hind legs, and the claws of the tarsi with a small tooth near the middle. 3S (hitherto undescribed). 12 mm. Black, legs brownish black with the tarsi paler, mandibles ferruginous. Head and thorax very finely punctured, but more densely so than in the 3; the mesonotum is almost reticulate-punctate, the epinotum shallowly rugulose, the petiole impunctate, lst abdominal segment very sparsely and finely punctured, the remaining segments microscopically punctate. The whole body pubescent as in the % , but the pubescence on the thorax is very sparse. Head dull, thorax sub-nitidulous, abdomen very shining. Head wider across the eyes than it is long, considerably contracted in front of the eyes. The latter large, occupying about. one-third of the sides of the head, the internal margins feebly sinuate. Ocelli large, situate on a raised area. Clypeus very convex from side to side and rather long (as long as the scape), the anterior margin almost straight. Mandibles oblong, very small, hardly meeting together when closed, edentate. Frontal carinae obsolete. Antennae very long, reaching back almost to the apex of the abdomen, scape half as long as the 3rd joint of the flagellum ; the lst joint of the latter is very short, being less than half as long as the scape, the 2nd joint a little longer than the 3rd, all the joints except the 1st long and cylindrical. Pronotum only slightly exposed, meso- notum as long as wide, raised, round in front and convex from side A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 69 to side, concave posteriorly, and on each side with a slight depression internal to the parapsidal sutures, which are well defined. A raised central line runs back from the anterior margin of the mesonotum for about one-third of its length. A deep crenate sulcus separates the mesonotum from the scutellum ; the latter is gibbous, somewhat triangular and with the sides striate. Metanotum short, with a small tubercle in the centre. The dorsum of epinotum, as long as the mesonotum, merges gradually into the declivity; the latter has on each side a small boss above, but its lateral limits are feebly defined. Petiole long, three times as long as wide, slightly raised into a node at its middle third; at its extreme base, furnished with a minute recurved tooth at each side, and a little posterior to these, there is a distinct lateral tubercle. Abdomen lanceolate, Ist segment distinctly longer than wide and very narrow at the base, 2nd seg- ment also longer than wide and about as long as the Ist, the other segments wider than long. Pygidium produced into a sharp curved spine. Apex of abdomen piceous. Legs very long and slender, with two calearia to the middle and hind tibiae; claws furnished with a small tooth, nearer to the apex than in the 8. Wings smoky, stigma dark brown, a closed radial cell present, as in LH. caffraria and sennaarensis. Alar expanse 20 mm. 1 gS taken with the workers by the Rev. R. Godfrey at King William’s Town, type in §.A. Museum. Natal. (Haviland, Wroughton.) Grahamstown. (Hewitt.) The 8% % from King William’s Town are slightly larger than the original specimens from Natal (138 mm.), but have the mandibles without any striae and a much more strongly defined and deeper fovea. They are also much more finely punctured and shining, not sub-opaque as in the Natal form, and the punctures are quite discrete and not reticulate. Iam deterred from raising this form to varietal rank by an examination of a 8 from Vredefort, in the 8.A.M. col- lection, in which the puncturation is somewhat intermediate between the two described above, but in which there is also a very deep fovea on the mandible. The characters in the male sex alone make it clear that the species is an Huponera. Moreover, in the worker the similarities to the ¢ of H. Perinqueyi, Emery, are very marked. An examination which I was able to make of the two specimens in Dr. H. Brauns’ collec- tion, named by Mayr as Huponera sulcigera, made it certain that Mayr’s species is the same as the one now described. Mayr’s name must therefore be sunk as a synonym, and at the same time Forel’s sub-genus must also be deleted. Should the characters of the ¢ of 70 Annals of the South African Musewn. H. Peringueyt Emery, at present unknown, prove to be similar to that of Havilandt, it might be desirable in the future to re-erect Hagensia as a sub-genus of Hwponera, or even to make it a separate genus of the Ponerini. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) EK. (Mrsoponrera) Exizaz, Forel, var. ROTUNDATA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 20, ¥, 1895. Forel, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 108, %, 1913. The above variety alone has been found within our limits. It differs from the type from Madagascar in having the metanotum (epinotum) shorter, with a more rounded profile, and not in the least angular. 3. 45 mm. Colour rather variable, castaneous brown or piceous brown, with the posterior half of the head, the margins of the pronotum, the sides of the epinotum and the apical margins of the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments much paler; 3rd—5th segments ferruginous. Antennae, mandibles, legs, and clypeus fer- ruginous yellow. Covered all over with a fine and dense yellowish pubescence. The flavous pilosity is very short and scanty on the head, thorax, and first two abdominal segments, longer and more abundant on the clypeus and apical abdominal segments. Head and thorax shining, the abdomen much more so. Head very shallowly and finely punctured, the rest of the body impunctate or nearly so, the mesopleurae very smooth and shining Head longer than wide, almost parallel-sided, the posterior corners gently rounded. Clypeus raised sub-angularly in the midale, the anterior margin bearing in the centre a minute spine, plainly visible under a magnification of 30 diameters. Frontal carinae very narrow in the middle, diverging posteriorly. Mandibles elongate and rather narrow; the masticatory margin with about 12 alternatingly large and small teeth, the apical tooth very acuminate. The scape extends back nearly as far as the occiput; 6th—-8th joints of flagellum as broad as long. LHyes small and flat, situated within the anterior fourth of the head. Pro- mesonotal suture distinct. Pronotum twice as long as the meso- notum, rounded in front, the sides somewhat flattened, Dorsum of epinotum short, about the same length as the mesonotum, very narrow at the base and widening towards the declivity. The latter is very smooth and shining, with the sides tumid, and a little longer than wide. Node of petiole, seen from above and in front, narrower than in EH. fossigera, and only very little wider above than below, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 71 rounded above, slightly convex anteriorly, and steeply sloping pos- teriorly. The ventral lamella prolonged into a large triangular tooth, pointing backwards. Anterior portion of Ist abdominal segment flattened and sloping inwards. Abdomen more oblong and parallel-sided than in H. fosse- gera; 1st and 2nd segments of about equal length, and very little wider than long, the constriction between them feeble. ? (hitherto undescribed). 55-6 mm. Like the ¥%, differing only in the following characters. The colour is darker. The eyes are larger, and separated from the base of the mandibles by a little less than their own length. The ocelli are small. Pronotum, seen from above, half as long as the mesonotum. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct. The mesonotum is separated from the scutellum by a deep and wide groove. Dorsum of epinotum very short or almost obsolete. The epinotum is not compressed laterally as in the $%, but is rather broad, with the sides slightly convex. This species is not uncommon near Bulawayo. The nest is always placed under stones or logs, and seldom contains more than half a dozen workers. The latter avoid the light and are never seen at work in the open. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. REDBANKENSIS, Forel. OGG Clin {Os MOS), A little smaller than the type, the head a little broader, and the puncturation a little less dense. (G.A. coll.) HK. (MesoponEeRA) FossiGERA, Mayr. (Plate II., fig. 20.) Ann. K.K. Nat. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 3, %, 1901. %, 5mm. Black and moderately shining, thorax a little brighter. Mandibles, antennae, and legs ferruginous brown, 3rd and 4th abdo- minal segments yellowish brown, 5th segment dirty yellow. The whole body is covered with a fine, grey pubesence, and with some scattered longer hairs on the head and apical portion of the abdomen. Closely and very finely punctured all over. Clypeus raised towards the middle but not carinate, with a longitudinal median and shining line, and the anterior margin acuminate in the centre. Mandibles elongately triangular, covered with a moderate, yellow pilosity and furnished with rather small teeth ; near the basal margin, externally, lies a small and shallow fovea. Frontal carinae narrowed in the middle of their length and divergent posteriorly. Hyes situated far 72 Annals of the South African Musewm. forwards and low down on the sides of the head, oval, and not longer than the 8th joint of the flagellum. Scape of antenna reach- ing back almost as far as the occiput; flagellum more clavate than in sennaarensis, 3rd and 4th joints a trifle wider than long, the 2nd and 5th-10th joints as long as wide, the apical joint twice as long as the preceding. Head very little longer than wide, the sides parallel, the posterior angles widely rounded. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Dorsum of epinotum narrow, twice as long as wide at the base and rounded at the sides; declivity oblique, its lateral margins distinct. Node of petiole wider above than below, the dorsal edge considerably rounded, much more so than in sennaarensis, convex in front, flat and vertical behind. First and 2nd abdominal segments sub-equal, wider than long; the constriction between them feeble. Port Elizabeth. (Brauns.) (G.A. coll.) SuB-GEenus BRACHYPONERA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 45, p. 48, 1901. Characters. %. Clypeus rounded in front and convex. Mandibles short and broad, with small crowded teeth. Maxillary palpi 3-jointed. First joint of flagellum much shorter than the 2nd. LHyes flattened, placed close to the anterior margin of the head. Thorax rather short; mesonotum gibbous, surrounded by a deep suture; dorsum of epinotum narrow at the base; declivity sometimes excavated so as to lodge the anterior face of the node. Node of petiole high and broad, squamiform and much thinned above. First joint of the tarsi of middle legs not furnished with stiff hairs or bristles on the upper surface. ?. Similar to the %, excepting the usual sexual differences, but considerably larger. 3. Larger than the ¥, not much smaller than the 29. Antennae in our sole species short. Petiole sqamiform and high. Abdomen not elongate, ovoid; constriction between Ist and 2nd segments feeble. Pygidium pointed or produced into a short spine. HE. (BRACHYPONERA) SENNAARENIS, Mayr. (Plate II., fig. 21.) Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 721, 3, 1862. 3. 5-6 mm. Black; antennae, all the tibiae and tarsi, the emora at the base and apex, ferruginous. Mandibles castaneous, A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 73 the margins black. Covered all over with a fine and close pubes- cence. The pilosity on the head and thorax very scanty, apical abdominal segment and clypeus with some longer yellowish-red hairs. Mandibles with short yellow hairs, very minutely striate and coarsely punctured, the apical tooth large. Head, thorax, and abdomen very finely and closely punctured. Head wider than the thorax, the sides convex, the posterior margin widely and rather deeply emarginate ; including the mandibles the head is as long as the thorax. Clypeus raised but not projecting in the middle, excavated at the sides between the anterior margin and the antennal sockets. Frontal carinae nearly as wide in front as they are long. Antennae reach back as far as the petiole, flagellum gradually incrassate towards the apex, 1st joint slightly longer than the 2nd. Hyes moderately iarge, separated from the base of the mandibles by about their own length. Pronotum, seen from above, one-third longer than the mesonotum, excluding the scutellum. Hpinotum compressed at the base, widening and raised towards the declivity; the latter oblique but not descending abruptly from the dorsum. Petiole, seen from above, convex in front, with the posterior face concave in its lower half, vertical and shining, the upper half sloping slightly forwards. The anterior and posterior surfaces meet at the sides and above in a rather sharp edge. Ventral lamella produced into a blunt tooth pointing backwards. The abdomen is more shining than the rest of the body. Constriction between the lst and 2nd segments almost obsolete. The Ist and 2nd segments sub-equal. Legs slender. ?.. 89mm. Black; mandibles castaneous with the margins black. Antennae and all the tibiae and tarsi more or less ferruginous; femora dark reddish brown. Puncturation, pubescence, and pilosity asin the 8. Head very little wider than the thorax and as long as the same, excluding the epinotum. Pronotum as long as the scutellum. Hpinotum wide, the dorsum very short or about two-thirds the length of the scutellum; the declivity very steep, rounded above, the lateral margins slightly prominent. Wings pale yellowish, nervures and stigma dark yellow. Otherwise like the ¢%. 3. 665mm. Black; all the tarsi and last four joints of the flagellum brownish yellow; scape and basal portion of the flagellum brown; femora and tibiae at the extreme base and apex ferru- ginous. Pubescence similar to that of the @ ; a few long hairs on the scutellum, epinotum, and node. Mesonotum finely punctured laterally at the base; scutellum with very faint rugosity, the rest of 74 Annals of the South African Museum. the body impunctate. Head and thorax shining, the abdomen more so, especially the pale apical margins of the segments. Head square, not so wide as the prothorax, rounded posteriorly and feebly convex at the sides. Eyes rather prominent, occupying a little less than half the sides of the head. Clypeus rounded, the anterior margin depressed. Frontal carinae very short. Antennae filiform, reaching back as far as the petiole; scape two and one-third times as long as the Ist joint, and a little shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Pronotum moderately exposed. Mesonotum with well-developed Mayrian furrows, and short, narrow, parapsidal sutures; separated from the very gibbous scutellum by a deep crenate impression. Kpinotum as wide as the mesonotum behind the tegulae, sloping in a continuous curve from base to apex, so that there is no distinct dorsum. Petiole squamiform, very thin above, vertically truncate in front and behind, and seen from the front, apparently circular; seen under a high magnification, it is in reality of an angular outline and has a slight dorsal emargination. Ventral lamella produced into a large tooth, pointing backwards. Abdomen pyriform, in its widest part wider than the thorax. All the segments much wider than long. Pygidium angular but not spined. Legs slender. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma pale yellow. This is the commonest Ponerine ant around Buiawayo. A crateriform mound of fine earth generally surrounds the entrance to the nest, which is as often situated in the open as it is under stones. The economic value of this little species can hardly be over-estimated, since it is exceedingly plentiful and preys unceasingly on termites. It is, however, omnivorous, since it will eagerly collect bread-crumbs, insects of all sorts, and seeds of grass. Heaps of the latter are often found in the nests. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Sus-Genus TRACHYMESOPUS, Emery. Genera Insectorum, Ponerinae, p. 84, 1911. Characters. 8 and @. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded or produced into a blunt and short point. Mandibles sub-triangular, with a distinct angle between the basal and masticatory margins; the latter usually furnished with only a few teeth. Maxillary palpi 4-jomted. First joint of flagellum distinctly longer and generally thicker than the following joint. Hye close to the anterior margin of the head. Mesonotum depressed, the surrounding suture not very deep. Tarsi A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 75 of the middle pair of legs short; the 1st joint of the tarsus with stout hairs or bristles on the dorsal surface. 3. Abdomen with a distinct constriction between the Ist and 2nd segments. Pygidium produced into a sharp point. HK. (TRaAcHYMESopuS) WrouGHTONI, Forel. (Plate II., fig. 18.) Rey. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 341, 8 g, 1901. 8. 5-53 mm. Head, thorax above excepting the mesonotum, petiole and dorsal portion of 1st and 2nd abdominal segments, dark brown. Mesonotum and ventral surface of abdomen reddish brown. Third, 4th, and 5th abdominal segments rusty yellow. The sides of the head castaneous. Antennae, mandibles, margins of pronotum, meso- and metapleurae and legs more or less ferruginous, the tarsi paler. Clothed all over with a fine golden pubescence. The pilosity consists of fairly long flavous hairs, evenly distributed. Head and thorax dull, abdomen slightly shining, declivity of epinotum and both faces of the petiole very shining. Scape, head, and thorax very finely, closely and shallowly punctured. Abdomen exceedingly finely punctured. Neck of pro- notum transversely rugulose. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly quadrate or slightly longer than wide, sides moderately convex, posterior angles rounded, posterior margin shallowly emarginate. Clypeus short, sub-truncate anteriorly, raised and carinate in the middle. Mandibles finely striated, with a few coarse punctures on the masticatory margin, a long groove on the external margin, and an.elongate fovea near the basal margin; the masticatory margin furnished with about 9 blunt teeth. Frontal carinae extend a little beyond the level of the posterior margin of the eyes. The latter small and flat, situated within the anterior third of the head, and separated from the anterior margin by a distance equal to their own length. Scape of antennae reaches back almost to the occiput ; flagellum one-third longer than the scape; 3rd to 10th joints wider than long. Pronotum rounded, with a distinct neck, and one and a half times as long as the mesonotum. ‘The latter wider than long. Dorsum of epinotum round above; one and two-thirds as long as the mesonotum. The declivity rather steep, the margins slightly raised, especially above. Node of petiole in front convex from side to side, slightly concave dorso-ventrally, and concave behind. The summit a little flattened, the anterior and posterior faces do not meet laterally in such a sharp edge as in sennaarensis. The 76 Annals of the South African Museum. constriction between the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments much stronger than in that species. Second segment a little longer than the 1st. Legs rather stout, and shorter than in sennaarensis. “9. 7-8 mm. Black; tarsi reddish brown; maxillary palpi 5-jointed. Mandibles rudimentary, without teeth. Antennae fili- form; scape scarcely longer than broad; Ist joint of flagellum broader than long, 2nd joint very long and cylindrical. ‘Head rounded, convex behind. Pronotum exposed; scutellum gibbous. Dorsum of epinotum fairly long, distinct from the declivity. Node of petiole thick, sub- conical. Hirst segment of abdomen small and short, the constriction between it and the following segment very strong, the other segments only feebly constricted. Sub-genital plate elongate and entire, pygidium produced into a long point. Wings brown. Sculpture and pilosity as in the %, but the mesonotum and scutellum are dull, with longitudinal striae.” Natal. (Wroughton.) Knysna. (Brauns.) (G.A. coll.) Var. CRUDELIS, Forel. Loe cut. “8. 6-7 mm. Head larger, almost square, at least as wide as long, less contracted in front. The sides of the mesonotum have a dentiform angle on the anterior margin (less marked in the type). Dorsum of epinotum wider and shorter. Pilosity a little more abundant. Colour varies from a reddish testaceous yellow to a slightly reddish brown. $. Identical with the type form and of the same size.” Natal. (Haviland.) Genus PONERA, Latreille. (Emery, emend.) Hist. Nat. Crust. Insect., vol. 13, p. 257, 1805. Emery, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 45, p. 41, 1901. Characters. %. Head sub-elongate, sides slightly convex, wider behind than in front. Anterior margin of clypeus arcuate, or prolonged into a rounded lobe. Mandibles broad and triangular, with small teeth ; maxillary palpi one- or two-jointed. Antennae clavate, with 5-jointed club, or only incrassate. Hyes small or absent. Meso- epinotal suture usually distinct. Node of petiole squamiform or thick. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. ue 2. Very similar to the %,and winged. The eyes larger, and ocelli are present. The node of the petiole is generally higher and thinner than in the 8. 3. In some species the g is ergatoid; in the ordinary winged form the scape is nearly always shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Mesonotum gibbous, overhanging the pronotum. Pygi- dium generally aculeate. The eyes and ocelli large. Node of petiole similar to that of the %. The following key to the % ¥ of the genus is admittedly imperfect, but may be better, I hope, than none at all. Our various species of Ponera are so small and so much alike that it is not easy to pick out differences between them which can be seized at a glance, so that, unreliable as colour differences often are, | have nevertheless preferred to use them here rather than base the key on subtle distinctions requiring a minute inspection with the aid of a high-power lens. As I have not seen a specimen of P. coarctata, race boerorum, Forel, and since that author’s descrip- tion 1s very meagre, it is not possible to include it in the key. Key to the % 8 of Ponera. (2). 1. Black species we Soren ater dese Me DUMenOtE mores (1). 2. Yellowish or reddish species. (4). 3. Larger, 3°7 mm. long, colour ar chestnut tea head finely but clearly jounaveinomel = 56 Ga) =) 2. spet, Horelt (3). 4. Smaller, not more iho 3 mm, nee puactinaton of the head less obyious. (8). 5. Head, excluding mandibles, clearly at least one-quarter longer than wide. (7). 6. Head one and a quarter times as long as wide; 2nd abdominal segment wider than long.. .. . .. .. Gleadowi, Forel. (6). 7. Head one and a half wbmes & as “sa as . aiidlas 2nd abdominal segment. longer than wide.. .. .. .. Ragusae, Km., r. Bulawayensis, Forel. (5). 8. Head, excluding mandibles, not obviously longer than wide, certainly less than one and a quarter times as long as wide. (10). 9. Dorsal surface of the node distinctly thicker in the middle than at the sides, or greatest thickness equals one-third of the width. ergatandria, Forel, r. cognata, Santschi. (9). 10. Dorsal surface of node very little thicker in the middle than at the sides, or greatest thickness equals one-fifth of the width .. .. dulcis, Forel. P. spxt, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 423, ¥, 1910. 8. 37mm. Head, thorax, and node dark yellowish red, legs dirty yellow, abdomen rusty red, apex paler; the whole body 78 Annals of the South African Museum. shining. Head finely and closely punctured, 1st and 2nd abdominal segments a little more coarsely punctured, thorax nearly impunc- tate. Covered all over with a fine and close grey pubescence, and with a few scattered and rather short pilose hairs on the thorax and abdomen. Head, excluding the mandibles, rectangular, and one-fifth longer than wide ; the posterior angles widely rounded, the sides slightly convex, the posterior margin concave. Eyes very small, composed of four facets, situated in the anterior fourth of the head. Clypeus raised gradually towards the middle, the anterior half minutely sub-carinate on each side of the median line, and the anterior margin feebly bisinuate in the centre. Frontal carinae convergent posteriorly and very small. Man- dibles smooth, shining and sparsely punctured ; teeth very small. The scape reaches back as far as the occiput, flagellum one and a half times as long as the scape, incrassate towards the apex, 2nd—-10th joints broader than long. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, meso-epinotal much less so. Pronotum one-third wider and longer than the mesonotum. Pro- and mesonotum convex. Dorsum of epinotum convex transversely and widening towards the apex, where it joins the declivity in a gradual curve; declivity with the lateral margins slightly raised. Node of petiole twice as wide as long, rounded above and at the sides, vertically truncate behind and obliquely truncate in front. Ventral lamella of petiole produced into an obtuse point. Abdominal constriction moderate; abdomen a little longer than the thorax; lst segment narrower in front than behind. Natal. (Wroughton.) Algoa Bay. (Brauns.) (G.A. coll.) P. DiprErot!, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 203, 3 2 g, 1913. %. 3mm. Black, legs, antennae, and mandibles dark yellow. Pilose hairs absent except on the clypeus, covered scantily all over with a short pale pubescence. Microscopically punctured, sparsely and shallowly on the thorax and first two abdominal segments, more densely on the head and sides of epinotum. Head a little longer than wide, sides and posterior margin almost straight or only very feebly convex, posterior angles rounded. Clypeus raised in the middle but not carimate, anterior margin convex. Frontal carinae small, moderately angulated laterally in front. Hyes small, situated low down and far forwards, separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance equal to their own diameter. The scape A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 79 reaches back as far as the occipital margin, 1st joint of flagellum nearly twice as long as wide, as long as the two following joints taken together, 2nd joint not much wider than long, 3rd—10th joints decidedly wider than long, terminal joint as long as the two pre- ceding together. Mandibles shining, sparsely punctured, masti- catory margin with about 4 or 5 small teeth, the apical tooth well developed. Thoracic sutures well defined. Pronotum almost as long as wide, anterior margin convex, much narrower in front than behind. Mesonotum two-thirds as long as the pronotum ; dorsum of epinotum flat, and as long as the declivity, the latter not very oblique, its sides slightly margined. Node of petiole convex from side to side in front, narrow above, vertical behind, and nearly so in front, quite twice as wide as long; ventral lamella produced into a convex projection at the base. 1st abdominal seg- ment a little shorter than the 2nd, wider than long, the face of the ist segment in front vertical, intersegmental constriction feeble. ?. 37 mm. Hyes larger than in the ¥. Pronotum twice as wide as long; mesonotum two-thirds as long as the pronotum, dorsum of epinotum half as long as the pronotum, the declivity less oblique than in the 8, and with the brow of the declivity obtusely emarginate. First and 2nd abdominal segments a trifle wider than long, 2nd segment a little longer than the Ist. Wings with a yellowish tinge, nervures very pale. Other characters as in the 8. 3. 36mm. Black, legs, antennae, and apical segment of abdomen light brown. Clothed with a very sparse pale pubescence. Whole body shining. Head, thorax, and petiole very shallowly and finely punctured. The points of insertion of the pubescent hairs on the abdomen are so shallow that they can hardly be called punctures. Head sub-quadrate, excluding the clypeus, a little wider than long. The clypeus projects rather far forwards and is gibbous, the anterior margin obtusely angular in the middle. Mandibles truncated at the apex, the apices not meeting. Hyes very large, situated within the front half of the head. Ocelli small, placed on a very slightly raised area. Frontal carinae feebly developed, with a deep im- pressed line between them which reaches back as far as the anterior ocellus. Antennae filiform or only slightly thickened towards the apex ; scape twice as long as the Ist joint of the flagellum, but not longer than the distance separating the two posterior ocelli. The antennae reach back as far as the brow of the epinotum. Pro- notum short and exposed; mesonotum about one-third wider than long, anterior margin round, parapsidal furrows well defined, separated by a deep suture from the scutellum. The latter is 80 Annals of the South African Museum. moderately gibbous, and half as long as the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum as wide as long, and as long as scutellum and meta- notum together, the declivity very smooth and shining. Node of petiole like that of the %, but not so thick. Abdomen ovate, 1st segment as long as the 2nd, all the segments much wider than long. Knysna. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) P. Racusaz, Emery, race BULAWAYENSIS, Forel. Emery, Il Natural Sicil., 1895. Emery, Mem. Accad. Sc. Bologna (5), vol. v., pp. 292, 297, 1895. Forel, Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 203, 3, 1913. %. 2:4-2°8 mm. Reddish yellow. Antennae and body covered with a whitish pubescence, somewhat sparse on the head and thorax. Head and thorax dull, microscopically punctured. Head a little wider behind than in front, half as long again as wide, sides feebly convex or almost parallel-sided, posterior margin moderately concave, posterior angles rounded. Eyes absent. Mandibles trian- gular, masticatory margin with about 6 or 7 small teeth. Clypeus short, anterior margin obtusely angular in the middle. Frontal carinae broad and flat. Scape of antenna widened towards the apex, not reaching back as far as the occipital margin; the whole antenna reaches back as far as the base of the epinotum ; flagellum clavate, Ist joint a little longer than wide, and as long as the three following joints taken together, 2nd—l0th joints wider than long, last joint a little longer than the two preceding joints together and twice as long as wide. Thorax rather flat dorsally ; pro-mesonotal suture distinct, meso-metanotal obsolete. Pronotum as wide as long, but narrower than the head, anterior margin and sides convex. Meso- and epinotum narrower than, and, taken together, one- quarter longer than the pronotum; declivity of the epinotum oblique, smooth and shining. Node of petiole seen from above sub-quadrate, the sides slightly convex, narrower in front than behind, a little wider than long, and not including the ventral lamella, only a trifle higher than thick; seen in profile, convex above from side to side, anterior and posterior faces vertically truncate; ventral lamella produced into a long keel, slightly nicked in the middle. Abdomen elongate, as long as thorax and petiole together. First segment as long as, or a little longer than wide, 2nd segment one-quarter longer than wide and longer than the 1st; the anterior face of the latter is vertically truncate, the brow rounded, Bulawayo. (G.A. coll.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 81 P. ERGATANDRIA, Forel, race coanaTA, Santschi. Forel, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, p. 365, 1893. Santschi, Ann, Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 56, p. 153, 1919. 3. 38mm. Castaneous brown, head darker than the rest of the body, legs, antennae, clypeus, and mandibles brownish yellow. Clothed with a pale pubescence, very short on the head, and with pale pilose hairs on the 3rd—dth abdominal segments. Head very minutely and rather closely punctured, thorax less densely and much more shallowly punctured, a few large punctures on the mandibles, the rest of the body impunctate ; the whole body nitidulous. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly one-quarter longer than wide, sides moderately convex, posterior angles rounded, posterior margin feebly concave. The scape does not reach back to the posterior margin; the flagellum strongly incrassate towards the apex, the last 4 joints forming a club; Ist joint of flagellum as long as the three following joints taken together, 2nd-10th joints wider than long, apical joint as long as wide, and as long as the two preceding joints together. Clypeus not so short as in Ragusae or dulcis, raised in the centre and impressed transversely above the anterior margin, which is slightly produced. Frontal carinae short and converging posteriorly, separated by a faint impressed line reaching to the middle of the head. Mandibles triangular, shining, with about 6 small unequal-sized teeth on the masticatory margin, the apex ending in a sharp strong tooth. Eyes small, situated within the anterior fourth of the head. Pronotum only a little narrower than the head, one-third wider than long, very convex in front and at the sides. Mesonotum nearly round, as long as the pronotum, and a little wider than long. The profile of the dorsum of the thorax is almost straight, and the thoracic sutures quite distinct. Dorsum of the epinotum as long as the mesonotum, a little wider at the apex than at the base ; the declivity is not so oblique as in Ragusae or dulcis. ‘The node of the petiole is much thicker above than in those species, nearly twice as wide as long, and with the anterior and posterior faces vertical. Seen from above, the margins of the dorsal surface of the node are convex in front, straight behind and feebly convex at the sides. Abdomen elongate, as long as the thorax and petiole together; Ist and 2nd segments subequal, the constriction between them not very marked. Sting exserted. Found in some numbers round the almost dried bones of a buried snake in which small white Poduridae abounded, and on which the ants were seen to prey. Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) 6 82 Annals of the South African Musewm. P. puucis, Forel. Ann, Mus. Nat. Hung., vol. 5, p. 2, %, 1907. %. 27-3 mm. Brownish yellow, mandibles, antennae, and legs ochreous, abdomen yellowish brown. Thorax very shining, abdomen and head moderately so; head, scapes, and first two segments of abdomen microscopically punctured, elsewhere impunctate. A short pale sparse pubescence on the limbs and body, a little denser on the abdomen; the clypeus and apical abdominal segments with a few long pale pilose hairs. Head one-fifth longer than wide, slightly narrower in front than behind, sides convex, posterior margin almost straight, posterior angles rounded but distinct. Eyes small and black, situated within the anterior fifth of the sides of the head. Mandibles shining, triangular and with a few shallow punctures along the masticatory margin, which is feebly denticulate. Frontal carinae short, separated by a shallow impressed line which reaches back a little beyond the middle of the head. Clypeus short and similar to that of P. Ragusae. The antennae reach back as far as the brow of the declivity, the scape reaching a little beyond the occipital margin. Scape moderately, flagellum more strongly incrassate towards the apex. First joint of flagellum longer than wide, as long as the three following segments taken together ; 2nd— 10th joints wider than long, apical joint longer than wide, and a little longer than the two preceding segments together. Thorax narrower than the head. Pronotum a little wider than long, the sides and anterior margin convex, the dorsal surface rather flat. Pro-mesonotal and meso-epinotal sutures sharply defined. Meso- notum half as long as the pronotum, nearly round, and elevated slightly above the level of the latter. Dorsum of epinotum narrow, as long as the pronotum and sloping towards the brow of the declivity ; the latter is oblique. Node of petiole squamiform; seen from in front it is semicircular above, and wider above the middle line than below it. The anterior face is almost vertical or with only a slight slope from below backwards, and is also feebly convex from side to side. The posterior face is vertical and concave dorso- ventrally. First segment of abdomen as long as the 2nd, both segments almost as long as wide. Intersegmental constriction feeble. %. (Hitherto undescribed.) 3:6 mm. Whole body reddish yellow, mandibles and anterior region of the head castaneous. Eyes black, very large, occupying more than one-quarter of the sides of the head. Pronotum nearly twice as wide as long, and very convex A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 83 in front. Mesonotum wider in front than behind, as wide as long, and twice as long as the pronotum. Scutellum ovoid transversely, one-third as long as the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum rather short, twice as wide as long, the declivity much less oblique than in the %: seen from in front, the brow of the declivity is feebly but distinctly concave from side to side. The node of the petiole is thinner above than in the ¥. Abdomen elongate, very nearly as long as head and thorax together. Dedalated. Other characters as in the 8. Under stones, Bulawayo. (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) P. GuEADOowI, Forel, race AETHIOPICA, Forel. Type: Mem. Ace. Bolog. 5, p. 60, ¥, 1887. Race: Rev. Ent. Caen, vO, AS, jo. IGA , ISON 3. 25 mm. Head, thorax, and legs reddish yellow, the head somewhat redder ; abdomen brown-yellow, the Ist and 2nd segments dark brown with the basal margins paler. This species is very similar to spez, from which it is clearly distinguished by the following characters. Head much longer proportionately than in that species, one and a quarter times as long as wide. Eyes very minute; flagellum more incrassate. The clypeus has a bisinuate anterior margin as in spet, but is convex from side to side, and rather abruptly raised in the middle so as to form a sub-carinate hump below the frontal carinae. The epinotum is proportionately wider than in spev, and the declivity is not sub-margined laterally. The abdomen is _ impunctate. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Brauns.) (G.A. coll.) P. coarcrata, Latreille, race BokRORUM, Forel. Type: Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, vol. 3, p. 65, 3 2, 1802. Race: Rey. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 339, ¥, 1901. “8. 24-2-38mm. Yellow, slightly reddish, head more or less dark brown, thorax brownish red or yellow. Legs, mandibles, antennae, and abdomen always paler. Meso-metanotal suture very deep. The scape does not quite reach the occiput. Node of petiole very much as in the type form; the clypeus is shorter and the mandibles longer. Natal, 1,600 metres above sea-level. (Haviland.)” I have copied Forel’s rather meagre description omitting only 84 Annals of the South African Museum. some comparisons made between this race and some extra-ethiopian species. Genus PLECTROCTENA, Smith Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus,, vol. 6, p. 101, 1858. Characters. %. Clypeus very narrow, anterior margin straight, except above the base of the mandibles where it is shallowly emarginate; labrum very large. Mandibles long and narrow, with a deep sulcus from base to apex on the upper inner side; one large tooth below the middle, and a small and very obtuse one between that and the apex ; the latter is obtuse. Frontal carinae large, slightly convergent behind, overhanging and apparently fused with the clypeus in front. Antennae incrassate gradually towards the apex. Eyes small, placed far forwards close to the base of the mandibles. Head much wider than the thorax. Thorax large, pro-mesonotal suture wide and deep, meso-epinotal suture slight or obsolete. Declivity of epinotum with the lateral margins raised into strong ridges. Con- striction between the lst and 2nd abdominal segments strong. Node of petiole thick, longer than broad. Inner calcear of middle and hind legs well developed, outer calcar absent. ?. A winged ? is not known in mandibularis ; in subterranea, Arnold, and mwnor, Emery, winged @ 2 occur which are very similar to the 8. 3. Clypeus triangular ; frontal carinae well developed but short. and considerably raised. Antennae long, reaching back as far as. the base of the 2nd abdominal segment ; scape less than half the length of the 2nd joint of the flagellum, Ist joint of the latter very short, only one-third the length of the scape. Hyes moderately large, occupying less than half the sides of the head; ocelli not situated on a raised area. Pronotum exposed; Mayrian furrows on the mesonotum strongly marked; scutellum raised, pyramidal and grooved longitudinally. Declivity of epinotum with raised lateral ridges as in the ¥. Node of petiole higher than long. Abdominal constriction distinct. Pygidium bluntly pointed. \ P. SUBTERRANEA, 1X. sp. (Plate III., figs. 23, 23a.) 8. 75 mm. Castaneous red; all the joints of the flagellum, except the apical, reddish brown. Except in size, puncturation, colour, and dimensions of the eyes, this species is very similar to mandibularis. Pubescence entirely wanting except on the legs and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 85 flagellum which bear a scanty microscopic pubescence. Pilosity also absent, except on the last two segments of the abdomen, the clypeus, mandibles and margins of the apical abdominal segments, which bear a few long golden hairs. The whole body very shining and polished, finely, evenly and sparsely punctured. The depressed areas behind the antennal sockets finely striate. The head is parallel-sided, and nearly one-fifth longer than it is wide ; in mandibularis the head is as long as wide and the sides are slightly convex. The scape of the antennae is only a little longer than half the head; the flagellum is as long as the head, all the joints except the apical wider than long, the apical joint as long as the three preceding together. The eyes are exceedingly small, less than 0-1 mm., slightly sunk below the surface, and composed of about 24 ill-defined facets. They are separated from the anterior margin of the head by a distance less than their own length. Mandibles as in mandibularis. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, meso- epinotal entirely obsolete. Pronotum without a median longitudina impression. The lateral margins of the declivity of the epinotum are raised into much stronger ridges than in mandibularis ; the ridges are abruptly truncate above. Seen in profile, the thorax is much flatter dorsally than in mandibularis. The node of the petiole is not much narrower in front than behind, and the angular projec- tion of the ventral lamella is truncate at the apex, otherwise like mandibularis. The 2nd abdominal segment is less globose, and the legs are stouter and shorter proportionately than in that species. The Ist and 2nd abdominal segments are distinctly longer than wide. ?.10mm. Similar to the % but winged, and with well- developed eyes, 0°3 mm. long, and three small ocelli. The colour of the head and thorax is darker than in the %. The mesonotum is a little wider than long, and two and a half times as long as the pronotum. The parapsidal sutures are deep and well defined only on the posterior half of the mesonotum. All the transverse thoracic sutures distinctly defined. The scutellum is half as long as the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum as long as the scutellum, with a feeble median impression at the extreme base. The projection of the ventral lamella of the petiole blunt, but not truncate at the apex asin the %. Other characters as in the 3. The single specimen of this sex was found alive and dealated under a stone. Of the % 3 I have two specimens, one considerably damaged. The latter was taken dead on the rubbish-heap belonging to a nest of Tetramorium Blochmanni, Forel, vr. continents, Forel, and the other in a similar situation, and also dead, from the nest of 86 Annals of the South African Museum. Pachycondyla Kriigert. From the very small size of the eyes in the % sex, I am inclined to think that this ant leads an almost entirely subterranean existence. The presence of the dead % % on the rubbish-heaps of other ants is doubtless due to accidental intrusions into the galleries of the latter. Bulawayo,1 %,1 9. Shiloh, 8. Rhodesia, 1 ¢. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) P. MANDIBULARIS, Smith. Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 101, ¥ g, 1858. Var. MAJOR, Forel (= ergatoid 9). Mittl. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 11, 1894. %. 145-165 mm. Black; flagellum, mandibles, outer angles of frontal carinae and tarsi piceous ; apices of all the femora and tibiae castaneous; 2nd—5th abdominal segments at their extreme apical margins pale brown. Legs with a sparse and coarse golden pubes- cence, antennae with a close and finer pubescence. Anterior margin of clypeus and masticatory margin of mandibles with a few long golden-brown hairs. The margins of the abdominal segments, except the Ist, with a few short golden hairs. The rest of the body without pilosity or pubescence. Head, mandibles, scape and abdomen very shining. Head evenly and sharply punctured, the punctures being larger at the sides. Abdomen sparsely, evenly and finely punctured. Thorax duller than the head or abdomen, more closely and strongly punctured, the space between the punctures very finely striate. Node shining and as coarsely punctured as the thorax. Head, excluding mandibles, almost square, posterior angles rounded, posterior margin arcuately emarginate. The antennae reach back as far as the middle of the epinotum. Pronotum as long as the mesonotum, slightly flattened above, rounded at the sides and in front, with a central longitudinal impression broken in the middle. The scutellar region is slightly indicated by a shallow impression at the sides and behind. Dorsum of epinotum nearly as long as the mesonotum and with a feeble median longitudinal groove ; declivity shining and microscopically punctured, the lateral margins raised into somewhat tumid ridges. Node of petiole convex from side to side in front, and above, the sides moderately convex, vertically truncate behind and nearly so in front, posterior angles fairly sharp but slightly rounded. Ventral lamella produced anteriorly into a wide angle. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 87 First abdominal segment campaniform, 2nd segment longer than the Ist. Legs rather slender; anterior tarsi beneath clothed with dense, golden bristles. Sting short and blunt. For the rest, the characters of the genus. ?. 20 mm. The large form which I regard as an ergatoid ¢, differs from the % chiefly in size, but the head and abdomen are proportionately wider and longer. The longitudinal impression on the pronotum is shallower, while that of the dorsum of the epinotum is deeper and wider. In a nest of three dozen or so individuals, not more than two or three of these large forms are to be found, and usually only one. g. 145mm. Black; 3rd segment of abdomen piceous, last three segments ferruginous. A golden-grey pubescence on the whole body, excepting the last four abdominal segments. The margins of all the abdominal segments except the lst carry a few golden hairs; elsewhere there is no pilosity. Head moderately shining, closely, finely and shallowly punctured, a little more coarsely in front and at the sides. Pronotum reticulate-punctate, the posterior margin transversely striate. Mesonotum rugosely punctate anteriorly, laterally sparsely and shallowly punctured, the space between the punctures rugulose. Scutellum and metanotum with very large reticulate punctures; epinotum rugose, coarsely at the sides, finely so above. Node of petiole shining above, closely punctured and dull at the sides. Abdomen microscopically rugulose, shallowly and very sparsely punctured, the punctures somewhat larger and more abundant on the lst and 2nd segments. Head wider than long, sides convex, occipital margin reflexed and forming a small collar. Clypeus widely emarginate; frontal carinae short, raised above the antennal sockets; frontal sulcus extends back as far as the anterior ocellus. Antennae filiform, reaching back as far as middle of Ist abdominal segment. Mandibles short, edentate and blunt at apex. Prothorax produced neck-like in front. Mesonotum with well-developed Mayrian furrows and an elongate median triangular area in front, which is shining and impunctate. Scutellum pyramidal, with a large longitudinal sulcus, and separated from the mesonotum by a coarsely crenate impression. Metanotum with a short central carina. Declivity of epinotum deeply excavated, transversely rugose; the lateral margins ridged as in the 3. Node of petiole sub-globose seen from above; seen from the side the dorsal portion is convex, the posterior face vertical, the anterior face almost so; ventral lamella produced at the extreme base into a triangular tooth pointing downwards. Seen from above the 88 Annals of the South African Museum. shape of the node is distinctive, the base being emarginate with small lateral angles, behind which on each side lies a flattened projection. The node of the petiole is only half as wide as the 1st abdominal segment. The latter is nearly as long as wide, sub-campaniform, and separated from the 2nd segment by a well-marked constriction. The 2nd segment is two-thirds wider than long, the sides slightly convex. Abdomen as long as thorax and petiole together. Pygidium narrowly truncate. Legs slender. Wings sub-hyaline, somewhat darker towards the apex, stigma brown, nervures pale brown; 2 sub-marginal cells, radial cell lanceolate. This species is fairly generally distributed. Specimens from Willowmore and Grahamstown are rather small, but otherwise agree with the type. They are intermediate in size and puncturation between the type form and the smallest form which I have received from Durban. The entrances to the nest are generally indicated by large heaps of earth. The chambers are placed deep below the surface, seldom less than 2 feet, and the number of individuals seldom exceeds 50. It is a sluggish and timid ant, the workers foraging singly. The food includes termites, but consists chiefly of millipedes and beetles. (S.A.M., R.M., and G.A. colls.) Var. stRIGOSA, Emery. Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 43, p. 469, 8, 1899. This differs from the type form in having the dorsal surface of the head, thorax and Ist segment of abdomen finely and regularly striate, longitudinally so on the head and thorax, transversely on the petiole, concentrically on the 1st abdominal segment and slightly so on the 2nd. The petiole is a little shorter than in the type form. Natal. Trin LEPTOGENYINI, Forel. Characters. % and @. Mandibles articulated near the anterior angles of the head; abdominal constriction between the Ist and 2nd segments feeble. Claws pectinate. g. Claws pectinate. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 89 Genus LEPTOGENYS, Roger (Forel). Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 5, p. 12, 1861 (s. stricto); Jahrb. Hamburg Wiss. Anst., vol. 10, p. 6, 1893 (s. latiore). Characters. 8. Clypeus usually carinate, and produced in the middle anteriorly as a lobe or small platform. Mandibles linear or tri- angular with the masticatory margin dentate, or narrow and edentate. Antennae generally filiform. Meso-epinotal suture usually distinct. ?. Itis probable that all the 2 2 of this genus are ergatoid. 3. Claws pectinate, thereby differing from the g 3 of all other Ponerinae. Scape short. Mensonotum with well-defined Mayrian furrows. This genus is divided into 4 sub-genera, of which the two following alone are represented in our region. 1. Mandibles very elongate, crossing each other only slightly and enclosing a large space between them and the clypeus; linear and acute, or ending in two small teeth placed close together .. .. . .. .. Leptogenys, Roger. 2. Mandibles triangular, dentate, or narrow and aia a terminal tooth; in the latter case they are much shanien than in Leptogenys, and do not enclose a large space in front of the clypeus Liens ae eovopelianm Many. SuB-Genus LEPTOGENYS, Roger. Berlin Ent. Zeitschr. vol. 5, p. 12, 1861. Key to the % 8 of Leptogenys, s. str. (2). 1. Body entirely dull, covered with a pruinose pubescence .. mawillosa, Smith. (1). 2. Body without any pruinose pubescence. (8). 3. Whole body shining. (7). 4. Node of petiole seen in profile, sane seen from above much wider behind than in front. (6). 5. Head wider at the anterior margin than it is across the eyes. 10-11 mm. Stuhlmanni, Mayr. (5). 6. Head not wider at the anterior margin than it is across the eyes, 9°5 mm. Schwabi, Forel. (4!. 7. Node of petiole seen in profile, not quadrant-shaped, seen from above only a little wider behind than in front,4:‘7 mm. .. .. .. Ferrarii, Forel. (3). 8. Body dull, except the posterior portion of the abdomen, 5:5 mm. cribrata, Emery. L. maxinnosa, Smith. (Plate IIL, fig. 24.) Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 93, 3 3, 1858. %. 6-65 mm., excluding the mandibles. Black; antennae, mandibles (except the extreme base which is piceous), femora, tibiae 90 Annals of the South African Museum. and apical segment of abdomen reddish brown; the coxae piceous, the tarsi dark red. The whole body covered with an exceedingly fine pruinose pubescence, similar to that of the Platythyreini ; there are a few long hairs on the clypeus, and the apical segment of the abdomen is densely clothed with moderately long golden hairs. Head, scape of antenna, thorax, femora, tibiae, petiole, lst and 2nd abdominal segments microscopically rugulose, and excepting the antennae and legs closely punctured with small, shallow punctures ; the 3rd and 4th abdominal segments very finely punctured. Head trapezoid, wider in front than behind, posterior margin slightly emarginate, posterior angles very round. ‘The eyes occupy a little more than one-quarter of the sides of the head, and are placed far forwards and separated from the base of the mandibles by less than their own length. Clypeus shining and coarsely punctured, the anterior margin membranous and translucent, with a feebly crenate depression just in front of the membranous area; the median portion very slightly raised, not carinate, projecting backwards between the frontal carinae. The latter are narrow, not divergent behind, separated along their posterior half by a narrow suleus which is continued back to about the level of the middle of the eyes. Antennae reach back as far as the base of 1st abdominal segment, the scape reaches back as far as the middle of the pronotum. Mandibles very long, linear, acute at the apex, finely striate and shining. Pronotum about as long as wide, rounded in front, sides moderately convex. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Mesonotum hardly more than half as wide as the pronotum, and considerably less than half as long. Dorsum of epinotum widening towards the declivity and as long as the pro- and mesonotum together; declivity shallowly excavated, the lateral margins raised. Node of petiole sub- quadrate, very slightly wider than long, rounded above, vertical in front and behind ; ventral lamella bluntly produced at the extreme base. Abdomen elongate, 1st segment as high as, and one-third wider than the node, spinously produced below at the base; 1st and 2nd segments sub-equal, their apical margins narrowly ferruginous. “go, 93 lines. Black and slightly shining, finely punctured ; eyes and ocelli very large, the latter glassy bright and very promi- nent; the legs and antennae fusco-ferruginous; the antennae towards their apex, the articulations of the legs, the tarsi and tip of abdomen ferruginous ; wings fusco-hyaline; abdomen and node of peduncle as in the female (= worker).”’ Thave not seen any g ¢ of this species, and have therefore copied Smith’s very scanty description. It is not a common species; the A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. gn colony is rather large as a rule, comprising as many as four or five dozen individuals. (S.A.M., B.M., G.A. coils.) L. CRIBRATA, Emery. Ann. Soe. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 20, 8 , 1895. “8. 5-55 mm. Piceous; clypeus, antennae, legs and apical segment of abdomen rufescent, dull, abdomen posteriorly and below shining, very densely and finely punctulate all over, with a scanty pubescence and fine pilosity; mandibles linear, acuminate; node of petiole thick, convex above, truncate in front and behind. Vryburg, Bechuanaland.” “This species is remarkable chiefly by its sculpture ; the whole body is finely and closely punctured, the head being entirely dull; the thorax and abdomen are slightly shining, especially the posterior portion and ventral surface of the latter; the legs and antennae are also punctulate and almost dull. The sides and posterior portion of the head are plentifully punctured, the thorax with larger punctures; the punctures become gradually smaller on the petiole and abdomen, being simply piligerous points on the posterior segments. The head is nearly square or slightly narrower behind than in front, the eyes large, situated in front of the middle of the sides of the head and separated from the base of the mandibles by less than the length of their own diameter. The clypeus is widely lobate, round and with a membranous margin. Mandibles narrow, linear, arcuate near the base, then straight and again curved near the apex, which is acute. Thorax relatively stout, the epinotum as long as the pro- and mesonotum together; the meso-epinotal suture deep ; the declivity of the epinotum has the same sculpture as the rest of the thorax, and the lateral margins are raised. Petiole seen from the side, nearly as wide as high, sharply truncate and smooth behind, convex and rugose above and in front; seen from above, hardly wider than long, and slightly narrower in front than behind.” L. StunuMannti, Mayr. Jahrb. Hamburg Wiss. Anst., vol. 10, 2, p. 6, %, 1893. Forel, Rev. Brat pals gl oO8: “ %. 10-10°6 mm. Black or brownish black, the scape brown, the mandibles, flagellum, and apex of abdomen lighter, the legs reddish brown or lighter. The whole body is covered with an erect 92 Annals of the South African Museum. pilosity ; pubescence wanting except on the flagellum and tarsi. Mandibles nearly smooth, with here and there some indistinct longi- tudinal striae and pilose punctures, moderately long, narrow, with a distinct and very oblique masticatory margin at the apex, which ends in a curved pointed tooth. When the mandibles are closed there is a large space between them and the clypeus. The head is smooth, with sparse and shallow pilose punctures, somewhat stronger on the sides of the head; the latter is of a reversed trapeze shape, being much wider in front than behind, and also wider there than across the eyes. Clypeus short, sharply carinate, with striae on each side of the carina which extend back a short distance between the antennal sockets and the base of the mandibles; the carina is produced in front to form a short and rather indistinct projection or snout, which is almost wider than long. On each side of the projection the anterior margin of the clypeus is curved slightly S-shaped. The eyes are nearer the base of the mandibles than the posterior angles of the head. The lower margin of the mouth is without a small tooth. All the joints of the flagellum longer than wide, the 2nd joint nearly twice as long as the lst. The pronotum is more or less coarsely but shallowly strigose, with a few large shallow punctures at the side; the mesonotum, which is similarly sculptured, is as long as wide, fairly round, and slopes backwards in such a way that the pro- and mesonotum together form a curve, moderately bowed from front to back. The thorax is not deeply constricted between the meso- and epinotum. The latter is long, about as long as the pro- and mesonotum together, and its dorsum rises gradually backwards and then falls rather abruptly towards the rounded boundary between it and the declivity; the dorsum is irregularly rugose, the declivity coarsely and transversely striate ; the sides of the meso- and epithorax are obliquely striate. The node of the petiole is finely wrinkled and sparsely punctured ; it is longer than wide, much wider and higher behind than in front, the posterior face vertical, flat and transversely striate. The abdo- men is almost smooth, barely constricted between the 1st and 2nd segments. Legs long and thin, the claws distinctly pectinate. Quilimane.”’ Durban. The male of the type form is not known, but since the male sex usually varies but little in sub-species and varieties, it may be of some assistance to the student to be able to refer to the description by Forel of the race erythraea, Emery, which is herewith appended. “ Stuhlmanni, race erythraea, Emery. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 93 3g. 95 mm. Mandibles very wide at the base, attenuating abruptly to the apex, and curved inwardly. Clypeus broad and carinate, with a short and rounded lobe anteriorly. Head one and a half times longer than wide, narrowed behind the eyes and raised collar-like at the articular margin. The pronotum extends consider- ably in front of the mesonotum (?.e., not depressed below the latter). Mesonotum with two deep convergent furrows; it is feebly convex infront and behind. Seen from the side, the node of the petiole forms almost an equilateral triangle, obtuse and rounded above. Sculp- ture, pilosity and colour as in the 3, but the head is smoother and the metanotum (epinotum) more hairy. Wings with a slight rusty tinge. Bourka, South Africa.” I have met with this species only in Natal, where it appears to feed exclusively on woodlice; the entrance to the nest can be plainly distinguished by the accumulation of the remains of their prey, bleached a dead white, scattered around it. The nest is not in- dicated by any mound or other accumulation of earth; but in the neighbourhood of Durban at least, it is very frequently found in, or immediately adjacent to the nests of Myrnucaria ewmenordes, Gerst. I am inclined to think that this Leptogenys dispossesses the latter species of a part of their large nest, rather than take the trouble of excavating one for itself. It also has a very noticeable smell, resembling essence of pears. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) L. Scuwast, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 208, 3, 1913. %. 96 mm. Very similar to Stwhlmanm. Black, mandibles, flagellum, extreme base and apex of scape, the tarsi and apex of abdomen more or less ferruginous, the clypeus, tibiae and femora piceous. Whole body very smooth and shining, sparsely covered with long yellowish or golden hairs, which arise from very small punctures. Puncturation otherwise wanting. Pubescence entirely absent. The mesonotum is transversely and shallowly strigose above, obliquely so at the sides; the epinotum is also transversely strigose above, but more strongly so than the mesonotum, especially over the brow of the declivity. The sides of the epinotum obliquely striated. Head a little longer than it is wide in front, much wider in front than behind, but at the anterior margin it is not wider than across the eyes. The latter large, situated a little in front of the middle of the sides. Clypeus like that of Stwhlmanni, but the apex not pro- 94 Annals of the South African Museum. duced so much in the middle. Mandibles long, longer than the head, shining, sparsely punctured, the apical portion a little wider than the rest, and concavely excised so as to form a distinct tooth at the apex. Antennae long, reaching back as far as the base of the 2nd abdo- minal segment, the scape reaching back as far as the posterior margin of the mesonotum; 2nd joint of the flagellum nearly twice as long as the Ist, all the joints cylindrical and much longer than wide. Thorax similar to that of Stuhlmanni, but the pronotum is smooth, and the epinotum more strongly strigose. The rest of the characters similar to those of Stwhlmanni. In both these species the node of the petiole seen from the side is approximately quadrant-shaped, the curvature being anterior and dorsal. Bulawayo. This species is crepuscular or nocturnal, and preys on termites. I have never seen it about during daylight. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls).) L. FERRARI, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 209, % , 1913. 8. 47 mm. Brownish black, mandibles, clypeus, antennae, legs and apex of abdomen ochreous red. Very similar to Lobopelta mitida and castanea, but owing to the structure of the mandibles, this species is a true Leptogenys, s. str. Legs and body covered with short, yellow, semi-erect hairs, longer on the petiole and abdomen. Smooth and shining. Head very finely and somewhat sparsely punctured. Thorax with large and shallow irregular punctures; at the sides and on the node these punctures are very elongated, almost forming short grooves. The declivity of the epinotum strongly and transversely striate. Head longer than wide, a little wider in front than behind, the sides and posterior margin moderately convex. Clypeus with a sharp median carina, which, seen from the side, projects at the apex distinctly beyond the level of the mouth. Mandibles smooth, shin- ing, sparsely punctured, shorter than the head, curved feebly from the base to the apex, a little broader near the apex, with a very short but distinct masticatory margin. Eyes moderately large, situated just in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Scape not ex- tending much beyond the occipital margin, about two-thirds as long as the flagellum; 7th—9th joints as wide as long, the rest longer than wide, Ist joint as long as the 2nd. Pronotum convex in front and above, wider than the rest of the A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 95 thorax and wider than long; mesonotum wider than long. Pro- meso, and meso-epinotal sutures well defined; epinotum as long as the pro- and mesonotum together, widening a little towards its apex, convex from side to side above; the declivity rather short, very steep but not vertical. Node of petiole sub-quadrate, a little wider behind than in front, and a little wider behind than it is long, anterior and posterior faces vertical, but the former rounded at the brow ; the dorsal profile of the node slopes down from behind to the front. First abdominal segment as long as the 2nd, both seg- ments a little wider than long; intersegmental constriction weak. Bulawayo. (G.A. coll.) Sus-Grenus LOBOPELTA, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 733, 1862. Characters. ?. Mandibles triangular and dentate, or narrow and with an apical tooth ; in the latter case the mandibles are much shorter than in Leptogenys and do not enclose a large space in front of the clypeus. Clypeus usually with a pointed or carinate lobe, or with a tooth on each side of the middle. 2. Hrgatoid. 3. Not distinguishable from that of Leptogenys. aX V Key to the % 8 of Sub-genus Lobopelta. (10). 1. Black species. (9). 2. Node of petiole as long as, or only slightly longer than wide. (4). 3. Impunctate or nearly so; dorsum of epinotum very smooth. nitida, Smith. (3). 4. Puncturation distinct ; dorsum of epinotum more or less strigose. (6). 5. Pronotum distinctly punctured Peringueyt, Forel. (5). 6. Pronotum not punctured, but rugose. (8). 7. Node of petiole a little wider than long; 8th-10th joints of flagellum wider thanlong .. .. .. Arnoldi, Forel. (7). 8. Node of petiole longer Thera Fito: " 8th_ 10th satin of flagellum longer than wide.. .. .. . .. .- Havilandi, Forel. (2). 9. Node of petiole two yall one- third “fans as fiere as it is wide posteriorly. attenuata, Smith. (1). 10. Reddish yellow or castaneous species. (12). 11. Larger species, 4-4°5 mm. ; scape of antenna impunctate. .nitida, Smith. (11). 12. Smaller species, less than 4 mm. ; scape of antenna finely but distinctly punctured. (14). 13. Head almost quadrate, only slightly longer than wide .. parva, Forel. (13). 14. Head distinctly longer than wide .. .. .. .. «. castanea, Mayr. 96 Annals of the South African Museum. L, (Lopopreuta) HavinaAnnt, Forel. Rey. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 3382, 3, 1901. “ ¥%. 65mm. Mandibles narrow, slightly broader towards the apex, the apical margin forming a cutting, edentate edge, concaye, curving into the inner margin, smooth and punctured. Head sub- rectangular, hardly longer than wide, wider in front than- behind, with posterior margin and angles rounded; the posterior margin is confluent with the straight articular margin. Eyes large and flat and situated a little in front of the middle of the sides. Lobe of clypeus triangular, short, obtuse and rounded at its median point, margined in front along its whole length by a whitish edge. The scape reaches beyond the occiput by about one-quarter of its own length. Thoracic sutures distinct. Dorsum of epinotum as long as the pro- and mesonotum together. A narrow but deep sulcus between the meso- and epinotum. Node of petiole sub-cubic, slightly longer than wide, wider behind, posterior face vertically truncate and at least one and a half times as high as the anterior face, which is also truncate. Abdomen elongate, constriction between Ist and 2nd segments distinct. The lst segment is not wider, perhaps even narrower than the 2nd. Head densely and strongly punctured, almost dull, except the clypeus which is longi- tudinally striate. Thorax and node fairly dull, very irregularly and rather coarsely rugose, finely reticulate between the rugosities. Abdomen smooth, with a few coarse irregular punctures, especially on the apical margin of the lst segment. Legs and scapes finely punctured. Anterior and posterior faces of the node and anterior face of the lst abdominal segment smooth and shining. Pilosity erect, yellow and fairly dense all over, somewhat oblique, longer on the abdomen, short and scanty on the legs. Pubescence scanty on the body, abundant on the legs. Black; mandibles, antennae, legs and apex of abdomen reddish brown. Natal. (Haviland.)” L. (LopopettTa) PERINGUEYI, Forel. (L. Havilandt, race Peringueyt), Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 210, 8, 1913. Similar in general features to L. Havilandi, but smaller and with entirely different sculpturation and differently shaped head and mandibles. Dr. Forel treats it as a race of Havilandz, but in view of the marked differences, I have adopted the suggestion made in his description that it should perhaps be treated as a distinct species. 8. 6 mm. Black, mandibles, legs, flagellum and apex of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 97 abdomen brown, tarsi and joints of legs brownish red. Very sparsely pilose and pubescent, the pilose hairs yellowish and very short. Whole body moderately shining, clearly but not densely punctured, the punctures being sharply defined but not deep; the sides of the meso- and epinotum obliquely punctate-striate. Head a little longer than wide, as wide behind as in front (in Havilandi it is much narrower behind than in front), posterior angles considerably rounded, sides and posterior margin moderately convex. Clypeus strongly carinate in the middle, more so than in Havilandi, and more acute at the apex. Mandibles smooth, with a few coarse punctures, widening towards the apex, which has a masticatory margin not so distinct as in Havilandt, ending in a small tooth below. The eyes are smaller than in Haviland: and are placed within the anterior half of the head. The scape extends back beyond the occipital margin, but is not so long as in Havilandi ; the 1st joint of the flagellum is very little longer than the Ist or 3rd {nearly twice as long as the Ist in Havilandi). The thorax is more constricted in the middle, and the pro- and mesonotum and the dorsum of the epinotum are more convex. Ths node of the petiole as long as wide behind, more convex above and not so sharply truncate in front and behind, and not quite so long as in Havilandt. It is also less sharply margined behind than in that species. Table Mountain. (Dr. L. Péringuey.) (S8.A.M., G.A. colls.) L. (LOBOPELTA) ATTENUATA, Smith. Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 91, 3, 1858. %. 8mm. Black ; mandibles, scape, apical segment of abdomen and tarsi yellowish brown; flagellum and extreme base of scape dark yellow; apical margins of Ist and 2nd abdominal segments, the whole of the 3rd and 4th segments, all the coxae and the petiole piceous red. The sides of the head and the pleurae have in some lights a bluish reflection. A scanty and short greyish pilosity on the body and legs; flagellum and tarsi pubescent. Impunctate. Head wider in front than behind, longer by nearly one-third than it is wide, sides convex, posterior margin strongly emarginate, posterior angles acute. Clypeus broadly triangular, with a sharp and narrow median carina; anterior margin slightly produced and pointed in the middle, finely and longitudinally striate. Frontal carinae very short and narrow ; frontal sulcus narrow, deep, and extending back to about the level of the anterior margin of the eyes. The latter are large, convex, and situated a little in front of the middle of the sides. Antennae long; scape extends beyond the occiput by one-third of 7 98 Annals of the South African Museum. its own length; flagellum filiform, all the joints much longer than wide, 2nd joint two-thirds longer than the 1st. Mandibles shallowly punctured and shining, slightly widening from the middle to the apex, masticatory margin edentate and rather long. Pronotum slightly longer than wide, rounded above, in front and at the sides. Mesonotum rectangular, flat, longer than wide ; pro-mesonotal and meso-epinotal sutures distinct. Dorsum of epinotum almost as long as pro- and mesonotum together, very narrow at the base, widening towards the brow of the declivity ; the latter is very short and has a small angular projection above on each side. Node of petiole seen from above, two and a third times as long as wide, widest behind and strongly compressed laterally ; seen from the side the node is almost triangular, the posterior margin vertically truncate, the dorsal profile from the base to the upper margin of the posterior face convex. The posterior face is smooth and shining. Ventral lamella angularly produced at the extreme base. The constriction between the Ist and 2nd abdominal segments is not deep. First segment campaniform, with a sharp angular projection at its base below, at the junction with the petiole. Fourth and apical segments strongly compressed laterally. Legs long and slender. Algoa Bay. (Brauns.) Durban. 3. T mm. (hitherto undescribed). Colour and pubescence as in the %, with the antennae entirely ferruginous. Whole body shining, head with a few small punctures between the eyes and antennal sockets, prothorax smooth and impunctate, mesonotum with a few large shallow punctures, epinotum transversely striate. Head a little longer than it is wide across the eyes. The latter large, occupying more than half the sides of the head and separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance equal to the length of the Ist joint of the flagellum. Antennae filiform, reaching back as far as the base of the 8rd abdominal segment; scape three and a. quarter times as long as the Ist joint, 2nd joint of flagellum one and a half times as long as the scape. Clypeus long, sub-carinate medially, the anterior margin produced into a pronounced beak in the middle. Mandibles ochreous, oblong, rounded at the apex and edentate. Pronotum exposed, quite twice as wide as long; meso- notum a quarter longer than wide, the Mayrian furrows wide and well defined. Epinotum as long as the mesonotum, longer than wide, widest at the base and narrowing towards the apex, and three times as long as the declivity. The latter is oblique, margined above and at the sides, the margins produced at each side above into short blunt angles. Node of the petiole as in the 8, but a trifle wider at A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 39 the base above. The constriction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments quite as distinct as in the %. Legs long and slender. Wings fuscous, stigma, and nervures yellowish brown. Durban. (C. B. Cooper.) (S8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) L. (Lopopetta) Arnoup!, Forel. (Plate III., figs. 27, 27a, 28.) Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 110, 3 g, 1918. 8. 63 mm. Black; extreme apex of abdomen piceous, man- dibles, flagellum, base of scape, basal half of tibiae, and tarsi reddish brown. Head shining, thorax and petiole slightly dull, abdomen very shining and impunctate. Head closely and finely punctured, especially at the sides, very finely striate in front between the clypeus and the eyes. Median dorsal portion of pro- and meso- notum shining and impunctate, the sides of the same, the pleurae, epinotum and the node very finely rugulose and dull. The declivity of the epinotum strongly and transversely rugose. Legs and antennae with an inconspicuous and sparse pubescence. The whole insect covered with long, oblique yellowish hairs, which are denser and longer on the clypeus and abdomen. Head a little longer than wide ; including the mandibles, somewhat oval. Clypeus triangular, carinate in the middle, the anterior margin narrowly membranous. Frontal carinae narrow. Mandibles shining and sparsely punctured ; they are wider towards the apex than at the base, convex above from base to apex and‘also on the external margin; the masticatory margin is edentate, joining the inner margin in a gradual curve, the apex acuminate. Hyes large, convex, and situated at the middle of the sides of the head. The antennae reach back as far as the base of the abdomen, the scape is rather flattened dorso-ventrally, the flagellum slightly incrassate towards the apex, 8th to 10th joints wider than long. Thoracic sutures distinct; pronotum as long as wide, mesonotum quadrate, margined all round by a distinct sulcus. Dorsum of epinotum not quite as long as the pro- and mesonotum together, wider at the apex than at the base; declivity rather abrupt, triangular in outline and with strong transverse striae. Node of petiole sub-cubic, very slightly wider than long, rounded above and at the sides, vertically truncate behind and in front, and wider behind than in front. First abdominal segment convex at the sides, shorter than the 2nd segment, the constriction between the two distinct. Apical segment slightly compressed laterally. First segment produced at the base ventrally into a blunt tooth. 2. LErgatoid (hitherto undescribed). 9 mm. Abdomen, 4 mm. long, lst segment 1°5 mm. wide. This differs from the 3 by its 100 Annals of the South African Musewmn. size and the proportionately longer abdomen. It is also a duller insect, which is due to the denser pilosity, especially on the abdomen which has a short pubescence intermixed with the pilosity. The mesonotum is also larger and longer than in the ¢. g. 885mm. Black; apex and base of scape pale ferruginous, flagellum ochreous, the last five joints fuscous above; tarsi reddish yellow, and all the tibiae and femora ferruginous at the base and apex. Head almost impunctate, anteriorly slightly rugulose. Thorax and petiole very finely rugulose, the epinotum reticulate. Abdomen shining and impunctate. A fine grey pubescence on the whole body, longer and sparser on the abdomen, more abundant on the sides of the thorax, very inconspicuous elsewhere. Head, thorax, and sides of petiole dull, disc of metanotum, apex of node and the whole abdomen shining. Head lozenge-shaped, widest behind the eyes, narrow in front and more so behind. Clypeus gibbous in the middle, anterior margin convex. Frontal carmae obsolete. Mandibles con- siderably atrophied, represented by a spatulate yellow appendage, hardly larger than one of the ocelli. Eyes large, oval, situated at about the middle of the sides of the head ; ocelli well developed, not situated on a raised area. Scape short, not extending beyond the posterior margin of the eyes, widest at the apex, twice as long as wide. First joint of flagellum as wide as long, 2nd joint one and a third times as long as the scape, all the joints flattened dorso- ventrally, especially the last five joits which are spirally curved. Pronotum exposed, the anterior free margin reflexed. Pro-meso- notal suture weil defined. Mesonotum rounded at the sides, depressed above, separated from the scutellum by a distinct but narrow sulcus; mesonotum including the scutellum, almost three times as long as the pronotum. Epinotum as long as the meso- notum, the dorsum continuous with the declivity in a gradual curve; the declivity transversely striated. Node of petiole as long as wide, thicker above than below, obtusely and obliquely truncate in front and behind, sides convex. The node is less than half as wide as the 1st abdominal segment. Abdomen elongate, lst segment convex in front and at the sides, 2nd segment slightly wider than the Ist, and one-third longer. Pygidium rounded at the apex. Abdominal con- striction distinct. Wings slightly smoky, nervures fuscous, stigma brown. Legs thin and slender. I have taken this species on only one occasion. The nest, situated in sandy ground, contained several hundreds of 8 8 and 3 & and one ergatoid 9°. Plumtree, 8. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 101 L. (LoporEeuta) NiTIDA, Smith. Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 92, %, 1858. %. 4-43 mm. Ferruginous, the legs and apical margins of the abdominal segments, and the whole of the last three segments lighter; the 2nd abdominal segment and vertex of the head castaneous red; or entirely black with flagellum ferruginous. A scanty pubes- cence on the legs and antennae; a sparse pilosity on the body and legs, more abundant on the last segment of the abdomen. The whole body very shining and impunctate. Head oblong, about one- quarter longer than wide, sides very slightly convex, posterior margin straight, posterior angles rounded. Clypeus carinate in the middle, the carina ending in a sharp point; produced backwards in an acute angle between the frontal carinae. The latter are very narrow behind the antennal sockets. Mandibles shining and coarsely punctured, slightly wider towards the apex, which ends in a sharp tooth, the masticatory margin concave and moderately large. Eyes small, situated within the anterior third of the head. Scape of antenna extends back as far as the middle of the pronotum, flagellum slightly incrassate towards the apex, lst and 2nd joints sub-equal, 8th-10th joints as long as wide. Pronotum rounded above, in front and at the sides, convex in profile, twice as long as the mesonotum ; pro-mesonotal suture feeble, meso-epinotal well defined. Epinotum as long as pro- and mesonotum together. Dorsum of epinotum flat, narrower at the base, declivity gradual and rather short. Node of petiole higher than the epinotum; seen from above almost triangular, with the anterior face very rounded, the sides very slightly convex ; truncated in front and behind, and strongly convex above. Abdomen elongate, Ist and 2nd segments sub-equal, Ist segment rounded at the base, nearly twice as wide as the node of the petiole, the con- striction between the Ist and 2nd segments fairly deep. Legs long and slender. Ladismith, Cape Prov. (light variety). (Brauns.) Estcourt, Natal, (Wroughton.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) L. (LoBopELTA) CASTANEA, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 734, ¥% , 1862. %. 36mm. Very similar to the pale variety of nitcda in colour and general appearance, but lighter and narrower. It may be dis- tinguished from that species by the following characters. The scape of the antenna is considerably flattened, and distinctly but finely punctured, and the flagellum is much thicker. The eyes 102 Annals of the South African Museum. are proportionately larger. The posterior angles of the head are not so round, thereby making the head look longer and more rectangular than in mitida. The 3rd—dth abdominal segments are narrower, being rather strongly compressed laterally. Algoa Bay. (Brauns.) (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) L. (Lopopretta) parva, Forel. Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 332, ¥ g, 1901. “8. 33-34mm. Related to castanea, but the head is square, hardly longer than wide, the scapes not extending beyond the occiput, the flagellum with the 2-10 joints transverse, a little wider than long and the last jomt moderately thick and long; the eyes are very small and flat, with a dozen atrophied facets; the node of the petiole is much more squamiform, wider than long. Mandibles narrow, smooth and shining, punctured, nearly as narrow at the apex as at the base, the terminal margin concave. The lobe of the clypeus forms a narrow beak, pointed and sharply carinate. Dorsum of thorax horizontal, without sutures. Declivity of epinotum oblique, but quite distinct from the dorsum. Legs shorter than in castanea. Otherwise in colour, sculpture and pilosity resembling castanea, which however is much narrower and differently shaped. “3, 35mm. Mandibles very short, not reaching together in the middle. Scape hardly shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum, the 1st joint of which is globose. Head sub-circular, a little longer than wide. Eyes small. Thorax as wide as the head; mesonotum with two convergent sulci. Wings sub-hyaline, nervures and stigma very distinct. Dark brownish yellow, antennae brown. Natal. (Haviland.)”’ Tre ODONTOMACHINI, Mayr. Characters. % and @. The head has an irregular hexagonal outline ; this is due to the inflection of the sides, at about the level of the eyes, so as to form two oblique minor sides anteriorly. Mandibles inserted near the middle of the anterior margin of the head, parallel, pointing forwards and furnished with two or three teeth. When quite open, the mandibles lie parallel with the anterior margin of the head, and can be shut by an instantaneous movement which in some species is done with such force as to produce a very distinct clicking noise. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 103 Owing to the insertion of the mandibles being so closely approxi- mated, the clypeus which lies between their bases and the frontal carinae is very narrow and short. Abdominal constriction absent in Odontomachus, and in some species of Anochetus. Claws simple. g. Abdomen similar to that of the 3, but in Odontomachus there is a slight constriction. Claws simple, hardly dentate. ty Key to the Genera of Odontomachini. 1. § and ¢. Antennal hollows confluent posteriorly: ¢ pygidium spined. Odontomachus, Latreille. 2. 8 and ¢. Antennal hollows not confluent posteriorly ; ¢ pygidium not spined. Anochetus, Mayr. Genus ANOCHETUS, Mayr. Hurop. Formiciden, p. 53, 1861. Characters. %. Antennal hollows not confluent; no large depressions on the sides of the head. The shape of the mandibles is very variable. Node of petiole squamiform, or bidentate and nodose, conical or terminating in a spine. 2. Similar to the %, winged, in some species ergatoid. $. Mandibles and antennae as in Odontomachus; node of petiole more or less pointed or emarginate. Abdominal constriction absent. Pygidium not spined. Key to the 8 8 of Anochetus. ~ (6). ‘1. Node of petiole squamiform or nearly so, almost linear dorsally. (3). 2. Pro- and mesonotum strongly rugose 60 150 OG) 06 ABAG OKI, Mortal. (2). 3. Pro- and mesonotum not rugose. (5). 4, Pro- and mesonotum strongly punctured; dorsum of node, seen from in front, very convex from side to side Seah .. .. talpa, Forel. (4). 5. Pro- and mesonotum very feebly and sparsely Saebrurede dorsum of node almost horizontal .. .. .. .. punctaticeps, Mayr. (1). 6. Node of petiole thick, dorsal paritce a finan .. Levaillanti, Emery. A, Brequazrtt, Forel. Rey. Zool. Africaine, vol. 2, p. 309, 3%, 1913. 9. 5 3-5:5 mm. Head dark ochreous red, thorax brownish black, abdomen black, legs and antennae dirty yellow. A very fine and scanty pubescence on the head, antennae, and legs. Body, but not the legs, with scattered yellowish hairs, longer and stouter on the abdomen. Head sub-opaque, densely and finely striated from 104 Annals of the South African Museum. end to end, except the occipital surface, the cheeks and antennal hollows which are smooth and shining. Thorax dull, closely reticu- late-punctate, intermixed with some larger rugae, which are more or less longitudinal on the pronotum, and transverse on the mesonotum; abdomen and petiole smooth and shining, legs finely and closely punctured. Head a trifle longer than wide, widest across the eyes, widely excised behind, occipital portion not contracted ; the sides in front of and behind the eyes moderately concave. The antennal hollows are wide and bounded anteriorly and externally by a broad rounded ridge. Clypeus smooth and shining, extending back between the frontal carinae in a narrow elongate triangle; anteriorly the clypeus is bilobed and concave dorso-ventrally. Mandibles a little more than half as long as the head, internal margins unarmed, ending in three teeth, the sub-apical shortest and arising from the apical. Eyes large. The scape is widest near the middle, and extends back a little beyond the occipital margin; the flagellum moderately thickened towards the apex. The pronotum is as long as wide, widest in the middle and twice as wide behind as in front. Mesonotum short, wider than long. Pro-meso- and meso-metanotal sutures well defined. HEpinotum as long as pro- and mesonotum together, with two distinct broad teeth at the apex of the dorsum ; declivity vertical, convex and more finely sculptured than the dorsum. The node of the petiole is squamiform, higher than wide, vertical behind and in front; ventral lamella produced into a large oblong piece pointing forwards. The upper surface of the node is almost linear and slightly excised in the middle (this can be seen more clearly if it is viewed from the front). First and 2nd segments of the abdomen sub-equal, with no distinct constriction between them. 2 (hitherto undescribed). 6mm. Very similar to the worker, except the usual sexual differences. The pronotum is wider than in the ¥ and wider than long; the mesonotum is nearly as long as the pronotum, wider than long, finely and longitudinally striate; the scutellum is small. Dorsum of epinotum shorter than in the 8 Wings pale brownish yellow, stigma and nervures pale brown. Other characters as in the 3. $ (hitherto undescribed). 65 mm. Moderately shining. Pale brownish yellow, head dark brown, scutellum and base of epinotum pale brown, mesonotum with a Y-shaped brownish area. Covered with a rather dense pilosity, composed of short stiff dark hairs on the mesonotum, of longer and paler hairs elsewhere. Legs and antennae clothed with a dense pubescence, somewhat erect on the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 105 antennae. Head and thorax shallowly and irregularly rugoso- punctate, epinotum shallowly and transversely striate, abdomen with very minute piligerous punctures. Head much wider than long. Hyes very large, occupying three-quarters of the sides of the head, ocelli large and situated on a raised area. Clypeus flat at the sides, convex in the middle, anterior margin feebly convex. Mandibles small and atrophied. Scape short, twice as long as the Ist joint of the flagellum, half as long as the 2nd, flagellum filiform. The antennae are long, reaching back almost to the apex of the abdomen. Pronotum covered by the mesonotum. The latter is very convex from front to back, and as long as wide; Mayrian furrows and parapsidal sutures moderately clear. The scutellum small and not much raised. Epinotum and petiole similar to that of the ?, but the teeth of the epinotum less pronounced. Abdomen elongate, Ist segment longer than the 2nd; pygidium sub-acute, not spined ; cerci present. Legs long and slender. Wings larger than in the ? and of a lighter colour. The projection of the ventral lamella is triangular. Bulawayo. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A. puNcTATICEPS, Mayr. (Plate III., fig. 26). Annalen K.K.N.H. Museums, Wien, vol. 16, p. 4, %, 1901. “ 8. 37-38 mm. Moderately shining, more or less reddish yellow. A long erect and sparse pilosity on the abdomen; the moderately short pubescence is somewhat erect, thickest on the antennae and legs, less abundant on the mandibles, head, and abdo- men, scanty on the thorax. The mandibles are about half as long as the head, with piligerous punctures, narrower at the base than at the apex, the lower inner margin (7.e. when the mandibles are directed forwards), is feebly and finely denticulate; the angle corre- sponding to the anterior end of the upper and lower inner margins, is strongly rounded off; the apex of the mandible ends in two medium- sized teeth, directed inwards, the lower one bearing a smaller tooth at its base; the outer margin of the mandibles between the Ist and 2nd fourths of its whole length, is distinctly although feebly concave, beyond that the margin is slightly convex. The head is shaped like that of Ghilianz, Spin., but the posterior margin is less emarginate ; it is fairly abundantly punctured with rather smooth shining interspaces; from each puncture proceeds a short hair ; the sides of the head behind the eyes, are very smooth, very shining and sparsely punctured. The smooth triangular clypeus is wider than 106 Annals of the South African Museum. long and is raised over the base of each mandible into a small hump, between these humps it is not emarginate. The scape reaches back nearly to the occiput, the 2nd—7th joints of the flagellum as long as, or hardly so long as broad. The antennal hollows are fairly deep, moderately wide and as long as wide ; they are not limited externally by the eyes, since their external margin is separated from them by a distance almost equal to the diameter of the eye itself. The eyes are small. The continuation of the antennal hollows becomes indis- tinct on the vertex before reaching the narrowed portion of the head. . . . The thorax is smooth, with a few piligerous punctures. The mesonotum is wider than long. The epinotum has two small, broad, and very obtuse teeth; the transversely convex dorsum is evenly merged into the sides, as is also the smooth and very shining, steep declivity. Both the transverse suture of the thorax are distinct. The node of the petiole is higher than broad, rounded above. Abdominal constriction moderate. Port Elizabeth. (Brauns.) ”’ A. TALPA, Forel. Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 9, p. 351, %, 1901. “8%. 3:56-3:99 mm. Closely related to myops, Emery, from which it differs by its less shortened head and by its longer and thinner mandibles. The very small eyes have only 4 or 5 facets. The mandibles, as long as half the head, have the internal margin simple, ending in an obtuse angle, and with 3 teeth at the apex, the median tooth springing from the lower one. The head is a little longer than wide, moderately excavated posteriorly, slightly de- pressed, and without a fronto-occipital groove, and with the posterior lateral fossettes very feeble and shallow. Clypeus emarginate and bilobed. Frontal sinus very short. The scapes almost reach back to the occiput. Mesonotum transverse; the two thoracic sutures strongly impressed; dorsum of thorax barely convex. Dorsum of epinotum longer than the declivity ; the latter with two large obtuse teeth or tubercles above. Node of petiole fairly high, narrow and rounded above. Abdomen truncate and projecting slightly forwards in front. Abdominal constriction feeble. Head smooth, shining and evenly punctured with strong and numerous punctures. There are some very short striae on the frontal carinae. Dorsum of epinotum reticulate and sub-opaque. All the rest shining, sparsely and finely punctured. Hrect pilosity almost wanting, except at the apex of the abdomen. Pubescence very distinct, fairly long, yeliow, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 107 sparse, and covering the whole body, but very scanty on the vertex and front of the head. Slightly reddish, yellow. Natal. (Haviland.)”’ A. Levarntanti, Emery. (Plate III., figs. 25, 25a, 250.) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 21, 8, 1895. 8. 52-6 mm., excluding the mandibles. Head, antennae, man- dibles, thorax, petiole and legs a rich dark red; 1st abdominal segment castaneous red, the rest piceous or black. Whole body, antennae and legs covered with a fine and rather long pubescence, evenly distributed but not dense, a few long hairs on the apex of abdomen. Head and thorax finely striate. On the head the striae radiate from the frontal carinae diagonally to the sides. The striae on the pronotum are longitudinal, on the mesonotum and epinotum transverse; the striae on the latter are less regular. The Ist abdominal segment is very shallowly and evenly punctured, the interspaces microscopically rugulose. The 2nd segment with very shallow punctures. Second—5th abdominal segments slightly shining, the rest of the body dull. Head deeply emarginate posteriorly, the portion in front of the eyes about three-quarters as long as the region behind. Posterior angles of the head very round. Between the posterior angles and the eyes, the sides of the head are slightly concave, very convex round the eyes, and moderately so between the eyes and the base of the mandibles. The sides of the head are hollowed out between the posterior angles and the eyes; the antennal hollows are rather wide, smooth and shining. Clypeus produced triangularly backwards between the frontal carinae, and raised into a little hump above the base of each mandible. The sides of the head between the eyes and the mandibles smooth, shining, slightly and obliquely excavated. Mandibles two-thirds as long as the head, widening towards the apex ; the latter is incurved at right angles to the basal portion and bifid, forming two sharp teeth, the lower one with a smaller tooth at its base. The inner margin of the mandible is very finely denticulate, a deep notch separating it from the incurved apical portion. Eyes rather large, margined all round by a shining, narrow groove. Scape of antenna reaches back to the occiput, flagellum filiform, slightly incrassate towards the apex, all the joints longer than wide. Pronotum much narrower than the head, a little wider than long, rounded at the sides and above. Pro- mesonotal suture distinct, meso-epinotal nearly obsolete above. Epinotum shorter than the pro- and mesonotum together. Dorsum of epinotum wider at the apex than at the base; the declivity is 108 Annals of the South African Museum. almost vertical, transversely striated, and has the lateral margins raised. The node of the petiole is higher than the epinotum, vertical in front and behind, rounded above, the sides convex. Seen from above, it is a little wider than long, concave, and angulate on each side of the base. The ventral lamella is produced into a large trun- cated projection pointing forwards. First abdominal segment cam- paniform, as long as the 2nd segment, the constriction between them strong. The dorsum of the epinotum at the apex is more or less impressed in the middle, and the apex of the declivity has an obtuse median carina. ? 67 mm., excluding the mandibles. Similar to the 3%, but larger and winged. The head is less deeply emarginate posteriorly ; the meso- and metanotum longitudinally striate; the mesonotum is widest in front, wider than long, and as long as the pronotum. Dorsum of epinotum short, not longer than the pro- notum. The abdominal segments are wider than in the %. For the rest, as in the 3. S. Rhodesia. (5.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) GENus ODONTOMACHUS, Latreille. Hist. Nat. Crust. Insect., vol. 13, p. 257, 1805. Characters. %. Antennal hollows confluent behind the frontal carinae, and separated by two raised, rounded ridges from the deep and oblique post-ocular hollows. The upper tooth of the mandible is generally blunt, the apical and sub-apical usually acute. The internal margin of the mandible more or less strongly denticulate. Node of petiole spined above, the spine pointing backwards. ?. Winged, with larger eyes, and with ocelli. g. Mandibles very small. Antennae very long, scape very short; Its joint of flagellum wider than long. Node of petiole pointed above but not spined. Abdominal constriction moderately distinct. Pygidium spined. O. HAEMATODA, Linn. Syst. Nat. (Hid. 10), vol. 1, p. 582, 8, 1758. De Geer (Formica mazillosa), Mem. Hist. Ins., vol. 3, p. 601, ?, 1773. EF. Smith, Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 6, p. 76, 3, 1858. ? 3. 95mm., excluding the mandibles. Head and mandibles dark castaneous brown, thorax and petiole more or less castaneous, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 109 abdomen black, legs and antennae brown, the tarsi and articulations lighter. Head, antennae and legs with a very fine, dense silky pubes- cence; on the thorax the pubescence is much sparser, and on the abdomen it is longer but very scanty. Pailosity slight; a few long hairs on the pronotum, the lower surface of the mandibles and the apex of abdomen. The head is very evenly and finely striate, the striae diagonal. The pronotum has stronger and concentric striae ; the mesonotum is transversely, and the epinotum semicircularly striate, the striae being stronger on the epinotum than on the thorax. Mesopleurae smooth. Abdomen smooth and shining. The anterior portion of the head in front of the eyes is much less than half as long as the portion behind the eyes. Posterior margin of the head very slightly emarginate. Between the postocular hollow and the posterior angle of the head, there is a shallow and ovoid depression. The antennal hollows are wide, deep, smooth and shining in front of the eyes, dull and shallow behind them. A deep furrow reaches from the occiput to the confluence of the antennal hollows. Clypeus narrow, raised on each side above the base of the mandibles. The latter are half as long as the head, shining and shallowly punctured, with the teeth all blunt, and the inner margin feebly serrated. Scape and flagellum very slender and filiform. The thorax is much narrower than the head. Pronotum narrowed in front, convex above and at the sides, and wider than long; anterior half of mesonotum slightly raised and submarginate. Hpinotum about as long as pro- and mesonotum together. The declivity is very steep, but rounded above and merges gradually into the dorsum. Abdomen pyriform ; Ist segment twice as long as the 2nd. Legs slender. ?. 105 mm., excluding the mandibles. Similar to the %, but winged. The pronotum is shorter than the mesonotum, which is longitudinally striate. The abdomen is wider than in the 8. Wings brownish yellow, nervures and stigma pale brown. “o. 67-7 mm., the characters of the genus. Tegulae raised, thick at the base, acuminate at the apex. Moderately thickly pubescent. Clypeus smooth and shining. The other parts of the head, and also the thorax unevenly wrinkled The pilosity similar to that of the %. Petiole and abdomen shining, and very feebly sculptured. Colour totally yellowish brown, somewhat testaceous ; legs and antennae a little lighter colour.” Bulawayo. S. Rhodesia. (R.M., S.A.M., G.A. colls.) 110 Annals of the South African Museum. Sup-Famity DORYLINAE. The members of this sub-family are commonly known as Driver or Legionary Ants. The males, which are winged and provided with eyes, are frequently taken at lights; on the other hand, the workers are blind, with the exception of some species of Hczton, in which there is a pair of single-faceted eyes, and the females (excepting one species of Hciton) are both blind and wingless. The members of the genus Dorylus are almost entirely subterranean in their mode of life, rarely coming to the surface except in dull, cloudy weather. The species of the sub-genus Anonvma, which live in the more tropical and forested regions of Africa, and to which the term Driver Ants was originally applied, and the Heztini of South America, are, however, usually seen above the surface, although, should the rays of the sun prove too powerful, they will construct temporarily tunnels with particles of earth held together by their saliva. The species of Aenictus are not so shy of the light, and may be seen foraging about even in bright sunlight. It is probable that all, or at least the majority, of the species are carnivorous, although D. orientalis has been shown by Green to feed also on tubers and the bark of trees. Hitherto, as far as I am aware, none of these ants has been known to tend other insects, such as Aphids, Coccids, and Membracids, for the sake of their sweet secretions; but Mr. R. Jack, Government Hntomologist for S. Bhodesia,* has recently informed me that a species of Dorylus (of which he kindly sent me examples, = D. fulvus, race rhodesiae, Forel) was found by him in large numbers, and apparently tending Membracid larvae which were feeding on the roots of maize. As far as is known, the members of this sub-family do not as a rule make permanent nests. This course is determined by their exceedingly predatory habits, which compel the adoption of a migra- tory form of life together with the formation of temporary nests in localities which are sufficiently productive of animal life to detain them for any length of time. Ranging far and wide in search of prey, which consists of any animal they are strong enough to over- power, these ants must sooner or later exhaust the areas round their nests, and are forced to remove the latter to new and more produc- tive hunting-grounds. Space does not permit of a lengthy descrip- tion of the migrations and other habits of the Dorylinae in this paper, and the reader should consult the writings of Bates, Belt, Smeath- man, and others who have dealt with the subject in some detail. Some very remarkable myremecophilous insects have been found A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. eon marching with the migratory columns of the Driver Ants,* but as far as I am aware, the queens of the ants themselves have never been so found, although the males have been obtained occasion- ally under such circumstances. The three castes in this sub-family are so entirely different from one another, that they were for a very long time classed under different genera, and even under different families. The queens are, moreover, excessively rare and known only in a few species, and the males have been taken but rarely in company with their workers, so that the resulting confusion in the classification of the group has been and continues to be very great. There is a great general similarity amongst the workers of the genus Dorylus, which becomes even closer within the limits of each sub-genus. In the male sex, for lack of more patent distinctions, the chief diagnostic characters are based on the structure of the geni- talia; but even there a beginner may very well have difficulties in appreciating the subtle distinctions which separate the different species. In fresh specimens the genitalia can be extracted very easily, by squeezing the abdomen near the apex until they are slightly extruded, when, with a pair of forceps, they may be more fully drawn out. The queens of the Doryli are excessively rare, having been described for only seven out of thirty-two known species. It is prcebable that the total number of specimens of that sex in collections barely exceeds a dozen. Unless the collector is so fortunate as to discover the site of a nest of these insects he is hardly likely ever to see a female specimen alive. Dr. Péringuey informs me that one of the two females of Dorylus helvolus in the collections of the South African Museum was obtained by him by placing a raw leg of mutton in a manure heap in which he had previously noticed numerous workers of the species (probably searching for the beetle larvae in the heap). On examining the meat a little later the queen, together with many workers, was found in it. The female of Rhogmus fimbriatus in the collection of Dr. H. Brauns, of Willowmore, Cape Province, was found by Mr. G. A. K. Marshall at Salisbury, S. Rhodesia. Mr. Marshall had his atten- tion drawn to a hole out of which numerous males of the ant had been seen to emerge, and by digging carefully and by following the track of the larger tunnels over a considerable distance he was * See ‘‘ Ants and their Guests,” by Father P. Wasmann, 8.J., translated and published in the Smithsonian Report, 1912, p. 455. 112 Annals of the South African Museum. rewarded by finding the nest, which contained the queen and many males, workers and worker-larvae. The males doubtless find their way to the females by means of their olfactory senses, and possibly the workers make wide tunnels opening to the exterior at certain seasons so as to enable the males from other colonies to obtain access more easily to the virgin queens hidden under the soil. Yet one must suppose, to judge by the very large numbers of males which are produced, that the object of cross-fertilization is not easily accomplished. séde view ba > om Pa VERE TEE CLO FSeLE . GENITAL ARMATURE OF Dorylus fulvus, RACE badius. s’ basal portion of stipes. Outer paramera i stipes. v volsella. Inner paramera or sagittae=sg. Fig. 4: subgenital plate; this, when extended, lies in a ventral position to the genital armature. ANTERIOR WING OF Dorylus fulvus, RACE badius. Cells: r=radial, c=cubital or submarginal, d*=discoidal, d?=2nd discoidal, m=median or upper basal, sm=submedian or lower basal, «=costal. Neryures: 1=costal, 2=subcostal, 3=cubital or median, 4=recurrent, 5=anal. A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 113 \ Key to the Tribes of the Dorylinae. A. $%. Pygidium tridentate, with a median impression; maxillary and labial palpi 2-jointed ; cheeks without a longitudinal carina; 1st abdominal segment not separated from the 2nd by a constriction. 2 . Cloaca open, leaving the sting uncovered ; hypopygium forked and extending considerably beyond the pygidium ; thorax unsegmented. 36 . Stigma of anterior wing very elongate and narrow; radial cell open and elongate, one closed cubital cell; genital armature retractile.. Dorylini, Forel. B. $y. Pygidium simple; maxillary palpi 2- or 3-jointed, labial palpi 2-jointed ; cheeks longitudinally carinate; a constriction usually separates the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments, almost making the petiole 2-jointed. 2 . Cloaca covered by the pygidium ; hypopygium not considerably extended. 3S -. Stigma of wing very narrow ; radial cell elongate, one or two closed cubital cells ; genital armature retractile Ag a .. Lcitini, Forel. C. %. Pygidium simple; maxillary and eRe spain L Solid cheeks not carinate ; petiole 2-jointed. 2 . Cloaca open, leaving the sting uncovered ; hypopygium lobed and extending beyond the pygidium; thorax with a suture behind the anterior pair of legs, whichis effaced on the dorsum. 3S. Anterior wings without stigma or nervures. Genital armature extended, not retractile jo oll oe a Saieg” lve Meloe nae) loo WLC aRe Nai Oes |aiaarer az, The Dorylini is the only tribe represented in South Africa ; it is totally absent from America. The Hcvtin, excepting Aenictus and Aemictogeton, are confined to America, chiefly South America; and the Leptanillint have so far been found only in North Africa, Singa- pore, Corsica, and Sardinia. The Tribe Dorylint comprises a single genus Dorylus, Fabr., and is divided into six sub-genera. Genus DORYLUS, Fabr. Ent. Syst., vol. 2, p. 194, 1793. Characters. %¥. Owing to the extreme polymorphism exhibited in this genus no distinct line of demarcation can be drawn between the % andthe ¥. The ¥% occurs in all sizes, the largest being regarded as 2j. Three chief types may, however, be distinguished, but con- nected by intermediate forms. (In the descriptions of the species only these three chief types will be dealt with am extenso.) 1. Very large individuals or soldiers. In these the head is enormous, and wider or not less wide in front than behind; the mandibles have fewer teeth than in the 3; the clypeus is not very protuberant ; the antennal joints are of the - normal number, 9 to 12 according to the species. 9. Medium-sized individuals or large workers. 8 114 Annals of the South African Musewm. Head smaller, but not narrower in front than behind; clypeus more protuberant ; antennal joints of the normal number. 3. Very small or pigmy workers. Head narrower in front than behind; clypeus strongly pro- tuberant; antennal joints reduced in number, but not less than 7. All three forms are totally devoid of eyes. The frontal carinae are near together and vertical; pro-mesontal suture distinct, meso- epinotal obsolete. Epinotum without spines. Petiole nodiform. Pygidium impressed and ending in three points. Posterior tibiae with a pectinate calcar. 2. Apterous; without eyes or ocelli. Head with the occipital portion gibbous and divided by a median groove. Clypeus as in the 21. Frontal carinae not close together. Mandibles narrow and edentate. Antennae with 11 joints, or 12 in sub-genus Dichthadia. Thorax segmented, mesonotum not differentiated into scutum and scutellum, Petiole broad, its posterior angles more or less produced into blunt points. First abdominal segment shorter than the 2nd. Cloaca open; the hypopygium extends beyond the pygidium. g. Antennae 13-jointed, scape one-quarter or one-third as long as the flagellum. Mandibles edentate; clypeus short and pro- longed between the frontal carinae, which are short and divergent. The scutum of the mesonotum overhangs the pronotum. All the femora flattened, the tibiae short. Eyes and ocelli very large. Petiole nodiform or saucer-shaped, the concavity directed behind. Genital armature totally retractile; lacinia absent, sub-genital plate deeply cleft. The Dorylim are found in Africa, Asia, and the Malay Archipelago. They do not occur in Madagascar. Key to the Sub-Genera. \\ 3 Ore DIL. (2). 1. Antennae 12-jointed in the 2/, and in the large and medium-sized ¢. Dichthadia, Gerst. (1). 2. Antennae with less than 12 joints. (10). 3. Antennae 10- or 11-jointed. (7). 4. Pygidium with a semi-circular impression, the margins of which are sharp (see Plate IV., fig. 38a). Antennae 11-jointed. (0). 5. Antennae short and thick, all the joints of the flagellum except the last, much wider thanlong .. .. . .. «. Dorylus, Fabr. (s. str.) (5). 6. Antennae Cae at least some of the joints of the flagellum longer than wide apstahancke ee eee nommay Shuckarde (4). 7. The impressed area ‘of fie arate sation sharp margins (see Plate IV., fig. 31a). (9). 8. Sub-apical tooth of mandible simple; antennae 1l1-jointed. % max. 13)mm slong Wee o oyu velereil ieee ene nL pLopone-wNVeStoode A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 115 (8). 9. Sub-apical tooth of mandibles double, or truncate. % max. 8 mm. long. Rhogmus, Shuckard. fa) OseAmtennae9-jomted i.4 2.) Vat) so) ee) ire ia. - ) Alaopone. Pimery. (2) eleaniennie 1 2-jointed giec)) a.) tee) o-ah ceeee mere Dutchthadia, Gerst. (1). 2. Antennae 11-jointed. (4). 3. Hypopygium in the form of a cleft plate, narrowed behind. Dorylus, Anomma, and Rhogmus. (3). 4. Hypopygium wide, forming two lobes, divergent behind. Alaopone, Kmery. (2). 1. Mandibles wide at the base and prolonged into a point, with the inner margin deeply excised .. .. .. .. .. «. «©. Dichthadia, Gerst. . Mandibles otherwise formed. 2 (6). 3. Petiole wider than long, the posterior face concavely excavated. (5). 4. Mandibles less than 4 times as long aswide .. .. .. Dorylus, Fabr. (4). 5. Mandibles more than 4 times as long as wide... .. Anomma, Shuckard. (3). 6. Petiole nearly square, or round. (8). 7. Mandibles about three times longer than wide .. Typhlopone, Westw. (7). 8. Mandibles much shorter. (10). 9. Wings with a 2nd recurrent nervure .. .. .. Rhogmus, Shuckard. (6). 10. Wings without a 2nd recurrent nervure .. .. .. Alaopone, Emery. The sub-genus Dichthadia is confined to Burma and the Malay Archipelago. Dorylus, Anonma, and Rhogmus are entirely African ; Alaopone and Typhlopone are almost entirely confined to Africa, but have one species each in the Asiatic region. In the South African region, Anomma is apparently absent, although it might be expected to occur on the Hast Coast from Beira to Delagoa Bay. NS Sus-Genus DORYLUS, Fabr. (sensu stricto). Ent. Syst., vol. 2, p. 194, 1793. Emery, Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 8, p. 701, 1899. Key to the 8 3 and Y 2 of the Sub-Genus Dorylus. (2). 1. Sides of the head distinctly convergent posteriorly; puncturation of the vertex of the head rather sparse and shallow, the sides of the head in the smallest %§ % quitesmooth .. .. . . .. «. braunsi, Emery. (1). 2. Sides of the head not distinctly convergent vpashenonl (4). 3. Sides of the head almost parallel in the 2/; puncturation of the vertex stronger and more abundant .. .. . .. helvolus, Linn. (3). 4. Sides of the head less parallel in ne u, ie heed insta slightly narrower behind than in front; puncturation of the vertex sparser and feebler. {6). 5. Petiole not much wider behind than in front; maximum length 11 mm. afinis, Shuckard. (5). 6. Petiole wider posteriorly ; maximum length 8°5 mm... brevipennis, Emery. SIUNIRTTO WTI freuheltr es: (Misia) derss siete) Masisnitueisi evell, aevel Mlcetaii AUNCALUS. Grerst: 116 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the 3 3 of the Sub-Genus Dorylus. (4). 1. Scape aboui as long as the first 6 or 7 joints of the flagellum, and shorter than half the flagellum. (3). 2. Mesonotum wider (5 mm.); lateral margins of the stipites, seen from above, sinuate, narrowed at about the middle Joico 0g 50 (AaONS. Mats. (2). 3. Mesonotum narrower (4mm.); lateral margins of the stipites not sinuate, but forming an even convexity from base to apex... .. affinis, Shuckard.. (1). 4. Scape shorter than the first 5 joints of the flagellum ; mandibles decidedly SHAM ee es | Micah: iniciaw Wisted Gea vaya fein cau teciuees. eONEUIPeNnnisebimetye SH MUMETO WAN: sci re errr) ein yet aye sy) Ure NUNES tinCatUsMG.erst= SO UMEMOWM: (i Sse se ites el ners) emer en eee UNaUNS? wi Bamenye D. HELVoLUS, Linn. (Plate IV., figs. 33, 33a, 330, 34, 34a). Mus. Ludov. Ulrich. p. 412, g¢ 1764. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. 1, 968 (Mutiula) 3, 1767. Emery, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 19, p. 350, 8 2? g, 1887. Trimen, Proc. Ent. Soc., London, p. 24,. @, 1880. 24% or % maxima. 8 mm. Castaneous, mandibles and anterior portion of head and apical segments of abdomen, darker. Legs very scantily pubescent, flagellum moderately pubescent, a few long hairs on the petiole and abdominal segments. Whole body, except the posterior face of the node and the flagellum, very shining, evenly and distinctly punctured. The punctures are larger and deeper on the head and thorax, shallower and smaller on the petiole and abdomen. The petiole is reticulate-punctate on its posterior face; from each puncture arises a pale, microscopic hair. Head at least one-quarter longer than it is wide, parallel-sided,. posterior angles rounded but very prominent, owing to the deep and almost angular occipital emargination. Mandibles scarcely longer than half the width of the head, very blunt at the apex, and with a blunt tooth near the middle of the internal margin. Clypeus. almost linear, except in the middle, where it is slightly and triangu- larly extended between the frontal carinae, and produced into a. small platform on the anterior margin. The frontal carinae short. and narrow, free and raised at the sides into a lobe which ends pos- teriorly in a sharp spine. Scape of antenna incrassate and flattened towards the apex, about two-thirds as long as the flagellum; the latter 10-jointed, all the joints except the last wider than long. The scape and flagellum together are about three-quarters the length of the head. Pronotum rounded in front, narrower behind than in front. Pro- mesonotal suture well defined; meso- and epinotum rather flattened A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. ily, above, declivity of the epinotum vertical and very short. Node of petiole quadrate-globose, slightly wider behind than in front, the ventral lamella produced in a wide angle. First abdominal segment narrow at the base, 2nd and 3rd segments sub-equal, and a little longer than the 1st, 4th segment a little shorter than the preceding, 5th segment widely and semicircularly excavated apically, the dorsal boundary of the excavation forming a sharp edge, ending on each side inferiorly in a short tooth. 8 minor. 5-6 mm. This differs from the % max. in the fol- lowing characters. The colour is slightly lighter, and the head is a little narrower behind than in front, and is only arcuately emarginate behind. The apex of the mandible is not blunt, but ends in two sharp teeth, the lower tooth being the larger; the tooth on the inner margin is also acute. The pubescent hairs on the body are longer. 8 minima. 1:°7-2 mm. Colour pale dirty yellow. Flagellum 9-jointed. Pilosity and pubescence stronger than in the % minor. Mandibles without a tooth on the internal margin, and with the ‘upper apical tooth almost obsolete, making the mandible an elongate triangle. g. 25 mm. long. Thorax 8 mm. long, 4:5 mm. wide; head 1-5 mm. long, 4:3 mm. wide; abdomen 13:5 mm. long. Head reddish brown, mandibles, antennae, and legs ferruginous; thorax, petiole, and abdomen dark brownish yellow, the pronotum and petiole with a rather castaneous tint. The whole body, except the legs, mandibles, and antennae covered with a close and fine yellow pubescence. Head, thorax, coxae and petiole with long, silky, and pale yellow hairs. The apical abdominal segment has similar hairs, but shorter. Head behind the eyes rather shining, the rest of the head, and the body, impunctate and dull, all the legs smooth and shining. Head much wider than long, a very little wider than the thorax. Front of the head somewhat raised in the middle, leaving a broad but shallow depression on each side, reaching to the eyes. Frontal carinae obsolete. Eyes moderately large; ocelli on a raised area, the vertex concave between the posterior ocelli. The scape extends back as far as the anterior ocellus, flagellum two and a half times as long as the scape; Ist and 2nd joints not longer than wide, the rest longer than wide; the 2nd joint is pubescent and dull below. The mandibles are flattened, widest at the base, thinning after the basal third, the apex rounded. When the thorax is looked at from above, the pronotum is not visible, as it lies entirely below the mesonotum ; the latter is half as long again as wide, the parapsidal sutures distinct ; the scutellum 118 Annals of the South African Musewm. is one-third as long as the mesonotum; the epinotum is rounded, its dorsum shorter than the scutellum. The node of the petiole is wider behind than in front, rounded above and at the sides, the ventral lamella densely fimbriated and produced into a triangle, blunt at the apex. First to 5th abdominal segments wider than long, each segment a trifle longer than the preceding, 6th segment longer than wide, wider at the base and narrowing towards the rounded apex. Genital armature castaneous and very shining. Seen from below, the external margins of the volsella are shallowly concave from base to near the apex, and fringed with long hairs; stipites strongly convex above. Wings slightly yellowish brown, nervures brown. g. Two specimens of this sex, belonging to the South African Museum, have been examined. One is preserved dry, the other in spirit. The former appears to have retained the natural proportions more truly than the other, and the following description is based on the dry specimen, except where the other is specifically mentioned. Length, from apex of opened mandibles to apex of hypopygium, 39 mm.; length of head, from anterior margin of clypeus to the occipital margin, 3°7 mm. dry specimen, 3‘8 mm. spirit specimen ; length of thorax 5 mm.; width of thorax, 4:5 mm. dry specimen, 5 mm. spirit specimen; length of abdomen from base of 1st segment to apex of pygidium, 25:2 mm. The colour is much lighter in the spirit specimen, in which also the thorax is not much darker than the abdomen. In the dry speci- men the abdomen is pale castaneous or a pale burnt-sienna, the head and thorax dark castaneous red, mandibles piceous in their inner margins, the hypopygium piceous on the external margins. The sides of the hypopygium rather dull, the rest of the insect very smooth and shining, and sparsely punctured with very small punctures. The punctures on the head and pronotum are a little larger than elsewhere ; the sides of the pronotum posteriorly closely punctured, sub-opaque. Head one and three-fifths as wide as long, as wide in front as behind, sides convex, posterior margin moderately and angularly emarginate, posterior angles rounded but prominent. The dorsum of the head, seen from the side, is slightly flattened, the median groove arising from the occipital margin is almost obsolete above; there are three very small depressions above, marking the position of the atrophied ocelli. Clypeus depressed above the anterior margin, which is straight; frontal carinae short, raised in front, divergent behind, between them lies a round depres- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. II) sion continuous with the posterior margin of the clypeus. Mandibles. curved strongly inwards, half as long as the head, narrowing towards. the apex, which is acute; the inner margin is feebly convex in the middle, and concave on each side of that point. Antennae 11-jointed, scape as long as the flagellum less the apical joint; the latter is. longer than wide, and as long as the two preceding joints together ;, the 1st joint as wide as long, the rest wider than long. Pronotum wider than long, about as wide as the head between the posterior angles, the sides convex, the anterior portion somewhat produced to form a neck, the pro-mesonotal suture well defined. Mesonotum as long as wide, separated from the epinotum by a metanotal region which is one-sixth as long as the mesonotum. The impression between the meso- and metanotum is deeper and more distinct at the sides. The lateral margin of the thorax, between the meta- and epinotum is distinctly excised. The epinotum is nearly twice as wide as long, on each side posteriorly just above the very short declivous portion there is a pronounced angle ; the margin between these angles is roundly produced in the middle. Seen from above, the anterior margin of the petiole is shallowly concave in the middle. The petiole widens behind, and the posterior angles are produced backwards and somewhat outwards into sub-acute teeth; the pos- terior margin 1s convex. The petiole is rather flattened above, and twice as wide (across the base of the teeth) as it is long. The 1st-4th abdominal segments are wider at the apical margin than at the base, and considerably wider than long. The Sth seg- ment is widest at the base and narrows towards the apical margin, which ends in two short sub-acute teeth, separated by a semicircular excision. The hypopygium is bifurcate along its apical third, the excision between the branches of the fork being narrow and wider at the base. At the base of the hypopygium the external margins are curved upwards on each side so as to form a flap, which is pro- longed on its upper margin into a compressed tooth-like process, rounded at the apex and directed backwards. Internal to the flaps, and at about two-thirds of the distance from the external margins, there is on each side a longitudinal raised ridge, which ends abruptly a, little before the base of the apical forks. The apical joint of all the tarsi is wanting in both specimens. This species has been recorded from the larger part of the South African region. In 8. Rhodesia it is common, and more frequently met with than any other species of the genus. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) 120 Annals of the South African Musewn. D. BRAUNSI, Emery. Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 8, p. 718, f 3, 1895. This species is exceedingly similar to helvolus, differing from it chiefly in the shape of the head, which in the 2/)/ and larger % % is distinctly wider in front than behind, the sides converging posteriorly, so that the occipital margin is rendered shorter. The puncturation of the vertex is also shallower and sparser in all the % 8, but in specimens determined as Brawnsi for me by Dr. Forel, I do not find that the smallest workers (2°38 mm.) have the sides of the head entirely smooth as described by Prof. Emery. The 2 do not exceed 8 mm. in length. The colour, especially of the larger forms, is slightly darker than in helvolus ; otherwise similar to that species. Bulawayo. (R.M., G.A. colls.) D. arrinis, Shuckard. (Plate IV., fig. 35.) Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. 5, p. 316, g, 1840. Mayr (Typhlopone oraniensis, var. brevinodosa), Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 737, 8, 1862. Hmery, Mem. Accad. Se. Bologna, Ser. 5, vol. 9, p. 421; ¥, 3, 1901. The % 8 of this species are very similar to those of helvolus and brevipennis ; helvolus is more strongly and closely punctured on the head, and does not reach to such a large size in 2/ or % maxima. From brevipennis, the workers of this species can be distinguished only with difficulty, the main distinction being the shape of the petiole, as given in the key above. ¥ or % maxima. 10-11 mm. Head, from 3:3 mm. long x 2°6 mm. wide, to 3:7 mm. long x 2°38 mm. wide. The colour is like that of helvolus; the abdomen is lighter than the thorax. Head shining, mandibles finely reticulate and sparsely punctured; dorsum of the pro- and mesonotum smooth, epinotum reticulate and dull, the opacity being due to a microscopic rugulosity. The puncturation on the thorax is shallower and less abundant than on the head. The petiole is duller than the thorax, and the puncturation feebler and less regular. The abdomen is shining, shallowly and sparsely punctured. All the punctures bear short hairs, intermixed with which on the abdomen are some longer semi-erect hairs. ‘There are a few pilose hairs on the ventral surface of the abdomen, the clypeus, mandibles and pygidium ; the hairs on A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 121 the legs are comparatively longer and more abundant than in helvolus. The head is sub-rectangular, the posterior margin deeply excised, the sides more or less feebly bisinuate. The mandible is acute at the apex, with a pre-apical tooth at about the middle of the inner margin, and a rudiment of a sub-apical tooth. The frontal carinae are a little separated in front, but converge abruptly above the antennal sockets, and each ends in a sharp spine pointing obliquely backwards. The petiole is wider than long, widest posteriorly ; it is com- paratively larger than in helvolus. The tooth-like projections of the pygidium are not quite so prominent, otherwise similar to helvolus. 8 minor. 8-0°5 mm. Head, 2°6 mm. long x 2 mm. wide, to 1:7 mm. long x 1:'4 mm. wide. The posterior margin of the head is less deeply excised, the sub-apical tooth of the mandibles larger, nearly equal to the pre-apical. The puncturation is finer, and the pubescence a little more distinct, and the colour lighter than in the Y. 8 minima. 3°0 mm. or less. In these the anterior margin of the clypeus is more projecting, the frontal carinae are closer together and less acute posteriorly, or in examples 3 mm. long, with the spinous processes entirely obsolete. Antennae with 7-8 joints, all the joints of the flagellum, except the Ist and last, much wider than long. The whole body is shining, and the colour dirty ochreous. 3. 222mm. This is exceedingly like that of helvolus, differing practically only in the following characters. It is a little smaller than helvolus, and the mesonotum is rather narrower; according to Emery, the mesonotum is also more densely clothed with both long and short hairs, but this character is perhaps rather difficult to appreciate. The strongest distinction lies in the shape of the stipites, seen from above. In this species the stipites narrow gradually from base to apex, so that the lateral outline forms a continuous curve; in helvolus the stipites are narrowed in the middle and widen out again beyond it, so that the profile is sinuate. ? unknown. Iam not aware of this species having been recorded so far, from the region dealt with in this work, but have in- cluded it as it may perhaps be found in the future within the more northern parts of S. Rhodesia. It is a more northern species, but has been recorded from the southern Belgian Congo. (G.A. coll.) 122 Annals of the South African Museum. D. BREVIPENNIS, Emery. Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 8, p. 721, g¢, 1895. Mem. Accad. Se. Bologna (5), vol. 9, p. 424, %, 1901. “9. A small species, of a somewhat stumpy build. Particu- larly noticeable on the head are the small and but slightly projecting eyes, which are separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance about equal to the thickness of the scape. The mandibles are plainly smaller than in affimis. The antennae are long, the scape shorter than the first 5 joints of the flagellum, or about as long as one-third of the latter. Thorax stout, petiole as in affims. There are some erect hairs on the pronotum; on the mesonotum and scutellum only a long, adpressed pubescence, which is hardly glossy and does not conceal the chitin. Colour brownish yellow, head excepting the mandibles dark brown; on the mesonotum in front there is a short median band of darker colour, and also two lateral bands which do not reach the anterior margin; the femora and petiole brown; the margins of the abdominal segments brownish. Wings noticeably short, glassy and with brown nervures ; the transverse nervure joins the middle of the root of the cubital. The genital organs are constructed much as in affinis, but the outer parameres seen from above are markedly broad, not excised at all laterally. Length, 20-21 mm.; head and thorax, 8 mm.; width of thorax, 4 mm.; anterior wings, 12° mm.” % 85 mm. This worker is deceptively like that of affinis, differing only in its smaller size in the major forms, and in having the petiole shorter and wider behind than in that species. The type species has not been recorded from this region, but I quote the description for the purpose of making clear the com- parisons in the account of the following variety, which was originally found at Salisbury, S. Rhodesia. Var. MarsHauul, Emery. Mem. Accad. Sc. Bologna (5), vol. 9, p. 425, ¥ gf, 1901. 3. 19mm. Width of thorax 4mm. This differs from the type in having a stouter and darker thorax, castaneous brown, and the nearly black head; the sides of the thorax are lighter; the longitudinal lateral fascia and the spots on the anterior part of the mesonotum less clearly defined, on account of the darker ground-colour. 8 max. 85 mm. Head, 2:8 mm. long x 23 mm. wide. The colour is a little darker than the type species, and the puncturation A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 123 of the petiole, which is less shining, is more abundant. Otherwise like the type. Race ZimMERMANNI, Santschi. Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 18, p. 738, Y%, ¥, g, 1910. 2% 8mm. Colour, puncturation and general characters exceed- ingly similar to those of helvolus. The sides of the head are, how- ever, slightly sinuate; the teeth of the mandibles more acute, and the petiole a very little wider. The ventral lamella of the petiole is produced behind into a sharp spine, pointing downwards (the lamella is truncate in helvolus 2). % media, 6-3'-4 mm. These do not appear to me to present any appreciable differences sufficient to distinguish them from workers of helvolus of the same size; the ventral lamella is not spinously produced as in the ¥%. Of the smallest ¥ ¥ (2 mm.) described by Santschi, I have seen no examples; they have 8-jointed antennae. My specimens have been named for me by Dr. Forel, but I must confess that to me they appear so exceedingly similar to helvolus, as to be almost indistinguishable, except in the character of the ventral lamella in the 2. “g 19-20 mm. Yellowish brown. Head, mandibles, and femora brown-black. There are two short brownish bands on the middle of the mesonotum anteriorly. lLaterally, a band twice as long as the preceding covers the parapsidal sutures. ‘There is also a long band on the posterior margins of the abdominal segments. The petiole is entirely yellowish brown except the portion articulating with the abdomen, which is blackish brown. Antennae and legs dark reddish brown. Pilosity rusty on and below the head, rather sparse on the front of the pronotum, more abundant on the epinotum and petiole. The rest of the body is covered with a fairly dense pubescence, fairly long on the thorax, but shorter on the abdomen. The head is small, as in moestus, but a little wider. The eyes are dull and small, with distinct facets. The distance between the lateral ocelli much shorter than that separating them from the eyes. Mandibles wider than in the type, the outer edge less emarginate, straighter. The scape is as long as the first 6 joints of the flagellum taken together; 2nd joint of flagellum pubescent beneath, hardly longer than half the succeeding joint. Length of thorax, 7 mm.; width in the middle, 4 mm. Length of the front wing, 14:5 mm. Petiole narrower than in affinis, wider than in moestws. Abdomen 3°8 mm. wide, cylindrical. Genital armature brownish, 5 mm. long by 3mm. wide. The extremity of the stipites is narrower than in 124 Annals of the South African Museum. the type and rather densely fringed. The volsella is a little longer ; otherwise like the type. Madingou, French Congo.” Hillside, Bulawayo, ¥ % only. (R.M., G.A. colls.) D. FurcAtTuS, Gerstaecker. Stettin Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 33, p. 267, 9, 1872. Emery, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 19, p. 349, ¢, 1887. “9, 34mm, Abdomen, 26 mm. Colour light rusty red, .. . smooth and shining. Antennae with 10-jointed flagellum. Head quadrate but rounded, the median dorsal groove is deepest behind, and very shallow on the vertex. The frontal carinae almost reach to the anterior margin of the clypeus, which lies between them in the shape of a small triangle. On the anterior portion of the vertex, the median groove forms an oval, well-defined and strongly punctured pit [v.e. the depressed area between the frontal carinae.—G. A.]. The posterior corners of the head are obtusely triangular and pro- duced backwards. The upper surface of the head is finely but distinctly punctured, more sparsely so behind than in front, the latter region being slightly dull owing to an exceedingly fine sub- puncturation. . . . The prothorax is wider at the shoulders than at the posterior margin. . . . The mesothorax is flattened, very shallowly impressed in the middle in front, punctured like the prothorax, but more strongly than the head, nevertheless distinctly shining. The metathorax is also depressed, with a transverse groove on the compressed anterior portion, and the posterior part is slightly swollen on each side; the segment is more finely and sparsely punctured than the pro- or mesothorax. The femora and tibiae are punctured ; the last three joints of the tarsi wanting in all the legs. First abdominal segment wider than long, trapezoid, 3rd—6th segments longer and wide and parallel-sided. Hypopygium two and a half times longer than wide, with a transverse furrow- shaped impression along three-fifths of its length on each side; narrowed posteriorly and forked in the middle of the posterior margin by a deep oval excision, the two arms of the fork long and obtusely triangular, and flat. The surface of the hypopygium, excepting its base, is finely punctured, between the lateral furrows and the median excision fairly densely punctured. The dth dorsal segment is longer than the 4th, but ends before the fork of the hypopygium, its posterior margin on each side wide and flat, in the middle narrow and deeply emarginate, so as to form on each side of the emargination a triangular and projecting point. At the base of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 125 the hypopygium, and on each side of the genital orifice, is a raised lamella which is vertically truncate posteriorly. The outer margins. of the hypopygium at its base are also raised and curved, so as to form a shorter and more obtuse lappet on each side. Cape.” I have copied the author’s description, excluding only those remarks in which comparison is made with the Indian D. laevigatus (glaberrimum). The above description of furcatus was published as far back as 1872, and as far as I am aware no species of Dorylus with unattached % 8, to which this ¢ might be ascribed, is known from the Cape even now. Without having seen the original specimen it is not possible to form any definite conclusion, yet a comparison made between the above description and a helvolus ¢ , in the collection of the South African Museum (described p. 118, ante), suggests to my mind a strong probability that Gerstaecker’s species is only an individual aberration of helvolus, or at the most only a. variety of that species. Susp-Genus TYPHLOPONE, Westwood. Introduction Class, Insects, vol. 2, p. 219, 1840. Emery, Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 8, p. 701, 1895. D. (TyPHLOPONE) FULVUS, Westwood. Loc. cit. $. Emery, loc. cit. 9. Shuckard (D. guwvenculus), Ann.. Nat. Hist., vol. 5, p. 319, g. The type species appears to be confined to the northern portion of Africa, and is replaced in equatorial and 8.H. tropical Africa by the following race, which has not been recorded to my knowledge from temperate South Africa. The sub-genus includes only this species and D. labiatus of the Indian region. Race Bapius, Gerstaecker. (Plate IV., figs. 31, 3la, 32, 32a, 32d.) Monatsber. Akad. Wiss., Berlin, p. 261, 8, 1858. Ditto, Peter’s. Reise, n. Mossamb. Zool., vol. 5, p. 499, g¢, 1862. yor $ maxima. 13mm. Head 3-2 mm. long x 2°8 mm. wide. Mandibles piceous brown, scape of antenna, head and thorax dark castaneous red, but getting gradually lighter from the head to the petiole; abdomen dark brownish yellow, or ochreous with a slight reddish tinge; legs ferruginous; flagellum dark brown above, lighter underneath. Head, thorax and abdomen very shining, except the. 126 Annals of the South African Musewm. anterior third of the head, the vertical anterior face of the pronotum, the mesopleura, the petiole and the epinotum, which are duller, owing to a rugulosity of the surface which is almost microscopic on the head, but somewhat stronger on the other parts. Head sparsely punctured, with small, discrete and shallow punctures; scape of antenna more coarsely punctured. Pro- and mesonotum sparsely, but much more coarsely punctured than the head. Epinotum and petiole very shallowly and more closely punctured, the punctures being smaller than on the pronotum. Abdomen finely and sparsely punctured. A short, yellow pubescent hair is inserted in each puncture, those on the head being very fine. Head very slightly narrowed posteriorly, the sides are almost parallel, posterior margin shallowly arcuate. Mandibles sub- nitidulous, striato-punctate, the apex sub-acute, the pre-apical tooth small and blunt, the sub-apical very obtuse or represented only by a swelling on the margin. The frontal carinae are considerably raised, divergent and vertical in front, and project distinctly over the very short clypeus; they are angularly bent just above the antennal sockets, so that their posterior half is horizontal. Between them posteriorly is a very smooth and shining oval area, which is con- tinued into a moderately deep groove with rounded margins which becomes very faint on the vertex, and again deepens towards the occipital margin. The frontal carinae are not spinously produced backwards as in helvolus and affimis. Antennae 11-jointed; the scape is strongly incrassate towards the apex, and not longer than the first 7 joints of the flagellum. The Ist joint of the flagellum very short and about as long as wide, all the other joints except the apical much wider than long ; all the joints closely punctured and densely pubescent beneath. Prothorax narrowed and depressed - anteriorly to form a short neck; it is widest behind this part and narrows towards the mesonotum, from which it is separated by a distinct and angular suture. The mesonotum widens posteriorly, where it is two-thirds wider than long. The epinotum is widest at its base (on each side of which lies a prominent stigmatic orifice), and narrows but slightly towards the short and vertical declivity ; the brow of the latter is considerably rounded above and atthe corners. The dorsum of the epinotum has a longitudinal median impression. Seen from the side, the dorsum of the whole thorax is flat and rather distinctly delimited from the sides, which are vertical or nearly so. The node of the petiole is almost sub-quadrate, or a little wider behind than in front, as long as, or only very little longer than wide, all the angles strongly rounded ; the ventral lamella is produced into a triangular A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 127 projection. The abdomen widens gradually towards the apical margin of the 3rd segment, all the segments wider than long. The pygidial area of the 5th segment is dull and only shallowly impressed, forming a more or less oval fovea, not semicircular or bounded by a sharp raised margin, asin the sub-genus Dorylus. By this character, and also by the longer petiole and the frontal carinae without spines, all the workers of this species can be distinguished at a glance from those of the sub-genus Dorylus. % minor. 8-3mm. _ In these the colour is much lighter, or more or less reddish yellow. Antennae 11-jointed as in the maxima. Proportionately the head is wider in front than in the ¥ maxima. The puncturation is finer and the pubescence is more apparent. In the smaller forms the frontal carinae project further forwards and are more convergent posteriorly, or even meet to form a single lamina. The median impression on the head is much shallower and shorter, or almost obsolete. The mandibles are more shining, with three teeth more acute and distinctly defined. % minima. It is probable that there are some of this class, and measuring less than the smallest of the minor class. I do not, how- ever, possess any smaller than 3 mm., nor do I know of any workers of a smaller size of this race having been described by any author. 3g. 33 mm. Thorax 10:2 mm. long x 5:8 mm. wide; petiole 2°38 mm. long x 4 mm. wide; length of front wing, 22mm. Head in front and above, dark brown, occipital surface of the head, antennae, mandibles and all the legs ferruginous or castaneous red. Thorax, petiole, and abdomen pale yellowish red, the 6th dorsal seg- ment and the margins of all the abdominal segments darker. The thorax is somewhat more yellowish than the abdomen. The anterior part of the head between the anterior ocellus and the clypeus clothed with long, curved, silky yellow hairs; a tuft of similar hairs on the clypeus and the base of the mandibles. The front of the head is densely clothed with a short brownish-yellow pubescence, the posterior portion, behind the eyes and ocelli, glabrous. The thorax and petiole with a rather long, very dense, decumbent, yellowish or golden pubescence; the pubescence of the abdomen is much finer, and has a silky sheen, the margins of all the segments with longer hairs, and the 6th segment densely clothed with long silky hairs. The metanotum is sparsely clothed with short stiff hairs ; the brow of the epinotum, the posterior dorsal margin of the petiole, and the space between the ventral lamella and the 1st abdominal segment and all the coxae fringed with long golden hairs. The whole body is sub-opaque and microscopically rugulose, except the 128 Annals of the South African Museum. occipital part of the head, the 6th dorsal abdominal segment, and the: legs, which are smooth and shining. The head is much wider than long ; seen in profile, rather biconvex. The anterior margin of the clypeus is obtusely angulated ; from the- posterior margin to the anterior ocellus there is a narrow impressed line, between which and the inner margins of the eyes the surface of the head is feebly convex on each side. Seen from the front, the dorsal profile of the head is very convex, the convexity being broken by a slight depression between the two posterior ocelli. The latter are very convex, prominent and large. The scape narrows towards its apex, and when directed upwards the apex just reaches. the level of the top of the head; it is as long as the first 7 joints of the flagellum. The latter is 12-jointed, all the joints, except the- first, longer than wide. The first jointis glabrous and shining below, the remaining joints pubescent and very finely punctured all over. The whole thorax is somewhat globose, and its dorsum raised much above the level of that of the head and abdomen. Seen from above- only a narrow portion of the pronotum is visible, but at the sides it can be seen as a large triangular piece between the mesonotum and the mesopleuron. The mesonotum is convex in front and at the sides, slightly flattened posteriorly, and about one-fifth longer than wide ; anteriorly and on each side of the middle there is a well- defined impressed line, which ends abruptly at about the anterior 4th of the mesonotum. The parapsidal sutures are distinct. The scutellum is flat in front, convex behind and at the sides, and has a wide median groove on its posterior half. The metanotum is very short ; seen from the side very convex. The epinotum at the brow of the declivity is nearly four times as wide as long. The petiole is. moderately convex above and at the sides, and one-third wider than long. The ventral lamella is produced into a blunt angular projec- tion, truncated behind and in front. Abdomen cylindrical, all the segments decidedly wider than long. The 6th segment is narrowed towards the apex, which is rounded. The stipites, seen from above, are slightly divergent at their apices, and densely fringed with golden hairs; the volsellae are long, and reach almost to the apex of the stipites. All the femora are compressed and flattened from front to. back, and much wider at the base than at the apex. Wings with a. slightly yellowish tinge, the nervures dark brown. The g¢ 3g of this species are exceedingly common at light during the rainy season in South Rhodesia; the 8 8, however, do not. appear to be so frequently met with as helvolus. ? unknown. (G.A., R.M., 8.A.M. colls.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 129 Race RHopEsIAz, Forel. Ann coc nt Belg vole oi, p, Ulla 3s igi: The largest ¥ , 8°56 mm., of this race is smaller than that of the type, and the smallest examples, 3 mm., hitherto found, are probably not the minimum size. This race differs from the type and from badius by its lighter, or more straw-yellow colour. The head is shorter and more feebly emarginate posteriorly, and hardly more than one-sixth longer than wide. ‘The node is as wide as long. Hab. Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Sus-Genus RHOGMUS, Shuckard. Ann, Nat. Hist., vol. 5, p. 323, 1840. Emery, Zool. Jahrb. Syst., ; vol. 8, p. 702, 1895. D. (Sus-G. Ruoemus) Frvsriatus, Shuckard. (Plate IV., figs. 36, 36a.) Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. 5, p. 325, g, 1840. Emery, Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 8, p. 736, 3, 1895. Brauns, Zeitschr. f. Hymen Dee Dipti vols, pa29+. 9. L903: This species is the only representative of the sub-genus in South Africa. ‘The variation in the worker caste is more complicated than in the other species of the genus, owing to the fact that there is not a gradual differentiation between the largest and the smallest forms. There are practically four groups, having either 11, or 10, or 9, or 7-8 jointed antennae, each group having its maxima and minima. forms, with the shape of the head varying according to the size of the insect. The forms with 11-jointed antennae vary inlength from 8 to 3-O6mm. ” 10 ” ” 371 to HoT mm.. ” 9 Ly) be) 3 to 2°6 mm. » 7-8 “0 ae 2:2 to 1-7mm. The % % of this species may be distinguished from either helvolus or affinis by the absence of the spiniform posterior projections of the frontal carinae, and also, in the largest examples, by the denser puncturation and the dull thorax, which is finely but distinctly rugulose. From fulvus, race badiws, which this species resembles in the indistinct pygidial impression, it may be distinguished in the larger forms by the dull thorax, and in the smaller by the much stronger puncturation. 9 130 Annals of the South African Museum. % maxima. 8mm. Head, flagellum and thorax castaneous red, -the head a little darker than the thorax, and the petiole lighter, abdomen, legs, and scape reddish yellow. The anterior third of head is finely punctured, microscopically rugulose and dull, the rest of the head above and at the sides is closely and strongly punctured, the space between the punctures smooth and shining. The frontal carinae are finely rugoso-punctate, the mandibles sparsely punctured, smooth and shining. The pro- and mesonotum with larger but shallower punctures than on the head, the epinotum very faintly punctured; the whole thorax is transversely rugulose and sub- opaque, the rugulosity on the epinotum being stronger, so that that segment is entirely dull. The petiole is very finely rugoso-punctuate and dull. The scape of the antenna, the abdomen and the legs shining, finely and sparsely punctured. The pubescence is very short and scanty on the abdomen, and almost entirely absent on the head and thorax; there are a few long hairs on the clypeus and pygidium, and two or three on each side of the posterior angles of the node. The head is as long as wide, widest in front, narrowing only slightly towards the posterior angles, the posterior margin shallowly emarginate. The posterior margin of the pronotum is arcuate, not angularly emarginate as in badius. The node of the petiole is one and a quarter times wider than longer. The median impressed line is shallow in front of the head and on the vertex, moderately deep posteriorly. The sub-apical tooth of the mandible truncate. Antennae 11-jointed. 8. Antennae 11-jointed, 5-3-5 mm. These differ from the maxima by having the head proportionately shorter, and wider anteriorly. The colour is also lighter; the anterior third of the head is less dull, and the thorax is more shining; the pubescence of the head and thorax more distinct. %. Antennae 10-jointed, 3:-1-2°7 mm. The head is only a little less wide than in the smallest of the forms with 11-jointed antennae. The puncturation is, relatively to the size of the body, much coarser. 3. Antennae 9-jointed, 3-26 mm. In the smaller of these the head resembles the preceding group; in the larger on the contrary, the head is narrower in front than behind, its sides are distinctly convex, and the clypeus projects further forwards. 8. 8- or 7-jointed, 2:°2-1'7 mm. In the larger of these, the projection of the clypeus is even more pronounced, but the head is only very slightly narrowed in front; on the other hand, in the smaller forms, the head is very plainly narrower in front than A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 131 behind, and the clypeus projects considerably forwards, the puncturation and pubescence is also more pronounced. ?. S0mm. Head 4 mm. long x 5mm. wide; thorax 6°5 mm. long; abdomen 30 mm. long; free portion of hypopygium 7 mm. long. Head, thorax, petiole and dorsal surface of abdomen ferru- ginous, ventral surface of abdomen and legs, ferruginous-flavous, hypopygium castaneous; node and Ist abdominal segment some- what darker. Head a little wider than the posterior margin of the petiole, much wider than the thorax, wider than long. Sides of the head sinuate in the middle, occipital margin widely but shallowly emarginate. A deep median groove extending from the posterior angle of the clypeus to the occiput, divides the dorsum of the head into two halves. The anterior face of the head, above the antennal sockets, moderately excavated. Clypeus flat, witha slight emargina- tion in the middle of the anterior margin, angularly produced behind between the frontal carinae. The latter are tumid and not distinct. The antennae do not reach the occipital margin; the scape as long as the flagellum. The latter 10-jointed, the 1st joint slightly longer than broad, the 2nd—9th joints wider than long, the apical twice as long as wide. Mandibles about three-fifths as long as the head, curved inwards, the inner edge bounded by a raised line, the apex acuminate. Dorsum of thorax rather flattened, the sides of the pronotum rounded, of the meso- and metanota sloping inwardly. Epinotum a little wider than the pronotum, the declivity obsolete. The petiole is roughly semicircular, the anterior margin sinuate, the lateral angles considerably rounded; anteriorly there is a slight median impression above; the posterior margin is convex, except laterally behind the posterior angles, where there is a concavity on each side. The posterior angles of the node are prominent, the apices obtuse. First-3rd abdominal segments sub-equal in length, 4th and 5th sub-equal, both slightly longer than the 38rd, all the segments wider than long. The hypopygium differs very consider- ably from that of helvolus. The median apical incision is indeed so deep that, when seen from above, the organ may be described as consisting of a short basal portion, carrying two lateral projections which curve downwards and slightly inwards, and are rapidly narrowed towards their apices. The upper surface of these projections are longitudinally hollowed out, the external edge of the excavations so formed being less sharp than the internal. The left-hand fork or projection has at its base a smaller excavation, which is only feebly indicated in the right-hand fork. All the legs have 5 joints to the tarsi, these are shorter than the tibiae. 132 Annals of the South African Museum. The head is dull, microscopically punctulate, with a few larger punctures interspersed. The thorax is sub-nitidulous, moderately and finely punctured, also with a few larger punctures interspersed.. The petiole is punctured and shining. The abdomen is very shining, the dorsal surface very sparsely and finely punctulate. The hypopygium is more or less rugulose and dull, the projections somewhat shining externally. The above description is drawn from the specimen in the collection of Dr. H. Brauns, Willowmore. This specimen was. taken from the nest by Mr. G. A. K. Marshall at Salisbury,. S. Rhodesia. “g. 37 mm.; alar expanse, 46mm. Rufo-testaceous, very pilose. upon the face, the thorax above and beneath, the coxae, also the petiole below, the margins of the terminal segments above and of the two last beneath, which are densely fringed. The head black upon the vertex and behind; face convex, sulcated in front of the anterior ocellus; the ocelli large, disposed in an equilateral triangle on the vertex ; with about the diameter of one intervening between the anterior ocellus and the posterior pair; antennae slender, setaceous, the scape one-fourth the length of the organ; mandibles. broad, nearly triangular, very slightly curved, the inner edge acute.. Thorax gibbous in front and at the scutellum; prothorax very distinct, and metathorax slightly produced and rounded posteriorly ; wings sub-hyaline, their nervures robust and brown, the radial lost. in a large dilated dark patch at the commencement of the marginal cell; the cubital slightly undulated, the first recurrent inserted just beyond the middle of the first sub-marginal cell (cubital), and the 2nd recurrent half-way between the first and the termination of the: cell, and diverging obliquely towards the edge of the wing; legs castaneous, the femora elongate, ovate, compressed, their outline slightly rounded above and below. Abdomen opaque, clavate, the: petiole transverse and quadrate convex, fringed at its apex, and very pilose beneath, where it is slightly longitudinally carinated, not so- wide as the 2nd segment [z.e. lst abd. segment, mihi, G.A.] which viewed above is nearly quadrate, the remainder all transverse; of these the penultimate and terminal are the largest, the latter deeply emarginate in the middle, fimbriated along the edge, as are also the two last ventral segments, the terminal of which is semicircular, and the penultimate nearly quadrate.”’ As I have had only a considerably damaged specimen before. my eyes, I have preferred to copy Shuckard’s original description. The g of this species is easily distinguished from all our other A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa, 133 species by the very globose thorax, which, with the petiole, is densely clothed with long, golden, erect hairs, and by the shape of the abdomen, in which the apical segments are much wider than the 1st-8rd, and by the dense dark golden fimbria of the last two segments. (R.M., G.A. colls.) Sus-Genus ALAOPONH, Emery. Ann. Mus. Stor. Nat. Gen., vol. 16, p. 274, 1881. Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 8, p. 702, 1895. There are but three species of this sub-genus recorded from the ‘South African region, all known only in the male sex. D. (Sub-G. ALAoponr) aTTENATUSs, Shuckard. “« g, 22mm, Alar expanse 31°56 mm. Pale reddish, testaceous, opaque, sub-pubescent, slender; head black, except the mandibles, which, as well as the scape of the antennae, are pitchy, the latter barely one-fifth the length of the organ, which is filiform and elongate; ocelli posed in a triangle at the vertex, moderately large, with about the space of the diameter of one ocellus between the posterior and the anterior, in front of which the face (which is convex) is suleated ; mandibles broad and very slightly curved, their inner edge acute, with an obtuse angula- ‘tion at the base within. Thorax gibbous in front and at the scutellum, the latter transverse with a longitudinal impression in the centre; metathorax produced slightly and rounded posteriorly ; _ wings obscure, their nervures reddish brown, the cubital slightly waved, the recurrent straight and inserted at less than two-thirds the length of the 1st marginal cell; legs castaneous, the femora elongate ovate, their outline rounded both above and _ below. Abdomen obscure, the petiole quadrate, gibbous, the ventral portion very slightly obtusely portioned, the remaining segments transverse, the sexual organ protruding at the apex of the terminal segment and fringed. Gambia?” I have not met with this species in S. Rhodesia. It has been recorded from Capetown (teste Emery), German 8.W. Africa, and Bechuanaland. (Schultze.) Var. ACUMINATA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 43, p. 462, 3, 1899. “gg. This differs from that which I consider as the type, by the form of the stipes in the genital armature. The two pieces of the 134 Annals of the South African Museum. pair are near together and parallel in the new variety, whereas they are clearly divergent behind in the type. Moreover, each is obliquely truncated, so that the medial angle of its posterior extremity is acute and pointed. Otherwise like the type, but a little smaller. Orange Free State.” D. (Sub-G. ALAOPONE) DIADEMA, Gerstaecker. Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 261, 9, 1858. Forel, Ann. 8. E. Belg., vol. 43, p, 309, ¢, 1899. Gerstaecker’s description of the species is so short as to be useless ; a more complete one has been made by Forel, which is as follows. “3. 20-20°3 mm. The compound eyes are nearly smooth, the facets not forming separate convexities. Width of the head with the eyes, 3'°3 mm.; length of the head without the mandibles, 1-9 mm. ; maximum width of the thorax, 3 mm.; maximum width of the abdo- men, 38 mm.; width of the petiole 2:1 mm., length 2 mm.; length of anterior wing 15:5 mm. Elongated like juvenculus (= fulvus). Mandibles thick, short, bevelled at the apex, smooth and shining. Labrum entire, as in helvolus and nigricans (bilobed in yuvenculus). Mutual distance of the posterior ocelli a little greater than their distance from the compound eyes. The ocelli are not very large, much smaller than the interval which separates the posterior ones from each other. The frons gibbous, the frontal sinus of the usual shape, and extending from the frontal area to the anterior ocellus, without forming a deep impressed line such as is seen in juvenculus. The clypeus also is not sunken as in that species. Thorax fairly strongly narrowed behind, more so than in juvenculus. Petiole cubic and rounded, a little widened posteriorly, where it is wider than it is long, but the width in front is hardly equal to its length. Abdomen narrow and elongate, but slightly curved, as in juvenculus. The femora are widely dilated and flattened up to the tibial articulation, which is barely narrowed and not in the least rounded or thickened, as is the case in the other species. The femora are also shorter, being but a trifle longer than the coxae. The scape is barely longer than the first 4 joints of the flagellum. The head is closely punctured and dull, except the frontal area, which is smooth and shining ; the space between the punctures does not appear quite smooth. The thorax, petiole and abdomen are abundantly punctured and sub-nitidulous, the thorax is more shining than the petiole and abdomen. On the latter the punctures are fairly close, but without forming reticulations. The last abdominal A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa, 135 segment is smooth and shining, without deep punctures. A yellowish and slightly erect pubescence is present all over, except on the head, where it is sparser, and on the legs and mandibles, where it is absent. On the abdomen it hides the puncturation to a certain extent. There is a yellow and rather woolly pilosity abundant on the coxae, base of the femora, clypeus, metanotum, petiole and extremity of the abdomen, and ventral surface of the thorax, very sparse or wanting elsewhere. Scapes, tibiae and mandibles smooth, shining and glabrous, except for a small row of little hairs on the edge of the tibiae. The colour is pale testaceous yellow. Head, mandibles, tarsi and a narrow border at the apical margins of all the abdominal segments, rusty red. A transverse brown streak on the vertex. Wings feebly tinged with brown, especially the radial cell which is dark brown. Described from the type.” D. (Sub-G. ALAOPONE) MONTANUS, Santschi, var. BONDROITI, Santschi. (Type) Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 18, p. 750, ¢, 1910. (Variety) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 56, p. 162, 4, 1912. “oS. 22°5mm,. Width of head, 3°38 mm.; width of thorax 4 mm.; width of abdomen 3-8-4 mm. Length of front wing, 20 mm. Light testaceous yellow ; margins of abdominal segments narrowly reddish yellow. Head brownish black, slightly reddish in front. Mandibles and legs ferruginous. Wings slightly tinged with brown, stigma and nervures brown. Head finely punctured, dull; frontal area, man- dibles, scape and first 2 joints of the flagellum, legs and last segment of abdomen smooth and shining. Abdomen and the thorax dull, as finely punctured as the head, but less densely, thorax slightly shining. A yellow and woolly pilosity is plentiful on the coxae, base of femora, sternum, the sides, the ventral surface of the petiole and last abdominal segment. On the dorsum of the thorax and petiole there is a more erect and silky pilosity, fine and fairly long. The pubescence is downy, short and dense on the head, denser on the abdomen, and less so on the thorax. Head slightly convex above, the frons prominent. The frontal sulcus extends to the anterior ocellus. The lateral ocelli separated farther from each other than from the eyes; the latter shining, with indistinct facets. Frontal area wide and short. Clypeus feebly lobed in the middle. Mandibles short, as wide as half their.length, the internal margin as strongly excised as in diadema, with the apex bevelled off. There is a wide and shallow impression near their external angles. Petiole cubic, slightly rounded, a little narrower in front, wider than long. Abdomen almost cylindrical. The stipites of the 136 Annals of the South African Musewmn. genital armature are roundly truncate at the apex, the external margins in their lower half are slightly concave. The volsellae are large and extend beyond the stipites. The internal paramera (sagittae) form two wide lamellae as in diadema, from which and from attenua- tus it may be distinguished by the genital armature. (Type Kili- mandjaro.) Variety, Transvaal.” I have combined the two descriptions, since the variety differs from the type practically only in the larger head and mandibles, with the former more pilose, and in the stipites, which in the type are smaller and straight on the external margins. Tre HCITINI, Forel. With only one genus in the South African region. Genus AENICTUS, Shuckard. Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. 5, p. 266, 1840. Smith, Journal Linn. Soce., Lond., vol. 2, p. 79 (Typhlatia), 1857. TH. André, 2me Suppl. aux Fourmis, p. 2, 1885. Emery, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 33, p. 43, 1901. Characters. 8 Monomorphic, or varying only in size (except H. mariae, HKm.), and that within narrow limits. Clypeus in the form of a narrow band above the mouth. Frontal carinae vertical, close together, and curved round the antennal sockets. Mandibles dentate. Eyes absent. Antennae 10-jointed, the terminal joint not noticeably thicker than the rest. Thoracic sutures feeble, or obsolete. Hpinotum unarmed. Tibiae with one rudimentary calcar. Abdomen short, more or less oval. ?. (Known only in one species, abeillei, André, from North Africa.) Clypeus, frontal carinae and antennae as in the 8. Eyes absent. Mandibles narrow, edentate and acuminate. Thoracic sutures absent. Petiole 1-jointed and nodiform. First abdominal segment campaniform, not constricted from the following segment so as to form the 2nd joint of a 2-jointed petiole as in the 8. Abdomen elongate, cylindrical and pointed at the apex. Hypo- pygium projecting slightly beyond the pygidium. Middle and hind tibiae without calcaria. g. Clypeus very short, insinuated between the frontal carinae. The latter short. Mandibles acuminate and edentate. Hyes and ocelli well developed, sometimes very iarge. Antennae 13-jointed, scape thick, flagellum thinning towards the apex. Mesonotum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 137 gibbous, overhanging the pronotum; scutellum gibbous; epinotum short. Legs slender, tibiae usually with a rudimentary calcar. Petiole 1-jointed, transverse, flattened or excavated above. Abdo- men cylindrical or clavate. Genital armature entirely retractile. Stipes large, covering laterally the volsella; lacinia very small. Sub-genital plate forked, the branches linear, parallel and distant. Unlike the species of the sub-genus Dorylus, the workers of this genus do not so persistently avoid the light, and may be seen moving about in the open, usually in files, even in the bright sunshine. They are also far more nimble than those insects. Probably many species live an entirely subterranean existence, but all the species which are known to me from Rhodesia have been taken above the surface of the ground. Key to the % % of the Genus Aenictus. (4). 1. Third and 4th joints of the flagellum, or at least the 3rd, distinctly longer than wide. (3). 2. Head distinctly wider in front than behind; dorsum of epinotum evenly and strongly reticulate-punctate Beh ee . .. eugeniae, Hmery. (2). 3. Head not wider in front than behind, tle in re middle ; dorsum of epinotum unevenly and shallowly reticulate-punctate . ovnmdlatnn, Mayr. (1). 4. Third and 4th joints of the flagellum as wide as, or atlan than long. (6). 5. Head wider in front than behind in the §% major, parallel-sided in the te) sambhavere 65g . .. mariae, Emery. (5). 6. Head not wider in meee fine Typha, ranks anomomaeralte steindachneri, Mayr. Without having seen the species, it is not possible for me to include rixator, Forel, in the above Key. It appears to differ from ‘the 8 minor of mariae, Emery, only in having 3 instead of 4 teeth to the mandibles. A. RIXATOR, Forel. In Emery, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 33, p. 48, ¥, 1901. “%. 1:9 mm. Mandibles narrow, their margins nearly parallel, shining, feebly striate and armed with 3 teeth. Frontal carinae short, fused together posteriorly. Head rectangular, as wide behind as in front, feebly emarginate behind, and one-fifth longer than wide. The scape hardly reaches back to the posterior two-fifths of the head, thickened along the apical two-thirds. Third to 6th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Meso-metanotal suture forming a distinct impression, but not constricted. Dorsum of epinotum convex in the middle, the declivity triangular, margined by a distinct ridge. Nodes of the petiole longer than wide, the Ist joint longer and a little wider than the 2nd, having below and right 138 Annals of the South African Museum. in front a very short tooth, directed obliquely backwards. Very smooth and shining, including the petiole. Metathorax and sides of mesothorax fairly shining and reticulate. Piligerous punctures distinct but scanty. The pilosity is fine, yellowish, rather short and sparse, and nearly everywhere oblique. Of a dirty yellow colour, hardly brownish; head and thorax rusty yellow or yellowish red. Natal. (Wroughton.) ”’ A. rotunpatus, Mayr. (Plate IV., fig. 37.) Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 1, 3, 1901. %. 2°3-3°3 mm. Reddish ochre, the basal segment of the abdo men above in some specimens, a little paler. Smooth, very shining and with a few small punctures on the head, pronotum and abdomen ; mesonotum, epinotum and petiole shallowly and rather unevenly reticulate-punctate and dull, but with a slight gloss on the dorsal surfaces. Hine pubescent hairs absent, except on the flagellum. There is a long, yellowish and rather sparse pilosity on the petiole and abdomen, and also, but less regular and scantier, on the head, scape and thorax. Head, excluding the mandibles, very little longer than wide in the larger examples, and about one-sixth longer than wide in the smaller, as wide behind as in front, widest in the middle, convex above and at the sides, very feebly emarginate posteriorly. The frontal carinae are fused together posteriorly, anteriorly they curve round above the very short clypeus, so as to form a semicircular rim round the antennal sockets. The mandibles are elongate triangular, narrowed at the base, dull, finely punctate-striate except along the masticatory margin, which is smooth and shining, and furnished with about 8 or 9 small teeth, and a large sharp apical tooth. The scapes of the antennae reach back as far as the posterior four-fifths of the head; 1st-3rd joints of the flagellum longer than wide, 4th, 5th, and 6th as wide as long, 7th a trifle wider than long, 8th longer than wide, apical joint two and a third times longer than wide. Pro- and mesonotum together rather convex longitudinally ; iaterally the thorax is moderately compressed, dorsally depressed between the meso- and epinotum. The dorsum of the epinotum is widest in the middle, and one and three-quarter times as long as wide; it slopes downwards from the middle to the declivity. The latter is vertical, very short, one-third the length of the dorsum, and feebly margined all round. The Ist joint of the petiole is one-quarter longer than wide, very convex above, but slightly so at the sides; the 2nd joint, seen from above, is narrower in front than behind, and as wide posteriorly as it is long. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 139 The ventral lamella of the 1st joint is produced anteriorly into an angular projection pointing downwards, the 2nd joint is produced below and anteriorly into a blunt projection directed forwards. The 1st abdominal segment as long as, or a little longer than wide, and as long as the remaining segments taken together. Legs long, the 1st joint of the hind tarsi as long as the tibia. Bulawayo. Port Hlizabeth. (Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A. STEINDACHNERI, Mayr. Ann, K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 2, ¥, 1901. “This species differs from rotundatus in the following particulars. %. The sides of the epinotum and also of the metasternum plenti- fully clothed with a backwardly directed pubescence, whereas in rotundatus the epinotum has no pubescence and the sides of the metasternum only a scattered pubescence.* The 3rd—7th joints of the flagellum not longer than wide. The mesonotum, the dorsum of the epinotum and the 2nd joint of the petiole, smooth and shining, with a few piligerous punctures. The epinotum like that of rotwn- datus, but the boundary between the dorsum and the declivity is placed rather higher up, and the declivity is bounded by a raised margin only at the sides (in a larger 8 before me, a curved raised margin above is distinctly present). Reddersburg, Orange Free State. (Brauns.)”’ A. EUGENIAE, Emery. (Plate IV., fig. 38.) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 48, %, 1895. 3. 37-4 mm. Larger and much darker than rotwndatus, and varying less in size than that species. The colour is a bright castaneous red, lighter on the abdomen. The legs are yellowish red, the sides of the thorax below, and the mandibles, brownish red. This species closely resembles rotwndatus, differing from it only in the following characters. The pilosity is less abundant, but more regularly distributed and longer. The head is distinctly wider in front than behind. The masticatory margin of the mandible is smooth and edentate, or, in some specimens with traces of three minute teeth behind the apical tooth, which is blunter than in rotundatus. The antennae are rather longer, the scape almost reaching back to the occipital margin, and all the joints of the flagellum are distinctly longer than wide. The thorax is rather * The specimens of rotundatus in my collection, determined for me by Dr. Forel, have no pubescence on the metasternum, only a few long hairs.—G. A. 140 Annals of the South African Museum. narrower, and less compressed between the meso- and epinotum. The latter is strongly reticulate-punctate, as are also the sides of the mesonotum, the whole of the 1st joint of the petiole, and the sides of the 2nd. The puncturation is decidedly larger and more distinct than in rotundatus. The posterior corners of the pronotum also show a slight puncturation. The dorsal surface of the 2nd joint of the petiole is nearly smooth and rather shining. The limits of the dorsum and the declivity of the epinotum are clearly defined, as the brow forms a sharp overhanging edge, so that the declivity also appears somewhat concave. The lst node of the petiole is a little narrower, more parallel-sided and less convex above than in rotundatus. Legs longer and more slender, the Ist tarsal joint of the hind legs as long as the tibiae. Bothaville, Orange Free State. (Brauns.) Makapan. (Simon.) Bulawayo. This species was taken on one occasion near Bulawayo in large numbers, marching in single file and carrying larvae from under one large stone to another. Amongst these workers there was found a monstrosity. This specimen has but one joint to the petiole, which is fused on the whole of its anterior surface to the epinotum, which consequently shows no declivity, and is moreover very lop-sided. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A, MARIAE, Himery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol: 63, p. 48, 8 minor, 1899. %. This species varies in size between wider limits than either rotundatus or eugeniae, varying from 2 to 3mm. The smaller forms also differ from the larger in the shape of the head, so that it is hardly correct to say that the workers of this species are mono- morphic. In the % major the colour is reddish ochre, or similar to rotundatus, in the % minor it is paler or straw-yellow, except- ing the anterior margin of the head and the margins of the man- dibles, which are dark. The pilosity is similar to that of the preceding forms, but scantier. In the % minor the whole body is smooth and shining; in the % major the sides of the mesonotum, and the epinotum, excepting a small smooth area in the middle of the dorsum, are dull and very finely punctured. The head is nearly parallel-sided in the 8 minor, moderately convex in the ¥ major; it is a little longer than wide, and shallowly emarginate posteriorly. The mandibles are shining, fairly strongly punctured, with 4 small but distinct teeth on the masticatory margin and a strong apical tooth. The antennae are much shorter rela- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 147. tively than in the other species; the scape does not reach back beyond the middle point of the head ; the 1st and 2nd joints of the flagellum are a little longer than wide, the 3rd—8th joints wider than long. The thorax is relatively shorter and wider than in the other species, and is hardly contracted or depressed between the meso- and epinotum. The dorsum of epinotum is fairly distinctly delimited trom the declivity in the % major, but in the % minor the declivity has a rounded brow and merges gradually into the dorsum. The petiole is not notably different from that of rotwndatus. The 1st segment of the abdomen is one-third longer than the remaining segments taken together. The legs are shorter and stouter than in rotundatus or eugeniae. The 1st tarsal joint of the hind legs. only three-fifths the length of the tibia. Bulawayo; not common. Makapan. (Simon.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. NATALENSIS, Forel. In Emery, Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 33, p. 49, 8, 1901. “3, 2-28 mm. Differs from the type by the colour of the head and thorax, which is brownish yellow and even rusty brown in the larger individuals. In the latter and 8% media, the thorax is shallowly compressed, hardly so at all in the 8 minima. Quite distinct from A. rixator by the triangular mandibles and the de- clivity of the epinotum, which is not marginate. The ventral lamella. of the 1st joint of the petiole is obtuse, thick, pointing downwards. and very distinct. The pilosity is longer. Natal. (Haviland.)”’ A. INCONSPICUUS, Westwood. Trans. Ent. Soc. London, vol. 4, p. 287, g¢, 1847. “ 4, This insect disagrees in one or two slight respects from Mr.. Shuckard’s character of Aenictus, . . . of these characters the most striking are the slightly opaque whitish wings, with the veins and stigma almost concolorous with the membrane of the wing; the antennae gradually attenuated from the 4th or 5th joint, and the very clavate femora to all the legs. . . . Nigro cinereus, pubescens, antenms rufo-piceis, apicibus sensim acuminatis, articulo basalt nigro; mandibulis longis, acutis, piceo-rufis bast nigris ; alts fere translucidis, venis stigmateque fere inconspicuis; pedibus per- brevibus, femoribus clavatis, pedunculo abdominis transverso, antice parum angustior: ; disco haud canaliculato. Long. corp. lin. 43 expan. alar, lin. 64. Habitat in Africa australe. Drege. (In Mus. W. W. Saunders.)”’ 142 Annals of the South African Museum. Smith gives a rather clumsy illustration of this species in Cat. Hymen. Brit. Mus., vol. 7, plate 2, fig. 15a, which is of very little assistance in completing Westwood’s very insufficient description. As far as one may judge by the description and the figure referred to, this insect bears a great resemblance to the species described below as tuberculatus,n.sp. I am inclined to suspect that the pale coloura- tion of the nervures and stigma is due to immaturity. w 4 A. TUBERCULATUS, 0. sp. 3. 9mm. Allied to buttgenbachi, Forel. Dark ochreous; pro- notum except the margins, mesonotum except the portion border- ing the median and lateral sulci, scutellum except the extreme posterior portion, dark brown; epinotum, petiole and abdominal segments above, especially the first two, ‘slightly browned ; man- dibles and antennae ochreous ; head black. Scape, basal segments of flagellum, mandibles, front of the head, and the legs, with long pale pilose hairs, which are shortest on the head; the rest of the body without pilosity, but covered with a close adpressed and yellowish pubescence. Head behind the eyes very smooth, shining and impunctate, the rest of the body closely punctured with small shallow punctures; legs shining and sparsely punctured. Head two and a quarter times wider than long; seen from above, it has the shape of a reversed triangle, with the eyes on each side of the base (which is straight), and the apex (v.e. the occipital region) broadly rounded. Front of the head below the eyes shallowly concave. The post-orbital dorsal surface is feebly convex, almost flat. The eyes are hemispherical, not large, less than half the length of the sides of the head. The ocelli are not raised, placed forwards just above the vertical face of the head; the distance between the anterior ocellus and the line joining the posterior ocelli, less than its own diameter. Mandibles very long, as long as the distance between the inner margins of the eyes, narrowing towards the apex, which is acute; a slight angle, hardly large enough to be called a tooth, separates the basal from the inner and concave margin. Scape half as long as the mandibles, two and a half times longer than its apical width; flagellum thinning towards its apex, nearly four times longer than the scape, all the joints longer than wide. Pronotum very slightly exposed; mesonotum rounded in front, somewhat flattened behind and above, in the middle, the parapsidal sutures and a median longitudinal suleus well defined. The scutellum is very round posteriorly. Seen from the side, the face of the epinotum is vertical, slightly concave below. A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 143 The petiole is almost three times as wide as long; the lateral margins are considerably raised, so that the dorsal surface of the petiole is strongly concave transversely ; it has also a median longitudinal impression. The sides of the petiole are moderately convex. The stipites are broadly truncate and rounded apically, their ventral margins are concave along the apical half; the internal paramera are rounded at the apex, and at about one-third of their length from the apex there is on each side above a flattened and rather spatulate tubercle, directed outwards and slightly backwards ; below these, on the ventral margins of the paramera, and nearer the apex, there is a minute, acute triangular tooth on each side. The sub-genital plate is bifurcate, with the arms directed outwards at the apex and fimbriated for about half their length. The femora are round and thin at the base, strongly clavate apically. Wings clear, but slightly browned along the outer margins of the anterior pair, the nervures and stigma black; the wings are long, extend- ing beyond the apex of the abdomen. The tubercles and teeth on the internal paramera are sufficiently distinctive of this species, which I am inclined to think will even- tually prove to be the 3g of either ewgeniae or rotundatus, the only species which are common in the neighbourhood of Bulawayo. Habitat, Bulawayo. One specimen taken atlight. In my collection. A. DECoLOR, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 28, p. 668, 3, 1878. ‘“‘ Head smooth and without frontal sulcus. The very short declivity ' is separated from the dorsum of the epinotum by a sharp semicircular ridge. All the joints of the flagellum at least a little longer than wide. The mandibles longitudinally striate, smooth near the masti- catory margin. The sides of the meso- and metathorax longitudinally rugose. Rusty red; antennae, abdomen, and legs yellow. Length 3°3 mm.” Sus-Faminry DOLICHODERINAHE. The members of this sub-family are only likely to be confused with those of the Camponotinae, from which they may be distin- guished by having the anal orifice transverse, and not circular. The petiole is 1-jointed, and the node, in all our South African species is small and much less conspicuous than in any of the Camponotinae. All our species are also very soft-bodied ants, the skeleton being but slightly chitinized. s 144 Annals of the South African Museum. Characters. %. Monomorphic. Frontal area more or less distinct. Antennae 12-jointed, 11-jointed in Semoniwus. Sting rudimentary, except in the Ceylonese genus Anewretus. Middle and hind tibiae with one pectinate calcar, occasionally there is a small outer calear. 2. Always winged ; like the worker except for the usual sexual differences. g. Clypeus prolonged backwards between the frontal carinae. Mandibles as in the $, or short and narrow. Antennae 13-jointed, the scape is not longer than the second joint of the flagellum except in Tapinoma and Semonius. Nymphs never enclosed in cocoons. The classification of this sub-family, especially in the definition of the genera, is based largely on internal anatomical characters, such as the structure of the gizzard. As we have only three indigenous genera, including very few species, it has fortunately not been found necessary to burden the description of the genera with these difficult details, which can only be observed with the aid of fine dissections. All the workers of the Dolichoderinae possess anal glands which produce a secretion hardening on exposure to the air, and usually of an unpleasant odour. This secretion is used as a means of pro- tection, since its stickiness serves to clog the limbs of other insects. which may attack these ants. All our species, with the exception of the introduced Iridomyrmex humilis, the ‘Argentine ant,’ are shy inconspicuous insects, forming only moderate-sized colonies. Iridomyrmex humulis, whose original home was probably in Brazil, is an ant which has recently spread through a large part of the globe. Its appearance in South Africa would appear to date from the time of the last Boer War, when it was probably introduced with forage. It is very common all over the Cape Peninsula, and in the neighbourhood of Cape Town it is not only a great pest in houses, but is also the. dominant species. Thus on the slopes of Table Mountain very few ants of other species are to be found below the 800-1,000 ft. level, in which area humilis is exceedingly plentiful; above that level it is. very rare, if not altogether absent, whereas other genera, e.g. Plagiolepis, Ocymyrmex, Tetramorvum, are more commonly repre-- sented. The astonishing paucity of species and genera at the lower levels of the mountain, and the absence of J. humilis in the higher is probably due to two causes, namely, the non-dolichoderine species cannot survive in competition with the Argentine ant, and the latter is unfavourably affected by the climatic conditions of the higher- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 145 levels. How far the pest has spread in the South African Region I am not able to say, but the ant has been recorded as far east as Maseru in Basutoland. The sub-family is divided into 4 tribes, of which only one, Tapinomini, Emery, is represented in South Africa. : y Key to the Genera of the Tribe Tapinomini, Emery. S58 and 2 @. (2). 1 Antennae 1I-jointed s2 3. «5 ss es se as + Semonius, Forel. (1). 2. Antennae 12-jointed. (4). 3. Scale of petiole distinct ; base of abdomen not slanting forwards, not over- hanging the petiole -- «. «- Iridomyrmex, Mayr (introduced genus). (3). 4. Scale of petiole rudimentary, base of abdomen slanting forwards and over- hanging the petiole more or less. (6). 5. Anal orifice apical; abdomen, when seen from above, with 5th segment visible .. .. » «- «- TLechnomyrmex, Mayr. (5). 6. Anal orifice “eiaeion, mot noice ‘bth eeoncat of abdomen not visible from above hh ab O00) 90) GO Bou soo oat mo lon) haya OOnOm, |OC ME KY, 3S (2). 1. Anterior wings with 2 closed cubital cells -» .. Lechnomyrmex, Mayr. (1). 2. Anterior wings with 1 closed cubital cell. (4). 3. Scape not longer than the 2nd joint of the flagellum .. Iridomyrmex, Mayr. (3). 4. Scape much longer than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. (6). 5. Scape as long as the first 3 or 4 joints of the flagellum taken together ; or if longer, then the head is widerthanlong .. .. .. TYapinoma, Foerster. (5). 6. Scape as long as the first 7 or 8 joints of the flagellum taken together ;. head not wider than long .. .. .. .. «- «. «. Semonius, Forel. Genus IRIDOMYRMEX, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 702, 1862. Characters. 8. Monomorphic ; petiole with a distinct scale. ?. Considerably larger than the % ; the radial cell of the anterior wing is closed, 2 closed cubital cells and 1 discoidal cell. g. Scape shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. In our introduced species the mesonotum is very convex and prominent in front, completely hiding the pronotum; the scutellum is also very large and gibbous. (Plate LV., fig. 42.) I. numinis, Mayr. (Plate IV., figs. 41 and 42.) (Hypoclinea) Ann. Soc. Nat. Modena, vol. 3, p. 164, 3, 1868. Forel, Wer Zicol. Boy Ges. Wien, vol. 68, "p. 395g", 1908e Newall, Journ. Econ. Entom., vol. 1, p. 28, ¢, 1908. %. 32-35 mm. Brown or blackish brown; legs, antennae and mandibles paler. Whole body covered with an exceedingly fine pale 10 146 Annals of the South African Museum. pubescence, which is longer on the abdomen. Impunctate, sub- nitidulous. Head somewhat triangular, much wider behind than in front, sides very convex, posterior angles strongly rounded, occipital margin feebly arcuate. Mandibles moderately long, triangular, the basal margin two-thirds as long as the masticatory, the latter with 4 or 5 blunt teeth, and a large and sharp apical tooth. Clypeus feebly convex, the anterior margin slightly depressed and shallowly concave in the middle, posterior margin well defined. Frontal carinae short, flat and divergent behind. The scape reaches back beyond the occipital margin by one-fifth of its own length; flagellum slightly thickened towards the apex, all the joints longer than wide, 1st and 2nd joints sub-equal in length. Eyes large and flat, situated somewhat dorsally in the anterior half of the head. Pronotum narrower than the occipital margin of the head, moderately convex at the sides and above, and as long as wide. Pro-meso and meso- epinotal sutures well defined. Mesonotum longer than wide, and only a little more than half as wide as the pronotum, sloping towards the epinotum,.from which it is separated by a wide and deep depression. Dorsum of epinotum distinctly convex trans- versely and longitudinally, about as long as wide, less than half as long as the mesonotum. The declivity is smooth and shining. The anterior face of the scale of the petiole is slightly convex, the posterior face flat and shining. The scale slants forwards and is widest in the middle, rounded above, and much wider than thick. Abdomen oval, all the segments wider than long. Legs slender. ?. 6 mm. Dark brown, abdomen almost black, legs, antennae and mandibles paler. Pubescence longer and denser than in the 8. Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than wide, narrower | in front of the eyes than behind them, sides less convex than in the %. Hyes large, occupying about one-third of the sides of the head; ocelli small, situated near the occipital margin. Pronotum almost completely hidden above by the mesonotum; the latter is very long, twice as long as wide, very convex in front, moderately so at the sides, and flattened posteriorly. The scutellum is about one-third the length of the mesonotum, widest anteriorly, and rounded posteriorly ; metanotum very short. The dorsum of the epinotum is twice as long as the metanotum, much wider than long, in- clined towards the declivity, which is nearly vertical, but not sharply defined. Seen from the side, the thoracic profile rises gradually in front towards the posterior margin of the scutellum, beyond which it sinks abruptly to the level of the metanotum. A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 147 The scale of the petiole is much wider than in the %, and not so narrow above. Abdomen oblong. Wings slightly smoky, stigma and nervures dark brown. g. 88-4:2 mm. Brown, antennae, mandibles and legs pale yellow, a transverse area between the mesonotum and scutellum dirty yellow. Pubescence as in the 8. The head is shaped like that of the @, but the posterior angles are less rounded. The eyes are very large, occupying more than half the sides of the head, their anterior margins being separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance equal to about half the length of the 1st joint of the flagellum. The mandibles are triangular, thin and very small. The antennae are short, filiform, not reaching back to the posterior third of the mesonotum; the scape is flattened, and shorter than the distance separating the two posterior ocelli; the 1st joint of the flagellum is a trifle more than half the length of the scape, the Qnd joint is longest, and two and a third times as long as the Ist. All the joints longer than wide, diminishing in length successively towards the apical joint, which is a little longer than the preceding joint. Pronotum hidden by the mesonotum. The latter is very globose, convex transversely, and as long as wide. The Mayrian. and parapsidal furrows but feebly indicated. The scutellum is raised considerably above the level of the mesonotum and epinotum, and is much more convex transversely than in the 2. The dorsum of the epinotum is much longer than in the ?, as long as the scutel- lum and as long as its apical width; the declivity is vertical, with the brow distinctly rounded. The scale of the petiole is much wider than it is high, and more than twice as wide as long. Abdomen ovate, genitalia partially exserted. Legs long and slender. Wings as in the 9. Capetown. Maseru, Basutoland; (R. M. Sloley). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Genus TECHNOMYRMEX, Mayv. Ann. Mus. Stor. Nat. Genoa, vol. 2, p. 147, 1872. ~ Characters. %. Anal orifice apical. ?. Not much larger than the $. Anterior wings with 1 dis- coidal and 2 closed cubital cells. g. Antennae filiform; scape not longer than the first 2 joints of the flagellum. The cubital vein in the front wing is sometimes broken in the region of the 2nd cubital cell. Mesonotum not pro- 148 Annals of the South African Museum. jecting above the pronotum. Petiole nodiform. Genital armature large. y Key to the % % of Technomyrmex. (4). 1. Species more or less yellowish. (3). 2. Clypeus with the anterior margin deeply excised in the middle. arnoldinus, Forel. (2). 3. Clypeus with the anterior margin only slightly excised. nigriventris, Santschi, race albinasis, Forel. (1). 4. Dark brown species .. .. .. -, albipes, Smith, race Foreli, Emery. T. ARNOLDINUS, Forel. (Plate IV., figs. 39, 39a.) Deutsch. Ent. Zeit. Beiheft, p. 222, % , 1913. %. 3-3:2 mm. Dirty brownish yellow, legs pale ochreous, apical abdominal segments, and sides of Ist and 2nd segments brown; or thorax, legs and antennae yellowish brown, head pale brown, abdo- men wholly dark brown. Head, pronotum, and abdomen smooth and shining, mesonotum, dorsum of epinotum and mesopleura reticu- late and rather dull, declivity of epinotum shining and very finely transversely striate. Pubescence pale yellow, scanty on the body, denser on the legs. The pilosity consists of dark, erect and bristly hairs, distributed in a peculiarly symmetrical manner as fol- lows: there are 2 such hairs on the posterior margin of the head, the pronotum has a crescentic row of 6 hairs, parallel with its anterior margin, three on each side, the mesonotum has a pair on each side, and the margin of the declivity of the epinotum has. 3 on each side and 1 in the centre. This arrangement of the pilosity is so distinctive in fresh specimens that it would alone serve to. distinguish the species from all our other Dolichoderinae. Head about one-quarter longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the hind angles much rounded, the posterior margin straight. Eyes moderately convex, situated at about the middle of the sides. of the head. Clypeus nearly flat, the anterior margin semicircularly and widely excised in the middle. Mandibles smooth, shining and. sparsely punctured, the masticatory margin with about 7 small teeth anteriorly, and finely denticulated posteriorly. Scape of antenna reaches back a little beyond the occiput, 3rd—6th joints. of the flagellum as wide as long, the rest longer than wide. Pro- notum not so wide as the posterior margin of the head, quite one- third wider than long; pro-mesonotal suture distinct; mesonotum distinctly longer than wide, and as long as the pronotum. Meso- epinotal suture deep. The dorsum of the epinotum much wider than long, crescentic in outline when seen from above, and rising. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 149 from the base towards its apical margin when seen from the side ; the declivity is very oblique, widest in its lower half, and two and a half times as long as the dorsum. Petiole long, without a scale, and completely hidden under the abdomen. The latter is oval, rather pointed at the apex, all the segments much wider than long. The darker variety differs only in colour from the type. Bulawayo, under stones, also in a hollow stem, in shady moist places. Durban; (C. B. Cooper). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. NIGRIVENTRIS, Santschi, race ALBINASIS, Forel. Santschi, in Forel, Schultze Forschungsreise Siid-Afr., footnote, foe AM, IGG). Type species. «“%. 9 9-3mm. Pale testaceous yellow, the posterior region of the head, and often the shoulders and dorsum of the thorax more or less brownish, abdomen black. The hairs on the thorax are scanty, fairly short and yellow, they are longer and more abundant on the abdomen and around the mouth. The base of these hairs is often blackish. Pubescence fine, yellowish and moderately abundant all over, slightly lessening the shiningness of the abdomen. Head and thorax sub-opaque. The whole body microscopically reticulate-punctate. Mandibles smooth with a few piligerous - punctures. Head a little longer than wide, slightly narrowed in front, the posterior angles rounded, the occipital margin feebly emarginate. The eyes are longer than one-fourth of the sides of the head, their anterior margins reaching the level of the antennal sockets. Clypeus with a wide but shallow median longitudinal groove which ends anteriorly in a distinct emargination. Man- dibles with about a dozen teeth, diminishing in size from the apical to the basal. The scape reaches beyond the occiput by about the length of the 1st joint of the flagellum, the median joints of the latter a little longer than wide. The meso-metanotum is rounded posteriorly in an even curve as far as the floor of the meso- epinotal suture; the stigmata of the mesonotum do not project above its profile. The profile of the epinotum almost rectangular, with the dorsum about one-third the length of the declivity; the latter flat and clearly margined. Brazzaville, French Congo.” 150 Annals of the South African Musewm, Race ALBINASIS, Forel. Forel. loc. cit. p. 22, 1910. “8. 17 mm. Smaller than the type species. Hyes a little smaller. Clypeus with the longitudinal groove hardly or not at all terminated by an emargination in front. As in the type, all the joints of the flagellum are at least a little longer than wide, but the rather shorter scape projects backwards beyond the occipital margin by not more than its own thickness. Thorax noticeably shorter. Pronotum with more distinct anterior angles, one and a quarter to one and a third times wider than long. Mesonotum wider than long. The very short dorsum of the epinotum also wider than long (in the type species distinctly longer, and not wider than long). Declivity of epinotum only bluntly margined. At the sides below, the stigmata project out step-like (only slightly so in the type species). Legs a little shorter. The whole body shining and only very faintly reticulate, the thorax a little less shining. Pubescence scantier (it is fairly scanty in the type species). Pilosity equally distributed. Yellowish brown, thorax and 1st abdominal segment lighter, brownish yellow. Antennae, clypeus, mandibles and legs yellowish white. Table Mountain. (Schultze.)” T. ALBIPES, Smith, race Foret1, Emery. (Plate IV., fig. 40.) Journ. Proc. Linn. Soc. Zool., vol. 6, p. 38, %, (Lapinoma), 1861. Race, Emery, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 62, p. 249, 3, 1893. Race, Forel, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 446, @ ¢, 1910. 8. 2:2-2°56 mm. Dark brown, base and apex of the scape, the flagellum and the mandibles brownish yellow, legs pale yellow or with the tibiae and femora more or less brown. Head and thorax very finely reticulate-punctate, the puncturation is a little larger on the meso- and epinotum, abdomen microscopically rugulose. Whole body covered with a very fine and short whitish pubescence; there are a few pilose hairs, less evenly distributed than in arnoldinus. The body sub-nitidulous, mandibles shining. Head a little longer than wide, wider behind than in front, sides convex, posterior margin shallowly arcuate. Clypeus with the anterior margin feebly emarginate in the middle. Mandibles with a few coarse punctures, the masticatory margin armed with numerous small teeth, the apical and sub-apical teeth the largest. The scape reaches back beyond the occipital margin by about the length of the 1st and 2nd joints of the flagellum ; 1st joint twice as long as the 2nd, the latter as wide as A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 151 long, the rest longer than wide, apical joint as long as the two pre- ceding taken together. Frontal carinae rather wide apart and divergent posteriorly. Eyes comparatively large, situated in the front half of the head. Thorax very similar in shape to arnoldinus ; pronotum not so wide as the head, and not much wider than long, pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Mesonotum longer than wide, rising from in front towards the middle and thence sloping down to the meso-epinotal suture. Dorsum of epinotum about one-quarter to one-third the length of the declivity; the latter is widest below, rounded above, the lateral margins rounded but fairly distinct. Abdomen less convex transversely above than in arnoldinus, and less pointed towards the apex. Petiole oval, widest in the middle, and hidden by the abdomen which overhangs it. ?. 382mm. The eyes occupy at least one-third of the sides of the head, ocelli small and set far back. Seen from above, the pronotum is almost hidden by the large mesonotum which is as wide as long, convex in front, flat or slightly concave in the middle behind; the scutellum is about half as long as the mesonotum. The dorsum of the epinotum is almost obsolete, and the declivity less oblique than in the %, and not so narrow above. Wings very pale, nervures almost colourless, stigma very faintly tinged with yellow. Other- wise resembling the %, but the body is a little duller. 3. 38 mm. Colour of the 8%, legs, antennae and mandibles yellowish, the femora darker except at the apex. Head much wider than long, and wider in front than behind, posterior margin slightly concave. The eyes large, occupying nearly the anterior half of the _ sides of the head ; ocelli larger than in the ¢. Clypeus shorter than in the % , more convex transversely, the anterior margin almost straight. Mandibles large, coarsely punctured and shining, the masticatory margin distinctly dentate. The scape is not as long as the long diameter of the eyes, about as long as the 1st and 2nd joints of the flagellum together. Flagellum filiform, densely pubescent, 1st joint as wide as long, the rest longer than wide. The antennae extend back as far as the brow of the epinotum. The thorax is similar to that of the ?, but the mesonotum is a little wider, and the scutellum shorter and more prominent; the parapsidal sutures well defined. The dorsum of the epinotum is longer and more convex transversely than in the %, and the slope of the declivity is less abrupt. The petiole is much rounder and wider above than in the ¥ or @. The genital armature is very large, and more or less exserted. Wings as in the ¢. Bulawayo ; common in moist places under stones, ete. Durban. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) 152 Annals of the South African Museum. Genus TAPINOMA, Forster. Hymen. Stud., vol, 1, p. 43, 1850. Characters. %. Anterior margin of clypeus entire or excised, in some species with a deep median longitudinal groove. Mandibles multidentate. Petiole depressed, without a distinct scale; basal segment of abdomen overhangs and more or less hides the petiole. Anal orifice usually inferior. ?. Usually much larger than the % ; anterior wings with only 1 closed cubital and 1 discoidal cell. g. As a rule smaller than the %. Mandibles generally well developed. Antennae filiform, scape long, usually as long as the first 3 joints of the flagellum taken together, lst joint not much shorter than the 2nd. Pronotum not hidden by the mesonotum when seen from above. Petiole nodiform. Genital armature large. Wings as in the 2. Key to the % % of Tapinoma. (2). 1. Clypeus with a deep and abrupt median excision of the anterior margin, as deep as half the length of the clypeus Voeltzkowi, Forel, var. Rhodesiae, Forel. (1). 2. Clypeus with anterior margin shallowly emarginate. (4). 3. Dorsal profile of thorax almost horizontal .. .. .. .. gracilis, Forel. (3). 4. Dorsal profile of thorax distinctly convex. (6). 5. All the joints of the flagellum longer than wide, yellow species, 2°7-3 mm. luteum, Emery. (5). 6. Second to 9th joints of the flagellum wider than long, brownish species, De GamM See does bP eis) WSU, tata anels! vhwies niesh. Sac ld wen tiemaneA enolate. Horel. T. LurEuM, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 43, 3% , 1895. “8. 2mm. Pale flavous, dull, with very fine and pale pubescence, erect hairs only on the clypeus and mandibles. Head a little longer than wide; clypeus widely emarginate in the middle. The scape extends beyond the occipital margin by about one-quarter of its own length; declivity of epinotum more than twice as long as the dorsum. Makapan (Simon).” Race Emeryi, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 477, 8 #, 1910. %. 27-3mm. Flavous, posterior region of the head and posterior segments of the abdomen more or less brownish yellow. Sub-opaque, the sides of the thorax slightly shining, microscopically rugulose. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 153 Pubescence whitish, very fine and short. Pilose hairs absent. Very similar to Technomyrmex albipes, but differing in the following structural characters. The head is proportionately wider, and is longer than wide; the frontal carinae are shorter and less divergent posteriorly, the scape is relatively longer. The mesonotum is not highest in the middle as in albipes, but at its anterior margin, sloping thence in a gradual curve to the meso-epinotal suture. The dorsum of the epinotum is longer and narrower than in albipes, being longer than it is wide below, whereas in albipes it is quite as wide below as it is long. The petiole is shorter and narrower. The abdomen widens towards the apex. The eyes are also larger, and the clypeus only feebly sinuate in the middle of the anterior margin. ?. 48mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Considerably larger than the %. Head and abdomen dark brown, clypeus paler. Thorax brownish yellow, prothorax and tegulae a little darker, legs and antennae ochreous. Pubescence and puncturation as in the 8. Head as wide as long, posterior margin straight. Eyes situated in the anterior half of the head, and occupying about one-quarter of the sides of the same. Thorax nearly as wide as the head. Pronotum exposed, mesonotum slightly rounded at the sides and in front, flat above, as long as wide, 4 times as long as the pronotum. Scutellum wider than long. Epinotum very little narrower than the scutellum ; the dorsum is not sharply delimited from the declivity but merges into it gradually. The declivity is not so steep as in the ¥. The abdomen is nearly as long as the head and thorax together. The Ist _ segment is nearly twice as long as the 2nd, and one-third wider than long.- There are a few black erect hairs on the 3rd and 4th segments, and some paler ones on the clypeus. “ 9. 4:7mm. Head and thorax rusty brown; abdomen brown. Legs and mandibles yellowish. Otherwise like the %. Wings slightly tinged with brown, with a single cubital and a single closed radial cell.”’ The $ § which I have taken here with the ¥ %, do not attain to this size, being 3 mm. long. The scape is as long as the first 4 joints of the flagellum, and extends back just a little beyond the occipital margin. The 3 of this species is very similar to that of Technomyrmex albipes, but is smaller and differs in the following details. The head is longer than wide, the posterior angles more prominent. The antennae are longer, extending back as far as the base of the 2nd abdominal segment. The 1st joint of the flagellum 154 Annals of the South African Museum. is one-quarter longer than wide, all the other joints at least twice as long as wide. The mesonotum is much more convex and the scutellum posteriorly is also more convex and higher. The epinotum resembles that of the 9. The legs are long and slender. The % of the race differs from the type species in its larger size, stronger and denser puncturation, slightly shorter scape and duller surface. Bulawayo; common. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. ArnoupI, Forel. (Plate IV., fig. 44.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 139, %, 1913. %. 16-17 mm. Light brown, anterior portion of the head, scape, lst joint of the flagellum, mandibles, tarsi, articulations of the legs and the petiole, yellowish. Moderately shining and almost impunctate. A very fine pubescence on the whole body and legs. Pilose hairs absent except on the clypeus. Head very little longer than wide, rectangular, sides feebly convex, angles rounded, posterior margin almost straight. Eyes situated within the anterior third of the sides of the head. Clypeus wider than long, shallowly but widely emarginate on the anterior border. Mandibles shining and feebly punctured, masticatory margin with a few small teeth, the apical tooth larger and more acute, The scape does not reach back as far as the occipital margin; the flagellum is thickened towards the apex, the 1st joint as long as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th taken together, apical joint as long as the 3 preceding joints together, 2nd-9th joints wider than long. Pro-meso, and meso-epinotal sutures moderately distinct. Pronotum wider than the rest of the thorax, and a little wider than long; mesonotum almost as long as the pronotum; dorsum of epinotum wider than long, only half as long as the mesonotum, the declivity oblique, longer than the dorsum, widest below, its brow rounded. Petiole longer than wide, flattened dorso-ventrally. Abdomen oval, all the segments much wider than long. ?. 27 mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Dark brown, tarsi pale yellow, articulations of the legs, base of the scape, mandibles and anterior angles of the head brownish yellow. The sides and the posterior margin of the head are straight, the posterior angles rounded. Hyes large, ocelli small and set close to the posterior margin. Pronotum very short, mesonotum large and moderately convex, as wide as long and as long as the distance from the antennal sockets to the posterior margin of the head; scutellum wider than long, two-fifths as long as the mesonotum; epinotum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa, 155 wider than long, curving very gradually from base to apex so that the dorsal and declivous portions cannot be distinctly defined. Abdomen oblong, as long as the head and thorax together. Other characters as in the 8. g. 17mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Brownish black, front of head, epinotum and last 3 segments more or less flavous, mandibles, tibiae and femora fuscous, tarsi pale yellow. Pubescence micro- scopic, the whole body shining and impunctate. Head narrowing towards the occiput, widest across the eyes, one-third wider than long; eyes large, occupying nearly the anterior half of the sides of the head; ocelli on a slightly raised area, not very large. Clypeus shorter than in the % , otherwise similar. Mandibles well developed, with a sharp apical tooth, the masticatory margin minutely denticulate.. Scape just reaching the occiput, as long as the first 6 joints of the flagellum, all the joints of the latter, except the 2nd, longer than wide, the 2nd as long as wide, the Ist joint half as long again as the 2nd. Pronotum not exposed; mesonotum one-third wider than long, Mayrian furrows obsolete, parapsidal sutures well defined ; scutellum less than half as long as the mesonotum, and as wide as long. Epinotum widest at the base and as long as wide at the base. Abdomen ovate, all the segments much wider than long. Genital armature exserted. Wings slightly tinged with yellow, nervures very pale, stigma faintly fuscous. Bulawayo, in a hollow stem of an Acacia. Plumtree, 8. Rhodesia, in a hollow gall. Small nests, containing about 30 individuals. Type of 2 and g$ in my collection. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. VorutTzKowl, Forel, var. RHopesi4z, Forel. (Plate IV., fig. 43.) Voeltzkow’s Reise Ost Afrika, vol. 2, p. 84, §,1907. (Variety) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 139, %, 1913. %. 25-3 mm. Black, clypeus, femora and scape brown, mandibles, flagellum brownish yellow, tibiae, tarsi, coxae and base and apex of femora pale straw-yellow. A very short and inconspicuous pale pubescence all over, and a few long pilose hairs on the clypeus and mandibles. Head shallowly but closely reticulate. Thorax shallowly reticulate-punctate, the puncturation being strongest on the mesonotum. Body slightly shining, the mesonotum and epinotum duller than the rest. Head a trifle longer than wide, the sides convex, the posterior margin moderately concave, the posterior angles strongly rounded. Eyes large, situated just in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Frontal carinae flat, linear and 156 ; Annals of the South African Musewm. sub-parallel. Clypeus with a deep and abrupt emargination in the middle anteriorly, which extends quite half the length of the clypeus, and is deeper than wide. Mandibles triangular, widest at the base, shining and sparsely punctured, masticatory margin with about 8 acute teeth, the apical the longest. The scape reaches back beyond the occipital margin by less than the length of the eye. Flagellum one-third longer than the scape, all the joints longer than wide. ‘The thoracic sutures well defined, the posterior rather deep. Pronotum wider than long, rounded in front, the sides very convex, the dorsum moderately so. Mesonotum longer than wide, as long as the pronotum. Dorsum of epinotum wider than long, rising gradually from the suture towards the brow of the declivity, the latter sloping obliquely, longer than the dorsum and with the brow angular. Petiole flattened, longer than wide, widest in front of the middle and pointed at its base. Abdomen ovate. This variety differs from the type only in having the head a little wider behind, in the less convex sides, and the slightly longer scapes. Bulawayo, nesting in grassy soil; not common. (S.A.M., B.M., G.A. colls.) T. GRActuis, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 140, 8, 1913. 3. 2 mm. Ochreous; apex of abdomen, flagellum and posterior tibiae and femora brownish. Sub-opaque (Forel says “densely punctured”; if so, the punctures are too small to be resolved even under a magnification of 65 diameters). Pubes- cence short, decumbent and yellowish. Pilose hairs absent. Head almost quadrate and rather flat, not more than one-sixth longer than wide, sides nearly straight, posterior margin straight, hind angles widely rounded. Hyes large, situated more dorsally than laterally, a little in front of the middle of the head. Clypeus three times as wide as long, anterior margin with a shallow median emargination. Frontal carinae closer to each other than they are to the eyes. Mandibles smooth, narrow, largely hidden under the clypeus, and with about 4 or 5 teeth. The scape extends back beyond the occipital margin by one-third of its length; the 2nd joint of the flagellum two and a quarter times longer than wide, nearly as long as the 1st. Thorax narrow, elongate, with the dorsal profile nearly horizontal, therein differing markedly from our other two species. The pronotum is a little wider than long, mesonotum two-thirds as long as the pronotum. The dorsum and declivity of the epinotum of equal length ; the declivity is very oblique, sloping A Monograph of the Fornucidae of South Africa. 157 but slightly below the level of the dorsum, from which it is not clearly delimited. Petiole flattened as in the other species, but more parallel-sided. Legs very long. Matetsi, near the Victoria Falls. The nest of this species is placed in rather loose sandy soil. It is a very quick and erratic ant, and, owing to its colour, difficult to distinguish from the ground which it frequents. (G.A. coll.) Genus SHEMONIUS, Forel. | Schultze’ Reise im west. and zentral Siidafrika, Formicidae, p. 21, 1910. Characters. %. Clypeus entire. Antennae 11-jointed, flagellum strongly incrassate, almost clavate. Anal orifice inferior. @. Much larger than the 8. Head very elongate, much longer than wide. Wings with 1 closed cubital and 1 radial cell. 3. Scape half as long as the flagellum. Mandibles well developed. Pronotum not exposed. Genital armature exserted. Smaller than the %$. Wings asin the ?. S. ScnuttTzet, Forel. (Plate IV., fig. 45.) Loc. cit. p. 21,8. Santschi, Voy. d’Alluaud and Jeannel, p. 120, ay die 8. 18-2 mm. Black or brownish, dull or only very slightly shining. Pubescence greyish, dense and microscopic; a few pilose hairs on the clypeus. Microscopically and closely punctured. Head one-fifth longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the hind angles strongly rounded, the posterior margin almost straight. The anterior margin of the clypeus is straight or nearly so. The frontal carinae rounded, very short, nearer to the eyes than they are to each other. Eyes moderately large, flat, situated in front of the middle. Mandibles smooth and shining, with a few small punctures, feebly dentate. The scape reaches back as far as the posterior fourth of the head; all the joints of the flagellum, except the 1st and last, wider than long, the last three joints form a slight club. Thorax shorter and much narrower than the head, distinctly convex longitu- dinally. Thoracic sutures distinct. Pronotum one-third wider than long, sloping steeply in its anterior half. Mesonotum wider in front than behind, one-third wider than long. The dorsum of the epinotum is as wide as the mesonotum, and is not clearly delimited 158 Annals of the South African Museum. from the very oblique declivity ; the whole epinotum is a little longer than the mesonotum. Petiole flattened, acuminate at the base, widest below the middle. Abdomen ovate, overhanging the petiole. Legs short, all the femora rather broad. ?. 35 mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Black; head and thorax very smooth and shining, very sparsely pubescent. The pubescence very fine and short, arising on the head from microscopic punctures ; thorax impunctate. Abdomen dull, and similar to that of the %, but larger. Tibiae and femora shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, two and one-fifth as long as wide, parallel-sided, somewhat flat above, the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin straight. Hyes moderately large, situated within the anterior third of the head; ocelli small, set rather far back. Antennae 11-jointed; the length of the scape is less than the width of the head, the flagellum about one-third longer than the scape. Clypeus convex in the middle, the anterior border feebly emarginate in the middle. Mandibles sparsely but rather strongly punctured, elongate, the external margin twice as long as the masticatory, which is furnished with numerous small teeth and a large apical tooth. Pronotum very convex transversely in front, and sloping steeply downwards towards the neck from the level of the pro-mesonotal suture. Meso- notum flattened, about as long as wide; scutellum less than half as long as the mesonotum; epinotum one and a half times wider than long, the brow of the very short and vertical declivity is polished and shining. Wings with a yellowish tint, nervures ochreous, 1 closed cubital and 1 radial cell. This sex differs remarkably from the %, particularly in the shape of the head, so much so that if it had not been taken with the 3 % and g ¢ in large numbers in the same nest it might reasonably have been ascribed to a different genus. 3. 21mm. Black; mandibles, antennae, and legs brownish. Shining and impunetate, the pubescence very short and sparse. Head as long as wide between the eyes, where it is widest; dis- tinctly narrowed in front of the eyes and contracting towards the hind margin. Mandibles about half as long as the head, similar to those of the 2. The scape does not reach the occipital margin, it is half as long as the flagellum. LHyes large, situated just within the anterior half of the head, occupying about one-quarter of the sides. Ocelli small, hardly raised. There is a short median longi- tudinal impression between the posterior margin of the clypeus and the anterior ocellus. Clypeus rounded and raised in the middle, the anterior margin feebly convex. Seen from above, the pronotum is A Monograph of the Fornuicidae of South Africa. 159 entirely hidden by the mesonotum. The latter is similar to that of the 2, but less flattened and with the parapsidal sutures more distinct. The scutellum is narrower and more convex posteriorly, and raised higher above the level of the epinotum. The latter is very smooth and shining, the dorsum wider than long, and merging gradually into the declivity. Genital armature exserted. Wings as in the 9°. The above description differs in some respects from that given by Santschi, which was drawn up from a single specimen in a damaged condition. There can be no doubt as to the correct identity of the numerous specimens of g g¢ on which the above descrip- tion is based, since they were taken in the same nest with the % and °. \ S. Rhodesia; fairly common. Kalahari. (Schultze.) Durban. (Marley.) : This is a timid and quick ant, living on trees and nesting under the bark. When disturbed, it emits from the anal glands a white sticky fluid, which hardens on exposure to the air. (SPACES RM). GA. colls.) GArnold del. 4 PWMT imp. 1 Cerapachys Peringueyi Hmery. § X 16. | 9 Streblognathus aethiopicus Smith. x2. f# — do - node & 1%t abdom. segment. 6 Paltothyreus tarsatus /’x3 ¥. 2 Probolomyrmex filiformis Mayr. § x 46. lee Megaponera foetens fy x 4 24% — do — anterior region of head. | §&8% —do — 3X3 & head xX 8. Fo 3 Platythyrea lamellosa Roger 4 XAdrace rhodesiana Lyred.) 9 M (Ha gensia) Havyilandi. Forel. 3 XA. 4 Platythyrea cribrinodis Gers/, 3 x 4. | 10Paltothyreus tarsatus. FS x 4. ww PARTS OF THE ANNALS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED:— Vol. L.—Part 1, 7/6; Part 2,10/—; Part 3, 5/-; complete £1 2s, 6d. 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FRIEDLANDER & Co., Carn Srrassz, Beriin. Or, THE LIBRARIAN, Sours: Arrrocan Museum, Carr Town. “ANNALS SOU TH AFRICAN MUSEU) _eoniat Instit, 2 S o, VOLUME XIV. PART II. containing :-— 1.—A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa (Ponerinae; Dorylinae). By Gorge Arnowp, M.Sc., A-R.C.S., F.E.S., Curator of the Rhodesia Musewm, Bulawayo, pp. 159-270. (Plates IT-IV.) ISSUED-MAY 20th, 1916. PRICE 6s. “PRINTED HOR THE Den tint m0 pap ay oe. ea a = a ri Pian ier spine ie Rare gene Sy q A Monograph of the Formicidae of South A frica. entirely hidden by the mesonotum. The latter is similar to that of the 9, but less flattened and with the parapsidal sutures more distinct. The scutellum is narrower and more convex posteriorly, and raised higher above the level of the epinotum. The latter is very smooth and shining, the dorsum wider than long, and merging gradually into the declivity. Genital armature exserted. Wings as in the 9. The above description differs in some respects from that given by Santschi, which was drawn up from a single specimen in a damaged condition. There can be no doubt as to the correct identity of the numerous specimens of ¢ @ on which the above description is based, since they were taken in the same nest with the 9 and 92. S. Rhodesia; fairly common. Kalahari. (Schultze.) Durban. (Marley.) : This is a timid and quick ant, living on trees and nesting under the bark. When disturbed, it emits from the anal glands a white sticky fluid, which hardens on exposure to the air. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Tripe PROCERATIINI.* Genus DISCOTHYREA, Roger. Berl. Ent. Zeitschr., vol. 7, p. 176, 1863. Emery, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 45, p. 51, 1901. Characters. %. Antennae 9-jointed, the scape strongly incrassate apically, the flagellum clavate, the last joint nearly as long as the remaining joints taken together. Mandibles edentate. Clypeus fused with the frontal carinae and the cheeks, forming a semi-circular disc in front of the antennae and projecting over the mandibles. On this disc, the frontal carinae are fused together, to form a single lamella at the level of the antennal sockets, but more or less free behind that point. Eyes small or very small. Thoracic sutures absent. The declivity of the epinotum marginate and excavated. Petiole bell-shaped or thickly squamiform ; Ist segment of abdomen not very large, separated from the 2nd by a feeble constriction. Abdomen anteflexed, the apical segments curved downwards and forwards under the 2nd segment as in Proceratiwm. 2. Winged. Eyes and ocelli well developed. Pronotum exposed above only at the sides. Otherwise like the 3. * Page 33. Wl Bona Muse? Sadie 160 Annals of the South African Musewn. ¢. Antennae 13-jointed. Clypeus, frontal carimae, mandibles, petiole, and abdomen more or less like those of the 3. Mayrian furrows present. Subgenital plate rounded. Wings with one closed cubital cell; no discoidal cell. Nymphs without cocoons in D. oculata, Emery. Distribution. North America and the tropical regions of both hemispheres. This genus can be distinguished from Sysphincta and Probolomyrmex, and also from the new genus described further on, by the 9-jointed antennae. D. Hewirrt, n. sp. 9. 22mm. Reddish ochreous, the occipital margin of the head, the thorax and petiole darker or more brownish red. Dull, micro- scopically coriaceous-punctate; 2nd abdominal segment slightly shining and fairly smooth. Clothed with a fairly dense but exceedingly fine and short pubescence. Head very convex in its posterior half, one- fifth longer than wide, wider behind than in front, the sides feebly convex, the posterior margin straight or slightly concave. Clypeus of the shape usual to the genus, being produced in front into a horizontal shelf, hiding the mandibles, the anterior margin convex. Frontal carinae fused into a single triangular plate, the front edge of which is perpendicular to the plane of the clypeus and feebly convex, the dorsal edge (when seen from the side) straight and horizontal, not extending beyond the anterior fifth of the head. Mandibles triangular, with a sharp tooth at the apex. Hyes large, convex, placed a little in front of the middle of the sides; ocelli small, placed at the angles of an equilateral triangle. Antennae 9-jointed, the scape strongly dilated apically, its apical width being nearly one-third of its length. First joint of flagellum as long as wide, 2nd—6th joints much wider than long, the apical joint ovoid, pointed, twice as long as wide, longer than the rest of the flagellum. Pronotum widely exposed above at the sides, very little in the middle, the anterior angles rounded, the sides parallel. Mesonotum moderately convex above, longer than wide, the scutellum convex behind. Dorsum of epinotum very short, almost parallel-sided, or only very slightly narrowed towards the apex, the apical margin or brow of the declivity blackish, nearly straight, the lateral corners rectangular but not dentate; the declivity vertical, submarginate. Petiole nodiform, transverse, twice as wide as long, feebly convex above, sharply truncate in front, the anterior face vertical; the ventral lamella produced in front into an oblong and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 161 rectangular lobe, which is longer than deep. First segment of abdo- men campaniform, as long as wide at the apical margin, where it is widest; 2nd segment a little longer than the Ist, the remaining segments entirely hidden under the 2nd and reflexed underneath it, so that the apex of the abdomen is directed forwards. Deilated. Grahamstown (Hewitt), 2specimens. Type inthe Albany Museum, Grahamstown. Very closely allied to Traegaordhi, but in the absence of the % sex, it is not advisable to unite it with that species, from which it differs by the shorter plate of the frontal carinae and by the narrower petiole. Amongst some ants recently sent to me for determination by the South African Museum, there was a specimen of a Proceratiine ant mounted on the same card with some Monomorium sp. — ?, and taken at Kimberley by Brother Power. For the reception of this peculiar insect, which combines in itself some of the characters of all the other genera of the tribe, it will be necessary to erect a new genus, as follows. Grenus PSEUDOSYSPHINCTA, on. Characters. ; ®. Antennae 12-jointed, the scape strongly incrassate apically, more than half as long as the flagellum ; 1st joint of flagellum as long as wide, the apical joint very large, acuminate ovate, as long as the rest of the flagellum, all the other joints at least three times wider than long, 2nd and 3rd joints almost fused. Clypeus produced for- wards into a horizontal lamella with a convex anterior margin, pro- jecting over the mandibles, which are almost entirely hidden under it, as in Discothyrea. Eyes present, not very small. Mandibles tri- angular, the masticatory margin concave. Thorax narrowed posteriorly ; seen from above it forms an elongate triangle, the truncate apex of which is at the brow of the declivity. It is not so elongate as in Probolomyrmex, being somewhat intermediate between that and Sysphincta. Promesonotal suture faintly indicated, the meso-epinotal absent. Petiole nodiform, articulating only over its lower half with the Ist abdominal segment. Abdomen as in Discothyrea and Sys- phincta, the apical segments being hidden under the 2nd, and ante- flexed. Middle and hind tibiz with one calcar. Type of genus P. Poweri, described below. 162 Annals of the South African Museum. P. Powsri, n. sp. (See Text-figures 9, 9a.) 9,2. 1mm. Yellowish rusty red, the legs and antennae paler, more ochreous. Microscopically coriaceous, the 1st abdominal segment also faintly and transversely rugulose.. Dull, the 2nd abdominal segment with a slight gloss. Head as long as wide, very convex above, hardly narrowed in front, the sides feebly convex, the posterior margin straight. The single lamella formed by the fused frontal carinae is short, not passing the anterior fifth of the head. Hyes flat, composed G. (sub9. IE, eptoporne) ru efi “gas fer: ko) Fies. 9, 9a. Frias. 10, 10a. of several ill-defined facets (9 ?), and situated at the anterior third of the head. Scape extending to the middle of the head. Anterior margin of clypeus convex. Pronotum produced in front into a distinct neck, the anterior angles rounded ; the pronotum hasa short and steep face in front, which is rounded above at its junction with the surface of the dorsum. Thorax nearly twice as long as it is wide across the pronotal angles, where it is widest; the dorsal profile forms a very low curve, sloping towards the declivity. The latter nearly vertical, fairly sharply delimited from the dorsum, faintly submargined. Epi- notal angles rounded. Petiole a little wider behind than in front, a little wider than long, the anterior angles rounded, the anterior face straight ; the ventral lamella with a broad tooth near its base, pointing A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 163 downwards and slightly forwards. First abdominal segment about as long as wide, decidedly longer than the 2nd; the constriction between them moderate. Legs fairly long. Other characters as for genus. Kimberley. (Power.) Type in my coll. Trine PONERINI.* Genus GLYPHOPONH, Forel. Rev. Zool. Afric., vol. 2, p. 3808, 1913. _ Suz-Genus LEPTOPONE, s-g. n. Characters. Q. Mandibles triangular, with 6 strong teeth. Clypeus with the median area moderately raised, convex, and slightly produced in front (nothing like so much as in Paltothyreus), the lateral margins of the median area tumid, hardly carinate, the space between almost flat or only very shallowly concave, not deeply excavated as in Gilyphopone, s.str. Theclypeus is produced backwards between the frontal carinae, and is confluent with the frontal suleus, which extends almost to the anterior ocellus. Antennae 12-jointed, the scape widening towards the apex, strongly compressed or flattened along its whole length. Abdomen elongate, as long as the head and thorax. Wings with 2 closed cubital cells, 2 discoidal and 1 submedian (in the type of the genus there are 3 cubital, 2 discoidal and 2 submedian, one of the latter very small). Tibiae and metatarsi of middle pair of legs, and the metatarsi of the hind pair of legs furnished with rows of spines. All the femora compressed laterally, the anterior femora strongly so. Middle and hind tibiae with two strong calcaria, the inner pectinate. Claws simple. Type of sub-genus, L. rufigaster, described below. G. (Sus-Grenus LeproponEe) RUFIGASTER, sp.n. (See Text-figs. 10, 10a.) 2. 14mm. Head black, slightly castaneous on the clypeus ; thorax black, petiole dark reddish brown, abdomen castaneous red. Legs, scapes, and mandibles castaneous, the margins of the latter blackish, flagellum dark brownish red, the apical joint paler. Smooth and very shining. Exceedingly sparsely and finely punctured, the piligerous * Pace 36. 164 Annals of the South African Musewn. punctures larger than the others; the extreme anterior margin of the mesonotum finely and rather closely punctured. Pilosity very sparse, consisting of stout, suberect, yellowish hairs, fairly long on the pro- notum and abdomen, shorter elsewhere. A very scanty pubescence on the legs and antennae. Head, excluding the mandibles, as long as wide behind, wider behind than in front, posterior margin very shallowly concave, the angles rounded. LHyes large, not very convex, placed in the middle of the sides, ocelli present. An oblique and shallow groove or elongate fovea lies on the inner border of each frontal carinae, along the posterior half. First joint of flagellum as long as wide, 2nd—9th joints wider than long, 10th about as long as wide, the apical joint twice as long as wide, as long as the 9th and 10th together. Pronotum widely exposed above, convex transversely and lengthwise; mesonotum moderately convex, the parapsidal sutures feeble. Scutellum trapezoid, its posterior margin convex, sloping downwards posteriorly and hardly raised above the level of the meta- notum; the latter rather long, quite one-quarter the length of the scutellum. Epinotum sloping from its base downwards, merging into the declivity by a deep curve, wider than long, shorter than the declivity, the latter convex transversely and vertical. Petiole twice as wide as long, wider above than below, the dorsal surface moderately convex transversely and lengthwise ; the anterior face vertical, concave dorso-ventrally and convex transversely ; posterior face very steep or almost vertical; ventral lamella produced into a large triangular tooth. Base of abdomen subtruncate, slanting a little forwards (as also the petiole). Abdomen elongate, cylindrical, parallel-sided, two and four-fifths longer than wide, the constriction between the Ist and _ 2nd segments feeble. Wings dirty yellowish, nervures dark brown, stigma black. Other characters as for the sub-genus. Victoria Falls. Type in my collection. I retain this species under the genus Glyphopone, since it appears to me that its points of resemblance with that genus (metatarsal and tibial spines, the polished integument, and structure of the node) are of greater value than the points of difference. Sus-Fammny MYRMICINAH, Mayr. Ver. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 5, p. 299, 1855. Characters. Petiole 2-jointed in all the sexes; very rarely (Melissotarsus) the 2nd joint is nearly as wide as the Ist abdominal segment. Pupae not enclosed in cocoons. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 165 ®. The frontal carinae are nearly always separated, rarely close together, divergent or slightly convergent behind and rarely lobed anteriorly. 2. Usually winged ; not often ergatoid, generally larger than the 9 , ¢. Anal segment with cerci; armature usually partly exserted. In a few species ergatoid and apterous. This sub-family is the largest of the five, comprising for South Africa alone nearly 300 species, races, and varieties. Its classifica- tion is attended with considerable difficulty, not only in the higher ranks, but also often within the limits of the genera. If in some genera, e.g. Monomorium, Cremastogaster, we make a visual examina- tion of a series of forms which have been described as distinct, it may not be difficult to perceive the individuality of each form or of each of the links, sometimes very numerous, which connect up the extremes of one or more species. That which enables us to appreciate the distinctive character in such a case, is the sum total produced by a combination of characters, often very slight, in the colour, punctura- tion, gloss, and size of the insect. But although more or less readily perceptible to the eye, the specific distinction of each form is far less easily defined in words by the very reason of its composite nature. This statement applies more particularly to the construction of analytical keys having the succinct character which such aids to rapid determination should possess. It is therefore essential that the student should give careful attention to the remarks made on the general structural features in the introductory paragraph to each genus, since the characters used in the key are considered in direct relation to the general morphology exhibited by the genus or by the majority of its members. A far greater range of variation in habits and structure is shown in this sub-family than in any of the others. The majority of the species are mainly carnivorous, but there are some genera which are graminivorous. Nearly all have a partiality for sugary substances, and many tend aphides for the sake of the honey-dew excreted by those insects. The tribe Attini of the New World is perhaps one of _ the most remarkable of all, since it comprises the ‘“ leaf-cutting” or “fungus-growing ” ants, species which feed exclusively on fungi cultivated in their nests. It is also to be noted that a very large number of myrmecophilous insects are found in the nests of Myrmi- cine ants. I have endeavoured to give with the descriptions of the species those facts concerning their habits which have so far been ascertained, but it must be admitted that such are painfully meagre, when not 166 Annals of the South African Museum. altogether absent. ‘There is, therefore, in this sub-family, as, indeed, is the case with the whole family, a large and magnificent field for patient work and observation, whereby a rich harvest may be reaped by naturalists in South Africa. The use of monographs should not be merely to aid the collector to identify the specimens in his cabinet, but more especially to enable the field-naturalist to study the living animal, and to assign his observations correctly to those species on which they are made, so that such data may be definitely recorded for reference and study by others. The scheme of classification herewith adopted for the tribes is that which has recently been proposed by Prof. C. Emery, in a paper entitled ‘ Intorno alla classificazione dei Myrmicinae” (Rendiconto d. Sess. R. Acad. d. Scienze d. Inst. Bologna, January, 1914), and the following key has been adapted for the tribes found in South Africa, from the key published by him in those pages. Owing to the fact that this work is being published from time to time in parts, and to ~ the lengthy study required by the tribe Pheidolini, I have not found it practicable to treat of the tribes in the order in which they appear in this key. This is, I believe, not a point of much importance, since in the present state of our knowledge it is not possible to make any definite assertions as to the phylogenetic relationship of one tribe to another. Key to the Tribes of Myrmicinae found in South Africa. ‘Section I. PROMYRMICINAE, Emery. Clypeus not prolonged backwards between the frontal carinae, its posterior margin rounded ; inner calcaria of middle and hind tibiae pectiniform ; ocelli almost always present in the $. Antennae 12-jointed inthe $ and 2, 13-jointed in the g, anterior wings with two closed cubital cells : ; : . Pseudomyrmini, Forel. Section II. HEUMYRMICINAH, Emery. Clypeus almost always prolonged backwards between the frontal carinae; if not, then the calcaria of the middle and hind tibiae are simple or absent; in the ordinary § the ocelli are not developed, in strongly dimorphic species they may be more or less visible in the & major or LY. A. All the calearia pectiniform (not South African). Myrmicini, F. Smith, Emery emend. AA. Calcaria of the middle and hind tibie simple or absent. B, Anterior wings with two closed cubital cells (except in some extra- South African genera); antennae 12-jointed in the § and 2, 13-jointed in the g (except in a small number of Pheidole and extra-South African genera) é , : : C . Pheidolini, Emery. HH. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 167 . Anterior wings with one closed cubital cell. . Head not cordiform inthe § and 2°. . Frontal carinae close together; thorax unarmed, without sutures or dorsal impressions in the § : : . Melissotarsini, Emery. . Frontal carinae more or less distant. . Antennae 7-jointed, without a distinct club in the § and 9 ; 13-jointed inthe g. Epinotum armed, abdomen cordiform in the g. Myrmicarini, Forel. . Antenne with more than 7 joints in the § and @. . Antennal fossa delimited on the inner side only by the frontal carinae ; antennae generally 12- or 13-jointed in the ¢. . Anterior wings with the radial cell largely incomplete; the cubital joins the radial, but does not go beyond it; the brachial unites with the medial; 3 generally apterous : . Cardiocondylini, Emery. . Anterior wings with the radial cell variable; the cubital unites with the radial by a veinlet ; the cubital more or less long (Solenopsis type) ; in some genera and groups (a large number of Cremastogaster and Monomorium and some smaller genera allied to them) the cubital vein shortens so much as to disappear (Formica type). . The 2nd joint of the petiole articulates with the upper surface of the abdomen . ; . Cremastogastrini, Forel. The 2nd joint of the merle pricaletcs with the basal apex of the abdomen. . Characters negative, genera which cannot be placed within any of the others ; radial cell generally closed. Mayrian furrows generally distinct me Wave) Gg F . Myrmecinini, Ashmead. . Thorax of the $ eeuallyy snonts promesonotum large; epinotum with the dorsum very short or obsolete, the spines situated very low; in Meranoplus the mesonotum projects beyond the epinotum. Antennae 9 to 12-jointed in the $ and 2, and usually more or less retractile into a scrobe. Mayrian furrows well defined in the ¢, which has the antennae 13-jointed . 6 : . Meranoplini, Emery. . Antennae 11 to 12-jointed in the $ pad 2, more rarely 7 to 10, usually with a 2 or 3-jointed club; antennae in the ¢ 12 or 18-jointed, rarely 11; anterior wings with the radial cell always open. Mayrian furrows indistinct in the g (except Monomorium) . . Solenopsidini, Forel. . Antennae in the § and @ 9 to 11-jointed, with a club usually of 2 joints ; wings with radial cell always closed and with a large discoidal. Mayrian furrows absent. j : . Pheidologetini, Emery. . Cubital vein of the anterior wing united with the radial, or is connected with it by a very short veinlet (Formica type). . Antenne in the § and @ 12-jointed, without a club; 1st joint of the petiole elongate, abdomen small and pyriform, thorax unarmed, without sutures or clear impressions on the dorsum. Antennae 13-jointed in the 3g, the scape very short; anterior wings with the radial cell closed. Ocymyrmicini, Emery. . Antennae in the § and 2 11 or 12-jointed, club of 2 or 3 joints; antennae in the ¢ of more than 10 joints ; epinotum generally armed. Leptothoracini, Emery. 168 Annals of the South African Museum. e@. Antennae in the § and ¢ with 10 to 12 joints; clypeus with a trans- verse and high carina on the posterior margin, separating the clypeus from the antennal fossa; antennae in the g 10-jointed, 4 joints having been fused into one long joint : : . Tetramoriini, Emery. FF. Antennal fossa delimited on the inner side by a carina which passes below the eyes and does not correspond (at least in its posterior portion) to the frontal carina ; antennae 11-jointed in all the sexes. Cataulacini, Emery. (Ze. G@. Head cordiform, excavated behind and much narrowed in front: antennae in the § and 2 with from 4 to 12 joints,in the g with 13 joints; radial cell open . : 3 c . Dacetini, Forel. In the following key, the order in which the genera are placed is no indication of their natural affinities, the latter being treated of under the headings of the tribes. The ¢d and ? 9? being insufficiently known, no key for the identification of those sexes can be constructed which would be of any practical value. The reader should be re- minded that, as in the case of the three preceding sub-families, the petiole is treated of as a distinct region, in the Myrmicinae composed of 2 joints, and that the abdominal segment which articulates with the 2nd joint of the petiole is referred to as the Ist abdominal segment. The Ist joint of the petiole usually consists of an anterior stalk or peduncle, articulating in front to the epinotum, and bearing behind a swollen portion, the node. The 2nd joimt (2nd node) is rarely, if ever, pedunculate in front, but it may be more or less narrowed in its posterior half. The structure of the petiole is of considerable diagnostic value, and in order to avoid frequent repetition the following remarks on the shape of the organ should be carefully noted. Inthe ©, the relative proportions of the node and the peduncle of the Ist joint are very variable. The node may be so large as to render the peduncular portion almost obsolete, as in Meranoplus, Sima, and Cataulacus; or the node may be of such a shape that no definite line of demarcation can be drawn between a nodal and a peduncular region, Leptothorax, many species of Pheidole. The shape of the node is very diverse. It is usually more or less wedge-shaped, or a combination of a wedge and a cone, or it may be more or less cuboid. When the faces of the wedge are approximated and the sides also compressed, it merges into a more or less squamiform . node, as in Tetramorium squaminode. On the other hand, when the faces of the wedge are very oblique, we have a tectiform node, as in Cataulacus. Again, if the faces and sides of a wedge are rounded, a more or less conical shape is produced. Such a shape, with the apex very considerably rounded, is one of the commonest, and when much A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 169 rounded above and flattened, passes into the hemispherical. When the apex of the node is directed more forwards than upwards, the Nyrmicaria io Myr nnicarta wie Swe § WOW e S0tp Co7m/CR is) Pheide!3 lgpecelifere. a AlopormylITeX . weage- shapek WON e 1S ey} Monomorium albopifesun? O° TELIA POT ITE. g. Sub-conical mode . CaLoiad rode. dorsal view latera/ yiew dorsal yiew. Cataulacus ELTA SESE Ta LY¢ color. becki Lorrm rode. IG ua 7 fOr ln pode, G eal LES: Le ylode, spaced. fV osteriar face of fhe - edupycle LaMed sii: HE ye i rade. pa- (ose £7/o7 WEY “face of lia mole . 1st yore yA Mick oblige Qa: 40ex, af anterior face ta Bl Tea , excepting the usual sexual diffe- rences. The teeth of the clypeus are a little larger. The mesonotum is wider than long, and one-quarter longer than the pronotum; the scutellum transversely oval, half as long as the mesonotum. The dorsal portion of the epinotum is about as long as the mesonotum, a little wider than long, and widest at the base; the declivity is less oblique thaninthe 9. The puncturation of the epinotum is stronger than in the 9. Deialated. Durban. (Marley.) South Africa generally. (G. A. coll.) NATALENSIS, race OBSCURATA, Hmery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 22, 9, 1895. S. 67mm. This differs from the type in its slightly smaller size and darker colour, which is ferruginous brown, with the front of the head, the abdomen, antennae, and legs yellowish brown. The punctu- ration is slightly stronger, and the Ist joint of the petiole is more convex longitudinally. ?. 82mm. (hitherto undescribed). Colouring similar to that of the 9%. It differs from the 9 of the type by the stronger punctura- tion, especially of the thorax. The mesonotum is also narrower, and as long as wide. The dorsum of the epinotum is distinctly shorter and more convex. The Ist joint of the petiole is thinner at the base, and is shorter and more convex lengthwise than in the type. There are a few long pilose hairs on the back of the head and on the thorax. Deilated, otherwise like the ¢. 6. 8mm. Head, thorax, and petiole piceous brown, the sides of the scutellum and metanotum, the base and apex of the Ist joint of the petiole, the anterior half of the head below, including the frontal carinae, the mandibles, scapes, and Ist joint of the flagellum dirty yellow; flagellum brown, legs yellowish brown, first three segments of abdomen dirty yellow, but brownish at the margins, the remaining segments dark brown. Wings hyaline, nervures yellow, stigma brownish yellow. ‘The pubescence is much longer than in the 178 Annals of the South African Musewn. 2, especially on the petiole and abdomen; there are also a few long, erect, and blackish hairs on the thorax. The rugulosity of the surface is much stronger than in the @ ; the posterior half of the head is strongly and rather closely punctured. The mesonotum is sparsely but coarsely punctured. The head is slightly shining on the vertex, the rest of the body dull. Head longer than wide, sides rather convex, posterior margin nearly straight, wider behind the eyes than in front. The eyes occupy about two-thirds of the sides of the head, and are placed a little in front of the middle. Ocelli large, on a slightly raised area. Mandibles shining, feebly and sparsely punc- tured, armed with 5 teeth. Clypeus feebly convex transversely, with an obtuse median tubercle. Scape of antenna two and one-third times as long as the Ist joint of the flagellum, not reaching back to the posterior third of the eyes. First joint of flagellum very short, about as long as wide, all the remaining joints very much longer than wide; the antenna reaches back as far as the base of the 2nd joint of the petiole. Pronotum exposed above, short, convex transversely. Meso- notum a little longer than wide, with the scutellum a little longer than the head. The epinotum is somewhat flattened, the dorsum and declivity not distinctly delimited ; it is widest at the base, and about as long as wide. First joint of petiole with a short peduncle, the node twice as long as wide; 2nd joimt conical, widest behind, not quite half as wide again as the Ist joint. The petiole is not margi- nate. Algoa Bay. (Brauns.) Race OBSCURATA, var. CAFFRA, Santschi. Goteborgs K. Vetans. och Vitterh. Handl., xv, 2, p. 15, §, 9, @, 1914. It is necessary to sink this form to the rank of a variety of obscurata, from which it differs only in the following characters : &. 6mm. The colour is lighter, especially on the thorax and front of the head. The posterior half of the head is dark brown, contrast- ing sharply with the ochreous anterior half. The pronotum is wider ; the epinotum is much less strongly punctured, and the node of the Ist joint of the petiole a little narrower and less convex. ?. The eyes are a little longer. The pronotum is also a little longer and more sharply margined, and anterior angles less rounded. As inthe 9, the colour is generally paler than in the type of the race, but the promesonotal suture has a dark blackish spot in the middle, and the parapsidal sutures are also heavily margined with A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 179 darker colour. The 1st node of the petiole is distinctly narrower than in the type. 6. 78mm. The author’s description of this sex agrees entirely with that of the race. Zululand. (Tragardh.) Race currensis, Forel, var. BULAWAYANA, Forel. (Race) Bull. Soc. Vaud., vol. 47, p. 317, 1911. (Var.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Beles voljom) py llaor lois: “Smaller than the type of the race, less dull, simply sub-opaque. The node is also a little narrower, and the head a little shorter ; otherwise like the type of cwitensis.” ®&. 75 mm. This differs from the type of the species in its slightly smaller size, in having the sides of the head more parallel, the epinotum a little more oblique posteriorly, and the Ist joint of the petiole a little narrower. ?. 85 mm. This is smaller than the type of the species. The head is more parallel-sided, the epinotum narrower posteriorly, the denticulations of the clypeus smaller, and the colour a little redder ; otherwise like the type. Bulawayo, Plumtree, Bembesi, Victoria Falls. §. Rhodesia, Nest- ing in the hollow twigs of trees. (S.A.M:, R.M., G.A. colls.) I have not seen examples of the race cuitensis, and am therefore obliged to compare this variety with reference to the type of the pecies. S. (Sub-genus Sima, s. str.) ANDREI, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 144, $, 1895. “6. 46 mm. Black, partly piceous, mandibles, scapes and Ist joint of flagellum, tibiae, tarsi and apex of femora reddish yellow ; sometimes the tibiae are brownish red-yellow, and the flagellum, except the Ist joint, yellowish brown. Pilosity almost absent, the decumbent pubescence very fine, short and dense, visible on the head and thorax only under a strong magnification. Dull; head and dorsum of thorax closely and finely punctured, the sides of the pronotum slightly shining and finely rugulose, the sides of the meso- and metathorax, the petiole and abdomen rugulose-punctate, although not easily recognisable on the last, on account of the dense pubescence. The mandibles coarsely longitudinally striate, and with a few punctures, the very oblique masticatory margin quadridentate. The head is, as in Mocquerysi, André, rectangular, longer than wide, parallel-sided. 180 Annals of the South African Musewm. The short clypeus is arcuately emarginate in the middle of the anterior margin, but isnot crenelate. The frontal carinae are as in Mocquerysi, closely approximated, separated only by the frontal sulcus which reaches back to the neighbourhood of the ocelli, and are divergent behind, and longer than in Mocquerysi. The scape does not extend back as far as the anterior third of the eye; the 2nd joint of the flagellum is as long as wide, the rest, excepting the last joint, wider than long. Only two ocelli present. The rather large eyes are situated behind the middle of the sides, and occupy about half the length of the same. The head is but slightly emarginate behind. The thorax is not much narrower behind than it is between the anterior angles of the pronotum ; the latter is reversed trapeze-shaped, feebly convex above, a little shorter than wide, the side margins with a sharp, narrow, raised border, the anterior angles rounded and prominent. The mesonotum is short, semi-circular, twice as wide as long. The metanotum is separated from the mesonotum by a narrow sulcus, very short and almost linear in the middle, longer at the sides ; the metanotum is not distinctly defined from the epinotum. The epinotum is sharply marginate laterally, the dorsum flat, the brow of the declivity rounded. The Ist joint of the petiole is triangular, the sides sharply margined, hardly pedunculate, widening posteriorly, seen from above flat transversely, but very convex in profile. The 2nd joint is much wider, but shorter than the Ist, nearly twice as wide as long. The abdomen is elongate-ovate. The legs are fairly short.” Delagoa Bay. (Brauns.) S. (Sub-genus TETRAPONERA, Smith) Penzic1, Mayr. (Tetraponera) Ann. Mag. N. H. (2), ix, p. 44, 1852. Formicidae Schwed. Kilimandjaro Exped., 8, p. —, , 9, ¢, 1907. “6. 31-47 mm. Black, mandibles, articulations of the legs, tarsi, and often also the tibiae brownish yellowish-red, the antennae usually reddish yellow with brownish club. Pilosity almost absent, the adpressed pubescence very sparse. The whole body shining, finely rugulose and with some scanty punctures, bearing fine hairs; the front of the head, and to a certain extent the cheeks, longitudinally striate, the mandibles coarsely rugoso-striate. The mandibles, particu- larly in the larger specimens, depressed and flattened in the apical half, the teeth obtuse. Head wider than the thorax, distinctly longer than wide. The middle portion of the clypeus in the larger § § more or less angularly produced (strongly so in the ¢). The scape does not reach back to the posterior margin of the eyes; the 2nd-6th A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 181 joints of the flagellum very short, each about twice as wide as long. The eyes occupy about one-third of the sides of the head, ocelli wanting. The pronotum is margined laterally only at the hind corners; the mesonotum is transverse and oval, shorter than the pronotum ; the metanotum is shorter than the mesonotum, about twice as wide as long; the epinotum is but little shorter than the pronotum, the feebly convex dorsum is longer than the declivity and wider at the base than at the apex; the brow of the declivity rounded. The first joint of the petiole is shortly but distinctly pedunculated, the node rounded, a little wider than long, very little narrower than the 2nd joint, the ventral lamella compressed. The 2nd jointis transverse and oval, or pyriform, smaller in front than behind.” “O. 6mm. Colour, pubescence and puncturation as in the 9, the punctures on the cheeks larger than on the frons. The middle part of the clypeus projects very distinctly forwards in a bluntly angular lobe. The rest of the head as in the 9. The wings feebly tinged with yellowish brown.” “¢. 46mm. Black, flagellum brownish yellow, mandibles and tarsi darker. The pilosity occurs almost only on the ventral surface of the abdomen. The antennae are thickly clothed with very short erect hairs; the abdomen moderately pubescent. The mandibles have moderately long pilose hairs, inserted in coarse punctures; the masti- catory margin with several teeth, the anterior ones acute. The head and mesonotum are very finely rugulose and shining, the latter with some strong piligerous punctures. Scutellum and metanotum smooth, the nodes of the petiole almost so, the abdomen finely rugulose. The middle part of the clypeus is strongly arched, ending in front in a blunt point. The scape of the 12-jointed antenna is quite twice as long as wide, the 2nd to the penultimate inclusive, sub-equal, and each about two and a half times longer than wide, the last joint a little longer. The Ist node of the petiole with a short peduncle and distinctly longer than wide, below with a flattened projection. The 2nd joint is but little wider than long, but much wider than the Ist. The wings somewhat paler than in the 2.” Lehututu, Kalahari. (Schultze.) S. (Sub-genus Trerrarona) Lienemet, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 88, 9, ¢, 1894. “6. 34-3°7 mm. Mandibles with 4to 5 teeth, the external margins almost straight, shining, feebly punctured and striate. Head elongate and rectangular, one and a half times as long as wide, somewhat 182 Annals of the South African Museum. wider and more convex behind. Hyes in the middle of the sides of the head. Clypeus with two very small median carinae placed close together, each ending in front in a blunt tooth. Scape very short, half as long as the distance between the antennal sockets and the occipital margin. Flagellum thick, the joints excepting the first and last, wider than long. Pronotum rounded, as wide as long, flattened above. The metanotum is nearly as long and as wide as the meso- notum, the latter wider than long. The epinotum is fairly convex, | the dorsum as long as the declivity, the brow of the latter rounded. The epinotum is as high as the mesonotum. ‘The thoracic segments are separated by deep sulci, but are not constricted. First joint of petiole with a short peduncle, both jomts short, thick, wide, and roundly pyriform ; the Ist, excluding the peduncle, hardly longer than wide behind, the 2nd much wider than long. Abdomen elongate- ovate, fairly pointed posteriorly. Antennae and legs short and thick. Very shining, very finely and shallowly reticulate ; head almost quite smooth. Pilosity nearly entirely absent, only a few thin hairs round the mouth and apex of abdomen. Pubescence very sparse. Brownish black, legs and flagellum brown, mandibles and anterior margin of the head brownish red. Scape, base of the flagellum, the ends of the tarsi, and articulations of the iegs yellowish. S$. 47mm. Wings clear. Clypeus produced triangularly in the middle in front. Head oval, longer than wide. Petioleas in the 9. Antennae blackish brown, margins of the mandibles reddish; legs brown, tarsi yellowish. All the rest of the body black, shining. Much wider and with a wider petiole than clypeata, and with quite a differently shaped clypeus. The very strongly developed metanotum gives this species a very distinctive appearance.” Delagoa Bay. (iengme.) S. (Sub-genus TETRAPONERA) CLYPEATA, Emery. (Plate V, figs. 50, 50a.) Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 361,-9 , 1886. ©. 36-4mm. Black, mandibles ferruginous, legs brownish black, tarsi and articulations reddish brown, antennae reddish yellow, darken- ing to brown towards the base and the apex. Very smooth and shining. Head, thorax, and abdomen microscopically rugulose, with a few fine punctures ; the anterior half of the head rather closely but very finely and shallowly punctured. Pubescence exceedingly sparse and micro- scopical, except on the antennae, where it is dense and longer. Clypeus and last three abdominal segments with a few long, erect, pilose A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 183 hairs. Head widest between the eyes, nearly one-third longer than wide, the posterior angles very rounded. Hyes placed in the middle of the sides of the, head, occupying a little more than one quarter of the latter; a trace of the anterior ocellus present. Median portion of clypeus raised and produced; the anterior margin of the protruded area 1s quadridentate (see fig. 50, Plate V) ; the inner pair of teeth are larger and further apart from each other than they are from the outer teeth. (In the two specimens at my disposal there is a slight asym- metry produced by the sub-division of either the right or the left inner tooth.) The scape extends backwards to the posterior margin of the eyes; the Ist joint of the flagellum is longer than wide, and is as long as the 2nd-4th joints taken together; the latter and also the 5th and 6th are wider than long, the remaining joints longer than wide. Frontal carinae short, slightly divergent behind. Mandibles tri- dentate, feebly striato-punctate, the external and internal margins subparallel. The dorsum of the thorax is not margined. Pronotum widest anteriorly, flattened above, as long as wide; mesonotum sub- circular, nearly as long as the pronotum ; pro-mesonotal suture feeble, meso-metanotal fairly well defined. The metanotum is much narrower than the mesonotum and is separated from the epinotum by a deep and wide groove, slightly clathrate laterally. The epinotum is widest at the base, twice as long as wide, as long as the pronotum, the lateral dorsal margins and the brow of the short and oblique declivity, strongly rounded. The peduncle of the Ist joint of the petiole is about half as long as the node, the latter is nearly twice as long as wide. The 2nd joint is bell-shaped, widest posteriorly, and two-thirds wider than the Ist joint. Seen in profile, both joints are very convex above. Abdomen elongate-ovate, Ist segment longer than wide. The femora are swollen in the middle. ?. 55 mm. Differing from the § in the following characters. The head is more parallel-sided ; the inner pair of teeth on the anterior margin of the clypeus are much larger, and the outer pair relatively smaller. The pronotum has the anterior angles less rounded, the sides more parallel ; it is distinctly wider than long. The mesonotum is widest in the middle, in front of the tegulae, and one-third wider than long. The scutellum wider than long, two-thirds as long as the mesonotum. The epinotum is wider at the base than it is long, seen from above, reversed trapezoid, not elongately triangular as in the ®. Three small ocelli are present. Other characters as in the 9. (Deiilated.) (S.A.M. coll.) 184. Annals of the South African Museum. Race Bravunst, Forel. (Plate V, fig. 49.) (as species), Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. vol. 57, p. 112, 9, 2, 1913. 6. 4-44 mm. This form differs from the type in its larger size, the slightly stronger puncturation, and the shape of the produced median portion of the clypeus. This is like that of clypeata, but in the majority of specimens has in addition a median unpaired tooth, somewhat smaller than the inner pair of teeth on each side of it. This median tooth in some examples is very small, or quite obsolete, in which case the clypeus exactly resembles that of clypeata. The peduncle of the first joint of the petiole is perhaps a trifle longer than in the type species. @. 7mm. The median tooth is very small or entirely absent. The mandibles are more strongly striate and punctate than in the type species, and the head is also more shining. Otherwise similar. Dealated. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. Brauns.) (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race BRAUNSI, var. DURBANENSIS, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 218, 1914. Entirely dark ochreous yellow. Head, thorax, and abdomen smooth and shining. Epinotum more convex lengthwise than in the race. A little smaller and more slender, 3°8-4 mm. Otherwise similar to the race. Durban. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race BRAUNSI, var. EQUIDENTATA, n. v. (Plate V, fig. 48.) S. 35-4mm. This differs from the race in its smaller size and in having the median tooth as large as the inner pair of teeth, the outer pair of teeth much smaller, and the clypeus produced further forwards. Capetown, nesting in the tunnels made by a species of Allodape. (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) S. (Sub-genus TETRAPONERA) BIFOVEOLATA, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus., Wien, vol. 10, p. 146, 9, 1895. ©. 38-42 mm. Reddish yellow, eyes black, masticatory margin of the mandibles and apex of abdomen brown. The pilosity is sparse, even on the scapes and the tibiae ; the body, excepting the thorax, has an abundant pubescence, which is somewhat oblique on the head, ce A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 185 especially on the cheeks and on the legs. Moderately shining ; head, thorax and petiole very finely rugulose or reticulate; the head is also scantily punctured, the abdomen finely so, the punctures piligerous. The mandibles are longitudinally striate, with scattered punctures, the masticatory margin furnished with four or five teeth, and merging in a curve with the internal margin. The elongate and quadrangular head is wider than the thorax, about one and a half times as long as wide, almost parallel-sided, slightly narrower in front than behind. The short clypeus has an unarmed, and widely but shallowly emarginate anterior border. The frontal carinae are placed close together, diverging slightly posteriorly. Frontal area wanting. The frontal sulcus is clearly marked only between the anterior third of the carinae. The scape reaches back to the anterior third of the eye, the 2nd—10th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Ocelli absent. The rather large oval eyes occupy about one-third of the sides of the head, and are situated distinctly behind the middle of the latter. In front of, and above the posterior margin of the head there are two circular foveae, more or less distinctly margined and rugosely granulate ; the diameter of each of these pits is about one-fifth or one-sixth of the posterior margin of the head; the latter is arcuately emarginate. The thorax is distinctly wider in front than behind, only the sides of the pronotum are marginate, and the dorsum is not very convex. The pronotum, seen from above, is somewhat longer than wide, wider in front than behind, the rectangular anterior corners rounded. The pro-mesonotal suture is distinct. The mesonotum is hardly longer than it is wide in front, and very little narrower behind than in front. A metanotum is not indicated, its stigmata lie just in front of the shallow constriction between the meso- and epinotum. The dorsum of the latter is longer than wide, and merges into the equally long and transversely convex declivity. The first joint of the petiole has a very short peduncle, its node is of an elongate pyriform shape, not marginate laterally ; seen in profile, the node is steeper in front than behind ; the 2nd joint of the petiole is shorter and about twice as wide as the first, wider than long, and wider in front than behind. Abdomen oblong, moderately pointed apically, the 1st segment longer than wide.” Delagoa Bay and Zanzibar. (Brauns.) S. (Sub-genus TETRAPONERA) AMBIGUA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 23, 3, 9, 1895. Forel, Schultze, Reise Siid Afrika, vol. 4, p. 5, ¢, 1910. “5, 92. Testaceous, flagellum pubescent, punctate, dull, eyes in the middle of the sides of the head, pronotum marginate, the rest of 186 Annals of the South African Museum. the thorax and the petiole not marginate. Ist node of petiole narrow, 2nd sub-globose. © 45 mm., ? 5°5mm. “Hamman’s Kraal and Makapan, Bechuanaland. (Simon.) ” “@. 45-55 mm. Head a little longer than wide, narrow in front, posterior margin straight. Hyes large. Ist node pedunculate in front, twice as long as wide. 2nd node much longer than wide. Thorax wider than the head. Shining, scantily and finely punctured. Hrect pilose hairs absent, the decumbent pubescence very fine and scanty. Wings as in penzigi. Brown; antennae, clypeus, legs and narrow bands on the abdomen pale yellow.” Race RHODESIANA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 112, 9, 1918. Arnold, Proc. Rhod. Sc. Assn., vol. 13, pt. 3, p. 31. G maj. 1914. “This race differs from the type species by the almost total absence of the anterior lobe of the clypeus, which, in the type, is very distinct, rectangular and produced. The three segments of the thorax are also more flattened and margined, and less convex. Thecurve between the dorsum and the declivity of the epinotum is more abrupt and angular than in the type.” S. 5 mm. Reddish yellow. Pubescence scanty on the head, thorax and legs, more abundant on the abdomen. A few pale, erect hairs on the head, pronotum, petiole and apical portion of the abdomen. Head, dorsum of thorax and Ist node of petiole very finely reticulate, sides of thorax very finely reticulate-striate. Dull, abdomen nitidulous. Head about one-third longer than wide, wider than the thorax, the sides convex, posterior margin straight. Frontal carinae rather wide in front, raised more above the antennal sockets than in natalensis. Median portion of clypeus raised and projecting slightly forwards, its anterior margin bearing three minute prominences, hardly toothed- Mandibles quadridentate, shining and striate. The scape extends back to the anterior third of the eye. The latter very large, almost half as long as the sides of the head, placed rather obliquely, and nearer the posterior than the anterior margin. The two posterior ocelli faintly indicated. Pronotum very slightly wider in front than behind, as long as wide, and distinctly marginate at the sides. Pro-mesonotal suture deep; mesonotum as long as wide, two-thirds as long as the pronotum. Dorsum of epinotum as long as the pronotum, about one- quarter longer than the declivity, which is very steep, almost vertical. First joint of petiole hardly pedunculate, twice as long as wide; the sides of the node are vertical, but the dorsal surface is not marginate ; A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 187 2nd joint of petiole sub-globose, twice as wide as the Ist. Legs rela- tively longer than in natalensis. ® major. 58-6 mm. This differs from the 9 minor not only in its larger size, but also by the structure and sculpture of the head. The anterior angles of the head are much more prominent. The clypeus has the anterior margin produced into three distinct short teeth, which are only indicated by slight prominences in the 9 minor. The frontal carinae are also wider anteriorly and longer. The mandibles are strongly striated. The posterior half of the vertex is deeply and transversely striated, the region in front of the eyes and below them reticulate-striate, the frontal carinae longitudinally and rather finely striate. The posterior ocelli of the $ minor are just distinguishable, . whereas in this form they are barely represented by three shallow and minute indentations. Otherwise like the $ minor. ?. 68-7 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Head more parallel-sided than in the ¢, one-third longer than wide. The median portion of the clypeus is produced further forwards and its anterior margin is distinctly tridentate. The frontal carinae extend back almost to the - level of the anterior margin of the eyes. Three ocelli present. The pronotum is narrower in front than behind, more convex above trans- versely than in the 9. The mesonotum is wider than long; on each side of the middle line behind the pro-mesonotal suture there is a short longitudinal impression, about one-third the length of the segment. The head is distinctly rugose, obliquely so in front of the eyes, and transversely and more strongly rugose behind them, but the rugosities are not so coarse as in the § major. Mesonotum very finely rugulose and shining. Otherwise like the 9. Plumtree and Bembesi, 8. Rhodesia, nesting in thin dead twigs of Acacia, (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) S. (Sub-genus TeTRAPONERA), Emery Forel. ( = capensis, Emery, nec. Smith, Forel emend.) Emery, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 638, p. 23, ©, 1895. Forel, Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 47, p. 367, 1911. “ This species is very shining, and the thorax and petiole are not at all margined. The petiole is even narrower than in ambigua. The metanotum has a strong transverse impression behind the suture. The eyes are situated at about the middle of the sides of the head, a little nearer the anterior than the posterior border; they are also smaller, being less than one-third the length of the head; in natalensis 188 Annals of the South African Museum. and ambiqua they are more than one-third the length of the head. 4—4°5 mm. Pretoria.’ Trine MELISSOTARSINI, Emery. Genus MELISSOTARSUS, Emery. Ann. Muss. Civ. Gen., vol. 9, p. 16, 1877. Characters. ®. Antennae 6-jointed, the club 2-jointed; frontal carinae closely approximated. Thorax without a trace of sutures. First joint of petiole elongate and triangular, 2nd joint short, transverse, fused behind with the abdomen. Legs thick and short, Ist joint of the anterior or of all the tarsi greatly enlarged, and as wide or nearly as wide as the tibia. Mandibles bluntly tridentate or with the teeth more or less produced and acuminate, especially the apical.* Q@. Similar to the 9, the teeth on the mandibles acute. Tarsi as inthe $. Pronotum but slightly exposed dorsally. Wings with 1 closed cubital and 1 closed radial cell; stigma absent. 6. Antennae 12-jointed, filiform, scape three times as long as the Ist joint of the flagellum. Mandibles small, not well developed. Petioleas in the § and 9. Tarsisimple. Genital armature exserted. Wings as in the 9. M. Beccari, Emery. (Plate V, figs. 51, 5la and b.) IYO, Cltior, 1 UZ, Ml ®. 22mm. Head and thorax reddish ochreous, the front of the head darker, the mandibles ferruginous ; legs, antennae and abdomen — pale dirty yellow. A very fine and scanty pubescence on the legs and antennae, but absent on the body. Pilosity pale, long and very sparse on the head and abdomen, shorter and even scantier on the thorax. Head microscopically and longitudinally strigose, also finely and sparsely punctured. Dorsum of thorax with very even and distinct longitudinal striae which become feeble towards the brow of the declivity ; the declivous anterior and posterior faces of the thorax smooth. Petiole and abdomen microscopically reticulate and shining, legs smooth and shining, head and thorax dull. Head sub-quadrate, * After seeing a long series of M. Beccarii, it appears to me that Emery’s division of the neuter caste into 24 and ¢ cannot be maintained. There isa complete gradation between forms with narrow heads and acute mandibles, and those with broader heads and blunt mandibles. ° A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 189 parallel-sided and with the posterior margin shallowly concave in the forms with blunt mandibles, or slightly narrower in front than behind, in those with acute teeth on the mandibles; the latter also have the posterior margin of the head more deeply concave. Forms inter- mediate in respect to the mandibular structure and the shape of the head also occur. Head much wider than the thorax, very convex transversely. Mandibles tridentate, the masticatory margin straight and with very small blunt teeth, or, more or less oblique, and with the teeth stronger and acute. The internal margin of the mandibles is more or less swollen. Clypeus short, slightly raised in the middle, the anterior margin feebly concave at each side. Frontal carinae short, close together and parallel. Antennae 6-jointed, the scape short, only just reaching the internal margins of the eyes when extended sideways ; flagellum very little longer than the scape, the Ist joint as long as the 2nd and 3rd together and a little longer than wide, 2nd joint as long as wide at its apex, 3rd joint a little shorter than the 2nd, wider than long, 4th joint twice as wide as long, 5th joint narrowing to the apex, half as long again as wide, and quite twice as long as the 4th. Hyes small, oval, situated far forwards, composed of about 15 facets, and separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance less than their own long diameter. Thorax rectangular, the corners rounded, nearly parallel-sided, or only very slightly wider in front than behind, convex longitudinally and transversely, the declivity vertical, the brow strongly rounded. First joint of the petiole triangular, longer than wide, widest behind. Second joint transverse, two and a quarter times wider than long, its posterior face coalesced on the whole surface with the abdomen. Abdomen ovate, all the segments wider than long. Legs short, the femora swollen, the Ist tarsal joint (metatarsus) of the front pair of legs sub-ovate, wider than the tibia, the other tarsal joints very short. The metatarsus of the middle pair of legs cylindrical, as thick as and two-thirds as long as the tibia. Metatarsus of hind pair of legs slightly compressed, a little wider than the tibia, and like the middle metatarsi, furnished with a series of minute teeth round the outer half of the apex. ?. 4mm. Mandibles with masticatory margin oblique and acutely dentate. Hyes large, the facets clearly defined ; three ocelli present and well developed. Head narrower in front than behind, posterior angles more pronounced than in the 9, and posterior margin much more deeply emarginate. Pronotum not greatly exposed, not as high as the mesonotum and three times wider than long. Mesonotum convex above, but as long as wide, the sides smooth, the central area 190 Annals of the South African Museum. and also the scutellum longitudinally striate. Scutelium half as long as the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum very short, four times wider than long, the brow rounded, the declivity vertical. Second joint of petiole narrower than in the 9, hardly more than twice as wide as long. Legs as in the >. Antennae, mandibles, petiole and legs dark yellow, the rest of the body brown, a little paler on the mesonotum. Wings with one closed cubital and closed radial cell, recurrent nervures wanting. Nervures brownish yellow, stigma almost obsolete. Otherwise like the 9. ¢. 387 mm. Ochreous yellow, legs and antennae pale yellow, vertex of head slightly brown. Head wider than long. LHyes large, placed in the anterior half of the head, and covering quite half of the sides. Ocelli large. Mandibles very small. Clypeus very short, the median portion raised and projecting slightly forwards. Antennae filiform, scape a little longer than the eye, two and a quarter times as long as the first joint of the flagellum, 2nd joint of flagellum nearly twice as long as the Ist, all the joints longer than wide. The pronotum is vertical, not visible from above ; mesonotum strongly convex above, faintly and longitudinally striate. Epinotum and petiole as in the 9. Tarsal joints simple, not as wide as the tibiae. Genital armature exserted. Wings asin the 9. Pubescence a little longer and more abundant than in that sex. Durban, nesting under bark, in moderately populous colonies. (Marley, Cooper.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) © Tring MYRMECININI, Ashmead. Genus ATOPOMYRMEX, E. André. Rev. d’Ent., vol. 8, p. 226, 1889. Characters. %. Size variable, all forms occurring from §% maj. to 9 min. Antennae 12-jointed, with a 3-jointed club. Clypeus large, sub- triangular; mandibles short, thick and obtusely dentate. Frontal carinae widely divergent posteriorly, the outer margin projecting so as to form an indistinct scrobe in the largest G9 9. Hyes not large. Pronotum flat above, produced anteriorly into a distinct neck, from which and from the sides the dorsum is rather shortly delimited. The pronotum is widest in front, narrowed and constricted behind. Pro-mesonotal suture not distinctly defined dorsally. Mesonotum strongly bi-tuberculate above and separated from the epinotum by a A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 1ugil wide and deep depression. Dorsum of epinotum also tuberculate near the base. Epinotal spines large, long, and divergent. 1st node of petiole bispmose above; 2nd node wider than long, the anterior angles rounded but strongly dilated. Middle and hind legs without ealcaria, all the femora swollen in the middle; last tarsal joint very large, as long as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th taken together, and bearing strong claws. ?. Antennae 12-jointed. Eyes not large, 3 well-developed ocelli. Frontal carinae long, and forming a more distinct scrobe than in the © max. Pronotum very short in the middle; meso- and epinotum of the usual form, and without tubercles or spines; dorsum of epi- notum very short, the declivity vertical. 1st node of petiole with the spines of the 9 represented only by two broad tubercles. Anterior wing with | cubital, and 1 marginal, and a closed radial cell. 6. Mandibles very short, thick, dentate. Posterior margin of head raised to form a collar. Clypeus carinate; frontal carinae widely divergent. Eyes small. Scape short. Thorax and nodes without spines or tubercles. Wings as in the 9. A. Mocgusrrysi, André, var. curRvispIna, Forel. Rev. d@’Ent., vol. 8, p. 227, 9, 1889. Variety, Deutsch. Ent. Zeitsch., Oe sll, GNU ©. 42-8 mm. The largest ¢ 9 differ from the media and minima only by the longer frontal carinae, which are expanded out- wards so as to form, above the eyes, an ill-defined scrobe. Head dark red, thorax piceous or piceous red, petiole, abdomen and legs black, antennae reddish brown, margins of the mandibles, clypeus and frontal carinae brown. Abdomen, legs, and antennae with a very sparse, microscopical pubescence, a little longer on the antennae ; the rest of the body glabrous. Legs shining, disc of pronotum and abdomen very slightly shining, rest of the body dull, except the meso- notal tubercles inthe 9 maxima. Head finely reticulate, with rather irregular and longitudinal rugosities superimposed, which are strongest in front and on the vertex, and become feebler between the eyes and the posterior angles. Neck, sides of thorax, epinotum, sides and posterior dorsal faces of the nodes reticulate. Dorsum of pro- and mesonotum longitudinally and somewhat irregularly rugose, the rugosities diminishing in front of the mesonotal tubercles, which are more or less smooth and shining. Abdomen very finely and evenly reticulate. Head very convex above and high, from apex of closed mandibles to the middle of the occipital margin as long as wide, 15 192 Annals of the South African Museum. distinctly wider behind than in front, the sides converging in front, the posterior angles very round. Mandibles thick, triangular, finely striated, sharply and closely punctured, obtusely dentate, the apical tooth more acute in the smaller 9 %. Scape short, not reaching to the posterior border of the head ; the three apical joints form a slight club, nearly as long as the rest of the flagellum, the Ist joint of the flagellum nearly as long as the following three taken together, 2nd— 7th joints wider than long. Clypeus with two strong carinae con- tinued down from the frontal carinae, the anterior margin shallowly sinuate. Frontal carinae flat, widely divergent posteriorly, continued backwards as a fine ridge, which ends well behind the eyes in the 9 max., but inthe ¢ 9 media and minima not extending back beyond the front of the eyes. The latter small, and situated behind the middle of the sides. Pronotum with the anterior portion depressed, forming a distinct neck, the posterior portion flat, and with distinct but rounded anterior angles; it is (excluding the neck) widest in front, and twice as wide as it is long in the middle. The thorax is constricted between the pro- and mesonotum, but the suture is not clearly defined above. Mesonotum much narrower than the pronotum ; its anterior two-thirds is level with the pronotum, and bears on each side a strong rounded tubercle, behind which the surface slopes steeply down to the meso-epinotal suture. The mesonotum is widest across the tubercles. From the suture the epinotum rises upwards for a short distance, and then slopes gradually downwards towards declivity, which is moderately oblique. Close to the base, the dorsum of the epinotum bears a pair of lateral tubercles, smaller and flatter than those of the mesonotum. The epinotal spines are slightly curved, and directed upwards, backwards and slightly outwards, and are as long as the space between them at their base. The declivity is margined laterally by ridges, which merge above into the base of the spines, and below terminate in two small laminate teeth. Ist joint of petiole as long as wide, widest in the middle, the dorsum flat or shallowly concave, and bearing on each side, just above the steep anterior face, an upward and outwardly directed spine. Second node wider than long, convex above and in front, the posterior margin depressed, the anterior angles dilated, narrower behind than in front. Seen from the side, the spines of the first node hardly project above the level of the dorsum of the 2nd node. Abdomen round, slightly flattened above ; Ist segment a little longer than wide, truncate at the base, with distinct lateral angles, and forming four-fifths of the abdo- men above. 2. 13mm. Head dark red, ocellar triangle blackish, thorax and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 195 abdomen black. Thorax shining. Pronotum obliquely rugoso-striate, scutellum and mesonotum longitudinally striate in the middle, obliquely so outside the parapsidal sutures. Metanotum and the narrow dorsum of the epinotum finely rugulose, the declivity very finely reticulate. Sides of meso-, meta-, and epinotum reticulate, the angles of the epinotum coarsely rugose. 2nd joint of petiole above, shining, sparsely but strongly punctured. Pronotum very little exposed in the middle dorsally. Mesonotum longer than wide, pro- mesonotal suture ellipsoidal. Scutellum sloping and rounded behind. Dorsum of epinotum very short in the middle, the declivity almost vertical ; the epinotum is devoid of spines, which are replaced by very blunt angles on each side. Ist joint of petiole with the anterior face more vertical than in the §, each side with a strong angle in the middle, and above and inwards there is a pair of rather flat tubercles. Second joint with the anterior angles more dilated than in the 9. Abdomen oblong, Ist segment one-quarter longer than the 2nd, all the segments wider than long. Wings brownish yellow, with the cubital and radial cells somewhat darker, nervures brown. Other- wise like the 5 max. This genus appears to combine in the head and thorax some of the characters of the genera Cremastogaster and Tetramorium, and the habits of the species described above are decidedly similar to those of the Cremastogastrii. It is a slow ant, living in trees, and. mainly carnivorous in its diet. The nest is usually situated in a hollow stem, some distance above the ground. Like the Cremastogastru, these ants, when disturbed, exude a whitish and rather sticky secretion from the anal glands. It has not been found by me except in districts contain- ing large trees. Sipapoma, Malindi, and Victoria Falls, Rhodesia. Zululand. (Traegaordh.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. AUSTRALIS, Santschi. Goeteborgs K. Vetensk. o. Vitterh. Handl., xv, 2, p. 16, 3, 1914. “ Differs from the type by the slightly stronger sculpturation of the head. The mesonotum is wider. The epinotal spines are a little shorter, less raised. The spines of the lst node of the petiole also shorter and thicker; the 2nd node longer. The colour in the § minor paler than in the type.” Zululand. (Traegaordh.) 194 Annals of the South African Museum. Trips OCYMYRMICINI, Emery. Genus OCYMYRMEX, Emery. Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 363, 1886. Characters. ®. Head sub-quadrate. Clypeus convex, the anterior margin rendered more or less bidentate by a median excision. Frontal area narrow, distinct. Antennae 12-jointed, nearly filiform, scape long, at least half as long as the flagellum. Mandibles, clypeus and head below the mouth furnished with long curved hairs (ammochaetae). Thoracic sutures absent; thorax unarmed, depressed in the middle. First joint of petiole pedunculate, the peduncle very thin and longer than the node; 2nd joint more or less barrel-shaped. Abdomen small, more or less pyriform, legs very long and slender. @? un- known. ¢. Antennae filiform, 13-jointed, the scape very short, not more than twice the length of one ocellus; Ist joint of flagellum very short, half the length of the scape, the remaining joints all at least three times longer than wide. Hyes and ocelli large, the latter on a raised area. Mesonotum very wide and gibbous, overhanging the pronotum. Scutellum gibbous. Mayrian furrows and parapsidal sutures absent. Wings with one closed cubital cell, the discoidal cell absent, the radial short. The ants of this genus live in hot, arid and sandy localities. The nest, usually made in loose sandy soil, is surmounted by a crateri- form mass of earthen or sandy pellets derived from the excavation of the underground galleries. The entrance is always central, at the bottom of the crater. Like other areniphilous ants, the species of this genus possess long curved hairs or ‘‘ammochaetae,” fringing the mandibles, clypeus, and the ventral surface of the head behind the mouth. The hairs, forming a sort of basket around the mandibles, facilitate the removal of grains of sand in the excavation of their nests. These ants are also endowed with the most marvellous celerity, far excelling in this respect all other ants with which I am acquainted, so much so that they appear almost to fly over the surface of the ground. Their motion is just as erratic as it is swift; they seem incapable of pursuing a straight path for more than a couple of inches, and watching one of these insects for but a short time, a casual observer might be led to suppose that the unfortunate animal, having lost its way, had been seized with hysterical dementia. The A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 195 males are exceedingly common at lights during the greater part of the year. I have frequently dug up the nests of the variety Arnoldi, without ever having found a 2 of any sort, nor have 2 2 of any species been described up to now. I believe that the genus will eventually be found to have only ergatoid queens, or that the egg- laying function (with the production of ¢ g and @ %) is possessed by the whole § caste. Key to the 9 9 of Ocymyrmez. (Norr.—In using this key, the term “‘ node of the Ist joint” should be understood to refer to the swollen part of the joint only; it does not include the narrow and short portion which lies between the node proper and the base of the 2nd joint.) (2). 1. Outline of 1st abdominal segment, seen from above, evenly convex from the base, not sub-pedunculate. (Plate V, fig. 53.) barbiger, Emery. (1). 2. Outline of 1st abdominal seement, seen from above, shallowly concave just beyond the base, more or less sub-pedunculate. (Plate V, fig. 52a.) (8). 3. Less than 8°5 mm. long. (5). 4. Node of 1st joint of petiole wider than long. Weitzaeckeri, Emery. (4). 5. Node of Ist joint of petiole longer than wide, or as long as wide. (7). 6. Stouter insect, 2nd joint of petiole hardly longer than the node of the 1st joint ; median excision of the ee shallow, hardly bidentate ; abdomen red, moderately shining . var. Foreli, Arnold, (6). 7. Insect more slender, 2nd joint of menoley one-third to one-half longer than the node of the Ist joint; median excision of clypeus deeper, making the margin distinctly bidentate ; abdomen piceous, shining. var. Arnoldi, Forel. (3). 8. 10-11 mm. long 5 : : : : Picardi, Forel. The races hirsutus and Wroughtoni, and the var. micans of Weit- zaeckert are not known to me in nature, and have therefore been omitted from the above key. The different forms of Weitzaeckeri are clearly exceedingly closely allied, and ought not to be considered as ranking higher than varieties. The striation of the head varies in strength and direction, even in specimens from the same nest, so that very little reliance can be placed on that feature in the separation of the species and varieties. O. WeirzarcKkERI, Emery. (Plate V, fig. 54.) Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, vol. 32, p. 116, 9, 1892. 5. 65-7 mm. Castaneous red, tibiae and tarsi paler, femora and abdomen piceous. In some specimens the colouring is darker, the 196 Annals of the South African Museum. head and thorax being dark reddish brown, and the abdomen black. Pubescent hairs on the flagellum and tarsi, the rest of the body clothed somewhat irregularly and sparsely with long, semi-erect, pale hairs, which are oblique and rather more abundant on the legs. The inner margins of the mandibles with a row of long curved hairs, curving upwards over the clypeus. The ventral surface of the head behind the mentum, with a row of long hairs curving forwards under the mouth. Head as wide as long, measured from apex of clypeus to the occipital margin. Clypeus moderately convex transversely, and pro- jecting a little over the mandibles ; the anterior margin semi-circularly excised in the middle, the excision bounded by a slight tooth on each side. Mandibles elongate, nitidulous, strongly striate longitudinally, armed with 5 large teeth. Eyes strongly convex, placed somewhat dorsally at about the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae large, raised in front, divergent behind; the frontal area triangular and well defined. Scape long, extending back a little beyond the occipital margin, flagellum slightly thickened towards the apex, all the joints longer than wide, the Ist joint as long as the 2nd and 3rd together. The clypeus is evenly and longitudinally striate, the rest of the head strongly striate, the direction of the striae rather variable. Usually the median portion of the vertex is longitudinally striate from the frontal carinae back towards the occiput, and on each side of the median area the striae become more and more oblique posteriorly, eurving back to the eyes. The thoracic sutures are only slightly indicated at the sides, quite obsolete above. The anterior portion of the thorax is convex in front and at the sides, the median portion depressed, the posterior or epinotal region straight or slightly convex. The prothorax is concentrically striate, the meso- and epinotum trans- versely striate above, obliquely and longitudinally striate at the sides. The striae on the meso- and epinotum are larger and deeper than those on the head and prothorax. The dorsum of the epinotum is half as long again as the declivity. The peduncle of the first joint of the petiole is quite half the length of the joint; the node is distinctly wider than long, very convex above. The peduncle and node are transversely striate, the node feebly so. The 2nd joint of the petiole is as long as wide, more or less campaniform, not so convex above as the Ist node. Abdomen narrow, twice as long as wide, the Ist segment with a slight neck-like constriction at the base, and four and a half times longer than the remaining segments taken together. There are a few very faint transverse striae near the basal half of the Ist segment. Legs very long and slender. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. We? g. 5-56 mm. Piceous, antennae, mandibles and legs ochreous. Head dull, reticulately rugose, except the central area between the antennal sockets and the median ocellus, which is smooth and shining. Rest of body faintly rugulose and very shining. Pilosity similar to that of the 9, but shorter, and more abundant on the abdomen. Legs and antennae with a pale and long pubescence, more abundant on the latter. Head wider than long; eyes large, placed anteriorly and occupying more than half the sides of the head. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Frontal carinae obsolete. Scape very short, very little longer than the long diameter of the median ocellus; Ist joint of the flagellum a little wider than long, the remaining joints all much longer than wide. Pronotum not visible from above; meso- notum gibbous, and very convex anteriorly, wider than long. Scutellum rounded behind and gibbous. Petiole not unlike that of the 9, but the peduncle of the lst joint is much shorter and wider, the node is also broader and flatter, and longer than wide. The posterior femora are laterally compressed, and strongly sinuate along their basal half. Wings hyaline, nervures pale yellowish. Orange Free State, Basutoland, and Cape Province. (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) Var. ArnoupI, Forel. (Plate V, figs. 52, 52a, 55.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 188, 9, @, 1913. Race abdominalis, Sautschi, Goteborgs K. Vetens. o. Vitterh. Handl., xv, 2, p. 16, 1914. ®. Like the var. Foreli, this differs from the type species in having the node of the Ist joint of the petiole longer than wide. The colour of the head is lighter, the dorsal profile of the thorax less concave in the middle. The ¢ is like that of the type. S. Rhodesia, common. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race abdominalis, Santschi. I have seen examples of this form, which have the basal portion of the lst abdominal segment slightly longer, making the abdomen appear narrower. This character does not appear to me to be sufficient to separate them from var. Arnoldi. Var. Fore LI, n. v.° ®. 78mm. This differs from the preceding and the type by its bright red colour, the stronger striation of the thorax, and by the sculpture of the 1st joint of the petiole, which is deeply and trans- versely striate on the whole of the node and the peduncle. The median excision on the anterior margin of the clypeus is also less deep. The 198 Annals of the South African Museum. abdomen is wider, the Ist segment being only a trifle longer than wide, and only twice as long as the 2nd segment, whereas in the type species and in var. Arnoldi, it is at least one-quarter longer than wide, and three times longer than the 2nd segment. The basal neck-like portion of the 1st segment is also shorter. This variety has a{very strong cockroachy odour, similar to Pachy- condyla soror. Redbank, 8. Rhod., Victoria Falls. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) The examples from the Victoria Falls are even larger, 8-8'3 mm., and have the excision of the clypeus almost as deep as in var. Arnoldi, but these differences are hardly sufficient to justify their separation as a variety distinct from Foreli. Race uirsutus, Forel. Schultze Reise Sid Afrika, vol. 4, p. 12, ¢, 1910. “6. 55-7 mm. Reddish brown, with brighter brownish yellow abdomen. The whitish, stumpy, pilose hairs are more abundant and longer than in the type species; the hairs are also thicker. Head less wide in front. First joint of petiole with much longer peduncle, some- what hike Robechii, Emery, and laticeps, Forel, and with smaller nodes. The head is also arcuately and transversely striate behind (in the type species somewhat divergent and longitudinally striate), and not so wide.” Severelela and Kooa, Kalahari. (Schultze.) Race WrovueutTont, Forel. Loe. cit. “Differs from the type by its darker brown colour, but more especially by the narrower head which is hardly widened in front, and has the sides more convex. The Ist joint of the petiole has also a longer peduncle, and the yellowish hairs are also longer, although not so blunt as in hirsutus. The head is narrower than in hirsutus. The ¢ is 45 mm. long. Its head is short behind the eyes, wider than long, the hind margin broad and convex. Wings glassy. Mesonotum strongly gibbous in front. First joint of petiole with long peduncle.” Natal. (Wroughton.) Var. micans, Forel. IDG Coton YD: A. “oO. 55 mm. Head and thorax nitidulous, more closely and finely striate than in the type species. The node of the Ist joint of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. gh) the petiole is higher and more distinctly delimited. Otherwise similar, but smaller. The colour is, however, much brighter, yellowish red, and the pilosity is finer and sparser. “ Okahandja, German 8. W. Africa. (Peters.) ”’ O. BARBIGER, Emery. (Plate V, fig. 53.) Boll. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 364, 9, g, 1886. ®. 65mm. Very similarto Weitzaeckeri, but the thorax is darker and the abdomen is quite black. The striation of the head at the sides in front is a little stronger, but the direction of the striation is very variable. The clypeus is excised like that of Weitzaeckeri. The petiole resembles that of var. Foreli, butis not quite so strongly striate. The main distinction lies in the shape of the abdomen, which is rounder and with the Ist segment not sub-pedunculate at the base, but convex in its entire outline, when seen from above. 3. 5mm. Differs from Weitzaeckeri in the shape of the head, which is narrower, not wider than long, but even a little longer than wide. The eyes are much smaller; they are not placed so far forwards, and occupy less than half the sides of the head. The ocelli are also smaller and less raised. The clypeus is very convex in the middle, almost tuberculate. The mesonotum is narrow, finely and longitudinally striate, and separated from the scutellum by a much deeper impression than in Weitzaeckeri. The petiole and abdomen are much more sparsely pilose, and the hairs are shorter and thinner. The posterior femora are laterally compressed, but not sinuate along the basal half. The whole insect is much more shining than Weitzaeckeri. Capetown, Orange River, Mahalapye, Bechuanaland. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) O. Picarpt, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 10, p. 306, 9, 1895. “O. 10-llmm. Mandibles closely and coarsely striate, quinque- dentate, almost parallel-sided (hardly wider at the masticatory margin than at the base). Clypeus somewhat produced and narrowly and semi-circularly excised in the middle, so as to leave a tooth-like angle on each side of the excision. Head at least as wide as long, wider in front. Eyes situated behind the middle. The scape extends back slightly beyond the occipital margin. Declivity of epinotum steeper than in Robecchii, more like that of Weitzaeckeri. First joint of petiole with a long peduncle as in the other species, but the node is more 200 Annals of the South African. Museum. distinct, even more than in barbiger; 2nd joint hardly. longer than wide, more nodiform than in barbiger. First abdominal segment strongly pedunculate as in Robecchii and nitidulus. Head and thorax almost dull, closely striate and finely reticulate between the striae. Pronotum concentrically striate, the median striae longitudinal. The rest of the thorax above transversely striate, the side longitudinally so. The peduncle of the 1st joint of petiole coarsely, the node finely striate. Second joint of petiole finely reticulate, slightly shining. Abdomen and legs very shallowly reticulate and very shining. Head, thorax, petiole, antennae and legs with fairly short, oblique, thick and blunt brownish black hairs, moderately abundant. Abdomen almost glabrous above. On the legs and antennae the hairs are more abundant, shorter and oblique. The ammochaetae are blackish brown. Head very dark red, the rest of the body black. ““Cubango-Cuito, Mossamedes. (Baum.) Severelela and Kooa, Kalahari. (Schultze.) ” Trips CARDIOCONDYLINI, Emery. Gunus CARDIOCONDYLA, Emery. Ann. Acad. Nat. Napoh, vol. 2, p. 20, 1869. Characters. ®. Antennae 12-jointed, with a 38-jointed club. Frontal area depressed. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete or nearly so, meso-epinotal suture well defined. Epinotum armed with two short spines or teeth. First joint of the petiole with a leng peduncle, the node narrow, 2nd joint broad. 9. Head as in the 9, with 3 small ocelli, somewhat sunk below the surface. Pronotum well exposed, not hidden under the mesonotum. Wings long, the nervures only faintly indicated, radial cell open. 3. Normal and winged, or ergatomorph and wingless. Antennae 13-jointed, or 10 to 11-jointed in the ergatomorphs. So far, winged g J are known only in C. Emeryi,and as an abnormality in C. Batesi, which usually has ergatomorph males. For other characters of the winged 4, see species below. C. Emery, Forel. (Plate V, figs. 57, 57a.) Mitth. Minchen Ent. Ver., vol. 1, p.5, %, 1881. André, Ann. Soc. Ent. France (6), p. 69, ¢, 1881. ®. 18-21 mm. Head, thorax, petiole, legs and antennae ochreous, abdomen brown. Sometimes the head, the club of the antennae and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 201 the 2nd node are darker, reddish yellow or slightly brownish. Head, thorax and Ist joint of petiole finely and evenly reticulate, 2nd joint of petiole very shallowly punctate, abdomen smooth and shining. Whole body and legs microscopically pubescent. Head one-third longer than wide, sides feebly convex, posterior corners rounded, posterior margin straight. Clypeus produced, projecting over the hind portion of the mandibles. The median area of the clypeus is elongate triangular, raised and produced rather far back between the frontal carinae; the lateral portions are laminate and bent upwards. The frontal area is small but clearly defined. The frontal carinae short, divergent behind. Mandibles quadridentate, the apical and post-apical teeth large and acute. The scape does not extend back as far as the hind margin of the head; the Ist joint of the flagellum is two and a half times as long as wide, and as long as the five succeeding joints taken together, the apical joint is four times as long as the penultimate, and nearly as long as the rest of the flagellum less the lst joint; 2nd—9th joints wider than long. Eyes rather prominent, situated well in front of the middle of the sides. Thorax widest in front, not so wide as the head. Pro-mesonotum hardly longer than wide, meso-epinotal suture distinct. The thorax is distinctly con- stricted between the meso- and epinotum. The latter is rather convex lengthwise at the base, and slopes rapidly at the apex to the brow of the concave declivity. Epinotal teeth small, triangular. The Ist joint of the petiole has a short, broad peduncle, the node is narrow, convex above, at the sides and in front, the anterior face almost vertical. The 2nd joint of the petiole is oblong transversely, one-third wider than long, and twice as wide as the Ist, convex above and at the sides. Abdomen oval, the lst segment distinctly longer than wide, and four times as long as the remaining segments taken together. Legs moderately long, femora not swollen; middle and hind tibiae without calcaria. ? (hitherto undesecribed?). 2°5 mm. Head, thorax and petiole brown, abdomen black, legs, antennae and mandibles yellow, the club of the flagellum infuscate. Head very similar to that of the %, but a trifle wider. Eyes rather small, very little larger than in the >. Ocelli small, inconspicuous and sunk a little below the surface. Pro- notum widely exposed at the anterior lateral angles, which are rounded ; the median portion of the pronotum is occluded by the mesonotum, which extends far forwards in the middle. The mesonotum is convex in front, very feebly convex or nearly flat transversely in its posterior half. The scutellum is rather flat, very slightly raised above the level of the metanotum. Dorsum of epinotum wider than long, widest at 202 Annals of the South African Museum. the base, sloping downwards posteriorly ; the epinotal teeth are longer than in the 9, the space between them shallowly excavated. Petiole asin the 9. Abdomen similar to that of the 9, but larger. Wings hyaline, the nervures hardly distinguishable. Puncturation as in the ®. The pubescence of the abdomen is longer and more abundant than in the ¢. “ “@. 2mm. Head a little longer than wide; wider in front than behind ; mandibles large, armed with 4 or 5 teeth, the apical one being the largest. Clypeus similar to that of the ¢, it is large, fairly convex, rounded in front, raised above the base of the mandibles; frontal area deep, forming an obtuse angle with the clypeus; frontal carinae short, frontal sulcus absent ; eyes large, situated in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Antennae 13-jointed, all the joints longer than wide; scape about as long as the first 8 joits of the flagellum. First joint of the flagellum a little wider but as long as the 2nd, the latter longer than the 3rd, the remaining joints lengthen and widen gradually towards the apex, without forming a well-defined club; the apical joint is longer than the two preceding joints taken together. Thorax but slightly elongated, at least as high as wide in front; pronotum visible from above, the lateral angles pronounced but rounded. Mesonotum a little longer than wide, without Mayrian furrows; dorsum of epinotum oblique, longer than wide, wider in front than behind, the declivity half as long as the dorsum, nearly vertical and slightly concave transversely ; epinotal teeth strong, acute, divergent towards their apices and directed upwards. Petiole similar to that of the 6. Abdomen oval; genital armature small, not exposed. Wings with only one cubital cell, the radial and discoidal cells wanting. Reddish testaceous, with the upper surface of the head and of the petiole, the flagellum, and some spots on the thorax more or less blackish, abdomen brownish black. Head and thorax dull, finely punctured, at the bottom of each puncture is a piligerous point. Petiole nearly smooth and moderately shining; abdomen smooth and very shining. Pilosity absent, pubescence fine and not dense. Wings nearly hyaline.” S. Rhodesia, generally distributed ; Durban. (C.B.Cooper.) This very small species is usually found nesting in grassy soil; the entrance to the nest 1s a very minute hole, not surrounded by any earth or other substances. The species is tropicopolitan. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 203 Trine SOLENOPSIDINI, Forel. Sus-Trine MONOMORIINI, Emery. The tribe includes the following South African genera: Monomorium, Diplomorium and Solenopsis. Genus MONOMORIUM, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. v, p. 452, 1855. Characters. S. Head more or less rectangular; mandibles narrow, with 3 or 4 acute teeth ; clypeus with the anterior margin more or less raised and projecting over the base of the closed mandibles ; the triangular or quadrangular median area is raised above the level of the short lateral portions, and has usually two obtuse carinae, convergent behind between the bases of the antennae (see Plate V, fig. 58¢) ; sometimes the carinae end in front in very short blunt teeth ; frontal area, distinct. Frontal carinae short. Antennae 11- or 12-jointed, with a distinct club formed of the three apical joints. Thorax widest in front; promesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal suture deep and well defined. Epinotum without teeth. First joimt of petiole shortly pedunculate in front. Abdomen distinctly, but not widely truncate at the base (see Plate V, fig. 58a). ?. Thorax elongate, pronotum very little exposed above; meso- notum longer than wide; dorsum of scutellum level or nearly so with that of the mesonotum. Epinotum without teeth; the declivity and the posterior portion of the dorsum more or less excavated and concave, so that the lateral margins appear raised or tumid. Petiole similar to that of the 9. Abdomen elongate, rounded apically. Wings with one cubital cell, the radial cell open. dg. Head broad and flat; eyes large, ocelli not large. Mandibles well developed and dentate. Clypeus broad. Antennae filiform, 13-jointed. Thorax similar to that of the 9. Petiole, especially the peduncle of the Ist joint, wider than in the 92, the node not so high. Abdomen as in the ?, but with the basal angles rounded. This very large genus occurs in both hemispheres, chiefly in the tropical zone, and includes several cosmopolitan species, some of which are frequently found in hot-houses in temperate countries. 204 Annals of the South African Museum. Most of our South African species nest in the ground, sometimes forming very populous nests containing many hundreds of the 9 caste. The 9 §% of at least all the South African species which I have seen have a very distinctive, although minute character by which they may be recognised. The base of the ventral plate of the lst abdominal segment forms a pronounced angle with the sides, so that the base of the abdomen has a distinctly truncated appearance. Moreover, in many species the abdomen has a more or less glaucous sheen, giving a steely reflection. These characters can be best observed under a lens. The truncate appearance of the base of the abdomen is certainly noticeable in some other genera, but rarely to such a marked extent as in Monomorium. The specific characters, which when taken together separate our numerous species from one another, are fairly distinctive, but are often not sufficiently palpable when considered singly, so that it is no easy task to frame analytical keys for all the species. I have endeavoured to draw up a key to include all those species which I have seen, and also a few others which are known to me only from descriptions, but which yet appear to possess characters sufficiently distinctive to be utilised in a table. In many species of the genus, e.g., albopilosum, bicolor, etc., the sculpture consists in part of a very fine and even raised reticulation, but under a low magnification only, this has a granulate appearance, owing to the manner in which the light is reflected from the smooth areas enclosed within the reticulations. Such a form of sculpture is described in the following pages as granulate, since its real character is appreciable only with rather high magnification. L Key to the 2 & of Monomorium. blwer4xy 1. Antennae Z-jointed (sub-genus Mitara, Forel). (8). 2. Yellowish species; sides of head distinctly, and of 2nd node of petiole, slightly convex (mictilis, Forel) race atomus, Forel. (2). 38. Brownish species ; sides of head and of 2nd node of petiole straight. (eaiguum, Forel), var. bulawayensis, Forel. (1). 4. Antennae 12-jointed. (28). 5. Head and thorax dull, or only very slightly shining. (7). 6. Head strongly striate and quadrate : : Emeryi, Mayr. (6). 7. Head not strongly striated. (17). 8. Head closely and fairly strongly granulate (see remark in introductory paragraph above). (12). 9. Dorsum of epinotum distinctly excavated. (11). 10. Dorsum of epinotum deeply excavated. Entirely black, 4°2 mm. long; posterior angles of the head prominent, feebly rounded. afrum, André. (10). (9). (16). (15). (14). (13). (8). (21). (20). (19). (18). (23). (22). (25). (24). (27). (26). (5). (36). (31). (30). (33). (32). (35). (34). (29). (38). (37). (40). 11. 15. _ No trace of ocelli. . Thorax strongly constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, 2°2 mm. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 205 Dorsum of epinotum not very deeply excavated. Yellowish brown, 24mm. long; posterior angles of the head considerably rounded. (Salamonis L.), race subopacum, Smith. . Dorsum of epinotum not excavated, but flat or convex. . Black or brownish species. . 85 mm. lone. Entirely black; 1st node, seen from above, conical, longer than wide, the peduncle half as long as the node. (albopilosum, Emery), var. Thales, Forel. 3mm.long. Dark brown, head paler brown; Ist node less conical, more wedge-shaped, not longer than wide, the peduncle very short. (Salamonis L.), race Junodi, Forel. . Head and thorax bright yellowish red ; abdomen brownish. (bicolor, Emery), var. nitidiventris, Emery. . Head very finely sculptured, more or less minutely longitudinally striato-punctate, or reticulate. . Colour pale. . Head and thorax brownish yellow. Scape not reaching the hind margin of the head by the length of the eye. (Salamonis L.), var. diserta, Forel. . Head and thorax bright yellow. Scape reaching the hind margin of the head ; : , ; A : . Pharaonis L. . Colour dark. . A median ocellus fairly well defined ; larger species, 3°3-3°8 mm. (Salamonis L.), race australis, Emery. (setuliferum, Forel), var. notula, Forel. . Thorax not strongly constricted at the meso-epinotal suture. . Abdomen with a bluish, sub-metallic reflection. 1st node conical. 2°8-3'4mm.long . : (Salamonis L.), var. opacior, Forel. . Abdomen without any bluish reflection. Ist node more wedge-shaped, 3 mm. long. (Salamonis L., race delagoensis, Forel), var. grahamstownensis, Forel. . Head and thorax, and usually also the abdomen, smooth and shining. . Entirely black, or dark brown species. . Very small species, less than 2 mm. 6 4 minutum, Mayr. . Larger species, 2°7 mm. and more. . Large stout species, 3°"7-4 mm. Sides of head very convex. Tchelichofi, Forel. . More slender species, sides of head not very convex. . 3mm. lone. (Salamonis L., race herero, Forel), var. willowmorensis, Forel. . 26 mm. long. : (Salamonis L., race Herero), var. belli, Forel. . Yellow, reddish yellow or yellowish brown species, at least in part. . Polymorphic species, the $ $ varying from 1°8 to 4 mm. (amblyops, Emery), race bulawayense, Forel. . Monomorphic species. . Second node twice as wide as long. (Oscaris, Forel, race springvalense, Forel), var. paterna, Forel. 206 Annals of the South African Museum. (39). 40. Second node about as long as wide. (44). 41. Second node sub-globose ; seen in profile, highest at or near the middle. (43). 42. Eyes separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance equal to twice the length of the eye. First node feebly convex below 2 mm. long : : , é s Leimbachi, Forel. (42). 48. Eyes separated from the base of the mandibles by a distance not greater than the length of the eye. First node strongly convex below 1:4 mm. long ; . (Braunsi, Mayr), var. shilohensis, Forel. (41). 44. Second node not sub-globose, wider in front than behind; seen in profile, highest in front. (46). 45. First node distinctly higher than long. 1°6-1'9 mm. long. Arnoldi, Forel. (45). 46. First node longer than, or as long as high. (48). 47. First node not higher than the 2nd. 1-6-1'8 mm. long. (Oscaris, Forel), var. nuptialis, Forel. (47). 48. First node higher than the 2nd. (50). 49. Node of Ist joint of petiole very little longer than the peduncle; seen in profile, the dorsum and declivity of epinotum are fairly clearly delimited, the declivity sub-vertical ; 5 Schultzei, Forel. (49). 50. Node of 1st joint almost twice as long as its peduncle; seen in profile, the dorsum of the epinotum merges very gradually into the declivity, which is very oblique (Oscaris, Forel), race springvalense, Forel. M. arrum, André. (Plate V, figs. 58, 58a, 58b, 58c.) Ann. Mus. Civ., Genoa, vol. 21, p. 540, 5, 1884. 6. 42 mm. Black, mandibles castaneous, flagellum and tarsi brownish red. Pubescence short and very scanty. Anterior margin of clypeus, petiole and margins of abdominal segments with a few long yellowish hairs. Head, thorax and petiole densely and finely reticulate, but appearing granulate when seen under a low magnifica- tion. Abdomen microscopically rugulose or reticulate. The whole body dull. Mandibles shining, striate and coarsely punctured, and armed with 4 sharp teeth. Side of clypeus longitudinally striate. Legs slightly shining. Head a little longer than wide, as wide in front as behind, sides moderately convex, posterior angles slightly rounded but prominent, the occipital margin almost straight. Eyes flat, situated a little in front of the middle of the sides. Clypeus raised in the middle, obtusely carinate on each side of the raised area, the cariae ending anteriorly in blunt points, and converging posteriorly between the frontal carinae. Frontal*cariae short, sub-parallel. Scape long, extending back just beyond the occipital margin ; Ist joint of flagellum as long as the 2nd and 3rd together, 4th joit as long as wide, all the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 207 others longer than wide, the club four-fifths as long as the rest of the flagellum. Pro-mesonotum one-third longer than wide. The thorax is compressed laterally and narrowest at the meso-epinotal suture. The dorsum of the epinotum widens towards the brow of the declivity, and is excavated, so that the sides of the excavation form two obtuse longitudinal ridges, diverging backwards ; the declivity is short and almost vertical. The Ist joint of the petiole has a short peduncle, shorter than the node, which is wedge-shaped, wider than long and rounded above; the front face of the node is rounded from side to side and vertical, the posterior face is slightly concave in the middle and slopes forwards. The 2nd joint of the petiole is sub-globose, widest in front, and only shghtly wider than the Ist. First segment of abdomen a little longer than wide, longer than the remaining segments taken together. Bulawayo. This species forms very populous nests in the soil, generally in exposed and sunny situations. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. aLBoprLosum, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 24, 9, 1895. “6. 3-35 mm. Elongate, piceous brown, mandibles and articula- tions ferruginous, pilosity long, fine and white, head and thorax very closely punctured, dull, petiole very finely punctured, nitidulous, abdomen shining, with a bluish sheen, punctured at the extreme base ; head elongate, clypeus emarginate, antennae slender. The scape extending back beyond the occipital margin ; meso-epinotal suture of thorax moderately impressed, nodes of petiole subequal, legs shining and pilose.” Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Makapan, Leribe. (Weitzaecker. ) Umfulosi, Zululand. (Tragaeordh.) Vaz. TuHatuss, Forel. (Plate V, fig. 61.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 186, 9, 1918. 5. 35mm. Black, tarsi, articulations of the legs, and flagellum brownish, mandibles and sides of clypeus ferruginous. Sparingly clothed with thin, white, semi-erect hairs. Head, thorax, and posterior faces of the nodes very finely and closely reticulate-punctate. Clypeus finely and longitudinally striate. Anterior faces of the nodes of the petiole very finely punctured, abdomen smooth, slightly shining, with a bluish sheen. Head a little more than one-quarter longer than wide, sides feebly convex, posterior angles very rounded, 14 208 Annals of the South African Museum. occipital margin straight. Median area of clypeus raised, obtusely bicarinate, the front margin of the median area feebly concave. Frontal carinae short and parallel. A shining and smooth line on the vertex extends back from the end of the clypeus to about the level of the eyes. The latter not large, situated just in front of the middle of the sides. Mandibles longitudinally striate, elongate, armed with 4 teeth, the apical and sub-apical acute. Scape of antenna long, extending beyond the occipital margin, Ist joint of flagellum two and a half times as long as the second, the club, composed of the three apical joints, is as long as the rest of the flagellum. The pro-meso- notum is widest at the anterior fourth; the thorax is rather strongly constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, which is deep. Epinotum longer than wide, widest at the middle, two-thirds the length of the pro-mesonotum, the declivity oblique and about half as long as the dorsum, the brow of the declivity considerably rounded. First joint of petiole with the peduncle half as long as the node, the latter longer and higher than wide, higher than the 2nd joint. The latter is about as long as wide, sub-quadrate, the anterior margin rounded. First segment of abdomen longer than wide, and twice as lone as the remaining segments taken together. Legs long and slender. ? (hitherto undescribed). 7 mm. Black; mandibles, antennae and legs dark reddish brown, the tarsi paler. Dull, except the basal two-thirds of the second and following abdominal segments, which are smooth, shining and alutaceous. Clypeus longitudinally striate, the rest of the head strongly, and more or less longitudinally rugose, the rugae with a few transverse anastomoses, and also partly radiating outwards from the median ocellus. Mandibles strongly striate. Mesonotum and scutellum longitudinally and somewhat obliquely striate, the striae on the mesonotum thickening posteriorly, the space. between the striae closely reticulate-punctate. Hpimnotum coarsely and irrecularly rugose at the sides, transversely on the declivity, the space between the rugae closely punctured. Second node, and posterior face of the Ist node transversely rugose, more coarsely on the latter. First segment of abdomen, and marginal third of the remaining segments distinctly and regularly striate, longitudinally so over the basal half and the sides of the Ist segment, arcuately and transversely over the apical portion of all the segments. Legs and antennae with a short, sparse pubescence. Head, mesonotum, petiole, and abdomen with pale pilose hairs, which are longest on the clypeus, petiole, and margins of the abdominal segments. Head more quadrate than in the © ; eyes occupying about one-fifth of the sides, and placed in the middle, the ocelli not large. Pronotum not exposed above. Thorax A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 209 narrow, nearly two and a quarter times as long as wide across the tegulae. Mesonotum one-third longer than wide, convex, and nar- rowed in front, flattened above. Epinotum deeply excavated, the excavation starting from the extreme base, and extending over the brow of the declivity, the margins raised and enclosing a A-shaped concavity. First node of petiole more squamiform than in the ©, slanting forwards and with the posterior face more dorsal in position than in the . Abdomen elongate ovate, all the segments wider than long. Deilated. ¢o (hitherto undescribed). 7 mm. Black; all the joints of the tarsi, except the apical, pale flavous, tibiae brownish yellow, articula- tions of the legs flavous. Pilosity very long and fairly abundant except on the legs and basal halves of the abdominal segments. Legs and antennae with a short and oblique pubescence. Dull, except the basal two-thirds of the 2nd and the following abdominal segments, which are shining and alutaceous as in the 2. Sculpture of the head as in the 2 but less regular. Mesonotum and scutellum closely reticulate-punctate, with a few irregular and feeble rugae super- imposed, not longitudinally striate as in the @. The dorsum of the epinotum is on a much lower level than the scutellum (not much lower in the ? ), and is sparsely and transversely rugose over the basal half, not excavated, sloping downwards from its base to apex, and merging into the vertical declivity by a gentle curve; the lateral angles or tubercles fairly distinct. The nodes of the petiole wider and shorter than in the @. The Ist node is deeply emarginate in the middle of the dorsal edge, so as to appear almost bituberculate ; the 2nd node is one-third wider than the Ist, two-thirds wider than long, convex at the sides, fairly flat above, narrowed posteriorly, and with an obtuse tubercle on each side above. Wings hyaline, the nervures very faint. Springvale, Bulawayo, and Matopo Hills, 8. Rhodesia; Pretoria. (Lounsbury.) The entrance to the nest is surrounded by a large and low mound of earth. The species is exceedingly pugnacious and stings freely. Some of the nests in the Matopo Hills were very populous, containing probably not less than 1000 workers. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. siconor, Emery, var. NITIDIVENTRIS, Emery. (Type), Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, vol. 9, p. 368, 9, 1877. (Var.), Ann. Soc. Ent. France, p. 256, 9, 1893. Mayr, Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 7, 2, 1901 (type?). Karaweiew, Rev. Russ. Ent., vol. 2, p.5, 9, g, 1911. © 210 Annals of the South African Museum. %. 36mm. Head, antennae, legs, thorax and petiole bright orange red, abdomen brownish, with more or less of the median portion of the Ist segment yellowish red, apices of the tarsi and the mandibular teeth brownish. Head, thorax and posterior faces of the nodes finely granu- late, posterior portion of the clypeus and frontal carinae finely and longitudinally striate, the sides of the thorax more strongly granulate than the dorsum. Abdomen smooth and shining. There isa very fine and short pubescence on the head; the petiole and abdomen have a few long and sub-erect: hairs. Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than wide, the sides feebly convex. Frontal carinae short and parallel. Hyes situated at about the middle of the sides of the head. Mandibles finely and, longitudinally striate, with 4 distinct teeth. Scape long, extending back well beyond the occipital margin, Ist joint of flagellum one-third longer than the 2nd. Thorax narrower than the head ; pronotum convex in front and at the sides, a little wider than long, pro-mesonotal suture faintly indicated ; mesonotum as long as the pronotum, longer than wide, meso-epinotal suture deep ; dorsum of epinotum fiat, quite as long as the mesonotum and merging gradually into the declivity. The Ist joint of the petiole has a short peduncle, much shorter than the node; the latter is obtusely conical, and about as long and as wide as the 2nd node. Seen in profile, the Ist node is half as high again as the 2nd. Legs long and slender. 9. 638 mm. Dark yellowish red (burnt sienna), with almost a fiery golden reflection in some lights. Pronotum, mesopleura, sides of the mesonotum, a median spot behind the pro-mesonotal suture, the basal half of the 2nd and following abdominal segments brownish, femora and scape more or less brownish. There is a very sparse and pale pubescence on the whole body, with a few long, pilose hairs on the - clypeus, petiole and abdomen. Head and thorax very finely and longitudinally rugoso-striate, the head also somewhat reticulate- punctate; the declivity of the epimotum and the posterior dorsal portions of the nodes transversely and more strongly rugose. Abdo- men very finely and longitudinally striate, the basal halves of the 2nd and following segments microscopically coriaceous, and slightly shining. Head sub-quadrate; the eyes convex, situated a little behind the middle of the sides. The dorsum of the epinotum merges gradually into the declivity. The epinotum is shallowly concave transversely from base to apex. The Ist node of the petiole is strongly compressed from front to back, so as to form a fairly sharp and convex dorsal edge; the anterior face of the node is almost vertical, the peduncle very short. The 2nd node is slightly wider than the Ist, and sub- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 211 quadrate, not so high as the Ist. The basal margin of the Ist abdo- minal segment feebly concave. The @ described by Mayr differs from the above only by its larger size (7°3 mm.), and its 9 9 appear to me, judging by the description only, to be more closely related to the variety than to the type of the species; they do not differ appreciably from the form described above. This species nests in loose sandy soil, usually over granite formation (rarely on the schist), and is a very agile insect. S. Rhodesia, fairly common; Bothaville, Orange Free State. (Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. TcHeticnort, Forel. Bull. Soc: Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 244, 5, 1914. ®. 37-4mm. Piceous; mandibles, tarsi, articulations of the legs and antennae brownish. Head, disc of pro-mesonotum and abdomen smooth and shining, the rest of the thorax and nodes nitidulous, finely reticulate. Cheeks in front of the eyes, and the frontal carinae finely striate. Mandibles shallowly and longitudinally striate, quadridentate. The clypeus projects considerably forwards, so that the closed mandibles are not quite visible from above. The anterior margin of the median portion of the clypeus feebly emarginate. A very incon- spicuous pubescence on the legs and antennae, but almost wanting on the body; pilosity almost entirely absent. Head, excluding the mandibles, slightly longer than wide, the sides very convex, the posterior margin feebly concave in the middle, as wide in front as behind, moderately convex above. The eyes are placed in the middle of the sides of the head. The scape extends beyond the occipital margin by about as muchas its own apical width; the Ist joint of the flagellum not longer than the 2nd and 38rd together. Thorax widest in front, barely more than half as wide as the head, fairly strongly constricted at the meso-epinotal suture. Seen from the side, the pro- mesonotum has a convex profile, raised above the level of the epinotum. The dorsum of the latter is half as long again as wide, and slopes downwards towards the declivity, forming a distinct angle at the junction ; it is also excavated, the excavation triangular and extending to the base. The declivity is also concave, and is fairly distinctly margined on each side. The anterior face of the lst node is almost vertical, the posterior-dorsal face convex. ‘The node is sub-ovate, seen from above, and its dorsal edge is rounded, with a slight indentation in the middle; the peduncle a trifle shorter than the node. The 2nd 212 Annals of the South African Museum. joint is one-third wider than long, narrowed behind, convex in front, and a little wider in front than the Ist. The abdomen is truncate at the base, and more globose than in the majority of the species of this genus. Willowmore, Cape Prov. This species forms very populous colonies in rocky ground, and is also a bold insect which uses its sting very readily. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. Emeryi, Mayr. (Plate V, fig. 62.) Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 182, 9, 1895. ®. 26-3mm. Yellowish brown, the antennae, mandibles and legs brownish yellow. The pubescence is composed of long, pale and oblique hairs, rather abundant on the head, scantier on the thorax and abdomen. Legs and antennae with a close and short pubescence. The pilosity on the abdomen, petiole and thorax long, and more abundant on the abdomen than elsewhere. Head and thorax dull, nodes and abdomen shining. Head finely and longitudinally striate, obliquely striate between the frontal carinae and the anterior lateral angles, fairly closely punctured between the striae, the punctures piligerous. Thorax longitudinally striate ; the pronotum in front, and the epinotum transversely striate, the sides of the meso- and epithorax reticulate-punctate. Abdomen polished; nodes of petiole shallowly punctured. Head as wide as long, or nearly so, the sides convex, the posterior margin feebly concave, a little wider in front than behind. The eyes are rather small and situated at the middle of the sides. The scape of the antenna barely reaches the posterior margin. The head is - noticeably wide, quite two-thirds wider than the thorax. The clypeal carinae are fairly distinct. The mandibles coarsely striate and obtusely quadridentate. The pro-mesonotum is very convex trans- versely in front, its dorsal profile is also very convex ; it is quite twice as wide across the rounded shoulders as it is at the meso-epinotal suture. The dorsum of the epinotum is almost horizontal in profile, half as long, and not more than half as wide as the pro-thorax; the declivity is rather oblique, but forms a very distinct angle at its junc- tion with the dorsum, on each side of which lies a blunt and elongate tubercle, the space between the tubercles feebly concave transversely. The Ist node of the petiole, seen from above, is elongate, almost one and a half times as long as wide, the anterior face vertical and only half as long as the posterior face; the node is rounded above, obtusely # A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 215 wedge-shaped, as long as its peduncle. The 2nd node is almost campaniform, wider behind than in front, wider than the Ist node and shghtly longer than wide. g. 85 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Reddish yellow-brown, femora, tibiae, and antennae paler, tarsi brownish yellow. Head dull, tie rest of the body shining. Clothed with a moderately abundant, long and yellow pilosity, longer and more abundant on the abdomen than on the head and thorax, much more abundant but shorter on the legs and antennae. Head very closely and strongly punctured, the punctures deep, also partly striate between the punctures. The clypeus shining, sparsely and strongly punctured. The front of the head round the antennal sockets finely and longitudinally striate. Mandibles sharply longitudinally striate, quadridentate. Dorsun: of thorax largely but scantily punctured at the sides, leaving a median longitudinal area which is impunctate. Nodes sparsely punctured on their posterior halves, also somewhat rugulose. Abdomen very sparsely and finely punctured. Head as long as wide, subquadrate, the posterior angles strongly rounded, the posterior margin straight. Pronotum hardly exposed above. Mesonotum very convex trans- versely in front, moderately so longitudinally, a little wider than long, and twice as long as the scutellum, which is almost semicircular and not raised much above the level of the epinotum. The dorsum of the epinotum oblique, with a trace of tubercles at the angles, twice as wide at the base as it is long, and not quite as long as the sub-vertical dechivity. The junction of the two faces of the epinotum rounded, slightly concave transversely. Nodes as in the ). Wings long, pale brownish yellow, the nervures dark yellow. g. 33mm. (hitherto undescribed). Head dark brown, the rest of the body pale brownish yellow, legs and antennae pale yellow. Head very finely and longitudinally striate, sub-opaque; the rest of the body very smooth and shining, except the anterior angles of the first node, which are feebly striate: A few very fine punctures scattered on the thorax. Pilosity and pubescence as in the ¢, but shorter and less abundant. Head much wider in front than behind, almost twice as wide. Hyes very large, occupying a little more than the anterior half of the sides, and almost touching the base of the mandibles in front. The latter finely striate, minutely tridentate, the inner and outer margins parallel. Clypeus with the mediau area raised in the form of a tubercle, subtruncate above. Ocelli very large, raised, the posterior pair twice as far apart from each other as they are from the anterior ocellus. Antennae setaceous ; scape very short, barely longer than wide, and not so long as one ocellus. Firsi joint 214 Annals of the South African Musewm. of flagellum globose (as in Solenopsis), as long as the scape, the remaining joints longer than wide, increasing in length successively towards the apex, the apical joint flattened. Mesonotum very gibbous in front, the anterior margin strongly convex transversely and two and a third times longer than the scutellum. The latter is one and a half times wider than long, the posterior margin semi-circular. The mesonotum and scutellum are raised much above the level of the epinotum. The latter is nearly two and a half times wider at the base than it is long; the posterior angles are slightly raised, not distinctly tuberculate. The declivity of the epinotum is vertical, shorter than the dorsum. Nodes as in the 2, but flatter; the posterior dorsal face of the Ist node is a little wider than long. Wings as in the ? but paler. Redbank, and Nyamandhloru, 8S. Rhodesia. This species is easily distinguished from our other species by the very wide head, the very convex pro-mesonotum, the narrow Ist node and the campaniform 2nd node. (SPAM aise CAtacolllss) M. mopestum, Santschi. Goéteborgs Kunegl. Vetens. och Vitterh. Handl., xv, 2, p. 17, 9, 1914. “OS. 16-17 mm. Yellow, smooth and shining. A very short, fine and erect pilosity is abundant over the whole body, including the legs and antennae. Head rectangular, hardly wider behind than in front, the occipital margin straight, the sides feebly convex. Posterior angles of the head rounded. Eyes composed of a single facet, placed slightly in front of the middle of the sides. Clypeus short and abrupt, the two carinae of which are close together and subparallel. Mandibles with masticatory margins oblique, quadridenticulate. The scape extends back as far as the posterior margin of the head; 2nd to 8th joints of the flagellum very short, much wider than long, 9th and 10th joints subequal, the 10th joint only slightly thicker, the last joint very thick and almost as long as the four preceding joints taken together. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal suture mode- rately deep. Pro-mesonotum slightly convex. Dorsum of the epinotum flat, submargined, forming a distinct angle with the declivity, which is also flat and margined, and two-thirds as long as the dorsum. First jomt of petiole with a long peduncle, the node higher than the 2nd, and with its posterior face shorter than the anterior, which is much more oblique; distinctly longer than wide, a little narrower than the 2nd node, which is wider than long. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 215 Related to termitobium, Forel, by its atrophied eyes.” Stamford Hill, Natal. (Traegaordh. ) M. zuuv, Santschi. Loe. cit., p.18, ©. “OG. 15mm. Yellow, legs pale. A few erect hairs around the mouth and the apex of the abdomen, the rest of the body covered with a Short adpressed pubescence. Shining, epinotum and petiole sub- opaque. Smooth, with a piligerous puncturation somewhat effaced. Epinotum and sides of thorax very finely reticulate-punctate. Head rectangular, one-sixth longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin straight. The eyes occupy nearly all the second anterior fourth of the sides of the head. Clypeus feebly excised in the middle of its anterior margin, unarmed, the carinae reduced. Frontal carinae sub-parallel. Mandibles with four teeth, the last very small. Antennae 12-jointed; the scape does not extend back quite as far as the hind margin of the head; 2nd-8th joints of the flagellum sub- equal, wider than long, the 9th shorter and hardly wider than the Ist, the 10th more than one-third longer and wider than the 9th, the last joint very thick and nearly as long as the four preceding joints taken together. Pro-mesonotal suture effaced on the dorsum, more distinct laterally. Meso-epinotal impression pronounced, but less so than in rhopalocerum. ~ Profile of the pro-mesonotum fairly convex, that of the epinotal dorsum less so, the junction of the dorsum and the declivity forming a rounded but fairly distinct angle. The declivity is feebly margined, and a little longer than half the dorsum, the latter dis- tinctly longer than half the pro-mesonotum. Peduncle of the Ist joint of the petiole half as long as the node, with a tooth below, at its anterior extremity. Node triangular, rounded at the apex and below, higher than long, hardly narrower than the 2nd node. The latter is rounded and one-quarter higher and wider than the Ist. “This species belongs to the rhopalocerum, Em., group. In Arnoldi, Forel, Bruwnsi, Mayr, and speluncarum, Santschi, the erect pilosity is more abundant, and the epinotum is smooth. In Schultzei and angus- tinode, Forel, the colour is different ; in altinode, Santschi, the petiole is higher, and in termitobium and modestwm the eyes are rudimentary.” Junction of the Umfulosi, Zululand. (Traegaordh.) M. nHopALOcERUM, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p, 25, 5, 1895. “9 17mm. Flavous testaceous; abdomen fuscous, very shining ; 216 Annals of the South African Museum. piligerous punctures very sparse, otherwise impunctate. Head moderately elongate, truncate posteriorly. Clypeus obtusely biden- tate. Mandibles quadridentate; last joimt of antenna very large, nearly as long as the four preceding together. Thorax fairly elongate, the meso-epinotal suture deeply impressed, the pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, the epinotum very obtusely angulated ; the Ist joint of the petiole with a very short peduncle, the node high but narrow, and longer than wide; the 2nd node subglobose, much smaller and a little narrower than the Ist. “Capetown. (Simon.)” “Facies of a Solenopsis, very smooth and shining, with a few piligerous punctures. . . . The carinae on the clypeus are moderately prominent. ‘The eyes are fairly small, and separated from the base of the mandibles by one and a half times their own diameter. The scapes do not extend back to the occipital margin. . . . The thorax is elongate, compressed at the meso-epinotal suture, which is deeply impressed and striated. . . . The joints of the petiole are very unequal. The first, seen in profile, appears pedunculated along two- fifths of its length, the node cuneiform; seen from above, the node appears distinctly longer than wide, rounded in front. The 2nd joint is globose, much smaller and a little narrower than the Ist.” M. Havinanni, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 443, 9, 2, 1910. “OG. 25 mm. Mandibles strongly striated, tridentate. Clypeus entire, strongly concave between its two carinae; these are separate in front, but nearly contiguous between the frontal carinae, and are con- tinued round the sides to the anterior margin. Head nearly quadrate, a little longer than wide, and a little wider in front than behind; the sides feebly convex, widely concave behind. The eyes are fairly large, slightly elongate, placed between the middle and the anterior third. The scape does not extend back quite as far as the hind margin of the head; 3rd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the club not very thick, the penultimate joint only a little larger than the preceding. Pro-mesonotum convex, without a distinct suture, the constriction a little feebler than in gracillimuwm. Epinotum convex, the dorsum merging by a barely perceptible curve into the declivity ; the dorsum not at all depressed, fairly narrow, a little convex transversely, as long as the declivity. First node cuneiform, rounded, convex below as in minutum, with a short peduncle in front shorter than the node, and bearing below an obtuse tooth. Second node small, lower and not A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 217 wider than the Ist, a little wider than long. Cheeks, frontal carinae, and antennal pits striate. The rest of the head smooth, witha strong, scattered, and abundant puncturation. Thorax and petiole densely and not very finely reticulate-punctate and dull, except the dorsum, which is reticulate and sub-opaque; the middle of the pro-meso- notum smooth. Abdomen and legs smooth. An erect, short and yellowish pilosity fairly abundant over the whole body, especially the abdomen. The legs and scapes have only a decumbent pubescence, which also occurs on the body, particularly the head. Black; man- dibles reddish ; antennae and legs rusty brown. ?. 85mm. Head almost exactly square; joints of the flagellum a little more elongated than in the 9. Thorax narrower than the head. Dorsum of epinotum margined, flat transversely, convex longi- tudinally from end to end. Petiole as in the 9, but without the con- vexity or distinct tooth below. Abdomen elongate. Otherwise like the (including the mandibles). Head finely striate on nearly the whole of the anterior portion, the large punctures stronger and more abundant than in the 6. Hpinotum and nodes of petiole densely reticu- late-punctate and dull; dorsum of epinotum densely and transversely striate. The abdomen and rest of thorax smooth, sides of mesonotum with a few large punctures. Pilosity and colour as in the , but the mandibles are reddish yellow, and the margins of the abdominal segments brownish. Dedalated.” Natal. (Haviland.) M. minutum, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 5, p. 453, 9, 1855. “6. 15-17 mm. Piceous, very shining, smooth; the mandibles, the antennae, excepting the club, the articulations of the legs and the tarsi yellowish. The whole body sparsely covered with erect, thick hairs. The mandibles are smooth, shining, and armed with four strong teeth. The clypeus, like the rest of the head, is smooth and very shining. The scape of the 12-jointed antenna does not quite reach back to the posterior margin of the head; the Ist joint of the flagellum is fairly long, not greatly thickened, the following joints are very small and short, the last three joints form the club, the 8th, 9th and 10th joints progressively larger, the terminal joint consider- ably longer than the 9th and 10th together. The thorax is smooth and very shining, the meso-epinotal suture alone is rather coarsely and longitudinally striate. The nodes of the petiole and the abdo- men are smooth and very shining.” 218 Annals of the South African Museum. The type species does not appear to have been recorded from South Africa, but is represented by the following forms. Race BoERORUM, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 442, 9, 1910. ®. 14-1:'7 mm. Pale brown to dark brown, the mandibles, antennae and tarsi lighter. Very smooth and shining, with a very sparse and pale pilosity. This race differs from the type in the following particulars. The head is longer and narrower than in the type, rectangular, with the sides almost straight (convex in the type). The eyes are placed within the anterior third of the head. The nodes are a little thicker, and the Ist node is but slightly convex below. The thoracic impression is stronger and wider. The epinotum is a little more convex, and the carinae on the clypeus are less distinct and further apart in front. 9. 32 mm. Black, legs and antennae brown, tarsi and articula- tions of the legs brownish, mandibles rusty brown. Head, mesonotum, and scutellum very sparsely and finely punctured; the rest of the body impunctate. Abdomen and sides of the nodes sparsely covered with a thin, long and pale pilosity. Head longer than wide; the ocelli small. Thorax narrow, much narrower than the head. Pro- notum almost vertical in front, very slightly exposed in the middle, but more at the shoulders. Mesonotum one-third longer than wide ; scutellum much longer than wide, and a little longer than half the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum very short, merging gradually into the declivity, which is very steep, transversely concave, feebly and transversely striate. Petiole as in the 9. Abdomen elongate, the basal angles of the Ist segment pronounced, Ist segment as long as wide, the remaining segments wider than long. Deilated. Orange Free State. (Wroughton.) Capetown. (Phillip.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race HoTTENTOTA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 26, 9, 1895. This form is unknown to me, and I am therefore obliged to re- produce the author’s description, which is unfortunately based on a comparison with a Madagascan species. “Closely allied to imerinense, Forel, from which it differs by the more angular epinotum, due to the more marked lateral ridges, and above all by the stronger petiole, the Ist jomt of which has a longer peduncle; the nodes more robust, the 2nd wider behind than in front, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 219 and consequently strongly narrowed behind. The proportions of the head and thorax, the sculpture and the hairs much as in imerinense. Capetown.” M. Meprnae Forel, race, Fripat Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 49, p. 183, 9, 1905. “&. 3mm. Apart from its larger size, this form differs from the type by the more convex sides of the head, by the higher declivity of the epinotum ; the latter is excavated above and behind to form a longitudinal channel which is much more distinct than in hesperiwm Em. The first node of the petiole is larger and higher than in the type of Medinae, and more cuneiform. Its summit is almost linear (or acutely angular). The legs are more slender. Very shining, except the epinotum which is opaque and reticulate-punctate. Mesonotum reticulate, sughtly subopaque. Dark brown, the tarsi and antennae paler, as in Medinae. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Brauns) ; host of Braunsiella Wasm.” M. Satamonts, Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 10, p. 580, 1758. This ant is found on the south shores of the Mediterranean, India, and Ceylon, and is represented in the Ethiopian Region by many sub- species and varieties, which show a considerable range of variation, in size, colour, and sculpture. For purposes of comparison, I reproduce the description of the type form given in André’s ‘* Hyménoptéres d’ Europe.” “6. 2°5-3°5 mm. Head, thorax, and petiole brownish red, more or less dark, very shghtly shining or dull. The longitudinal sulcus (excavation) of the clypeus superficial. Head slightly, abdomen fairly, shining. Thorax deeply impressed between the meso- and the epinotum. More or less castaneous brown, with the head blackish, the abdomen brownish black. “9, 6-7 mm. Dorsal profile of the thorax straight, from its front margin to a little beyond the scutellum, without an angular break between the latter and the mesonotum. Pilosity short and not very close, but plainly visible; pubescence scanty. Lntirely blackish brown, except the mandibles, the antennae, the tarsi, the thorax and the petiole, which are entirely or partly somewhat reddish brown. Head, thorax and petiole fairly strongly striate or rugose and dull. Abdomen very finely coriaceous, moderately shining. “$. 5mm. External paramera of the genital armature very large, 220 Annals of the South African Museum. laminate, prolonged backwards and curved downwards at thei ex- tremity. Petiole of the usual shape, its two joints not narrowed above to form transverse ridges, the Ist being cylindrical in front, thickened behind. The 2nd nodiform, rounded above, about as long as wide, and hardly wider than the Ist node. Black, tips of the mandibles and the antennae reddish yellow, tarsi and genital armature blackish brown. Pubescence almost absent; pilosity sparse, except at the apex and below the abdomen, where it is longer and more abundant. Head, including the clypeus and frontal area, thorax and petiole densely punctate-rugose, dull; abdomen very finely rugulose, fairly shining. Wings nearly hyaline or barely tinged with yellow; nervures and stigma pale yellow.” Var. opactor, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 186, 5, 1913. OS. 28-34mm. Yellowish brown; disc of pro-mesonotum and legs paler; abdomen black, with a submetallic gloss. Abdomen with a few thick, pale hairs. Dull. Head very finely and longitudinally reticu- late-striate. Thorax closely and finely granulate (veticulate-punctate). Head nearly quadrate, a little longer than wide, and a little wider in front than behind. Scape short, not reaching the posterior margin of the head. Pronotum almost as wide as the head posteriorly. Pro- mesonotal suture faintly indicated, but more clearly than in Junodi. Dorsum of epinotum half as long as the pro-mesonotum ; the declivity sub-vertical, the brow rounded. The epinotum is barely excavated, and the profile of its dorsum is only moderately convex, or almost flat. First node of petiole wedge-shaped; convex transversely in front, behind and above; one-quarter higher than the 2nd node. The latter is as wide as the Ist; widest in front. ¢ (hitherto undescribed). 46mm. Black; mandibles, antennae, and legs yellowish brown. Head and abdomen with a scanty, short and decumbent pubescence; the nodes and abdomen with also a few pale, pilose hairs. Head, pro- and mesonotum and scutellum longi- tudinally reticulate-striate. Nodes of petiole and sides of epinotum reticulate-punctate; the epinotum above transversely striate. Abdo- men very finely and rather obliquely striate. The pronotum is slightly exposed in the middle, much more at the shoulders. The epinotum is widest in frontZacross the level of the stigmatic orifices, which are somewhat angularly prominent. The dorsum of the epinotum is flat at the extreme base, beyond which it is shallowly excavated, the ex- cavation being continued over the declivity and forming moderately distinct lateral bosses or margins on each side. First node of petiole A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 221 as wide as it is long below; more compressed from front to back than in the 9 ; the anterior face very feebly convex transversely, and also vertical; the posterior-dorsal face very oblique; the dorsal edge very convex transversely. The 2nd node as in the >. Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. DISERTA, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeit. Beiheft, p. 216, 9, 1913. &. 19 mm. Reddish yellow, the head a little darker, the apical half of the abdomen brown. Head and nodes with a slight gloss, abdomen polished and shining, thorax dull. Head microscopically reticulat2-striate, thorax and nodes very finely reticulate. Abdomen very sparsely pilose and punctured. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-fifth longer than wide, the sides and the hind margin nearly straight. The scape just reaches the posterior margin. The eyes are situated just in front of the middle of the sides. The thorax is but moderately constricted at the meso-epinotal suture. The profile of the thorax is convex in front, horizontal above; the dorsum of the epi- notum and of the pro-mesonotum are in the same plane, and slope backwards towards the declivity. The dorsum of the epinotum is about half as long as the pro-mesonotum, and very little longer than wide; the declivity is sub-vertical and forms a distinct angle with the dorsum. The anterior face of the 1st node is very short, and the peduncle is a little shorter than the node; the 2nd node is as wide as long. Shiloh, 8. Rhodesia. (R.M., G.A. colls.) Race Junopt, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent., Belg., vol. 54, p. 441, 9, 1910. ®. 3-3°-4mm. Dark brown, the legs, mandibles and basal half of the flagellum paler. Head, legs and antennae with a short decumbent pubescence, very short and scanty on the head. Clypeus, nodes and abdomen with a sparse, long and pale pilosity. Head, thorax and posterior faces of the nodes closely and finely granulate; abdomen smooth, with a faint submetallic, bluish gloss. Head, excluding the mandibles, as wide as long, the posterior angles rounded, the hind margin almost straight, the sides feebly convex. Hyes flat, situated at about the middle of the sides of the head. Median area of clypeus longitudinally striate, the carimae well defined. Mandibles quadri- dentate and moderately strongly and longitudinally striate. The scape extends slightly beyond the hind margin of the head. Prothorax in 222 Annals of the South African Museum. front not much narrower than the head, the thoracic constriction at the meso-epinotal suture feeble, the suture shallow.- Dorsum of epinotum three-fifths as long as the pro-mesonotum, twice as long as the declivity, the latter sub-vertical. The epimotum is barely excavated above. Peduncle of the Ist joint of the petiole shorter than the node the latter is cuneiform, higher than the 2nd node, and measured along its base, longer than wide. Second node slightly narrowed behind, a little wider than the Ist. his species greatly resembles albopilosum, var. thales, but may be distinguished from it by the thinner Ist node and the shorter peduncle. Bulawayo. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. cols.) Race HERERO, Forel. Schultze Reise, Siidafrika, vol. 4, p.16, 6, 2, 1910. “G. 26-283 mm. Head much longer than in the race australe, Em., quite one-quarter longer than wide in front, wider in front than behind, rather flatter below. Brownish black, antennae, legs and mandibles light brown or reddish brown. Resembling the var. subnitida, Em., in appearance, but the thoracic indentation less deep, the head smaller and flatter below, the Ist node thicker. The epinotum is also less arched, and lies lower. 9. 46mm. Head quadrangular, wider than the thorax. Meso- notum feebly convex. ‘he scape reaches back as far as the posterior margin of the head. Head, thorax and petiole dull, closely reticulate- punctate; head also longitudinally striate. Abdomen shining, finely reticulate. Body clothed with short, fine hairs. Black; antennae, mandibles and legs reddish brown.” Possession Island, German 8.W. Africa. (Schultze.) Race HERERO, var. WILLOWMORENSIS, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 245, 5, 1914. Oo. 3mm. Dark brown, pro-mesonotal disc lighter. Abdomen almost black. Nodes, legs, mandibles and the flagellum excepting the club, yellowish brown. Head, disc of pro-mesonotum, and abdomen shining, the rest of the body dull. Cheeks in front of the eyes finely and longitudinally striate, the rest of the head almost smooth, but with a few small and shallow piligerous punctures. Thorax closely and finely reticulate. Abdomen very sparsely pilose. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-sixth longer than wide, the sides convex, the posterior margin very feebly concave. The eyes are placed in front of the middle of the head. The scape extends back as far as A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 223 the occipital margin. The thorax is considerably constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, which is fairly deep. The pro-mesonotum is very convex transversely in front. The dorsum of the epinotum is barely half as lone as the pro-mesonotum and slopes downwards towards the declivity, with which it forms a rounded but distinct angle. The declivity is nearly vertical and half as long as the dorsum. ‘The epinotum widens at the brow of the declivity, where the margins are rendered somewhat tumid by the median excavation. Nodes similar to those of Junodi. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Arnold.) (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race HERERO, var. BELLI, Forel. Bull. Soe. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 245, G, 1914. &. 2°38 mm. Exceedingly similar to var. willowmorensis, which it resembles in colour and sculpture. It is smaller than that variety, and the pro-mesonotum is narrower, and less convex at the sides behind the shoulders. The meso-epinotal suture is not so deep, and the thorax is less constricted at that point. The epinotum is also narrower across the brow of the declivity. The peduncle of the Ist joint of the petiole is also a little longer, the node more pointed above and narrower. The dorsum of the epinotum is flatter. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Arnold.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race DAMARENSE, Forel. Schultze Reise Stidafrika, vol. 4, p. 17, 9, 1910. «OG. 19-2mm. This bears a close resemblance to M. setuliferum, Forel, from which it differs by the much longer head (one-quarter longer than wide), and by the nodes. The Ist is higher and also wedge-shaped (but rounded above), the 2nd is much smaller and lower. The thorax is like that of Salamonis, whereas in setuliferwm both the pro-mesonotum and the epinotum form equal longitudinal convexities. In damarense, only the pronotum anteriorly is abruptly convex, the dorsum of the thorax is but slightly convex, only feebly indented, and the angle between the two planes of the epinotum is fairly sharp, though rounded ; the declivity is much shorter than the dorsum. The scape hardly extends beyond the occipital margin. The eyes are rather flatter and are placed more posteriorly than in setuliferum. Closely reticulate-punctate and dull (not so closely as in setuliferum and not rugose). Abdomen in greater part shining and smooth. Pubescent, with scanty and erect hairs on the abdomen. 15 224 Annals of the South African Museum. Brownish; scape, legs, clypeus and mandibles yellowish brown. First half of the flagellum yellowish red.” Gawieb, Damaraland. (Schultze.) Race TERMITARIUM, Forel. GOB, Cin jn LI, OG, 2 “6, 23-25 mm. Reddish yellow, abdomen light brown. In sculpture and gloss it is intermediate between salamonis, 1. sp., and the var. subnitidum, Hm.; it is less shining and more sharply reticulate than the latter. Head elongate as in herero, the indentation of the thorax feeble, as in damarense; nodes as in salamonis, 1. sp., but a little smaller and the 2nd node somewhat shorter. Pilosity as in the type species. ?. 55mm. Head rectangular, not wider or hardly wider behind than in front, the sides almost straight, a little wider than the thorax. Brown; mandibles, legs and antennae brownish red. Head and thorax dull, abdomen shining. Wings hyaline.” Kooa, Kalahari. (Schultze.) Nesting in part of a termites’ mound. Race supopacum, Smith. Cat. Hymen. B.M., vol. 6, p. 127, 5, 2, 1858. ®. 24mm. Yellowish brown, the thorax a little paler; antennae and legs, except the tarsi, brownish yellow, tarsi dirty ochreous. Entirely dull. Head, thorax and nodes very finely reticulate, the abdomen microscopically so; the space between the frontal carinae faintly and longitudinally striate. Sparsely and very finely pubescent on the head, more densely on the legs and antennae. The abdomen with a few long, semi-erect hairs. Head a little wider in front than behind, the sides moderately convex, the posterior angles rounded. Clypeal carinae feeble, the space between them shining. Mandibles longitudinally striate, slightly shining, tridentate. The scape extends just beyond the occipital margin. Thorax narrower than the head, narrowed at the meso-epinotal suture, which is not deep. Dorsum of epinotum flat in profile, one-quarter longer than wide, three-fifths as long as the pro-mesonotum ; the brow of the declivity, seen from the side, is fairly angular but rounded; the dorsum is shallowly and triangularly excavated. First node of petiole, seen in profile, wedge- shaped but strongly rounded above, and as long as the 2nd node; the latter almost quadrate, slightly wider in front than behind, and hardly wider than the Ist. “2. 5mm. Opaque fusco-ferruginous ; abdomen black, with the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 225 base reddish, the articulations of the legs and the tarsi pale rufo-tes- taceous; the thorax in the middle in front, and the scutellum, of a brighter red ; the epinotum with a deep excavation ; abdomen oblong- ovate, thinly sprinkled with short pale glittering hairs.” This species makes rather small colonies, usually in sandy soil. Not common in Rhodesia. Bulawayo. (R.M., G.A. colls.) Race sUBOPACUM, var. ANCEPS, Emery. Ann. Soe. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 24, 9, 1895. “Small forms with the head slightly shining behind, and the abdomen also shining; colour of the race. Hamman’s Kraal. (Simon.)” Race AUSTRALE, Emery Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 368, 9, 2, 1886. ©. 933-3'°3 mm. Head, epinotum, and nodes reddish brown ; pro-mesonotum paler, more yellowish brown. Mandibles yellowish red, abdomen piceous, legs and antennae brownish red, the tarsi paler, except the last joint, which is dark brown. Head and thorax dull, abdomen moderately shining. Head, thorax and petiole very finely reticulate, abdomen alutaceous. A very sparse and fine pilosity on the nodes and abdomen. Head barely longer than wide, slightly narrowed behind, the sides feebly convex, the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin shallowly concave. The scape extends back as far as the posterior margin. The median area of the clypeus finely and longitudinally striate, the clypeal carinae obtuse. Man- dibles longitudinally striate, quadridentate. Eyes placed at the middle of the sides of the head. Thorax narrower than the posterior margin of the head; pro-mesonotum, including the neck, almost twice as long as the epinotum, the latter one and a half times longer than wide, shallowly excavated, the excavation extending over the brow of the declivity, which is therefore concave transversely at that point. The profile of the epinotum above is convex, not flat, as in swhopacum ; the declivity is short and oblique. The peduncle of the lst joint of the petiole is more than half as long as the node. The latter is one- quarter higher than wide, a little wider than long, convex in front and behind. The 2nd node is widest across its anterior third, barely wider - than the Ist, and as long as wide. : 2. 57mm, Colour and pilosity as in the >, but the abdomen is darker, with the apical margins pale brownish yellow, and the head is dark reddish brown. Dull; head finely and longitudinally striate ; 226 Annals of the South African Museum. mesonotum finely striate in front, alutaceous behind. Epinotum transversely striate. Abdomen alutaceous, with a slight silky sheen. Nodes of petiole posteriorly, transversely and minutely striate. Clypeus and frontal carinae longitudinally striate. Head quadrate, only very little longer than wide. Pronotum exposed only at the shoulders, which are rounded. Mesonotum one-third longer than wide ; scutellum a little more than one-third the length of the meso- notum. Epinotum more deeply excavated than in the %, so that the margins at the junction of the declivity and dorsum form a distinct and elongate boss on each side. Nodes as in the 9, but the Ist is more compressed from back to front, and its front face is more vertical and flatter than in the @. Wings pale smoky yellow; nervures pale brownish yellow. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. ) Race DELAGOENSIS, Forel. Mitt. Schw. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 87, 9, 1894. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 441, 2, ¢, 1910. &. 3mm. Dark reddish brown, the pro-mesonotum a little redder ; mandibles, antennae and legs dark brownish yellow. Head slightly shining, microscopically reticulate-punctate, between the frontal carinae finely and longitudinally striate. Thorax and posterior faces of the nodes dull, closely reticulate-punctate, the sculpture stronger on the nodes than on the thorax. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, very little longer than wide; the posterior angles rounded, as wide behind as in front; the posterior margin almost straight or very feebly concave. The scape not extending back to the posterior margin by a distance equal to the length of the eye. Median area of clypeus with very indistinct carinae, the space between very shallowly excavated. Thorax decidedly narrowed at the meso-epinotal suture; dorsum of epinotum not quite half as long as the pro-mesonotum, a little longer than wide; the declivity is short, and forms a rounded but fairly distinct angle with the dorsum. Second node of petiole a little wider than long, hardly wider than the Ist, narrowed posteriorly. A very scanty pilosity on the nodes and abdomen. “?. 6mm. Head a little wider than the thorax. Entirely dull; colour as in the 9.” “@. 47 mm. Entirely black. Wings hyaline. Mesonotum alto- gether dull. The erect pilosity more abundant than in the type of the species. Flagellum brown ; tibiae and tarsi pale yellow.” A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 227 Delagoa Bay. (Liengme.) Natal. (Haviland.) (G.A. coll., two © presented by Dr. Forel.) Race DELAGOENSE, var. GRAHAMSTOWNENSIS, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 245, 9, 1914. This differs from the race only in the following trifling details: The colour is lighter, especially the pro-mesonotum; the legs and antennae are more yellowish; the nodes are slightly less dull than in the type of the race ; and the sculpture of the thorax and nodes a shade less strouig. Grahamstown. (8.A.M., G.A. colls.) M. serunirervum, Forel. Schultze Reise Stidafrica, vol. 4, p. 16, 9, 1910. “6, 1:8-2°3 mm. Very similar to the Indian species wroughtoni, Forel, but with the head much wider and without the metallic sheen on the abdomen which is seen in that species. Mandibles slightly shining, longitudinally striate, with three strong teeth and posteriorly a very small tooth. Clypeus with two very distinct carinae, which coalesce behind. Head rectangular, hardly longer than wide, feebly concave behind, the sides feebly convex. Eyes convex, fairly large, placed almost within the anterior third of the head. The scape just reaches back to the hind margin of the head. ‘The 53rd—8th joints of the flagellum distinctly wider than long, the 2nd joint as wide as long. Thorax as in salamonis and wroughtoni, but the transition between the two planes of the epinotum more broadly rounded (the two planes indistinctly separated). The two nodes equally high (in salamonis the Ist is higher) ; the lst much wider than in wroughtoni, as wide as the 2nd, much wider than its peduncle in front, thicker above than in wroughtoni. Abdomen in front somewhat concavely truncate. Head, thorax and petiole dull; abdomen slightly glossy in front at the base, shining above and behind, very finely coriaceous and reticulate-rugose ; legs smooth and shining. The head is exceedingly finely and closely longitudinally striate, reticulate-punctate between the striae, the abdo- men anteriorly similarly sculptured, but more feebly. On the head and thorax are some very short, scanty, fine whitish and stiff hairs, not easily observable; similar but longer hairs occur on the petiole and abdomen. In addition there is a fine and short adpressed pubescence, fairly sparse; scape and legs pubescent only. Brown; 228 Annals of the South African Museum. antennae, legs, mandibles and disc of pronotum and mesonotum reddish to brownish yellow. ‘The club of the antenna dark brown.” Khakhea, Kalahari. (Schultze.) Nest in sand. Var. NoTULA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 441, 9, ¢, 1910. OS. 22mm. Dark reddish brown, pro-mesonotum lighter, more rusty red, legs paler, especially the tarsi, mandibles yellowish rusty red. Hyes rather smaller and placed further back than in the type species. Head shghtly narrower. Epinotum and mesopleura strongly reticulate-punctate. Second joimt of flagellum a little longer than wide. | “«@. 35 mm. Head much wider than long; the posterior margin nearly straight, a little narrower than the thorax and, like it, dull. Abdomen fairly shining. Wings hyaline, nervures pale. Black; antennae brown; tarsi, tibiae, articulations and margins of the mandibles yellow. Hairs on head and thorax fairly abundant and erect. Tibiae and scapes with adpressed pubescence.” Bulawayo ; Springvale, S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. Puaraonts, Linn. Syst. Nat., Ed. 10, i, p. 580, 1758. Say (Myrmica molesta), Boston Journ. N.H., p. 626, 2, 1838. Smith (Myrmica domestica), List. Brit. Anim. B.M., vi, p. 119, g,1851. Smith (Myrmica domestica), Trans. Ent. Soc. London (2), 11, p. 180, 9, 2, dg, 1855. S. 25-3 mm. Reddish yellow, the apical half of the abdomen and sometimes the sides of the whole of the Ist seement brownish. ~A few scattered pilose hairs on the thorax and abdomen. A microscopic pubescence on the legs and antennae. Head, thorax and nodes closely and minutely granulate, abdomen and legs smooth and shining. Head, thorax and nodes dull. Head ovate, excluding the mandibles, one-quarter longer than wide, the sides strongly, the posterior margin feebly convex. Eyes situated in front of the middle of the head. The scape almost reaches the posterior margin. Clypeal carinae fairly distinct. Mandibles faintly striate. Pro-mesonotum convex, rounded infront and at the sides, narrowed posteriorly. The thorax constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, which is deep. Dorsum of epinotum longer than wide, about three-fifths as long as the pro-mesonotum, the declivity almost vertical, shorter than the dorsum. The pro- mesonotum and epinotum, seen from the side, are distinctly convex. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 229 The Ist node of the petiole cuneiform, rounded above, the peduncle nearly as long as the node; 2nd node wider in front than behind, wider than the Ist node, and slightly wider than long. ?. 43 mm. Reddish yellow; scutellum, median portion of metanotum, declivity and sides of epinotum, and the mesopleura dark brown. The posterior face of the lst node slightly brown. Colour of the abdomen similar to that of the ¢ but darker. Pilosity, pubes- cence and puncturation as in the § ; a longitudinal median area on the anterior half of the mesonotum finely striate. Head, excluding the mandibles, as wide as long. The eyes moderately large, placed in the middle of the sides. Pronotum not exposed dorsally ; mesonotum very slightly wider behind than in front, convex anteriorly, one-third wider than long. Dorsum of epinotum very short, the declivity strongly reticulate, its upper half excavated and concave, its lateral mareins tumid. The upper half of the declivity is very steep, the lower half vertical. Nodes of petiole similar to those of the ¢, but the peduncle of the Ist joint is shorter, and the node is also shorter and more compressed from front to back, so that the dorsal edge is linear. ‘The 2nd node is wider than in the 9, quite two-thirds wider than long. ‘The anterior angles of the abdomen more rounded than in the ©. “g. 3mm. Dark brown; mandibles, scapes, apical half of the flagellum, femora and tibiae yellowish brown; basal half of the flagellum, tarsi and apex of the abdomen pale yellow. Pilosity long, very sparse and light yellow. Head closely and finely punctured. Clypeus convex, obtusely rounded behind, not carinate, finely shag- reened. Frontal sulcus extending as far as the anterior ocellus. Thorax punctate above and in front; on the metanotum and the sides of the thorax the punctures are so shallow that the sculpture appears merely shagreened. Petiole punctured. Abdomen almost smooth and very shining, the rest of the body with only a faint gloss.” Durban. (H. Bell-Marley.) Capetown. (R. Lightfoot.) The original home of this cosmopolitan species is probably South America. It is frequently found in hothouses in temperate countries. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. cols.) M. Oscaris, Forel, var. NupTIALIs, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. ix, p. 86, 1894. (Var.) Deutsch. Ent. Zeit. Beiheft, p. 216, 3, 1918. ®. 16-18 mm. Dirty brownish yellow, the antennae and tarsi paler. The median dorsal area of the Ist abdominal segment is 230 Annals of the South African Museum. brownish yellow, the rest of the abdomen brown. Very smooth and shining. Pilosity as in springvalense. Head nearly one-quarter longer than wide, the sides moderately convex. First joimt of the flagellum as long as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th together; the club a little longer than the rest of the flagellum. The scape is shorter than in the type species, and the nodes of the petiole, particularly the Ist, higher and shorter. Bembesi and Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. Oscaris, race Musicum, Forel. Ann, Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 442, 9, 9, 1910. “6. 1:5 mm. Head a little narrower than in the type, a little smaller relatively to the body. Club of the antenna much thicker. The 9th joint of the flagellum is much smaller than the 10th, the latter and the 11th considerably swollen (in the type species the 9th is almost as wide as the 10th and the last two joints are only slightly swollen). Otherwise like Oscaris, but of a dull brownish yellow, the thorax dirty yellow. The scape is short, much shorter than in ninutum and floricola ; the peduncle of the 1st node shorter than in floricola.” “Oo, 28 mm. Head as in the 9, longer than wide; eyes large. Thorax high, narrower than the head. Nodes rounded, the lst witha little tooth below. Dark brown ; mandibles, antennae and tarsi dirty yellow.” Natal. (Haviland.) M. Oscaris, race SPRINGVALENSE, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 163, 9, 1913. ©. 2mm. Smooth and shining. Head reddish brown, legs pale brown, tarsi yellowish, abdomen and often also the nodes dark brown, the median area of the Ist abdominal segment above, more or less yellowish, thorax and mandibles dark ochreous, antennae brownish yellow except the club, which is brown. Head and thorax very sparsely and shallowly punctured, the punctures piligerous. Head with a sparse and fine decumbent pubescence, the rest of the body with a few long and pale pilose hairs. Head, including the closed mandi- bles, one-sixth longer than wide, the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin shallowly concave, the sides nearly straight. Scape short, not reaching the posterior margin by the length of the eye. Club of antenna thick, distinctly longer than the rest of the flagellum, the apical joint as long as the six preceding joints taken together; A Monograph of the Fornuicidae of South Africa. 231 3rd—6th as wide as long. Clypeal carinae sharp, well defined. Man- dibles sparsely and coarsely punctured, acutely tridentate. Eyes rather flat, placed in front of the middle of the head. Pro-mesonotum convex, widest in front and not much narrower than the head. Thorax strongly constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, which is deep and wide. The dorsum of the epinotum passes into the oblique declivity by a gradual curve. Seen from the side, the dorsum of the epinotum is convex lengthwise, that of the pro-mesonotum convex only in front. First joint of petiole with the peduncle short, about half as long as the node, which is sub-conical, longer than wide and higher than the 2nd node. The 2nd node 1s a little wider than the Ist, wider in front than behind, and as wide as long. Springvale, Matopos, 8. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race SPRINGVALENSE, var. PATERNA, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 248, 9, 1914. ®. 21mm. Dark yellowish brown, the tarsi pale. from the Victoria Falls, also taken with typical 2? 9 and ¢ ¢ of viduwa, have the declivity as long as, or a little longer than, the dorsum, therein agreeing with Santschi’s description of vidwa. The dentition on which that author bases the 254 Annals of the South African Museum. differences between vidua, junodi, arnoldi, and silvestri is too variable, even in examples taken from the same nest, to be considered reliable. IT am therefore inclined to believe that arnoldi is only a variety of vidua; but in the absence of the 2? 2 and @ 4 of the former, the question cannot be definitely decided. Bulawayo. Found under the soil in small numbers on a single occasion. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Genus ANELEUS, Emery. Term. Fiizetek, vol. 23, 1900. (Pheidologeton, Mayr, pars.) Characters.* y%. Antennae 11-jointed. Head very large, elongate, longer than wide, more or less abruptly truncate behind. Mandibles triangular, with 5 or more distinct but blunt teeth. Hyes very small or absent. &. Antennae 11-jointed; the club distinct and composed of the last two joints. Eyes very small. Mandibles elongate triangular, with 5 or more acute teeth. Clypeus usually more or less distinctly bicarinate. Pro-mesonotal suture absent; meso-epinotal suture distinct. Epinotum bidentate or unarmed. ‘'Tibiae and femora more or less swollen in the apical half. A. PERPUSILLUM, Emery. (Pheidologeton) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 26, , 9, 1895. “yy. 2-2°5 mm. Reddish yellow, head rufous, shining, very smooth, with sparse piligerous punctures; meso- and metapleura closely punctured and dull. Head elongate, sub-parallel, widely emarginate behind, and with a transverse crest or thin carina, in- terrupted in the middle, in front of the occipital margin. Cheeks and front of the head striate; frontal carimae short. Clypeus flat or nearly so; widely emarginate in front. Eyes very small. Mandibles sparsely punctured, shining, striate at the base outwardly, quinque- dentate. Antennae short, the scape hardly exceeding half the length of the head. Thorax with the meso-epinotal suture deeply impressed, the pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, pro-mesonotal disc convex, scuti- form, obtusely marginate in front, narrow behind. Hpinotum armed with an acute tooth on each side. First node of petiole small, squami- * These characters are based on the species described below and politus, diabolus and silvestrii Santschi. I have not been able to see a copy of Emery’s paper. Pheidologeton hostilis, Smith, is unknown to me, but owing to its 12- jointed antennae cannot belong to this genus. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 255 form; the 2nd node larger, transversely ovate, subangulate on each side.” “6G, 15 mm. Reddish yellow. Head elongate, the sides mode- rately convex, the occipital margin concave and sharp. Pro-mesonotum marginate in front, the anterior angles acute. Hpinotum armed with a triangular tooth on each side. Petiole narrow; 2nd node hardly wider than the Ist; the Ist abdominal segment truncate in front. Sculpture as in the /.” Pretoria, Kimberley. (Simon.) Race Arnoupt, Forel. (Plate VI, figs. 81, 81a.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 242, 9, 1914. 4 (hitherto undescribed). 2°3-5'1 mm. Head parallel-sided, vary- ing from one-seventh to one-fourth wider than long. LHyes entirely absent, or composed of four or five ill-defined facets. Mandibles not striate at the base. Otherwise exactly like the type. ®. 11-14 mm. Epinotum, excepting the declivity, and sides of the mesonotum reticulate and somewhat dull, the rest of the body entirely smooth and shining. Erect pilosity very scanty, absent from the legs and antennae, which have a feeble pubescence, wanting else- where. Hyes composed of a single facet. First joint of flagellum a little more than twice as long as wide, about as long as the five succeeding joints taken together; 2nd-8th joints much wider than long; the club not quite twice as long as the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles quadridentate, smooth and shining, very sparsely and very feebly punctured. The anterior angles of the pro-mesonotum sharply defined, subdentate. Declivity of epinotum concave from above to below, smooth and shining; very distinctly margined at the sides, the margin continued up to the epinotal teeth, and slightly beyond them along the sides of the dorsum ; the dorsum longer than the de- clivity, and one-third longer than wide. “ Median area of clypeus subtruncate in front, which is not the case in the type, . . .; peduncle of the Ist joint of petiole short, shorter than in the type” (Forel). Two out of the three 2/2 which I have before me were taken on the same occasion. Both lack eyes. In one the head is one-fifth longer than wide; in the other one-quarter longer than wide. The remaining Yf has the head a little less than one-seventh longer than wide ; but the eyes are distinct, though small. The $ © of the two series do not differ in the least, so that there is no reason to suppose that the 2f f do not all belong to the same species. 17 256 Annals of-the South African Museum. Bulawayo. Two ¥ ¥ and about three dozen 9 9 were taken in a rotten beech-nut in the ground. On another occasion one Y and half a dozen 9% 9 were found in a decaying grain of maize. Also taken running under a stone. I have also received specimens from Durban (Marley and Cooper), which do not differ from this race except in the carinae on the clypeus being a little more distinct and a little closer together posteriorly. ; (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Genus AEROMYRMA, Forel. Grandidier’s Hist. Madagascar, 20, p. 198, 1891. Characters Strongly dimorphic. %. Antennae 10-jointed; club 2-jointed. Head much longer than wide; sometimes with a small tooth on each side above. Mandibles with about 6 teeth. Hyes small; composed of a single facet. Thoracic sutures distinct. Hpimotum dentate or unarmed. Abdomen long, longer than the rest of the body. 9. Head not much longer than wide. Abdomen of the usual shape ; not longer than the rest of the body. Otherwise like the 2/. This genus contains three species, one of which is found in Madagascar. A. AFRICANA, Forel. Schultze’s Reise Stidafrika, vol. 4, p. 15, Y, 1910. “Yy. 27-29 mm. Mandibles smooth and shining, with about 6 teeth. Clypeus very short, arched, without emargination, not truncate, with only a small impression in front in the middle, hardly produced backwards between the frontal carinae. Frontal area triangular ; frontal carinae very short, hardly divergent, not far apart, without lobes. Head large, rectangular, quite one-quarter longer than wide, the sides hardly convex in front and behind, with a small tooth or horn at about the outer fourth of the width of the head, lke that of Oligomyrmex corniger, Forel, but somewhat smaller. The margin of the head behind, between the two teeth, is concave. The exceedingly small eye is composed of a single facet, and is placed within the anterior third of the head. The scape of the 10-jointed antenna hardly extends beyond the middle of the head. Last joint of flagellum quite three times as long as the preceding joint. The pronotum is strongly convex, and steepin front. . . . Thorax with both sutures distinct, but not in the least constricted, short and wide. Epinotum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 257 without a trace of teeth, only excavated lengthwise, with two elongate and obtuse swellings. Both nodes rounded, wider than long, the Ist pedunculate, th@*2nd nearly twice as wide as the Ist, which is narrow. Abdomen very long, longer than the rest of the body, with a honey- yellow translucency. Legs short. Head glossy, finely reticulate. The rest of the body smooth, shining and with piligerous punctures. Erect hairs very fine, pointed, short and scanty, absent from the legs. Pubescence oblique, somewhat woolly, more abundant than the pilosity and present all over, without, however, being at all dense. Dirty yellow ; head yellowish red; abdomen pale translucent yellow ; legs and antennae yellow.” Kooa-Sekgoma, Kalahari. (. Schultze.) A. TRAEGAORDHI, Santschi. Goteborgs K. Vetensk. och Vitterh. Handl., xv, 2, p. 20, 9, 1914. “ minor. 15 mm. Yellow, slightly reddish. Mandibles, clypeus, antennae, tarsi and abdomen yellow. Smooth and shining. EHpi- notum, posterior half of mesonotum and the Ist node reticulate, punctate and nearly dull. The smooth areas with a fine and sparse pilgerous puncturation. Pubescence fairly exserted and distributed all over the body and the limbs. A few rare erect pilose hairs. Head longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the hind margin feebly concave. Eyes composed of a single facet, placed a little in front of the middle of the sides. Mandibles with five teeth. Pronotum marginate in front. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum a little convex, wider than long, hardly marginate. The declivity longer, marginate. The junction of the two planes of the epimotum angular, with a very small tubercle, often indistinct, and not dentate as in nosidambo, Forel. First node short, thick at the summit, as high as the length of the joint, with a very small tooth below in front. Second joint globose, wider than the Ist.” Balgowan and Stamford Hill, Natal. (Traegaordh.) Trine LEPTOTHORACINI, Emery. Genus LEPTOTHORAX, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ver. Wien, vol. 5, p. 431, 1855. Characters. %. Antennae 11 or 12-jointed (12-jointed in our three species), with a distinct club formed of the three apical joints. Mandibles with four or five teeth. Clypeus fairly large. Hpinotum armed with 258 Annals of the South African Museum. a pair of teeth or spines. First joint of petiole with a short peduncle, the ventral lamella sometimes bearing a smalltooth. Hairs usually clavate. ?. Not much larger than the ¢. Wings with one cubital and one discoidal cell. Otherwise like the ¢, except for the usual sexual differences. ¢. Antennae 12 or 13-jointed. Mandibles narrow, the masticatory margin truncate. Clypeus arched, convex. Mayrian furrows présent. Petiole and wings as in the ? ; abdomen narrower. The species of this genus are rather timid and slow ants, forming small communities in hollow stems or under bark. Certain species of the genus in N. America and Europe house in their nests other para- sitic ants which are closely allied generically to themselves (Harpago- xenus, etc.). These have ergatoid queens, whose progeny is reared by the workers of the host. Key to the 9 9 of Leptothoraa. (4). 1. Shoulders of the pronotum sharply angulated ; dorsal profile of thorax straight and horizontal, or nearly so. (3). 2. lst node of petiole a little wider than long, convex above; 2nd node twice as wide as lone. : : é s latinodis, Mayr. (2). 8. Ist node of petiole as wide as long, flat above ; 2nd node of petiole one and a half times as wide as long. angulatus, Mayr. (1). 4. Shoulders of the pronotum not sharply arealitede thorax depressed in front of the epinotum, not straight in profile. denticulatus, Mayr. L. aneutatus, Mayr. (Plate V, figs. 56, 56a.) Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12; p. 739, 9, 1862. &. 382 mm. Reddish ochreous, club of antennae and lateral dorsal margins of the thorax and petiole brownish. Head reticulate- rugose, coarsely so at the sides in front of the eyes, the space between the rugosities finely reticulate, and some of the rugae emphasised longitudinally. Upper surface of thorax and of both joints of the petiole strongly reticulate-rugose; sides of meso- and metathorax finely reticulate. Abdomen and Jegs microscopically rugulose, smooth and shining. Legs and antennae with a very short and fine pubes- cence, absent from the rest of the body, which has a sparse puilosity consisting of short, thick, erect and clavate hairs. Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than wide, a little wider behind than in front, the sides feebly convex, the posterior angles very sharp, the posterior margin straight. Clypeus raised in the middle and pro- longed back between the frontal carinae, with a well-defined median carina and a finer lateral carina on each side. Frontal area indistinct. The frontal carinae are rather wide apart, divergent posteriorly. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 259 Mandibles finely striate, armed with five teeth, the apical tooth acute. The scape extends back as far as the occipital margin; Ist joint of flagellum nearly as long as the 2nd—4th taken together; 2nd—8th joints wider than long. Hyes not large, situated a little in front of the middle of the sides. Thoracic sutures obsolete. Thorax widest anteriorly, the shoulders sharply defined, subangular. The epinotum is armed with a tooth on each side, which is directed upwards and slightly outwards, and is not longer than it is broad at the base; the declivity is almost vertical. The dorsum of the thorax is widened and subdentate at the lateral margins, above the posterior stigmatic orifices. The Ist joint of the petiole has a short peduncle; the node is aS wide as long, moderately convex above, and, seen from above, more or less hexagonal in outline ; the anterior face of the node slopes forwards ; the ventral lamella at the base has a small downwardly directed spine. The 2nd joint of the petiole is subquadrangular, one and a half times wider than long, nearly one and a half times as wide as the Ist. Abdomen oval. All the femora swollen in the middle; middle and hind tibiae without calcaria. Khami R. and Matopo Hills, 8. Rhodesia. I have met with this species only on the trunks of trees, previously mentioned as being the habitat of Monomoriwm arnoldi. (S8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) L. tarrnopis, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 130, 9, 1895. “5. 32 mm. Reddish yellow, last joint of flagellum brownish, mandibles pale yellow with dark brown teeth. The clavate hairs are moderately sparse; the fine pubescence of the abdomen very sparse. Mandibles longitudinally striate, quadridentate. Head rectangular, longer than wide, with rounded corners, narrower in front than behind ; longitudinally striate; the middle of the vertex less coarsely striate and somewhat coriaceous and feebly shining; the outer thirds of the head more reticulate-rugose, and round the eyes clearly punctu- late. The disc of the clypeus is flattened (more so than in angulatus), and has a median carina and two lateral carinae, which separate it from the lateral portions of the clypeus; the median carina is not continued back on to the posterior portion of the clypeus, which lies at a different level to the rest of the clypeus. . .. The scape does not extend back as far as the posterior margin of the head ; the 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long ; and the joints which form the oOo) club, especially the last two, are only feebly constricted off from each 260 Annals of the South African Museum. other. The eyes are placed a little in front of the middle of the sides. The thorax is moderately finely reticulate, finely reticulate-punctate in the interspaces, and shows no constrictions or sutures above. The pronotal angles are produced into distinct triangular teeth (in angu- latus less pronounced and much smaller) ; the pronotum is wider than the rest of the thorax, but a little narrower than the head. . . . - The epinotum has two short small spines, which are only a little longer than their basal width. The sculpture of the petiole similar to that of the thorax; the Ist joint shortly pedunculate, the node a little wider than long, and, seen in profile, moderately convex above length- wise; the 2nd node is quite twice as wide as long (in angulatus hardly one and a half times as wide as long), and wider than the Ist. Abdomen shining and very finely rugulose. The legs and antennae without erect hairs. The femora are swollen, much the same as in angulatus. Like other species of the genus, the middle and hind tibiae are without calearia,” Delagoa Bay. (Dr. Brauns.) L. DEnTIcULATUS, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 5, §,.1901. “OS. 3-3:'1mm. Yellow or reddish yellow, the legs a little paler, the teeth of the mandibles brown. The upper surface of the body is clothed with short and very feebiy clavate hairs; the fine, decumbent, and very short pubescence is very scanty, especially on the abdomen ; the outer margins of the tibiae with decumbent hairs. Mandibles 5-dentate, longitudinally striate, and sparsely punctured. The head is fairly rectangular, a little longer than wide, with round corners, narrower in front than behind. It is rather coarsely and longi- tudinally rugose, partly coarsely reticulate, between the rugae finely reticulate-punctate ; the vertex and occiput with fairly straight longi- tudinal striae. Clypeus rugose, distinctly produced in front, the anterior margin arcuate, fairly flat and tricarinate, the median carina becoming indistinct behind, the lateral carinae less pronounced than the median, and not reaching the anterior margin. The clypeus is wider posteriorly than in either angulatus or latinodis. The scape of the 12-jointed antenna does not extend back as far as the hind margin of the head; the 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum about twice as wide as long, the joints of the club fairly clearly separated, the first being about as wide as long. The sides of the head show faint traces of an antennal scrobe. The eyes lie a little in front of the middle of the sides. Thorax rather coarsely and longitudinally striate, partly longi- tudinally rugose, finely reticulate-punctate between the rugae, widest A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 261 anteriorly, rounded at the sides of the pronotum. The margin of the thorax between its sides and upper surface is bisinuate, shallowly so at the pro-mesonotal suture, more deeply at the meso-epinotal, the latter being distinctly impressed; the dorsum of the epinotum is feebly convex, a little longer than wide, with two blunt spines behind, which are about half as long as the dorsum, and directed backwards, out- wards and upwards. The Ist joint of the petiole has a short peduncle, and is closely reticulate-punctate and also coarsely rugose ; its node has a quadrangular dorsal surface, which is feebly convex transversely and lengthwise, and distinctly wider than long, the anterior corners strongly rounded. The dorsal surface is delimited from the anterior face by a nearly rectangular margin ; the anterior face is vertical above, sloping forwards below ; the posterior face of the node is very short and vertical, and merges gradually into the “upper surface. On each side of the node, a little below the hind angles, there is a small pointed tooth with a hair or bristle at its apex, and there are one or two similar but smaller projections in front of these on the dorsal lateral margins of the node. The 2nd node of the petiole is about one and a half times as wide as long, somewhat wider than the Ist, and has traces of two small teeth or tubercles like those of the Ist node on each of its rounded sides. The abdomen is shining, very shallowly rugulose, and with some scattered piligerous punctures, almost smooth. ©. 3'°5 mm. Reddish yellow; mesonotum and scutellum brownish; the abdomen, excepting the front half of the 1st segment, light brown. Pubescence and sculpture as in the 9. The mandibles more coarsely and more abundantly punctured ; mesonotum and scutellum lonei- tudinally rugoso-striate, finely reticulate-punctate between the striae ; the declivity of the epinotum only reticulate-punctate. Head as in the ©. The epinotal teeth triangular and blunt, which are not, or only shghtly, longer than wide at the base. Petiole and abdomen as inthe 9. Onedealated 9. In hollow stems.” Port Elizabeth. (Dr. Brauns.) Trine MYRMICARIINI, Forel. Genus MYRMICARIA, Saunders. Trans. Ent. Soc. London, in, p. 57, 1841. Characters. ®. Antennae 7-jointed, the scape cylindrical; all the joints of the flagellum, except the Ist, much longer than wide; no distinct club. 262 Annals of the South African Museum. Clypeus broad, convex in the middle. Frontal area not clearly defined posteriorly. Frontal carinae wide apart, fairly short. Eyes prominent and convex. Pro-mesonotal suture feeble or obsolete; meso-epinotal suture deep; the thorax more or less constricted or excised laterally at the suture. Ventral anterior angles ot the pronotum produced into distinct spines or teeth. Scutellar portion of mesonotum with an elongate tubercle or carina on each side. The epinotum armed with two long and acute spines; sometimes also with the base expanded or lobate on each side. First joint of petiole with a long peduncle, dis- tinctly delimited from the node. Both nodes usually more or less conical, the Ist often compressed laterally at the summit. Abdomen subglobose; somewhat truncate at the base. Legs long and slender. @. Antennae 7-jointed. Ocelli small. Thorax very gibbous and convex in front. Pronotum very slightly exposed above at the sides only. ‘The level of the dorsum of the mesonotum and scutellum much higher than that of the epinotum. Mesonotum and epinotum simple, without lateral carinae or lobes. The dorsum of the epinotum short, much shorter than the declivity; epinotal spines much shorter and broader than in the 9. Petiole as in the 9. Abdomen subovate, longer than wide, truncate at the base. Wings with 1 cubital and 1 discoidal cell; radial cell open. ¢. Antennae 13-jointed, filiform. The scape short, usually about as long as the 2nd joint of the flagellum ; Ist joint very short, all the remaining joints much longer than wide. Head transverse. Eyes large. Ocelli fairly large, slightly raised. Frontal carinae moderately distinct and short. Clypeus convex. Mandibles small and edentate. Dorsum of epinotum bituberculate at the apex. Petiole very long, the Ist joint with the peduncle shorter and broader than in the 9, both nodes flatter and elongate, not conical. Abdomen broad, cordate, hardly longer than wide, convex above, concave below. Legs long and slender. Wings as in the 9. Distribution: Ethiopian and Indo-Malayan regions. Key to the 9 9% of Myrmicaria. (8). 1. Larger species, 5 mm. or more; sculpture coarse, head striated all over. (3). 2. Head distinctly emarginate behind. ‘ : Bauwmni, Forel. (2). 3. Head straight or convex behind. (7). 4. Tibiae and scapes longitudinally striate; larger species, 65 mm. or more. . Sculpture strong; head reticulate (with transverse as well as longi- tudinal striae); 1st node as high as the 2nd, pointed above, conical. eumenoides, Gerst. (ve) Or (6). A Monograph of the Formicidue of South Africa. 263 (5). 6. Sculpture less strong ; head with only longitudinal striae ; 1st node higher than the 2nd, not conical, slightly flattened above. striata, Stitz. . Tibiae and scapes smooth ; smaller species, less than 6 mm. nigra, Mayr. ~T (4). (1). 8. Smaller species, less than 5 mm.; sculpture feebler and much more sparse ; head striated only on the cheeks. Dark black, pilosity also black ; scape extending beyond the occipital margin by almost one-third of its length; mesonotum with high posterior lateral carinae. j : : nigerrima, Arnold. (9). 10. Brownish, pilosity yellowish; scape extending beyond the occipital margin by one-quarter to one-fifth of its length; mesonotum with xo) (10). feeble and low lateral carinae behind. . ‘ laevior, Forel. M. Eumenorpss, Gerstaecker. (Plate VII, figs. 87, 87a, 88, 89a, b.) (Heptacondylus), Monatsb. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, p. 263, 2, 1858. (H. sulcatus), Mayr, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 756, ©, 1862. ©. 65-77 mm. Head, thorax and petiole dark red, somewhat brownish red, the nodes a little darker. Abdomen, legs and antennae dark brown, the base of the abdomen a little paler. Shining, espe- cially the dorsum of the epinotum; the basal fourth of the Ist abdominal segment very finely and closely punctured and subopaque. Head, pro-mesonotum and dorsum of epinotum with a few strong, more or less longitudinal rugae, connected by transverse anastomoses (almost reticulate round the eyes). Sides of thorax faintly and longi- tudinally striate; the spaces between all the striae or rugae smooth and shining. Nodes of petiole with a few feeble striae. The abdomen smooth and shining. Femora very shallowly and sparsely punctured. Scapes and tibiae longitudinally striate on the upper surface. Man- dibles closely and longitudinally striate. Whole body, including legs and antennae, with a strong but rather sparse pilosity, consisting of stout, more or less erect, blackish hairs. The flagellum has in addition a sparse, decumbent pubescence, which is absent elsewhere. Head subecircular, a little wider behind than in front, about as long as wide, the posterior margin straight, the angles rounded. Clypeus broad, the anterior margin convex. The median area has about 7 or 8 longitudinal raised lines (hardly carimae); the posterior margin, between the frontal carinae, broad; frontal area indistinctly defined. Frontal carinae parallel, widened and sublobate in front, extending back nearly to the level of the anterior margin of the eves. The latter convex and prominent, placed behind the middle of the sides of the head. Mandibles with 5 teeth, the two anterior ones large and acute. 264 Annals of the South African Museum. Scape of antenna fairly long, extending bazk well beyond tke occipital margin; all the joints of the flagellum much longer than wide, the 2nd and apical joints longest. Pro-mesonotal suture faintly indicated. Pronotum with strong transverse and oblique rugae, those on the margins of the dorsum very distinct ; the ventral anterior angles pro- duced into strong teeth. The mesonotum is raised posteriorly, and has a very steep posterior face, the sides of which are sharply margined and shehtly expanded, or ear-shaped. ‘The dorsum of the epinotum is distinctly margined (the rugae which form the margins being con- tinued along the outer sides of the spines), and is sublobate on each side at the base, narrowed towards the apex. The spines are acute, as long as the dorsum, slightly divergent apically, directed slightly upwards. The declivity of the epinotum is very steep; as long as, or a little longer than, the dorsum; distinctly margined laterally, the margins being continued along the lower sides of the spines. Peduncle of the Ist joint of the petiole flattened, one-quarter longer than the node; the latter more or less conical, as long as wide, somewhat com- pressed laterally at the summit, the anterior face vertical and feebly convex from above to below, the posterior face longer than the anterior, and sloping downwards. The 2nd node about one-quarter longer than wide; widest at its posterior third. Seen from above, the outline is subovate; seen from the side, the anterior face is convex, and slopes in a sharp curve forwards; the posterior face is shorter than the anterior, and vertical. The base of the abdomen straight, with prominent but rounded lateral angles. The Ist segment is about as wide as long, and much wider and longer than the remain- ing segments taken together, which are hardly visible from above. 2. 1]4 mm. Pilosity and colour as in the 9, but the colour is a little darker, the sides of the mesonotum behind, and the middle portion in front, dark brown. The hairs on the legs are more oblique than in the 9. The sculpture is very similar to that of the 9, butis stronger on the head, the region behind the eyes very coarsely reticu- late, the space between the reticulations almost dull. Mesonotum and scutellum strongly and fairly closely longitudinally striate, the pro- notum with a few longitudinal and feeble striae. The epinotum is very coarsely and longitudinally rugose on the dorsum, striate on the sides, the median area of the declivity smooth. A narrow median area on the anterior third of the mesonotum is without striae. A broad transverse band on the apical margins of all the abdominal segments subopaque and microscopically rugulose. The dorsum of the meso- notum and scutellum is raised high above the level of the head and epinotum. The mesonotum is very convex in front, lengthwise and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 265 transversely, and as long as wide. The scutellum is nearly one and a half times wider than long, a little more than one-third the length of the mesonotum, and is a little higher than the latter. Dorsum of epinotum very short—much shorter than the declivity, which is vertical. The epinotal spines are shorter and broader than in the °, almost triangular, and very little longer than their basal width. A rounded, lobe-like expansion covers the stigmata on each side, and projects beyond the lateral profile of the thorax. Wings dark brown, the nervures and stigma piceous. Otherwise like the ©. ¢. 135mm. Black, flagellum and tarsi dark brown. Pilosity more abundant, but much finer than in the 92, the hairs being thinner, especially on the abdomen, where they are also more oblique. Flagellum densely and very finely pubescent. Thorax and upper surface of the nodes with a whitish pubescence; sparse and oblique on the thorax; dense, erect, and longer on the dorsum of the epinotum and anterior face of the lst node (more easily seen when looked at from the side). Head very coarsely rugoso-striate, transversely so on the posterior half, more or less Jongitudinally on the anterior half, the space between the rugae shining. Thorax coarsely and longitudinally rugoso-striate, the striae interrupted, stronger on the scutellum and posterior half of the mesonotum. Epinotum very coarsely reticulate- rugose, the declivity with some transverse striae. ‘Thorax rather dull, declivity of epinotum smooth and shining. Nodes of petiole micro- scopically alutaceous, also longitudinally striate, the Ist node some- what coarsely so, the 2nd node much more closely and finely striate, its median area smocth. Abdomen, except for a narrow median area on each segment, microscopically alutaceous and dull. Head longer than wide, the posterior margin concave. ‘The eyes large, placed some- what obliquely, occupying quite half the sides of the head. Ocelli fairly large, slightly raised. Clypeus less convex than in the 9 or 9. Mandibles oblong, edentate, obliquely truncate apically. Scape short, hardly longer than the distance between the two posterior ocelli; Ist joint of flagellum as wide as long, about one-third the length of the scape ; 2nd joint as long as, or a little longer than, the scape; all the remaining joints at least twice as long as wide. Thorax similar to that of the 2, but narrower, the mesonotum nearly one-quarter longer than wide. Dorsum of epinotum longer than in the ?, at the base nearly three times wider than long, shorter than the declivity, bluntly angulate on each side at the apex; the declivity vertical. Petiole very long, as long as the abdomen, and nearly as long as the thorax; the peduncle of the Ist joint is as long as the node, the latter one-third longer than wide, and flattened. Second node oblong, rounded 266 Annals of the South African Museum. behind, nearly parallel-sided, or only a trifle wider behind than in front; almost twice as long as high, highest behind. Abdomen cordate, moderately convex above, the ventral surface concave, all the segments much wider than long. Legs long and thin. Wings paler than in the ?. S. Rhodesia, widely distributed, but chiefly on granite soil; Durban ; German §.W. Africa. The colonies of this species are usually very large, often comprising 1000 or more § 3. The latter bite and sting fiercely, but the sting is rather blunt, and does not easily pierce the human skin. Although their gait is slow, they are nevertheless active insects, travelling over large areas in search of food, which seems to consist chiefly of other insects. They do not appear to be aphidicolous, nor to attend Mem- bracid or Lepidopterous larvae for their secretions, yet they are known to harbour in their nests many myrmecophilous insects. A nest examined by me* contained the following species of beetles : Allodi- narda myrnicariae, Brauns; Ogmocerus raffrayanus, Brauns; and Batrisus myrimicariophilus, Brauns. The Botanical Gardens in Durban are infested with this species, but the examination of a large number of nests revealed only one species of myrmecophile, Allodi- narda Kohli, Wasm., which, however, was plentiful, as many as three dozen being taken in one nest. The nest has numerous entrances, and is surrounded by large heaps of excavated material, often covering an area of several square feet. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. Baum, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 10, p. 307, 9, 1895. “SO. 77-95 mm. Dark red brown; abdomen dark brown; antennae and legs nearly black. Pilosity blackish brown. The pilose hairs on the tibiae are very oblique, partly adpressed. Sculp- ture as in eumenoides, but more densely reticulate-rugose. The clypeus has a median carina. More especially, the head is distinctly emarginate behind, and wider than in ewmenoides, with the posterior corners somewhat angularly elongated downwards, and with less convex sides. The eyes are a little larger, more convex, and placed further forwards than in ewmenoides. Mossamedes.” Also between Severelela and Khakhea, and Kooa, Kalahari. (Schultze. ) * See ‘Proc. Rhod. Se. Assn.,’ vol. xiii, pt. 8, 1914, pp. 25-42. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 267 M. Lagrvior, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 445, 9, 1910. “6. 39-42 mm. Mandibles striate, quadridentate. Head trape- zoidal, narrowed in front, at least as wide behind as long, the posterior margin fairly strongly convex. Eyes placed in the posterior third of the head. Clypeus entire, tricarinate, otherwise hardly striate. The scape extends beyond the occipital margin by about one-fifth or one- quarter of its length. The last joint of the antenna is not much thicker than the two preceding. Dorsum of thorax equally convex from front to back; meso-epinotal suture narrow and not deep. The pronotum has lateral teeth below, pointed, and longer than wide ; above, it is one and a half times wider than long, slightly narrowed behind and depressed, without lateral margins or ridges. Mesonotum transversely trapezoid, but with the lateral margins feebly raised behind, and ear-shaped; these form the only prominences on the dorsum of the thorax. Dorsum of the epinotum two and a half times longer than wide, continuing the convexity of the upper surface of the thorax, and margined by two even and parallel ridges, but nowhere raised. Spines horizontal, only slightly divergent, slightly longer than the space between them. Declivity of epinotum margined, shorter than the dorsum. First node a little wider than long, wider behind than in front, rounded above, nearly vertically truncate in front and behind, a little shorter than its peduncle. Second node hardly wider than the Ist ; wider behind, where it is as wide as long. “Shining. Cheeks longitudinally striate as far as the margins of the eyes, without reticulations. There are some feeble longitudinal striae on the sides of the frons, and some transverse striae on the pronotum ; all the rest of the head and body smooth, without striae or reticula- tions even on the vertex, occiput, mesonotum, epinotum and nodes, which distinguishes this species from all the others (except nigerrima). Erect pilosity fairly fine, long, pointed, yellowish, sparse all over, slightly oblique on the limbs, on which the hairs rise from raised poits. Pubescence almost nil. More or less reddish brown; legs brownish yellow.” Natal. (Haviland.) M. Srriara, Stitz. (Plate VII, figs. 90a, b, c.) Wissen. Ergeb. Z. Afr. Hxped., 3, pp. 382-5, 1911. ®. 65-82 mm. Reddish brown; the front of the head, the antennae, legs and peduncle of the Ist joint of the petiole lighter. 268 Annals of the South African Museum. Very similar to ewmenoides, and differing from it in the following characters. The pilosity is shorter and more oblique, somewhat scanty. More shining, especially the head, pro-mesonotum, 2nd node of the petiole, and the legs; the tibiae are shining (dull in ewmenoides). The sculpture is feebler and less close. The head has only longi- tudinal striae, without any transverse anastomoses or reticulations. The pro-mesonotum has fewer and more continuous longitudinal striae, and is less strongly marginate at the sides and in front. There is no trace of the pro-mesonotal suture on the dorsum (faintly in- dicated by a depression in ewmenoides). The pronotum below has far larger lateral teeth, these being plainly visible, and projecting well beyond the lateral outline, when viewed from above. The posterior lateral lobes or carinae of the mesonotum are lower and less divergent outwardly; the lateral margins of the dorsum of epinotum are straighter and less raised. The meso-epinotal suture is not so deep, and the base of the epinotum is narrower. The spines are thinner and relatively longer. The Ist node of the petiole is higher, higher than the 2nd (as high as the 2nd in ewmenoides), and is somewhat truncate behind (in eumenoides the dorsal and posterior outlines form a continuous curve). The peduncle of the Ist joint is also a little shorter, being only as long as the node. The tibiae and scapes are less strongly striated. ?. 15 mm. Entirely dark brown, almost piceous, except the anterior half of the head, which is reddish brown. It differs from ewmenoides, to which it bears a close resemblance, in the following characters. The head is less narrowed in front, being almost as wide in front as behind; the posterior angles are less rounded, and the posterior margin is straight, not convex, as in eumenoides. The sculpture of the head is not quite so strong, and the space between the reticulations is shining. The sculpture of the mesonotum stronger, and composed of fewer striae. The dorsum of the epinotum, although short, is distinctly delimited from the declivity, and the space between the spines is widely arcuate, not acutely angular, as in ewmenoides (see Pl. VII, figs. 89a, b; 90a, b). The lobe-like expansions covering the stigmata are also more angular and dilated than in ewmenoides. The spies are shorter, and hardly divergent. The peduncle of the 1st joint of the petiole is wider posteriorly and shorter. The wings are much paler coloured, being ochreous, not brown as in the other species. The anterior face of the Ist node has a dense yellowish pubescence, fairly long, entirely absent in the 9 of ewmenoides. g.13:5 mm. Black. This differs from the ¢ of ewmenoides in having a much finer sculpture and finer, less dense, but longer pilosity. The pubescence of the thorax is also less noticeable. The dorsum of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 269 the declivity is much longer and more oblique, quite as long as the declivity, or a little longer ; the apical angles of the dorsum are also narrower and more dentiform. Otherwise similar. Bembesi, Plumtree, and Bulawayo, 8. Rhodesia. The nest is smaller and less populous than that of ewmenoides. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. Nigra, Mayr. (Plate VII, fig. 91.) Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 755, 9, 1862. %. 55mm. Brownish black; antennae and legs a little lighter. Pilosity long, yellowish, fairly abundant, erect on the head and thorax, slightly oblique on the abdomen and petiole. Shining. Very strongly, but not densely, longitudinally striate on the head, the striae more or less interrupted in the occipital region. Pronotum also strongly striate transversely ; mesonotum with about 8 longitudinal striae ; epinotum with 3 or 4 transverse striae on the raised basal half of the dorsum, and about 5 or 6 longitudinal ones on the posterior half, which do not reach quite as far as the brow of the declivity. Sides of thorax more or less obliquely striate, the striae finer than on the dorsum. ‘Tibiae and scapes smooth, not striate as in ewmenoides and striata. The clypeus has one long median stria or carinula, and two or three shorter lateral striae. Mandibles strongly and longitudinally striate, quadridentate. The scape extends beyond the occipital margin by nearly one-third of its length. Head as long as wide, very little narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin shallowly con- cave. Hyes convex, fairly prominent, placed just behind the middle of the sides. Pronotum three times wider than long, the teeth below prominent, triangular, about as long as their basal width. Pro- mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal not deep, much shallower than in ewmenoides. Mesonotum only slightly raised behind, hardly expanded laterally, not auriculate-carinate as in ewmenoides. Dorsum of epinotum horizontal, only feebly lobed at the base, almost twice as long as the nearly vertical declivity, twice as long as it is wide at the base. The spines are almost horizontal, slightly divergent, acute, as long as the declivity. Peduncle of 1st joint of petiole thick, hardly as long as the node; the latter a little longer than wide, flattened above, not conical, the anterior face much shorter than the dorsal surface, and compressed laterally, so as to form a sharp vertical edge; the posterior face very oblique, about half as long as the dorsal. Second node a little higher than the Ist, subconical, the apex behind the middle, the anterior face oblique and twice as long as the vertical 270 Annals of the South African Museum. posterior face, barely wider than the Ist node. Base of abdomen hardly truncate, the lateral angles considerably rounded. So (hitherto undescribed). 66mm. Dark brown, the anterior half of the head, the antennae, mandibles and legs paler, more reddish brown. Pilosity finer and more abundant than in the 9. Flagellum with short, erect, pilose hairs, and also finely pubescent. The rest of the body without pubescence. Shining. Head longitudinally striato- rugose, more strongly on the cheeks than elsewhere. Mesonotum and scutellum feebly and longitudinally rugose, strongest on the posterior half of the mesonotum. Epinotum strongly and transversely striate. A few feeble striae on the Ist node, the sides of the thorax finely and longitudinally striate; the rest of the body smooth. Head distinctly wider than long. Eyes very large, occupying two-thirds of the sides of the head. Mandibles edentate, oblong, shehtly acuminate at the apex, not touching when closed. Scapes rather long, reaching the occipital margin of the head, one and two-thirds longer than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Dorsum of epinotum widely expanded above the stigmatic orifices, nearly three-quarters as long as wide at the base, moderately convex transversely and lengthwise, oblique, twice as long as the declivity. Brow of declivity rounded, not bituberculate or bidentate. First joint of petiole nearly twice as long as the 2nd, the node not distinctly delimited. Both nodes considerably flattened, the 2nd a little wider than the Ist. Wangs pale ochreous, the nervures and stigma dark ochreous. Montagu Pass, Cape Prov. (Brauns.) . . . Cape Prov. (ex SAAS coll Onandy ssn (S neve rvaNi GC saeycolllsh) M. Nigrrrima,n.sp. (Plate VII, fig. 92.) ©. 48 mm. Allied to laevior, Forel. Entirely black, except the mandibles, which are slightly brownish black. Pilosity long and black, sparse, erect; slightly oblique on the legs and abdomen. Smooth and shining. Mandibles striate and quadridentate. Scapes striate. The clypeus has three feeble longitudinal striae, which do not reach the convex anterior margin. Cheeks feebly and longi- tudinally striate in front of the eyes. A median stria extends over the whole of the vertex, head otherwise smooth. Pronotum finely but distinctly margined. It has a median longitudinal stria, which is con- tinued over the mesonotum. ‘The latter has in addition one or two lateral striae. The rest of the body smooth, without striae or punctures. Head rather quadrate, hardly narrower in front than behind, as wide as long, the posterior margin convex. Hyes very convex and prominent, placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Annals S. Afric. Mus. — Vol. XIV. PURE | 11 Opthalmopone Berthoudi. Forel.¢ % 4. 15*Pachycondyla laevissima.drnold. % node x 4. R y ottentota Emery. 3X4. 16 D ranosa. Roger. 3 X 4. erthoudi Morel. d % 4. 17 Kuponera cafffaria. Smith ¥ XA, 14 Centromyrmex Constanciae.drnold.% x 9. | 172 " " " X 9 profile “4 D % tibiagtarsushindleg. 18 Wroughtoni Forel. ¥ x5, ” ¥ profile. 19 H Perinsueyi Emery & X 42. Fad fi is 2 profile. | 20 D fossigera Mayr 3 * 9. 15 Pachycondyla laevissima Arnold. ¥ » 4. 24 i sennaarensis Mayr. ¥ x9. * ‘ay Annals S. Afric. Mus. 22 Kuponera caffraria.Smith.c x 4. ctena subterranea. head in profile X16. _ 24 Leptogenys maxillosa Smith.¥ x6. 25 Anochetus Leyaillantei Emery. 3 X &. 25"Anochetus Levaillante: mandible X 20. 26 “ punctaticeps Mayr 3 nodeX 12s 27 Leptogenys Arnoldi Forel 3 X6. plogeny 2/2 " G node X 9. 28 " " ¥ X9. Rae, eg Spee th HRRATA. Pl. 4, deseription of Fig. 33, for 32a. x 20. 32b. g x 3 read 33a. x 20, Bly BB Be Pl. 4, description of Fic. 43, for $ x 10 read 9 x 10. BT Annals $Afric.Mus. Vol. XIV. B31 Dorylus fulvus,race badius,Gerst. ¥ X4. 31a.X 20.| 38 Aenictus Rugeniae, Amery. & X 9. ~ 32. Reeth. ons. d2a.b.% 3.\3939aTechnomyrmex Arnoldinus, Forel. X16. helvolus, L.¥ min. X 9. 32a.X% 20. 326.0 X3) 40 » albipes Smithrace ForehiAmeryd \16. Sits "9X6. 34a.X 3. 41 Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr. 4X16. 42.6X10. affinis, Shuck. x3 43 Tapinoma Voeltzkowi,orel.race rhodesiae. ¢ X10. commas fon briatus, Shuck. o. ns. 4 4 Arnoldi, Forel. ¥ X 16. us rotun atus, Mayr. 3 X 16. 45 Semonius Schultzei, Morel. ¥ X16. -~ ot . ees ess fy PARTS OF THE ANNALS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED— Vol.I.—Part 1, 7/6; Part 2,10/-; Part 3; 5/-; complete£1 2s.6d. Vol. Il.—Part 1, 2/6; Part 2, 5/—; Part 3,-1/-; Part 4; 2/6; Part 5, 1/—-; Part 6, 2/6; s Part 7, 1/-; Part 8, 2/6; Part 9, 1/-; Pe Part10, 6/-; Part1l, 2/6;Index,ete.,1/-; spigot 8s. is Pape ae y vob IiI.—Part 1, 2/-;Part 2, a Part. 3, 5/-; ei ae ae, Part: 45° 2/6--Part <0, Part: 6, 6/3; 23 so FES Paro 7: Wes Raxt 8; 26; Pat ges 5 eee: Sere Index, Title, etc., L/= ‘ _ complete £1 7s. 0d. 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Vol. [X.-—Part 1, ae Part 2, 5/-; Part 3, 9/— “Part 4,. 9/6. : s Vol. X,—Part 1, 2/6; Part. 2, 2/-: Part 8, 1/6: ~~ Putt 4,2/6; Part 5,18/-;-Part 6, 2/6, eee Part 7, 9/=; Part 8, 2/-s Part 0-4/6; GS $s eee ; Part10, 2/-; Part11,18/-; Part 12, 6/-; complete £310s. 6d Vol. X1.—Part 1, 3) Part 2, 1/6; Part 3, 12/-; se Reiies ae aoeepees Part 4, 1/-; Part 5,15/-. Bae Vol, XII, —Part. 1, 14/-; Part 2, 8/-; Part 3, es - Vol. XITT.— Part 1, 5 ee Part 278 )a5 Part O32 ae -Part 4, 7/6. Vol. XIV.—Part 1, 7/6; Part 2, je ee Ss eae ee Vol. XV.—Part 1,15/-; Part 2, oS age a Sea . First node of petiole wider than in the $, as wide as long. Second node more or less spherical, moderately convex above from side to side. Wines tinged with yellow, nervures and stigma brownish-yellow. Otherwise like the 9. gd. 45mm. Head brownish yellow, the vertex, in front of and between the ocelli, brown. Thorax brownish-yellow or reddish- yellow, the pronotum paler, the base of the scutellum, the apical half of the epinotum, and the nodes pale brown ; abdomen brownish-black. Legs, antennae, and mandibles dirty yellow. Head dull, very finely reticulate and striate. The striation is longitudinal in front, trans- verse between the ocelli and at the posterior corners. Pronotum exceedingly finely reticulate ; mesonotum posteriorly and the scutellum very finely, regularly, and longitudinally striate. The scutellum is also somewhat reticulate-punctate. Hpinotum and nodes reticulate- punctate and dull. Mesonotum smooth and shining in front. Abdomen microscopically reticulate and shining. Head as long as 280 Annals of the South African Museum. wide, about as wide in front as behind, widest across the eyes; the the latter occupy about one-third of the sides and are placed a little in front of the middle. Scape of antenna as long as the 2nd joint of the flagellum, and extending back as far as the anterior ocellus. Clypeus with a median carina. Frontal carinae well developed. Mandibles triangular, 5-dentate, dull and finely rugulose, the masti- catory margin dark brown. Mayrian furrows on the mesonotum distinct. Mesonotum and scutellum raised above the level of the dorsum of the epinotum. The latter is oblique, sloping down to the brow of the declivity, and is about one-third longer than the declivity. Epinotal spines well developed, the episternal very obtuse. The Ist node of the petiole is nearly twice as long as wide, the lateral margins of the dorsal face almost parallel. Second node like that of the 9 but longer, as long as wide, less convex above transversely than in the 2. Legs long and thin. Wingsas in the 9. Bulawayo and S. Rhodesia generally, common. The nest, which is in the ground, is usually surrounded by a more or less circular crater of earth. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race CONTINENTIS, var. Hupoxta, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 281, ¢, 1914. ®. 38-4mm. Darker than the type of the race; dark brown, the abdomen black, the mandibles and limbs rusty-red. The sculpture is finer than in the race, the longitudinal striae being much less coarse. The epinotal spines are slightly longer. This variety is almost inter- mediate in its structure and general appearance between quadris- pinosum and race continentis. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A., colls.) Race Perersi, Forel. Schultze, Reise Siid Afrika, vol. 4, p. 19, G, 1910. “O. 298-32 mm. Mandibles sharply striated, with a feebly convex external margin, 3 strong teeth in front and 4 or more smaller ones behind. Clypeus sharply carinate. Frontal area triangular. Frontal carinae divergent, not long. No scrobe and no depression for the scape. Head rectangular, distinctly longer than wide, mode- rately concave behind, the sides feebly convex, as wide behind as in front. Hyes not large, convex, placed in the middle of the sides. The scape extends beyond the hind margin of the head by about twice its own thickness; 3rd and 4th joints of the flagellum about as wide as long, the rest all longer than wide. Pronotum convex in A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 281 front. Dorsum of the thorax almost straight, widely and shallowly impressed in the middle. Dorsum of epinotum much longer than wide, moderately convex, much longer than the declivity. Epinotal spines small, acute and nearly as long as the interval between them ; the episternal spines as long and as acute as the upper ones. Petiole, particularly the Ist segment, shaped as in Blochmanni,1. sp., and also similarly curved. Second node somewhat longer, nearly as long as wide (the Ist node is much longer than wide). Shining. Head, thorax, and petiole irregularly and feebly reticulate-rugose. Abdomen quite smooth. Pilosity moderate, yellowish ; the pubescence almost decumbent and very sparse. Tibiae, femora, and scapes with almost decumbent pubescence. Yellowish-red to reddish-yellow. Mandibles and tarsi a paler yellow. Abdomen brownish. Okahandja, 8. W. Africa.” T. Bequaert, Forel. Rev. Zool. Afric., vol, 2, p. 318, 9, 1913. “0. 37-41 mm. Closely allied to Blochmanni, Forel, from which it may be distinguished by having the whole body, legs and scapes covered with short, erect and reddish-yellow hairs. Those on the legs and scapes are very short, somewhat truncate at the apex and slightly oblique. The head is still more emarginate behind than in the Blochmanni, and has the sides straighter. A little more shining than:in Blochmanni, but sculptured as in race continentis of that species, reticulate or reticulate-punctate, with some distinct but sparse punctures on the head and thorax. The thorax has also some coarser and more accentuated longitudinal rugae; on the head these are finer, and mostly in the middle. The petiole has some reticulate and very coarse rugae. Abdomen subopaque, only finely reticulate. Rusty-red, with posterior half or two-thirds of the abdomen brown. Otherwise like Blochmanni. “Lake Kabwe, Katanga. (Dr. Bequaert).” Although this species has not yet been recorded from our region, I include it here, as it is likely to be found within the same. Race BULAWAYENSIS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol, 57, p. 119, 5, 1913. &. 38mm. Much smaller than the type of the species. Yellowish- red (burnt sienna), the legs, antennae and mandibles dark yellow, somewhat -reddish. The head is shorter than in the type, being barely one-sixth longer than wide (mandibles excluded), the 282 Annals of the South African Museum. posterior margin is convex, and the posterior angles are much more rounded and obtuse. The scape extends beyond the hind margin of the head by about as much as the length of the Ist jomt of the flagellum. The frontal carinae extend back as fine raised lines as far as the level of the eyes. Head and pro-mesonotum longitudinally rugose, mesonotum and epinotum also reticulate- punctate, the epinotum also transversely rugose. Hpinotal spines acute, shorter than half the length of the interval between their bases. The episternal spines are not much shorter than the epinotal. Dorsum of epinotum one and a half times longer than wide, quite twice as long as the oblique declivity, moderately convex transversely, feebly so lengthwise. The Ist node of the petiole is widest behind, nearly as wide there as it is long, and nearly twice as long as its peduncle. The 2nd node is two-thirds wider than long, and about that much wider than the Ist, and nearly twice as wide at its posterior third as it is at the anterior margin. Both nodes reticulate, with a few longitudinal and raised lines. Basal third of the Ist abdominal segment dull and very finely reticulate, the rest of the abdomen smooth and shining. Q. 44mm. (Hitherto undescribed). Colour like that of the ¢ but darker, the apical half of the abdomen reddish-brown, the middle of the apical margins of the segments paler. Puilosity and pubescence _asin the 9. Head longitudinally striate above in the middle, strongly reticulate-rugose in front of the eyes, very finely so behind them. The frontal carinae extend back beyond the level of the anterior ocellus. Mandibles longitudinally striate and strongly punctured. Pronotum coarsely rugose in front, rather finely so at the sides. Mesonotum and _ scutellum strongly and longitudinally rugose. Epinotum above and at the sides coarsely and transversely rugose. The rugosities extend over the upper half of the declivity, the lower half of which is smooth and shining. Peduncle of petiole finely granulate, the nodes coarsely rugoso-punctate. Head, thorax and nodes fairly dull, the spaces between the rugae slightly shining. Abdomen dull, very finely but distinctly striate, somewhat concentrically near the basal angles, longitudinally elsewhere. The epinotal teeth are very little longer than the episternal, and not longer than they are wide at the base. The Ist node is a trifle wider than long, hardly longer than the peduncle, the anterior margin of its upper face moderately convex; 2nd node widest behind, almost hemispherical, two-thirds wider than the Ist. Wings tinged with brownish-yellow, nervures and stigma brown. Very much like the @ of continentis, from. which it may be A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 283 distinguished by its smaller size, lighter colour and_ stronger sculpture, especially on the nodes and epinotal spines. The latter are more divergent and shorter, hardly half as long as the interval between their bases (distinctly longer in continentis). The Ist node is also more convex, the sides not forming an obtuse angle with the anterior margin as in continentis. Bulawayo; nesting in grassy soil, not common. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. LoneicorNE, Forel. (Plate VII, figs. 96, 96a). Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung., vol. 5, p. 13, %, 1907. 0. 47mm. Very dark reddish-brown, the head paler or more reddish, the apical two-thirds of the abdomen brownish-black, legs, antennae, mandibles, and clypeus rusty-red or dark reddish-yellow. A very short and sparse pubescence on the legs and antennae, and a few yellowish hairs on the abdomen and clypeus, otherwise glabrous. Head, thorax and nodes reticulate-rugose, very coarsely so on the head and the dorsum of the thorax. The rugae are longitudinal on the vertex and the pro-mesonotum. The clypeus has one median carina and three others or raised lines on each side of the same. Abdomen nitidulous and alutaceous, distinctly but very finely and longitudinally striate over the basal third. Legs and antennae finely reticulate and dull. Head, thorax and nodes dull, the spaces between the rugae scabrous. Head about as long as wide, the posterior margin strongly concave, the posterior angles rounded and turned downwards. Mandibles large, subopaque, very finely striate and punctate, with three strong teeth in front, and indistinctly dentate behind. Median area of clypeus flat transversely, the anterior margin feebly arcuate; the lateral ridges of the clypeus are very prominent. Frontal carinae more widely separated from each other at their base than they are from the sides of the head, somewhat expanded above the antennal sockets, furnishing a slight depression below for the base of the scapes, and extending back beyond the level of the posterior margin of the eyes. The latter large, convex and very prominent, placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Scapes long, extending beyond the hind margin of the head by nearly one-third of their length; all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide. Pronotum distinctly marginate in front and at the sides, the anterior angles fairly sharp. Below the raised anterior margin there is a short vertical face which joins the rather long and finely granulate 284 Annals of the South African Museum. neck. The pronotum is rather flat transversely, and slopes downwards and forwards; above, it joins the mesonotum in an obtuse angle, and bears a small tubercle on each side. Thorax fairly long, not much constricted between the meso- and epinotum and not depressed between them above. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal suture very shallow and faintly indicated. Dorsum of epinotum two and a half times longer than wide, slightly concave in its apical half, and at least twice as long as the declivity. Epinotal spines long, thin, and acute, subparallel, oblique, one-third longer than the interval between their bases. The declivity of the epinotum sub- vertical, smooth, distinctly margined at the sides, the margins being continued into the episternal teeth, which are short and triangular. The peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole is as long as the node; the latter seen from above, is more or less oval, slightly longer than wide, fairly convex transversely, less so lengthwise; 2nd node subhemispherical, half as wide again as it is long, and one and a half times wider than the Ist node; the ventral surface bears a tubercle on each side. Legs rather long, femora only moderately and gradually swollen. Bulawayo; not common. ‘These specimens are decidedly larger than those from Hast Africa, on which the species was founded (3°8-4 mm.), but there is no other difference. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. GLADSTONEI, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr, Beiheft, p. 219, 5, 1913. %. 43mm. Very dark brown; abdomen and femora, except the bases of the latter, black; tibiae, tarsi, antennae and mandibles brownish or reddish-yellow. A few yellowish, stiff hairs on the clypeus and abdomen. Legs and antennae with a very short and scanty pubescence. Head fairly strongly striato-rugose. Thorax longitudinally rugose, more coarsely so on the dorsum than on the sides, also somewhat reticulate; dorsum of epinotum strongly and transversely rugose, the declivity transversely rugulose. Nodes very strongly reticulate-rugose. Head and thorax subopaque, the spaces between the rugae shining. Abdomen smooth and shining, except the extreme base, which is somewhat dull and finely striate. Head rectangular, excluding the mandibles very little longer than wide, the sides and posterior margin almost straight, the posterior angles rounded. Clypeus with a strong median carina, convex transversely and lengthwise, the anterior margin straight. The A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 285 lateral ridges of the clypeus are prominent, but not so much so as in longicorne. Frontal carinae subparallel, not raised as in longicorne, and not extending back as far as the middle of the vertex. Scapes extending just beyond the hind margin of the head, the 3rd—6th joints of the flagellum as wide as long, the rest longer than wide. Mandibles with three distinct teeth in front, indistinctly dentate behind, very evenly and longitudinally striate, and with a row of punctures along the masticatory margin. Thorax fairly long, twice as long as it is wide in front. Pronotum with fairly sharp anterior angles, submarginate anteriorly, convex transversely and lengthwise, joining the mesonotum in a gradual curve, not obtusely angularly as in longicorne. Dorsal profile of meso- and epinotum flat and horizontal. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal suture shallow. The thorax is but little constricted at the sides at the meso-epinotal suture. Dorsum of epinotum two and a half times longer than wide, its apical half and the declivity marginate. The declivity is very oblique and about two-thirds the length of the dorsum. Epinotal spines acute, shorter than the space between their bases, directed upwards and slightly backwards, hardly divergent. The episternal teeth are large, not much shorter than the upper spines. The Ist node of petiole, seen from above, is suboval, a little narrower in front than behind, moderately convex transversely, one-fifth longer than wide, the anterior face nearly vertical; the peduncle is about two-thirds as long as the node and concave below. The 2nd node nearly one-third wider than long, higher behind than in front, not so high as, and only little wider than, the Ist node. Shiloh, 8. Rhodesia, in sandy soil. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. Frencut, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 229, 9, 1914. &. 382mm. Black; mandibles and legs reddish-brown, the tarsi brownish-yellow. Pilosity fairly long, yellow and sparse, almost absent on the thorax, entirely so on the legs and antennae which are only finely pubescent. Head longitudinally rugose above and reticulate between the rugae; the sides of the head, the dorsum of the thorax, and the nodes reticulate-rugose. The sculpture is fairly strong in front of the eyes and on the dorsum of the thorax, and the spaces between the reticulations are very finely reticulate- punctate, as also the sides of the thorax. Abdomen smooth and shining, except the basal fourth which is dull and alutaceous. Head and thorax subopaque, 286 Annals of the South African Museum. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-quarter longer than wide, parallel-sided, a trifle wider behind than in front, the posterior angles very rounded, the posterior margin straight. Eyes not large, placed in the middle of the sides. The clypeus has three raised longitudinal lines on the median area, and its lateral ridges are small. Mandibles triangular, closely and finely striate, subopaque, armed with 5 or 6 small teeth. The frontal carinae extend back almost to the occiput; they are slightly raised and on each side below them there is a smoother space, merely reticulate-punctate, which forms an indistinct demi-scrobe for the scapes. The latter are rather thin, and extend beyond the hind margin of the head by almost the length of the eye. The Ist joint of the flagellum is as long as the three following joints taken together. Thorax rather narrow, very slightly constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, twice as long as it is wide in front. The pronotum is convex transversely and. longitudinally, and joins the mesonotum im a gentle curve. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal very feeble. Dorsum of meso- and epinotum horizontal. Dorsum of epinotum twice as long as wide, and nearly twice as long as the oblique declivity. Epinotal spines thin, a little shorter than the interval between their bases; episternal teeth small and obtuse. The declivity is narrow and margined at the sides. The peduncle of the lst segment of the petiole is longer or at least as long as the node. The latter is one and a third times wider than long, convex above from side to side, the anterior face vertical, the short posterior face oblique. The 2nd node is a little wider than the Ist anda little wider than long, narrower in front than behind. A very distinct species, easily recognised by its long head, and the wide first node. Krantz Kloof, Natal. (H. B. Marley.) (G. A. coll.) T. LAEVITHORAX, Emery. (Plate VIII, figs. 110, 110a.) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 39, 9, 1895. ©. 27-3 mm. Brownish-yellow, the head and abdomen darker and more reddish-yellow. Legs and antennae pale ochreous. Head, pro-mesonotum, and abdomen shining, epinotum and nodes only slightly so. Puilosity yellow, long and suberect, more abundant on the abdomen than elsewhere. Pubescence of the legs and antennae rather long, yellow and oblique. Head above, longitudinally striate between the frontal carinae (about 5 striae), the striae connected by a few feeble transverse strands. Sides of head below the demi-scrobe, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 287 reticulate-rugose. The demi-scrobes are fairly wide but not deep, very finely reticulate-punctate. The clypeus has a strong median carina and one or two finer lines on each side. The pro-mesonotum is almost smooth and impunctate. Dorsum of epinotum very shallowly reticulate, the sides of the thorax reticulate-punctate. Nodes of the petiole very finely and superficially punctate on their posterior faces, otherwise smooth. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head a little longer than wide, the sides feebly convex, the posterior margin shallowly concave, the,posterior angles rounded. The scapes are thin and long, extending beyond the hind margin of the head by a length about eaual to their apical width. Flagellum long, rather thin in its basal half, the 9th and 10th joints quite half as long again as wide, the Ist joint as long as the three following joints taken together, the 2nd joint half as long again as wide, the 3rd—8th joints at least as long as wide. Mandibles triangular, finely striate, pubescent, with three acute teeth in front. Clypeus convex, the frontal area depressed and well defined. Frontal carinae long, extending back almost to the occiput. Below them there is a smooth and shallow demiscrobe. Hyes fairly large and’ convex, placed a little in front of the middle. Thorax narrow, twice as long as it is wide across the shoulders of the pronotum ; the dorsal profile slopes downwards from front to back. The pronotum has a very short declivous anterior face above the neck, and is moderately convex transversely. The dorsum of the epinotum is twice as long as it is wide at the base; epinotal spines acute, slightly divergent, as long as the interval between their bases; the declivity is oblique and shorter than the dorsum. The episternal teeth are reduced to two rounded angles. The peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole is as long as the node; the latter, seen from the side, is cuneiform or subsquamiform, with a short and vertical anterior face and a longer posterior-dorsal face, which, seen from above, is hexagonal in outline. Second node wider than the Ist, its . sides distinctly angular in the middle. Abdomen subglobose. A very distinct species, easily recognised by the smooth pro- mesonotum, the demi-scrobe, and the shape of the petiole. Pietermaritzburg (Weitzaecker) ; Port Elizabeth (Dr. H. Brauns). T. sETIGERUM, Mayr. _ Ain. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 22, 9, 1901. Forel, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 424, 9, g, 1910. “OG. 33 mm. Yellowish-red-brown, the upper surface of the head and abdomen darker, the mandibles, antennae, and legs more 19 288 Annals of the South African Museum. yellowish-brown. The upper surface of the head bears moderately long, blunt, pilose hairs; on the under surface of the head and abdomen and on the coxae these hairs are more pointed, and the legs have only a short and decumbent pubescence. Mandibles sparsely punctured and shallowly striate, more strongly and closely striate on the basal third. Head moderately shining, rectangular, longer than wide, the angles rounded, the posterior margin slightly concave. Clypeus with a strong median carina and some longitudinal lines laterally. The frons, and vertex as far as the hind margin, with widely spaced longitudinal striae, between which are some weaker longitudinal rugae and a somewhat indistinct reticulation. Cheeks and sides of the head coarsely and longitudinally rugose and reticulate. The well- defined and long scrobe is finely reticulate, and, like the frontal carina above it, reaches nearly to the posterior margin of the head. The scapes extend to the posterior margin ; 2nd—6th joints of the flagellum about equal in length and width, 7th and 8th distinctly longer than wide, the Ist and 2nd joint of the club quite one and a half times longer than wide, the last joint about three times longer than wide. “Thorax not short; coarsely reticulate, and more or less coarsely and longitudinally rugose, the sides behind the pronotum reticulate- punctate, and with fewer longitudinal rugae, the epinotum between the spines finely but not sharply reticulate, and with or without a few fine, indistinct, and transverse rugae. ‘The thorax above is constricted, and the profile, from the hind margin of the pronotum as far as the epinotal spines is fairly straight, only shghtly depressed in front of the epinotum ; the epinotal spines are not long, about as long as the interval between their bases, and are directed steeply upwards, not strongly divergent; the episternal teeth form equal-sided triangles. Petiole coarsely reticulate, Ist node slightly wider than long, and somewhat higher than the 2nd node, the anterior face vertical and convex transversely, separated by a semi-circular margin from the upper surface and the sides ; the upper face merges gradually into the posterior ; 2nd node somewhat wider than the Ist, transversely oval. Abdomen smooth and shining.” “Oo. 47mm. Strongly and longitudinally rugose and reticulate. Dull. Petiole as in the G, the basal third of the Ist abdominal segment longitudinally striate. Hairs obtuse as in the 9. Colour yellowish-brown. Dealated.” “¢g. 36mm. Dirty brownish-yellow. Mandibles quadridentate. Head oval, longer than wide, striate, and reticulate, the posterior margin straight. Thorax shining, with a few striae. Epinotum un- armed, the declivity marginate. The 1st node with a feeble and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 289 arcuate dorsal margin as in the @, otherwise rather round. Wings pale, hardly yellowish, nervures yellow. Hairs of the head and thorax blunt as in the .” Bothaville (Dr. H. Brauns) ; Natal (Wroughton, Schaufuss). Race QUAERENS, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 226, $, 1914. “6. 39 mm. Larger than the type of the species, and of a darker colour, which is blackish or dark brown-black. Legs, antennae, and mandibles brownish-yellow, the apical half of the flagellum darker. The epinotal spines are much longer, at least as long as the space between them. The meso-epinotal suture is feeble, forming no con- striction. The pro-mesonotum forms a longer convexity and the thorax is also longer (in the type of the species the pronotum only is more abruptly convex). The pilosity is much scantier. Otherwise almost identical with the type.” Bulawayo, not common; Durban (H. B. Marley), the colour some- what paler than in the Rhodesian examples. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. sETULIFERUM, Emery. (Plate VII, figs. 101, 101a.) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 68, p. 36, 9, 1895. ©. 4-45 mm. Castaneous red or burnt sienna, the thorax a little darker, the 1st node almost brown, legs paler and more yellowish. Exserted pilose. hairs absent except on the clypeus. Head, thorax, petiole, and abdomen evenly but not very densely clothed with flat, almost scale-like, closely adpressed and silvery hairs, which lie some- what transversely on the thorax. The hairs on the legs are also silvery, but cylindrical and oblique. The antennae are finely pubes- cent, the hairs simple. The silvery and flattened hairs on the body sufficiently distinguish this species from all others in our region. Head very finely and longitudinally striate, with a row of fine granules between all the striae ; the cheeks, in front of the eyes, also slightly rugose. Clypeus with a strong median carina, and several finer lateral carinae or lines. Mandible closely striate. Thorax very finely and closely rugulose ; the sculpture of the nodes similar but stronger, almost granulate, especially the Ist node. Basal third of the abdomen dull and finely aciculate, the rest smooth and shining. Head, thorax and nodes dull. 290 Annals of the South African Museum. Head robust, as long as wide, the sides moderately convex, the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin straight, the upper surface distinctly convex. Anterior margin of clypeus widely but not deeply emarginate in the middle. Mandibles with 6 blunt teeth. Frontal carinae short, divergent, not extending beyond the first third of the head. Scapes short, extending back very little beyond the middle third of the head. ‘Thoracic sutures obsolete. Shoulders of the pronotum angular. Thorax much wider in front than across the epinotum, hardly constricted between the meso- and epinotum, distinctly convex lengthwise, short, hardly one-third longer than it is deep. Epinotal spines long and acute, longer than the interval between their bases, slightly divergent along their basal half, parallel along the apical half, directed obliquely upwards. EHpisternal teeth small and obtuse, forming almost triangular lobes. The peduncle of the Ist segment: of the petiole is a little more than half the length of the node, and furnished below with a small tooth near the base; the node is truncate in front, seen from above trapezoidal, with dis- tinct but rounded anterior and posterior lateral angles, the posterior margin nearly twice as wide as the anterior, the sides barely convex. Second node transversely oblong, two and a half times wider than long, nearly one-third wider than the Ist; the posterior margin mode- rately convex. Abdomen truncate at the base, with pronounced lateral angles. @. 7mm. (Hitherto undescribed?) Sides of head less convex than in the %. Sculpture of the head stronger, mesonotum and scutellum longitudinally rugose, sides of pronotum reticulate-rugose and punctured in between the rugae, the dorsum and sides of the epinotum very closely granulate-punctate, with some more or less longitudinal rugae superimposed, the declivity coarsely and trans- versely striate. The epinotal spines are relatively shorter and thicker than in the 9, about as long as their basal width, shorter than the interval between them, horizontal. The dorsum of the epinotum is very short, almost obsolete in the middle. The Ist node is shorter, quite twice as wide behind as it is long (only one-third wider than long in the G). The raised anterior angles of the node bear a pair of minute and nearly vertical teeth, between which the surface of the node is concave. The 2nd node is much more convex at the sides, aud is nearly two and a half times wider than long. Basal two-thirds of lst abdominal segment finely and very closely, longitudinally striate, with punctures between the striae. Wings strongly tinged with yellow, the nervures yellow, the stigma yellowish-brown. Otherwise like the 9. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 291 6. 68mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Black, flagellum and tarsi brownish-yellow, articulations of the legs reddish. The flat silvery hairs entirely absent; fairly abundantly clothed with a long and yellowish pilosity. On the head, thorax, and nodes the hairs are somewhat woolly and suberect, on the abdomen straighter and oblique. The legs have a sparse pilosity intermixed with a fine and short pubescence. Flagellum pubescent, scape with straight pilose hairs only. Head, thorax, and nodes very closely and sharply reticu- late, with some more or less longitudinal rugae superimposed on the head and thorax ; on the head these radiate outwards from the ocellar area. Mayrian furrows well defined, the V-shaped space between the furrows with wider reticulations than elsewhere. Scutellum less strongly rugose. The lst node with a few longitudinal rugae on its posterior half, the 2nd node faintly striate at the sides. Head, excluding the mandibles, a little wider than long, widest across the eyes, narrowed in front and behind (but wider behind than in front), the hind margin shallowly concave, the posterior angles sharp, very convex transversely above and highest behind. Hyes convex and very prominent, occupying about one-third of the sides, and placed a little in front of the middle. Scapes extending back as far as the anterior ocellus. Mandibles closely striate, 6-dentate, the anterior tooth large and acute. Mesonotum gibbous, very convex in front, one-quarter wider than long; scutellum semi-circular, half as long as the meso- notum. Epinotum armed with a short, subacute or dentiform tubercle on each side; the dorsum as long as it is wide between the tubercles, sloping downwards and backwards and merging by a gradual curve into the vertical declivity. The latter is shorter than the dorsum and is concave lengthwise. First segment of petiole with a short and ill-defined peduncle. The node has an oblique anterior face, slightly convex lengthwise, and a shorter posterior-dorsal face; the anterior angles rounded, each one furnished with a minute tooth as in the ?. Second node hexagonal above, the anterior margin formed of three sides, the lateral margins slightly concave and forming distinct angles at their junctions with the front and hind margins. Abdomen very finely alutaceous, shining. Head, thorax, and nodes dull. Legs long and slender. Wings as in the 2, but the nervures are darker. S. Rhodésia, common; Mafeking; Orange Free State and Basuto- land. A harvesting and graminivorous species. The entrances to the nests are often surrounded by small accumulations of the husks of a grass seed. These heaps are smaller than those of Messor, and much less tidily disposed, — 292 Annals of the South African Museum. Var. TRIPTOLEMUS, N.v. S 55 mm. This differs from the type by its larger size and also in the following characters. The sculpture is stronger, especially on the thorax and nodes. ‘The eyes are less convex, almost flat, the posterior margin of the head is shallowly concave, and the meso-epinotal suture is shallow but fairly distinct. The epinotal spines are shorter, distinctly divergent apically, as long as the interval between their bases. The peduncle of the Ist node is relatively shorter, and the node is a little longer in proportion to the width than in the type of the species, the anterior and posterior angles are also much more acute, not rounded as in the type. The sides of the 2nd node divergent posteriorly, not subparallel as in the type of the species. The colour is darker, especially of the thorax and nodes, which are dark brown. (R.M., G.A. colls.); type in my collection. Closely allied to var. cucalense, Santschi, from which it would appear to differ (judging by the description only), in the shape of the nodes and the epinotal spines. Race ciunaA, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 218, 9, 1913. 5. 35-38 mm. Black, legs and antennae reddish-brown, mandibles reddish-yellow. The whole abdomen dull, otherwise the sculpture is like that of the species. From the latter it differs in the following characters. The dorsum of the epinotum is not convex, but shallowly concave; the spines are shorter, being barely as long as the interval between their bases. The Ist node of the petiole is shorter, and wider in front (the hind margin hardly more than half as long as the front margin), the anterior margin above more convex. The 2nd node is narrower, about one-quarter wider than the Ist, convex at the sides, not straight as in the type. The flat scale-like hairs are smaller and less abundant, more golden than silvery in colour. This is an annectant form between setuliferwm, 1. sp., and solidwm. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. sotrpum, Emery. Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 362, 9, 9, 1886. “ &. 35-4 mm. Piceous, mandibles, antennae and legs, except the middle part of the femora, rufescent and dull; abdomen shining, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 293 sparsely pilose, hardly pubescent; legs pubescent. Head subquadrate, longitudinally striato-rugose, the striae divergent on the occiput, between the striae very finely rugulose. Frontal carina not extending beyond the posterior third of the head. Mandibles striate, the margins black, the masticatory margin denticulate, the apex bidentate. Antennae 12-jointed, club 3-jointed and much shorter than the rest of the flagellum. Thoracic sutures entirely obsolete. Thorax obtusely marginate in front, widest in front and thence narrowed gradually backwards. Epinotal spines robust, suberect, acute, divergent. Thorax above longitudinally rugose, the sides closely and obliquely rugose, and also very finely reticulate-rugulose; Ist segment of petiole pedunculate, the node trapezoidal, truncate behind, transversely rugulose and punctate; 2nd node transversely ovate, rugulose and punctate; apical portion of abdomen shining, the base subopaque, microscopically reticulate. “o. 5-55 mm. Similar to the 9 in colour and sculpture; the thorax longitudinally striate; epinotal spines shorter and stouter. Wings hyaline, costal margin testaceous, stigma brown.” South Africa. Var. signatumM, Emery. (Plate VII, fig. 98). Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 35, 9%, 1895. “6. 45-5 mm. Blackish-brown; legs, antennae and mandibles castaneous brown, the middle portion of all the femora darker. This form differs from the type of the species by the presence of a well-defined, but not deep, meso-epinotal suture, and by the shape of the nodes. The Ist node, seen from above, is subconical, the apex anterior, slightly wider than long; it has a short, vertical, posterior face, and a vertical anterior face which is convex transversely. The 2nd node is not quite twice as wide as long, a little wider than the Ist; below and in front, it has on each side an obtusely triangular tubercle. The basal third of the Ist abdominal segment is very closely rugulose and dull. The epinotal spines are strong!y divergent, fairly short, not longer than their basal width. The episternal lobes are shorter than the epinotal teeth. The scape does not reach the posterior fifth of the head.” Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race LuGcuUBRE, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Bele., vol. 54, p. 425, 9, 1910. “G6. 44-45 mm, Brownish-black, the mandibles, antennae and 294 Annals of the South African Museum. tarsi reddish, femora brownish. The head is a little longer than wide (wider than long in the type of the species), the sides slightly compressed, and with a fairly distinct border on the sides of the occiput, which is hardly visible in the type of the species. Antennae somewhat more slender: the 9th and 10th joints of the flagellum decidedly longer than wide (as wide as long in the type, hardly longer than wide in var. signatum, Emery). Meso-epinotal suture obsolete. Epinotal spines a little larger. The Ist node of the petiole is rounded in front, and not truncate and marginate above as in the type and in var. signata; it is wider and the sides are more convex; 2nd node also wider. Otherwise similar to the type of the species. Mossamedes (Picard).” Var. GROOTENSIS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 118, 2, g, 1918. “oO. 6mm. A little larger than the type. Thorax a little wider. The Ist node is entire and obtuse in front, without the emargination and the two partly effaced angles which are seen on the upper margin in front in the 2? of the type. “@3(?) 48 mm. With the 9? I received a 3g, which I refer to this species only with great doubt. “Tt has the wings of a Tetramoriwm, but has 12 joints to the antenna, which become progressively shorter from the 2nd joint onwards. The insect is dull, densely reticulate-punctate and rugose, except the abdomen which is smooth. Erect pilosity abundant; the nodes shaped as in solidum. The epinotum is only bituberculate. Head wider than long, strongly narrowed in front.” Dr. Forel adds that it may belong to a distinct species, but the analogies with solidwm-grootensis permit of doubt on that point. Or it may be a case of atavism, returning to a condition in which 12-jointed antennae were present. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns) ; types in my collection. T. SERICEIVENTRE, Emery, race FEMORATUM, Emery. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, vol. 9, p. 370, Y, 1877. (Race) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 37, 9, 1895. “Differs from the type of the species in having the 1st segment of the petiole longer, less excavated at the base above, and by having the Ist abdominal segment finely striate transversely, and not longitudinally as in the type; the striation is visible only under A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 295 _a strong magnification. The colour is very pale, of a reddish-yellow, the abdomen, femora and tibiae partly blackish. “Makapan, Bechuanaland. (Simon).” The type species has not yet been recorded from our region, it is characterised as follows: “6. 27 mm. Dull; ferruginous, abdomen brown, with the margins of the segments paler and the apex rusty. Head reticulate, finely granulate in between. Mandibles striate, the clypeus depressed in front, finely carinate in the middle, distinct from the frontal area. Frontal carimae produced backwards over three-quarters of the length of the head. The 12-joimted antennae are rather slender, the Ist joint of the flagellum is as long as the two following taken together; the club three-jointed, only slightly incrassate and distinctly shorter than the rest of the flagellum. The thorax is longitudinally rugose on the pro- and mesonotum, transversely so on the epinotum ; the meso-epinotal suture deep. The epinotum is armed with two nearly horizontal spines, slightly divergent, wide at the base, fairly acute ; there are two smaller episternal spines below. The petiole is finely coriaceous, the node of the Ist segment is hardly longer than wide; the 2nd segment is subglobose, a little wider behind, slightly transverse. The abdomen is dull, with a velvety, silky sheen, due to the very dense and fine striation. The whole body is sparsely clothed with pale hairs, not clavate; those on the abdomen are longer.” T. stmoni, Emery. Ann, Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 35, 9, 1895. “6. 4mm. Piceous; mandibles, tarsi and articulations of the legs rufescent; dull; barely pilose and very sparsely pubescent. Head reticulate-rugose lengthwise, clypeus striato-rugose, mandibles very finely striate, meso-epinotal suture deep, pro-mesonotal suture obsolete. Pro-mesonotum strongly convex, coarsely rugoso-reticulate, the convex epinotum also, but without the coarse reticulations. Epinotum armed with two minute spines, erect, acute; episternal teeth absent. Nodes of petiole subequal, globose, hardly more finely reticulate than the epinotum. The abdomen subopaque, very finely punctured, the extreme base striolate. “ Makapan, Bechuanaland. (H. Simon). “Remarkable on account of the profile of the thorax and petiole, which forms a series of rounded bosses, and also by the sculpture. The latter consists of a network of coarse rugae, mostly longitudinal, 296 Annals of the South African Musewm. on the middle of the head and on the dorsum of the thorax. The coarsest rugae are on the pro-mesonotum, those of the head, epinotum and petiole becoming successively finer. In addition to the reticula- ‘tions, there is a fundamental puncturation, which is fairly close and more or less visible, ...... The frontal carinae are produced backwards as feeble ridges, hardly more pronounced than the neigh- bouring rugae, and forming no distinct scrobe.” T. saurusi, Forel. (Plate VII, fig. 99.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 226, 5, 1914. %. 43-47 mm.. Dark brown, abdomen piceous, femora and middle portion of the scapes lighter brown ; tibiae, tarsi, flagellum, base and apex of the scape, and the mandibles brownish-yellow. A few yellowish hairs on the clypeus and apex of abdomen, otherwise without pilosity. Pubescence very short and scanty, almost absent on the body, a little more noticeable on the legs and antennae. The middle of the head above, longitudinally striate. The clypeus has a median carina which is continued back to the posterior margin of the head ; sides of the head finely reticulate, somewhat more coarsely so on the anterior half, which is also partly rugose. Pronotum very finely and longitudinally striato-rugulose; mesonotum smooth and shining in the middle, faintly striate at the sides ; epinotum, nodes, and basal half of abdomen closely and finely reticulate and dull. The rest of the abdomen, and also a narrow median area on the Ist node, slightly shining and almost smooth. ) Head about one-fifth longer than wide, the sides parallel, the posterior angles rounded, the hind margin shallowly concave. The scapes extend back almost as far as the hind margin of the head and are rather strongly. curved near the base; 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Eyes fairly large and prominent, convex, placed in the middle of the sides. Scrobes absent. Mandibles shining, finely striate, armed with 7 small and obtuse teeth, the masticatory margin black. Pronotum truncate in front, the face so formed short, the shoulders obtuse. Thoracic sutures obsolete. Mesonotum with a slight angular enlargement on each side behind the middle. Epinotum moderately oblique, the dorsum one and a half times longer than wide, widest near the base. The declivity is almost vertical, hardly half as long as the dorsum, margined at the sides by a ridge which ends above and below in the teeth. The epinotal teeth are shorter than the interval between their bases, as long as wide at the base, divergent, directed obliquely upwards; A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 297 episternal teeth as long and as wide as the epinotal. Peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole shorter than the node; the latter is as long as wide, convex at the sides, narrowed towards the median line above, the anterior and posterior faces almost vertical; the ventral lamella is produced at its extreme base into a small subacute tooth. The 2nd node is transversely oval, one-third wider than long, a little wider than the Ist. Abdomen narrowly truncate at the base. Femora swollen in the middle. Park Rynie, Natal. (H.W. Marley.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) y T. stMULATOR, n. sp. (Plate VII, fig. 102.) %. 47-5 mm. Head, antennae, mandibles, thorax, nodes, and femora dark castaneous, abdomen piceous, tibiae and tarsi dark yellowish-red. Head and sides of thorax nitidulous, dorsum of thorax, nodes, and abdomen shining. Antennae, legs, nodes, and abdomen with a short, scanty, and decumbent pubescence; head and thorax glabrous. Head strongly and longitudinally striate, more strongly so below the demi-scrobes than between them, the demi-scrobes finely reticulate-punctate. Clypeus with a median carina, and two or three strong lines on each side of same. Pro-mesonotum sparsely and longitudinally striate, the striae somewhat effaced towards the middle, also very shallowly and sparsely punctate, the epinotum fairly closely striato-rugose, except the space between the spines, and the declivity, which are smooth and shining. Sides of thorax fairly closely longi- tudinally striate, the outer sides of the epinotal spines finely rugulose. Nodes of petiole faintly rugulose and sparsely punctate, the punctures fairly strong. Abdomen sparsely, finely, and sharply punctate. Legs very shallowly and sparsely punctate. Head, excluding the mandibles, slightly longer than wide, widest in the middle, the sides feebly convex, the posterior angles slightly rounded and prominent, the posterior margin shallowly concave. Eyes large and convex, placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Mandibles large, triangular, sharply striate and also sparsely and strongly punctate, armed with 7 large teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus feebly convex. Frontal cariae subparallel, extending back almost to the occipital margin, and form- ing the upper boundary of the demi-scrobes. Scapes not reaching the occipital margin. Flagellum thick, the Ist joint as long as the 2nd and 3rd together, the 2nd—8th wider than long, the 9th and 10th subequal and a little longer than wide, the apical joint half as long again as wide. Shoulders of the pronotum angular. Thoracic sutures obsolete. The thorax is fairly elongate, slightly narrowed between 298 Annals of the South African Museum. the pro- and mesonotum, more strongly so between the latter and the epinotum, not marginate laterally, the sides vertical, the dorsal profile horizontal. The dorsum of the epinotum is narrowest at the base and widest at the basal third ; epinotal spines subparallel, directed back- wards and very little upwards, acute, compressed laterally, shorter than the interval between their bases and not longer than their basal width. The declivity is vertical, hardly half as long as the dorsum, marginate at the sides, the margins continued below into the rather short and rounded episternal teeth or lobes. Peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole thick, less than half as long as the node; the latter truncate in front, the anterior face vertical, the posterior face short, rounded above and subvertical. The node is quite one-third longer than wide, widest at its posterior third, convex transversely above, the sides feebly convex. The 2nd node is almost hemispherical, widest behind, nearly twice as wide as the Ist node. Abdomen oval, the lst segment longer than wide, and forming almost the whole of the dorsum. All the femora swollen in the middle. Malindi, 8. Rhodesia ; preying on termites. At first sight this species bears a resemblance to 7’. (Xiphomyrmez) decem, Forel, but is easily distinguished from it by its larger size and the 12-jointed antennae. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) ; type in my collection. T. LOBULICORNE, Santschi. Ann. Soe. Ent. France, vol. 84, p. 504, 9, 1916. 3. 35 mm. Reddish-yellow-brown (raw umber), the abdomen reddish-brown, the anterior fourth of the head, the mandibles, antennae and legs ochreous or reddish-yellow. A sparse and short pubescence on the legs and antennae, wanting elsewhere. The pilosity consists of short, suberect, blunt and yellowish hairs, very scanty on the head and thorax, a little more abundant on the nodes and abdomen. Head, between the frontal carinae, fairly strongly and longitudinally striate, the sides of the head in front of the eyes and the cheeks longitudinally rugose and reticulate, the demiscrobes, especially on their posterior halves, closely and finely reticulate. Thorax reticulate-rugose, the rugae uneven and emphasised longi- tudinally, shallowly reticulate-punctate between the rugae. The apical half of the epinoctum and the peduncle of the petiole closely reticulate-punctate or granulate. Nodes sparsely rugose, reticulate- punctate and dull. Abdomen shining, microscopically rugulose. Thorax subopaque, head slightly shining. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 299 Head, excluding the mandibles, a little more than one-fifth longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the posterior angles widely rounded, the posterior margin shallowly concave, not much narrower in front than behind. Eyes not large, placed just in front of the middle of the sides. Median area of clypeus longer than it is wide across the middle, the anterior margin narrowly excised in the middle, the median carina feeble, not stronger than the lateral striae. Frontal carinae extending back as well-defined ridges almost to the posterior margin and forming the upper boundary of the shallow demiscrobes. Scapes incrassate apically, not reaching the posterior margin of the head; 2nd-8th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the club longer than the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles finely and closely striate, feebly punctured, armed with 6 or 7 teeth, the posterior four indistinct. Thorax constricted at the meso-epinotal suture, the latter distinct but not deep. Shoulders of pronotum rounded; pronotum convex in front. Pro-mesonotal suture feebly defined. Mesonotum marginate at the sides, the raised margins being continued along the dorsum of the epinotum as far as the base of the spines. Dorsum of epinotum widest at the base, a little longer than wide, joining the declivity in a gentle curve; the declivity fairly steep, as long as the dorsum. Epinotal spines subacute, directed obliquely upwards, shorter than the interval between their bases, as long as their basal width, and not much longer than the broad episternal teeth. The peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole is longer or as long as the node, and is rather wide, being almost as wide as the node. The latter is vertically truncate and convex from side to side in front, a little wider than long, the upper surface slopes steeply backwards into a short posterior face. The 2nd node is subglobose, two-thirds wider than, and a little longer than the Ist node. Abdomen oblong, the Ist segment a little longer than wide and forming nearly the whole of the dorsum. Femora only slightly swollen. ?. 35 mm. Black, antennae and legs reddish-brown, the articulations and tarsi paler, mandibles ferruginous. Frontal carinae wider apart than in the 9. Pronotum transversely rugose; meso- notum and scutellum strongly and fairly densely longitudinally striate; dorsum of the epinotum short, oblique, transversely striate at the sides, reticulate-punctate in the middle, shorter than the declivity. Wings tinged with yellow, nervures pale yellow, stigma brownish-yellow. Otherwise like the 9. 6. 34mm. Black, legs, antennae and mandibles pale brownish- 300 Annals of the South African Museum. yellow. Head dull, closely reticulate-punctate, sparsely striate between the frontal carinae and the ocelli. Mesonotum very sparsely punctured, and with faint traces of a longitudinal striation on its posterior half, otherwise smooth and-shining. Scutellum dull, finely longitudinally rugulose. Dorsum of the epinotum, the upper two-thirds of the declivity, and the nodes finely reticulate; the sides of the epinotum faintly striate lengthwise. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head widest in front, nearly as long as wide, the sides and hind margin moderately convex, the posterior angles widely rounded. Hyes fairly large, placed in the anterior third of the head, and almost touching the base of the mandibles in front. The scapes extend back as far as the posterior ocelli. Frontal carinae well defined, widely divergent posteriorly. Mayrian furrows of the mesonotum distinct; mesonotum very convex and gibbous in front; scutellum semi-circular. Hpinotum with two feeble lateral ridges at the apical angles of the dorsum, the latter as long as the oblique declivity. Episternal lobes large. Nodes thicker than in the 92 ; the peduncle of the lst segment not distinctly defined (as is usually the case in the ¢ J of this genus), merging insensibly into the node. Bulawayo. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. Emeryi, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 23, 9, 2, g, 1901. “6. 35 mm. Red-brown, the mandibles, antennae and legs paler, head and abdomen dark brown. The pilosity is most abundant on the abdomen, and consists of partly pointed, partly blunt bristly awe, i Mae ee Antennae and legs with a fairly abundant and oblique pubescence. Mandibles shining, smooth, sparsely and coarsely punctured, and also very finely and shallowly striate, more densely striate on the outer side near the base, armed usually with 7 teeth, the anterior pair large, the others small and indistinct. Head rectangular, the angles rounded, a little Jonger than wide, very little narrower in front than behind, coarsely striate (the clypeus finely striate), shining between the striae, partly smooth and _ partly punctate or rugulose, the sides and back of the head coarsely reticulate. Anterior margin of clypeus straight, without any emargination. The frontal carinae, and the fairly deep demiscrobes, extend back as far as the level of the eyes, the demiscrobes not much longer than the scapes; 3rd-6th joints of the flagellum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 301 distinctly wider than long. Hyes placed in about the middle of the sides of the head. The fairly robust thorax is narrower than the head, with obtuse and not prominent shoulders, coarsely reticulate above, finely rugulose or punctate between the meshes, and seen in profile, straight from the front to the pro-mesonotal suture, and also straight from the latter to the epinotal teeth; these two planes meet in an obtuse and rounded angle. The meso-epinotal suture is not very distinct, and the dorsum of the epinotum is only slightly depressed. The latter is longer than wide, feebly concave transversely behind ; the epinotal teeth are wide, almost blunt, fairly erect and moderately divergent; episternal teeth rectangular, ...... the sides of the thorax are in greater part finely and closely reticulate- punctate. Petiole moderately coarsely reticulate-rugulose and finely punctured; the peduncle of the Ist segment moderately long, the node a little wider than long, the 2nd segment hardly as long as, and somewhat wider than the Ist node. Abdomen smooth and shining, with scattered piligerous punctures; the base of the Ist segment more or less distinctly and longitudinally striate. “oo. 45 mm. Very much like the ¢. The mesonotum and scutellum rugoso-striate lengthwise, the dorsum of the epinotum transversely rugose, the sides of the thorax longitudinally rugose and also closely and finely reticulate-punctate. The wings slightly infuscate, with pale yellow nervures. Otherwise like the &. “¢g. 41-42 mm. Shining, brown, the mandibles, antennae and legs, particularly the last four tarsal jomts, brownish-yellow. The long pilosity is scanty, more abundant on the ventral surface of the abdomen; the antennae and legs have only short, fine and oblique hairs. Head fairly coarsely and longitudinally rugoso-striate and finely reticulate, between the eyes and ocelli finely reticulate-punctate, the ocellar area transversely rugose, the back of the head unevenly rugose and finely reticulate. In the 7 specimens before me, the antennae are 15-jointed, the scape extends back as far as the anterior ocellus, the Ist joint of the flagellum is a little longer than wide, and wider than the 2nd joint, which is two and a half times, or a little more, longer than wide. The head is gradually narrowed from behind the eyes to the posterior angles, so that the latter project outwards and are almost dentiform, as in the ¢ of ZT. guwineense. Thorax fairly finely and longitudinally rugose, the dorsum and declivity of the epinotum finely and closely reticulate. Wings as in the 9. The segments of the petiole are slender, much more so than in guineense, the 2nd segment hardly wider than long. The abdomen in greater part smooth. Port Elizabeth.” 302 Annals of the South African Museum. It is to be noted that in the ¢ g of this species, the 2nd—5th joints of the flagellum remain separate, instead of being fused into one joint, as is the rule in the genus. Race cristuLAtum, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 218, 9, g, 1913. 9. 43 mm. Very dark brown or black, the pro-mesonotum somewhat paler or dark reddish-brown, the antennae, tibiae and tarsi yellowish-brown, femora brown, mandibles brownish-red, This race differs from the type of the species by its larger size, and by the more angular junction of the pro- and mesonotum. The 3rd—6th joints of the flagellum are as wide as long (wider than long in the type). The head is also more coarsely reticulate between the striae, and is also a little wider behind. ‘The meso-epinotal suture is indicated by a raised line. Otherwise like the type. _ 9. 5 mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Pronotum moderately ex- posed above in the middle, more exposed at the sides, the pronotal shoulders subangular. Pronotum very coarsely and transversely reticulate-rugose; mesonotum and scutellum strongly and longi- tudinally striate, the epinotum transversely striate, more closely and finely so on the declivity than elsewhere. Dorsum of epinotum sloping steeply downwards, slightly longer than the vertical declivity ; the epinotal teeth are represented by elongate tubercles, much smaller than the teeth of the 9. Wings slightly smoky, nervures and stigma pale yellow. Otherwise like the %. ¢6. 47-5 mm. Black, antennae, legs and mandibles yellowish- brown. Head more or less lozenge-shaped, widest across the eyes, wider in front than behind, without a distinct posterior margin like that of the type, im which the head is shorter and wider behind. Mesonotum very gibbous and convex in front, overhanging the pronotum, which is thereby entirely hidden from above. Epinotum- unarmed, the dorsum merging into the declivity by a gradual curve ; the declivity fairly steep. The 1st node is more pointed above than in the type. Eyes very large and convex, occupying quite half of the sides of the head, and almost touching the base of the mandibles in front. As in the type of the species, the 2nd joint of the flagellum in some specimens is redivided into two or more of its component segments. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. ) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 303 T. Jorrret, Forel. (Plate VII, fig. 97.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 228, 9, 1914. 6. 35-36 mm. Piceous, legs yellowish-brown, antennae and mandibles somewhat reddish-brown. Head sometimes paler. Pilosity yellowish, fairly long, composed of thin and pointed hairs, not very abundant. Legs and antennae with a scanty yellowish pubescence, which is absent from the body. Moderately shining, strongly rugose, longitudinally so on the head, and reticulate-rugose on the thorax. The rugae on the head connected by a few transverse branches. Apical half of the dorsum and the declivity of the epinotum, the nodes and abdomen smooth and shming. Head slightly longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin almost straight, the posterior angles rounded, hardly narrower in front than behind. Eyes occupying about one-quarter of the sides, placed a little in front of the middle. The frontal carinae extend back as strong ridges nearly as far as the occiput, and form the upper boundary of the demiscrobes, which are smooth and fairly deep. The scapes do not reach the occipital margin; 2nd—/th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Clypeus coarsely and sparsely rugose, with a strong median carina. Mandibles closely and finely striate, armed with two distinct teeth in front, and five obtuse and smaller teeth behind. Pronotum submarginate in front and at the sides, the shoulders rounded. Pro-mesonotal suture feeble, meso-epinotal suture shallow and wide. Dorsum of epinotum longer than wide, hardly wider at the base than at the apex, a little longer than the vertical declivity ; the latter marginate at the sides. Epinotal spines very long, acute, strongly divergent and not very oblique, much longer than the interval between their bases and as long as the dorsum of the epmotum. EHpisternal teeth small. Peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole as long as the node; the latter much higher than long, truncate in front, the anterior dorsal margin convex transversely, the dorsal face convex lengthwise and sloping downwards posteriorly; seen from above, about as wide as long and wider in front than behind. 2nd node transversely oval, three-quarters wider than long, and a little wider than the Ist. Abdomen decidedly convex above. . 2. 42 mm. Sides of the head behind the eyes more convex than in the ©. Pronotum coarsely reticulate-rugose. Mesonotum and scutellum sharply striate, the striae larger and wider apart on the scutellum. Epinotum longitudinally rugose at the sides and above, near the base, fairly smooth elsewhere. Dorsum of the epinotum short, sloping from its base downwards to the longer and 20 304 Annals of the South African Museum. vertical declivity. Hpinotal spines relatively shorter than in the 9, hardly divergent, not directed upwards as in the 9%, but nearly horizontal. Nodes wider, the anterior dorsal margin of the Ist node less convex than in the G. Wings tinged with dirty yellow, nervures and stigma pale yellow. Durban; nesting in a rotten and very moist tree stump. (S8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. ALGOA, n. v. ®. 3&5 mm. Differing from the type in the following characters. The colour is darker, on the body quite black. The demiscrobes are wider and deeper and more distinctly defined externally. The sculpture of the thorax is weaker, and almost effaced on the middle of the mesonotum. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal shallower and narrower. Epinotal spines shorter, hardly as long as the dorsum of the epinotum, much more oblique and less divergent than in the type. The dorsal (posterior-dorsal) face of the Ist node is longer, a little longer than wide, and the 2nd node is longer and more convex above. Q@. ike the ? of the type but a little smaller. The sculpture of the thorax is weaker, the anterior third of the mesonotum smooth and shining; the epinotal spines nearly horizontal. The resemblance of this variety to 7’. Grassi and its var. laevigatum, Mayr, is even greater than in the type of the species. Joffrei and Grassi are evidently very closely allied. Port Elizabeth. (Dr H. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.); type in my collection. y. (Plate VII, fig. 105.) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 37, 9, Q@ (7), 1895. Mayr, Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 25, 9, 1901. ®. 27-3 mm. Brown, legs, antennae, mandibles and petiole brownish-yellow. Pilosity yellow, very sparse; pubescence short, oblique, very sparse and present only on the legs and antennae. Head fairly strongly and longitudinally striate or striato-rugose, the striae rather wide apart, the sides of the head reticulate- rugose. ‘Thorax longitudinally rugoso-reticulate, the rugae somewhat discontinuous, the median portion of the mesonotum smooth. Head and thorax moderately shining; deciivity of epinotum, petiole and abdomen smooth and shining. Head subrectangular, about as long as wide, a little narrower in T. Grassi, Emery A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 305 front than behind, the sides moderately convex, the hind margin straight. Distinct demiscrobes present; the frontal carimae extend backwards as far as the posterior margin of the head, 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Clypeus with a strong median carina, and two weaker and broken lines on each side of it. Mandibles finely striate, armed with three distinct teeth in front, feebly denticulate behind. Sides of pro-mesonotum indistinctly marginate, the shoulders of the pronotum obtusely angular. Thoracic sutures obsolete. Dorsum of epinotum oblique, a little longer than wide, as long as, or a little longer than the declivity. The epinotal spines are longer than the interval between their bases, but shorter than the dorsum of the epinotum, divergent, acute and fairly oblique. Petiole similar to that of Joffrei, but the dorsal face of the Ist node is fairly distinct from the short posterior face, not forming a con- tinuous curve as in Joffrei. ‘The femora are but slightly swollen in the middle. 2. 35 mm. The colour of the thorax is rather darker than in the 9. Pronotum reticulate-rugose, the sides and posterior third of the mesonotum longitudinally striate, the anterior two-thirds smooth. The dorsum of the epinotum is almost obsolete, being in very nearly the same plane as the declivity. The epinotal spines are parallel and nearly horizontal. Dealated. Otherwise like the 9. Table Mountain; making small nests under stones in the pine woods. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. LAEVIGATUM, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 25, 9, 1901. “The 9 differs from that of the type species in having the thorax smooth, from the anterior margin of the pronotum as far as the epinotal spines.” Port Elizabeth. (Dr. H. Brauns.) I possess some specimens from this locality, collected by Dr. Brauns, which appear to belong to this variety. The dorsum of the thorax is in greater part smooth, but there are distinct, though fine, short rugae near the lateral and anterior margins of the pro-mesonotum, and on the basal half of the epinotum. The size is a little larger, 34 mm. Var. SIMULANS, Santschi. Géteborgs K. Vetens. och Vitterh. Handl. XV, 2, p. 24, 9, 1914. “ 6. Brownish-black, abdomen black. Mandibles, antennae, tarsi and peduncle of the petiole rusty-red, the middle of the femora 306 Annals of the South African Museum. and tibiae brownish. Larger than the type, 3:3-3°5 mm., and still more resembling Xiphomyrmex Weitzaeckeri, Em., the colour and pubescence being the same. ‘The sculpture differs from that of Weitzaeckeri but little, the rugae not.beimg effaced on the thorax. The epinotal spines are nearly twice as long as the interval between their bases. The Ist node forms a scale, as abrupt in front as behind, a little wider than thick. Otherwise like the type of Grassi.” Richmond, Natal. (Traegaordh.) T. GUINEENSE, Fab. Ent. Syst. I, p. 357, 3, 1793. Nylander (Myrmiea bicarianata), Act. Soc. Fenn. II, 3, p. 1061, 2, 1846. Mayr (Myrmica Kollari), Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, III, p. 285, Sg 1853. This species, whose original home was probably West Africa, has spread over a large part of the Tropics in both hemispheres, and has also been introduced into hot-houses in temperate countries. I have no records of it having been taken in our region, but as it is almost certain to be found sooner or later, I append a description of the 9. It is smaller than the various races and varieties which are described further on. >. 35 mm. Head, thorax, and nodes bright reddish-yellow, abdomen brownish-black, legs and antennae ochreous yellow, the base of the Ist, and the apical margins of the remaining abdominal segments yellowish. The pilosity is fairly abundant on the body, and consists of long, erect, blunt, and rather thick hairs, which are some- what shorter and oblique on the head. Antennae and legs with a rather long, oblique, and yellowish pubescence, which is absent from the body. Vertex of the head between the demi-scrobes, thorax, and nodes strongly reticulate-rugose. The rugae, near the middle line of the head, are emphasised longitudinally, and the meshes there and on the pronotum are very wide, the spaces between the network shining and fairly smooth. In some specimens the reticulations become closer and less sharp on the meso- and epinotum, and even more so on the 2nd node. The sides of the head and thorax are more closely reticulate than elsewhere. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly one-sixth longer than wide, hardly narrower in front than behind, a little more convex behind the eyes than in front of them, the hind margin nearly straight. Hyes placed in the middle of the sides, convex, and prominent. Clypeus A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 307 with a median carina, and a lateral one on each side. Scape not reaching the posterior margin, somewhat curved near the base, 2nd-8th joints of the flagellum wider than long, 2nd—5th twice as wide as long. Mandibles very finely striate, dull, armed with 7 teeth, the posterior four small. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal suture indistinct above. Shoulders of the pronotum angular. Dorsum of the thorax marginate in front and at the sides, the margin uneven, bemg formed by the outermost rugae. The rugae of the head, thorax, and Ist node are brownish, darker than the ground colour. Thorax narrowed at the meso-epinotal suture, widening immediately behind the same at the base of the epinotum and thence narrowed again towards the spines. Seen in profile, the dorsum of the thorax is fairly straight except in front, where the pronotum joins the meso- notum in an obtuse and indistinct angle. The dorsum of the epinotum is a little longer than wide; the declivity is vertical and striate on its upper half. The epinotal spines are acute, moderately divergent, directed obliquely upwards, longer than the interval between their bases and longer than their basal width. Episternal teeth acute, less than half as long as the epinotal. Peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole shorter than the node; the latter, seen from above, hexagonal, the anterior lateral sides longest, wider behind than in front, the dorsal surface moderately convex ; seen from the side, the anterior face is shorter than the posterior; the ventral lamella is produced into a minute tooth at the base of the peduncle. Second node transversely ovate or subglobose, one-quarter wider than long, and wider than the Ist node. Abdomen oval. Femora moderately swollen. Var. ERECTUM, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 68, p. 37, 9, 1895. “Differs from the type by being more robust and a little larger. The petiole is a little thicker, the nodes rounder. The epinotal spines fairly short but nearly erect, their posterior margin, in profile, being the continuation of the declivity, and nearly perpendicular to the dorsum of the thorax. The base of the Ist abdominal segment is more distinctly striafe than in the type. Vrijburg, -Bechuanaland. (Simon).” Var. pHaAsraAs, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 226, 8, 1914. ®. 36 mm. Yellow, the abdomen and nodes, clypeus and antennae more reddish-yellow, The sculpture is a little more 308 Annals of the South African Musewm. superficial than in the type, from which it differs, like the race striatum, in the much more angular junction of the pro- and meso- notum. The Ist node is also narrower above, and the base of the Ist abdominal segment more distinctly striate. The frontal carinae are more prominent than in the type. Durban. (C. B. Cooper.) (R.M., G.A. colls.) Race striatum, Stitz. Mitth. Zool. Mus. Berlin, vol. 5, p. 144, 9, 1910. %. 46 mm. Head, antennae, and nodes yellowish-red, thorax reddish-yellow, abdomen and legs bright ochreous yellow, the abdomen sometimes more or less brownish-yellow. Differs from the type by the stronger sculpture. The frontal carinae are decidedly stronger, forming prominent ridges bordering the demiscrobes. The junction of the pro- and mesonotum, seen in profile, is much more angular, even more so than in var. Phasias. The pro-mesonotal suture is indicated by a dark transverse ridge. First node of the petiole more abruptly truncate in front, the anterior face as long as the posterior. The sculpture of the 2nd node as strong as that of the 1st (distinctly weaker in the type and var. Phasias). The basal third of the Ist abdominal segment finely and longitudinally striate, and rather dull. ?. 5mm. Mesonotum and scutellum longitudinally reticulate- rugose; the posterior two-thirds of the mesonotum flat. Pronotum not much exposed above, the shoulders much less angular than in the 9. Dorsum of epinotum moderately oblique, as long as it is wide between the spines. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma pale yellow. Otherwise like the 9. go. 42mm. Head yellowish-brown, thorax and abdomen brownish- yellow, the parapsidal sutures of the mesonotum and the margins of the scutellum darker, legs, antennae, and mandibles ochreous. Pilosity and pubescence much sparser than in the @. Head and nodes subopaque, thorax and abdomen nitidulous. Head finely reticulate, with a few fine longitudinal striae’ on the vertex in front of the ocelli, and also some oblique striae behind them ; between the eyes and antennal sockets transversely striate. Thorax and nodes longitudinally striate, very finely and fairly closely so on the meso- notum and seutellum and 2nd node, more coarsely so on the epinotum and Ist node; the latter are also partly reticulate, and the epinotum is also closely and shallowly punctate between the striae. Head narrower behind the eyes than in front, the posterior margin straight A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 309 and reflected to form a collar, with prominent lateral angles. Hyes large, occupying nearly the whole of the anterior half of the sides ; ocelli large and prominent. Frontal carinae extend back almost as far as the anterior ocellus. Mandibles small, dentate. Scape not extending back as far as the anterior ocellus, twice as thick as the 2nd joint of the flagellum ; the latter is longer than the scape and the Ist joimt taken together. Pronotum slightly exposed above at the shoulders. Mayrian furrows well defined. Mesonotum separated from the scutellum by a wide and clathrate groove. The dorsum of the epinotum not distinctly delimited from the declivity, the profile of the epinotum forming a continuous curve from base to apex. First node of petiole somewhat pyriform, the ventral lamella produced into a rather large tooth near the base. Second node at least half as wide again as the Ist, wider than long, only slightly convex transversely. Wings as in the 9°. S. Rhodesia. Common in grassy soil. The entrance to the nest consists of one or more holes, which are rarely surrounded by mounds of earth. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) YT. paccnuus, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 426, 9, 1910. “oO. 37mm. Mandibles smooth, shining, with small scattered punctures, armed with 7 teeth, the posterior ones indistinct. Clypeus without a carina, the anterior border emarginate in the middle. Head as In guineense, but much wider, hardly longer than wide, distinctly narrowed in front. Club of the antenna more slender, composed of almost four joints. Thorax, especially the pronotum, decidedly wider than in gwineense, and much more convex lengthwise, submarginate ; meso-epinotal suture a little stronger. Epinotal teeth more vertical, a little shorter, wider at the base, not curved at the extremity ; episternal teeth a little shorter. Nodes of the petiole thicker, wider and more rounded than in guineense. ‘The 1st node is not truncate in front, but rounded, and with its peduncle forms a single concave curve in profile ; it is also rounded and much less truncate behind. Sculpture as in guineense, but closer, a little finer and less shining ; base of the abdomen longitudinally striate. Pilosity as in guineense. Brownish- red, legs paler ; abdomen a little darker, more yellowish-brown ; darker than guineense excepting the abdomen, which is paler. “Natal (Haviland). Closely allied to guineense, but nevertheless 310 — Annals of the South African Museum. clearly distinct ; larger, more robust, the mandibles smooth, the spines differently shaped, as also the Ist node, etc.” T. capense, Mayr. Reise der Novara, Zool. Formicidae, p.89, 9, 1865. Emery, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 36, 9, ¢, 1895. “6. 35mm. This species bears a great resemblance to quineense, but nevertheless is easily distinguished from it. Yellowish-red, the legs more yellow, the abdomen faintly brownish, the masticatory margin of the mandibles, and the eyes black. The pilosity is very sparse on the body, whereas it is much more plentiful in guineense. The feebly shining mandibles are sharply and longitudinally striate, with single punctures between the striae (in guineense the mandibles are shining, very shallowly striate, and not over the whole surface). The clypeus has several carinae or longitudinal rugae, but the median one is strong and is continued on to the frontal area; the latter is distinctly delimited from the clypeus, which is not the case in guineense, and the frontal area itself is more distinct than in that species. Frons and vertex as in quineense. The sides of the head are coarsely reticulate also, but the rugae are emphasised longitudinally, which is not the case in quineense. The flagellum is somewhat longer and more slender. The thorax is short and fairly high, as in 7’. caespitum, whereas in guineense it is longer and lower. The thorax above is finely coriaceous and reticulate-rugose (or finely reticulate punctate), with fewer longitudinal striae, which disappear on the epinotum. . . . The epinotal spines are wider at the base than in guineense, the space between the spines smooth and shining, the sides of the thorax reticulate-punctate. The Ist node of the petiole is wider than long (in guineense as long as wide), both nodes are coarsely and shallowly rugose (coarsely reticulate in guineense). The abdomen shining, exceedingly finely coriaceous at the base.” “2. Petiole wider than in the %, the Ist node truncate in front, with the anterior margin straight, ending in an angle on each side; the wings are hyaline, the stigma and nervures brownish-yellow. ¢. Testaceous. The head striate, the scutellum, epinotum, and petiole very finely punctured and dull, the rest shining; mandibles shining, 5-dentate; . . . in profile, the Ist segment of the petiole forms a rounded rectangle, the 2nd is hardly wider than long, excluding the articular portion.” Capetown. (S.A.M. coll.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 311 Var. Braunst, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57. p. 119, 9, 1913. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. (Beiheft), p. 220, 1913. “6. 35-4mm. Differs from the type by its larger eyes, longer epinotal spines, and the hind margin of the head, which is more con- cave. Otherwise like the type.” Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns); East London (ex SeseMercolle (S.A Wl Ri Mes GAY ‘colls®) It is misleading to compare this species with guineense, as its author has done. This species and its var. Brawnsi, have a very different facies. The total absence of wide and coarse reticulations on the head and thorax (the latter dull), and the form of the pro- and mesonotum, which in profile form only a very slight convexity, suffice to remove it fairly far from guineense. T. popovict, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 230, 9, 1914. &. 37mm. Rather dark yellowish-red, the 1st abdominal seg- ment more brownish, legs yellow. Pilosity yellowish and very scanty, the hairs on the petiole and abdomen obtuse. Legs without pilose hairs, merely sparsely pubescent. Head longitudinally, rugoso-striate, the striae not very strong ; the sides of the head are reticulate-rugose, the spaces between the reticulations finely reticulate-punctate. Dorsum of thorax finely and more or less longitudinally rugulose. Sides of thorax longitudinally rugose, partly reticulate. Head and thorax slightly shining. Nodes dull, shallowly and irregularly reticulate. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head a little wider behind than in front, a trifle longer than wide, the sides and posterior margin nearly straight, the posterior angles widely rounded. Eyes rather small, placed in the middle of the sides. Clypeus very narrowly excised in the middle of the anterior margin, longitudinally striate, the median carina feeble. Frontal carinae well defined, divergent in front, nearly parallel along their posterior half, extending back almost to the occipital margin, hardly forming a demi- serobe. The scape falls short of the occipital margin by twice the diameter of the eye; 2nd—7th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Mandibles closely and longitudinally striate, armed with 7 teeth. Thorax rather short, the shoulders of the pronotum rounded. Pro- mesonotal suture absent, meso-epinotal suture shallow, the lateral 312 Annals of the South African Musewm. profile slightly constricted between the meso- and epinotum. A fine transverse ridge separates the pronotum from the mesonotum. From the ridge forwards, the pronotum slopes downwards to the neck (not vertically so, as described by Forel). Dorsum of the epinotum one and a half times longer than wide, widest at the basal third, longer than the declivity.. Epinotal spines acute, longer than their basal width and a little longer than the space between their bases, slightly divergent, directed very obliquely upwards. Declivity subvertical, margined at the sides, the episternal teeth small and triangular. Peduncle of the petiole a little shorter than its node. The latter truncate in front, the anterior face shorter than the oblique posterior face. The dorsal and posterior faces, taken together, longer than wide, the anterior border above margined with a dark line. Second node shorter than the Ist, nearly twice as wide as long, wider than the lst, transversely oval. Femora only slightly swollen. 2. 52mm. (Hitherto undescribed.) Colour like that of the ¢, buta little darker; tegulae, metanotum, and posterior margin of the scutellum almost black. Sculpture of the head stronger than in the 9 ; the frontal carinae more pronounced, mesonotum and scutellum shining, more so than in the 9, closely and finely longitudinally striate. Epinotum rugulose above, and also partly reticulate-rugose at the sides. ~ Epinotal spines much more robust than in the 9, acute, about as long as their basal width. Nodes much shorter and wider than inthe § ; the dorsal face of the Ist node more sharply delimited from the oblique posterior face, and nearly three times wider than long ; the 2nd node has the anterior face almost vertical and the sides subangularin the middle. Deilated. Otherwise like the ¢. Table Mountain, 1500 ft. Under stones in the Pine woods. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. GRANDINODE, Santschi. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 808, 9, 1918. “6. 45 mm. Black; mandibles, antennae, tarsi, peduncle of Ist node of the petiole, and the apex of the abdomen rusty red. Middle of the femora brownish. Sometimes a part of the 2nd node and the base of the abdomen very dark red. Shining. Strongly and regularly striate, the intervals between the striae smooth, or here and there, finely reticulate. Striae on the head longitudinal, those above diverging from the occiput and anastomosing behind the eyes with the striae from below. Transversely striate on the pronotum, longitudinally so on the rest of the thorax, the striae forming con- centric curves on the pronotum. Declivity of epimotum smooth, with A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 313 a few transverse striae between the spines. The two nodes trans- versely striate above, smooth below. There are some long reddish hairs round the mouth and below it, and on the coxae and the ventral surface of the abdomen. ‘Tarsi and antennae furnished with shorter hairs, which are fairly oblique and abundant. A very fine, short, and very sparse pubescence present all over, but more distinct on the abdomen. Head quadrate, angles rounded, sides nearly straight, a little narrower in front, the vertex fairly gibbous. Frontal carinae very divergent, reaching back as far as the middle of the head, and forming only a short demiscrobe for the basal third of the scape. Eyes one-fourth the length of the sides of the head, placed in the middle, the margin angular below. Mandibles smooth, with a few striae near their masticatory margin, feebly and sparsely punctate, armed with 6 rather short teeth. Clypeus only slightly convex, the anterior margin nearly straight. The scape extends back nearly to the vertex, 2nd-8th joints of the flagellum nearly as long as wide. Anterior portion of the pronotum flat, transversely margined, the shoulders forming prominent and acute angles. The rest of the pronotum forms an even convexity with the mesonotum (segment of a sphere). Meso-epinotal suture feebly indicated. Dorsum of the epi- notum horizontal in profile, convex transversely, not margined. Spines stout, as long as two-thirds of the dorsum of the epinotum, fairly high and divergent. Declivity concave, with a triangular tubercle in the lower part, and a lamelliform expansion on each side of the articulation with the petiole. First node squamiform, as wide as the middle of the thorax, much wider than high, trapezoidal, the upper margin narrower, the lateral margins compressed, oblique below ; the posterior face convex, especially in its upper half, which appears horizontal in profile ; the anterior face slightly concave from above to below, and convex from side to side. The peduncle is as long as the scale is high, and bears a very small tooth below at its base. Second node wider than the Ist, lower, three and a half times wider than long, convex above, the sides sharply marginate, trenchant, and arcuate, transverse in front and slightly convex behind. Below it bears a fairly thick and transverse appendage. Abdomen a little more than one-quarter wider than the 2nd node, truncate at the base.” Cape of Good Hope. Var. nopensis, Forel. (Plate VII, figs. 103, 103a, 103d.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 228, 3, 9, 1914. “. 49 mm. Differs from the type of the species by the 314 Annals of the South African Museum. 2nd node of the petiole, which is narrower and lacks the flattened and translucid upturned edge at the sides. The spines are also a little shorter.” Abdomen smooth and shining, and in some examples also very faintly rugulose over the Ist, segment. ?. 6mm. Somewhat lighter than the ¢, more reddish-brown, especially the thorax, nodes, and legs. Pronotal angle only just visible from above, prominent but not acutely angular as in the 9. The mesonotum is longitudinally striate, the scutellum and epinotum transversely striate, the striae on the former more or less concentric. The head is as wide as the thorax, not considerably wider as in the case of the 9. The Ist segment of the petiole differs from that of the © in not having a dorsal face. It is very compressed from front to back, almost laminate throughout, so that the posterior surface forms one continuous and oblique face, from the dorsal edge above to the ventral edge below. The 2nd node, four times wider than long, as on the eontrary less rounded above, so that the anterior and posterior faces meet above in a fairly acute angle ; the dorsal edge formed by the junction of the two faces, is slightly sinuate, curving forwards at the sides. Epinotal spines shorter and less acute than in the §, and only very slightly divergent, very little longer than their basal width, and hardly longer than half the interval between their bases. Wings tinged with yellow, nervures and stigma pale yellow. Hopetown, Orange River. The description of the petiole in the type of the species is not very clear, and requires amendment. The 1st node is more or less squamiform, Lut much thicker above than below, so that there is a distinct, but short, dorsal face. This meets the almost vertical posterior face at right angles. The dorsal face becomes narrower, i.e. thinner, laterally and is curved down- wards and is continuous with the sides of the node or squame. The sides end below in somewhat projecting and obtuse angles, which are turned a little bit forwards. The 2nd node, which is fairly convex transversely, has the .posterior third of its sides strongly flattened dorso-ventrally (laminate), so as to form a trenchant edge at its lateral margins. (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) T. SQUAMINODE, Santschi, Race po, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 79, p. 356, 1910. (Race) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 224, 9, 2, ¢, 1914. 0. 3-82mm. Light reddish-brown, the mandibles and antennae paler ; nodes dark brown, abdomen black, legs pale yellow. Pulosity A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 315 scanty, composed of pale, erect, and thick hairs, absent from the legs and antennae, which have only a short, decumbent and yellowish pubescence. Body without pubescence. Head longitudinally and strongly rugose between the frontal earinae, the rugae connected by a few transverse branches, the sides of the head more distinctly reticulate, the spaces between the rugae fairly smooth and shining; scrobes finely reticulate-punctate. Clypeus tricarinate, the median carina the strongest. Thorax very coarsely reticulate-rugose, the meshes wide, and the spaces between the reticulations shining. The sides of the pronotum smooth and shining, the sides of the meso- and epinotum more or less longi- tudinally rugose, but finer than on the dorsum. Between the epinotal spines there are a few transverse striae; the declivity, nodes, and abdomen smooth and shining. Head hardly longer than wide, a little narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin straight, the sides almost so, the posterior angles moderately rounded. Eyes moderately convex and large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carimae prolonged back almost to the occipital margin, and forming below distinct demiscrobes for the scapes. The latter as long as the demiscrobes, the 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum much wider than long. Mandibles shining, sparsely and finely punctured, 6-dentate, the posterior 4 teeth small and indistinct. Thorax mar- ginate, moderately constricted between the pro- and mesonotum, strongly so between the meso- and epinotum. Pro-mesonotal suture nearly obsolete above, meso-epinotal broad and shallow. Shoulders of pronotum subangular. Pronotum nearly as wide behind as in front, sloping fairly steeply downwards. Dorsum of epinotum about as long as wide, widened angularly near the base; epinotal teeth divergent, directed obliquely upwards, acute, as long as, or a little longer than, the interval between their bases; the declivity vertical, the episternal teeth small, acute, ‘and triangular. First node of petiole squamiform, inclined slightly forwards, the lateral and dorsal edges trenchant, the anterior face convex transversely, the posterior face feebly convex. ‘The peduncle is nearly as long as the node. ‘Second node twice as wide as long, wider than the Ist, the anterior and posterior faces steep and convex transversely, and meeting angularly at the sides. Abdomen smooth and shining, convex, the Ist segment forming almost the whole ofthe dorsum. All the femora moderately swollen. 2. 36mm. Like the $,but the thorax somewhat paler, more reddish. Mesonotum and scutellum fairly closely and longitudinally striate. Pronotum exposed above only at the shoulders. Dorsum of 316 Annals of the South African Museum. epinotum wider than long, sloping steeply downwards to the declivity. Epinotal teeth horizontal. The dorsal edge of the Ist node is very shallowly concave. The 2nd node less angular at the sides than in the 9. Wings tinged with yellow. Otherwise like the 9. do. 35mm. Dark brown, the head black, the petiole paler, the legs, antennae and mandibles pale yellow. Head dull, very closely and finely reticulate-punctate, with a few striae radiating outwards from the ocellar region. The sides of the thorax and epinotum finely and longitudinally striate and also reticulate-punctate, nitidulous, the rest of the body smooth and shining. Head much wider in front than behind, the posterior margin and sides convex. Scapes hardly reaching back as far as the anterior ocellus. Mandibles small, with 3 or 4 teeth. Dorsum of epimotum oblique, merging gradually into the declivity, and twice as long as the latter. First node of petiole not squamiform, about as wide as thick, seen from the side subcuneiform, hardly wider than high. Second node wider than the first, widest in front, one and a half times wider than long, the anterior margin moderately convex. Bulawayo, nesting in sandy soil. This differs from the type species, which has not yet been recorded from our region, by the wider 2nd node, the more abruptly convex pronotum, and the coarser sculpture. (S.A M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. FLAVICEPS, 0. Vv. ®. 28 mm. Head, thorax, and nodes yellow, the head also slightly brownish, abdomen dark brown, legs pale yellow. Apart from the smaller size and the colour, this variety differs from the type of the species as follows. The lateral constriction of the thorax between the pro- and meso- notum is much less, almost obsolete. The 2nd node of the petiole has the sides straight, it is more rounded above, the anterior and posterior faces nieeting much less angularly than in the type. The sculpture is also weaker, especially on the head, which is longitudi- nally striate rather than rugose. The pilosity is also more abundant on the abdomen. Otherwise like the type of the species. Matopo Hills, 8. Rhodesia, (S.A.M., R.M.,G.A. colls.), type in my collection. Var. MUS, 0. Vv. %. 28mm _ Very similar to var. flaviceps, but differig from it in the darker colour of the head and thorax, which is brownish-yellow, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 317 and in the sculpture. This is much weaker, and the striation of the head between the frontal carinae is sparser; the spaces between the striae on the head and thorax are very finely reticulate and duller than in the type species or flaviceps. 'The 1st node of the petiole is a little thicker, and the dorsal face of the 2nd node much more convex length- wise. . The pilosity is shorter and scantier, especially on the abdomen, which is microscopically alutaceous. Hillside, Bulawayo; forming fairly populous nests in the ground, and occasionally in the mounds of Platythyrea lamellosa-rhodesiana. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.), type in my collection. T. Trrus, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 427, 9, 1910. «%. 3mm. Mandibles smooth, shining, finely and very sparsely punctured, with two teeth in front, and a denticulate margin behind. Clypeus not carinate, the anterior margin narrowly excised in the middle, behind which is an impressed line. Head quadrate, slightly narrowed in front, as wide as long, hardly concave behind. Eyes placed in the middle of the sides. The frontal carinae and the scapes extend back as far as the posterior Sth of the head. The scape les in a demiscrobe which is decidedly shallow, entirely smooth, and not delimited externally except by the sculpture. The club of the antenna is about as long as the rest of the flagellum, of which the 2nd—8th joints are wider than long. Pro-mesonotum without a suture, convex in all directions, feebly marginate, but fairly clearly marginate in front and laterally; seen from above, it is shaped like a trapeze, narrowed behind, shehtly longer than it is wide in front. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum strongly convex in its anterior half, distinctly longer. than wide, excavated between and in front of the spines, margi- nate at the sides. Declivity marginate by a downward extension of the edge of the spines. The latter wide at the base, pointed, as long as the interval between them. Episternal teeth small and triangular. The Ist node forms a thick scale, biconvex and narrow, hardly thicker, but much narrower, than that of 7. (Xiphomyrmex) Wertzaeckeri, with asmall and obtuse summit; the peduncle as long as the base of the scale. Second node transversely oval, nearly twice as wide as the Ist. Head longitudinally striato-rugose, shining, reticulate-rugose at the sides. Clypeus and thorax very shining, with a feeble and not very close, longitudinal striation. Dorsum of the pro-mesonotum partly smooth. The rest of the body smooth and shining, Pilosity fine, yellowish, pointed, fairly short, sparse on the body and absent from 318 Annals of the South African Museum. the tibiae and scapes. Pubescence very sparse, more apparent on the legs and antennae. Brownish rusty red; head and abdomen brown. “Natal (Wroughton).”’ T. suscozcum, Forel, var. rnscr1a, Forel. Rev. d’Ent., vol. 26, p. 185, 9, 1908. (Variety) Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr., Beiheft, p. 218, 9. 1913. _ %. 3mm. Ochreous, the head slightly reddish-yellow, the thorax dirty yellow, the legs pale yellow. The whole body shining, except the sides of the head and thorax which are somewhat dull. Head faintly and sparsely longitudinally striate above, more strongly and more densely at the sides. Thorax very finely and faintly striate at the sides and in front of the pronotum, almost smooth elsewhere. Nodes aud abdomen smooth. Pilosity yellow, moderately long, sparse and obtuse, absent from the scapes and legs, which have only a very fine decumbent pubescence. Head, excluding the mandibles, barely longer than wide, widest across the eyes, and wider in front of them than behind; the sides fairly convex, the posterior angles slightly rounded, the posterior margin feebly concave in the middle. Eyes very small, composed of a single facet, placed in the middle of the sides. Clypeus with a feeble median carina which does not reach the anterior margin; the latter narrowly emarginate in the middle. Mandibles shining, sparsely punctured, feebly striate near the apex, armed with 6 very obtuse teeth. Frontal carinae short, strongly divergent behind. The frontal sulcus narrow, extending back almost to the occiput. The scapes are curved near the base, and reach back as far as the posterior sixth of the head; 2nd-8th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Pro- mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal, shallow. Thorax marginate at the sides and in front, strongly narrowed towards the meso-epinotal suture. The pro-mesonotum is as long as it is wide in front, and nearly three times wider in front than at the meso-epinotal suture. Dorsum of epmotum almost twice-as long as wide, longer than the declivity. Hpinotal spines acute, not much longer than they are wide at the base, shorter than the interval between them, moderately divergent and oblique. Episternal teeth hardly shorter than the epinotal. Peduncle of the petiole as long asits node. The latter is as loug as wide, narrower in front than behind. Seen from the side, it has a dorsal face which is feebly convex lengthwise, and a vertical anterior face which is shorter than the subvertical posterior face. Second node nearly one-third wider than long, its anterior margin A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 319 very convex, subglobose, wider than the Ist node. Abdomen truncate at the base, the lateral angles rounded. Bulawayo: Matopo Hills, S.R. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. coll.) T. TRAEGAORDHI, Santschi. Goteborgs Kungl. Vetens. och Vitterh, Handl. XV, 2, p. 23, 9, 9, 1914. OS. 2°5-2:7 mm. Pale yellow. Very similar to var. inscia of subcoecum, and differing from it chiefly in the following characters : The pilosity is longer, more abundant, and not obtuse. The sculpture of the head is finer and almost effaced above ; the sides of the thorax are dull, closely and very finely reticulate-punctate, not striate, as in inscia. Mandibles distinctly striate, with about 7 teeth. The thoracic sutures obsolete. The pronotum is much less convex lengthwise in front, and its lateral margins are not so convex. The thorax is also less narrowed than in inscia, and the lateral margins of the mesonotum are straight, or even slightly concave, whereas in inscia they are distinctly convex. The dorsum of the epinotum is wider and flatter, and the epinotal teeth are triangular and longer than the episternal; the latter are merely rounded lobes, not distinct and pointed teeth as in inscia. The peduncle of the petiole is very closely and finely punctured (smooth in inscia), and the node, seen from above, is not subconical in front, but convex, or with a slight suggestion of an anterior and two lateral margins. The 2nd node is wider than the Ist and, seen from above, hemispherical in outline. “0. 33 mm. Ocelli and mandibular margin brownish-black. Head duller than in the G. Eyes as large as one-quarter of the sides of the head. Mesonotum and scutellum very polished and shining. First node higher than in the 9. Wings hyaline, with the nervures pale yellow, the anterior wing 4 mm. long. Stamford Hill, Natal (Traegaordh).” (G.A. coll.) T. SEMIRETICULATUM, N. sp. ©. 22-24 mm. Castaneous or reddish-brown ; the anterior third of the head, the basal third of the 1st abdominal segment, and the whole of the remaining segments somewhat paler, antennae, mandibles, and legs yellowish-brown. Pilosity sparse, composed of short, oblique thin, and pointed yellowish hairs. Pubescence very fine and short, present only on the legs and antennae. The whole body dull, except 21 320 Annals of the South African Musewm. the 2nd and following abdominal segments, which are feebly shining. The body and the femora very closely and finely reticulate-punctate, almost granular. The reticulations are closer and finer on the abdomen and nodes, more open and coarser, but still very fine, on the sides of the thorax. In addition to this fundamental sculpture, the head has a few fine longitudinal striae in the middle, which do not reach quite as far as the occiput behind, but extend over the clypeus in front. The sides of the head, below and in front of the eyes, are also finely and widely reticulate-rugose. The anterior halt of the pro-mesonotum has a very distinct and wide reticulation superimposed. Head, excluding the mandibles, slightly longer than wide, the sides almost straight or very feebly convex, the hind margin straight. Scrobes absent. Eyes rather small, distinctly angulated in front below, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carimae short, divergent, not reaching the middle of the head. Clypeus with a feeble median carina, the anterior margin angularly excised in the middle. The scapes extend back as far as the posterior sixth of the head, 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the club not thick. Mandibles dull, very finely and closely striate, armed with 3 teeth in front and 4 very small ones behind. Thorax in front not quite as wide as the head, the sutures obsolete, not much constricted between the meso- and epinotum. Shoulders of the pronotum fairly prominent, but rounded. 'The thorax in profile is feebly convex above, with the anterior portion of the pronotum vertical. The meso- and epinotum feebly marginate at the sides. The dorsum of the epinotum is twice as long as it 1s wide at the base, where it is widest, and twice as long as the oblique declivity. The epinotal teeth are very small, shorter than their basal width, hardly as long as the episternal teeth, but more pointed. The Ist joint of the petiole resembles very closely that of subcoecum, var. inscia, but the peduncle is broader. The 2nd node is semicircular, wider behind than in front, and wider than the Ist. Both nodes have traces of fine rugae on the dorsal surface. Legs entirely dull, femora not much swollen. gd. 28mm. Brownish-black; tarsi, flagellum, and apical half of the abdomen brownish-yellow; mandibles yellow, scapes, tibiae, and femora yellowish-brown. Pilosity and pubescence as in the 9, the pilosity almost entirely absent from the head. Head, thorax, nodes, and basal third of the 1st abdominal segment very closely and finely reticulate-punctate and dull, the sculpture on the head very fine. The declivity of the epimotum marginate at the sides, and with some wider reticulations superimposed. ‘he apical two-thirds of the 1st A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 321 and the whole of the remaining segments of the abdomen smooth and shining. Head subquadrate, widest across the eyes, wider than long (excluding the mandibles), the sides convex, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles narrowly rounded. The eyes occupy the anterior two-fifths of the head, not touching the base of the mandibles. The latter very finely striate and dull, with 6 or 7 minute teeth. Scapes long, as long as the Ist and 2nd joints of the flagellum taken together, extending back as far as the posterior ocelli. The latter. small, not raised. Clypeus reticulate-punctate ; frontal area distinct, frontal sulcus very shallow, shining, and extending back to the anterior ocellus. Mesonotum twice as wide as long, and twice as long as the scutellum. The parapsidal sutures and a median longitudinal line between the Mayrian furrows smooth and shining. In profile the dorsum and declivity of the epimotum form a continuous and steep curve. Peduncle of the petiole thicker than in the 9, the node thicker and shorter. The 2nd node like that of the 9, but wider and more narrowed in front. Wings tinged with dirty yellow, nervures and stigma very pale yellow. A very distinct species, easily recognised by the sculpture. It is found only in the mounds of Platythyrea lamellosa-rhodesiana, usually making its nest near the top and sides of the mound, or about 2 or 3 in. down below the entrance. Its association with Platythyrea is probably an instance of what Wheeler has termed ‘“‘ xenobiosis.” It may be found in about 50 per cent. of the mounds of Platythyrea in the Hillside district of Bulawayo, but I have never found it elsewhere. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) ; types in my collection. T. toneot, Forel. Bull. Soe. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 344, 9, 1914. ®. 25-38 mm. Varying from brownish-yellow to dark yellowish red-brown, the lst abdominal segment brown, except at the extreme base; the posterior half of the head generally a little darker. Pubes- cence almost entirely absent. ‘he pilosity is fairly abundant, and consists of short, thick, obtuse, and yellowish hairs, which are erect on the body, oblique on the legs and scapes. Head and thorax fairly dull, abdomen smooth and shining. Head strongly and longitudinally rugose, with strong transverse anastomoses between the rugae, the sides of the head more reticulate-rugose. ‘Thorax reticulate-rugose, the reticulations becoming gradually finer and closer posteriorly ; 1st 322 Annals of the South African Museum. node of petiole more finely reticulate than the epinotum, the 2nd node rugulose. Head rectangular, excluding the mandibles, very little longer than wide, a little wider behind than in front,.the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin feebly concave in the middle. Eyes fairly large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae divergent, extending back as far as the posterior fifth of the head, not forming a scrobe, although there is a slight depression below them along their basal half. Scapes extending as far back as the frontal carinae ; 2nd—7th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Mandibles strongly striate, 5-dentate. Clypeus rugose, with a strong median carina, the anterior margin straight. Pronotum fairly convex lengthwise, the shoulders subangular. Thorax not greatly narrowed posteriorly, and not noticeably constricted between the meso- and epinotum. Pro- mesonotal suture obsolete, the meso-epinotal indicated by a shallow impression. Dorsum of the epinotum longer than wide, the spines acute, slightly divergent, and as long as the interval between their bases ; episternal teeth shorter thau the epinotal. The declivity is shorter than the dorsum of the epinotum, vertical, marginate at the sides. First node of petiole cuboid, a little wider than long, longer than its peduncle, vertically truncate in front, nearly so behind, wider behind than in front. Second node transversely oval, half as wide again as the Ist, abdomen subtruncate at the base. Femora swollen. George, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. INTEXTUM, Santschi, var. CATARACTAE, Santschi. Voyage d’Allaud et Jeannel, p. 104, 5, 1914. (Variety) Ann. Soc. Ent., France, vol. 84. p. 506, 9, 1916. ®. 25 mm. Rusty red, the head a little paler, the nodes and abdomen darker or reddish-brown. Legs and antennae brownish- yellow. Head, thorax, and nodes subopaque, abdomen smooth and shining. Pilosity very sparse on the head, thorax, and nodes, more abundant on the abdomen, composed of short, thick, blunt, and yellowish hairs. Legs and antennae finely pubescent. Clypeus and the head, between the frontal carinae, finely and longitudinally striate, with a few feeble transverse anastomoses, the spaces between the striae feebly shining. Sides of the head reticulate-rugose, the floor of the demiscrobes only finely reticulate. Dorsum of thorax and nodes closely rugose or rugulose, the sculpture emphasised longitudinally. ‘The sides of the thorax, the epinotum except at the base, and the peduncle of the petiole finely reticulate-punctate. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 323 Head a little longer than wide, the sides more convex behind the eyes than in front of them, hardly narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin shallowly concave. Eyes fairly large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae divergent, extending back as far as the occiput, and forming the upper margin of shallow, but fairly distinct demiscrobes. Scapes not reaching the occipital margin by as much as their own width; 2nd—7th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the 8th as long as wide. Clypeus carinate in the middle. Mandibles closely and very finely striate, with 3 distinct teeth in front, and 4 feeble teeth behind. Thorax moderately constricted between the meso- and epinotum, very slightly so between the pro- and mesonotum. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal wide but shallow. Pronotum sloping fairly steeply downwards in front, the shoulders rounded. Thorax submarginate, narrower than the head. Dorsum of epinotum widest at the base, about one and a third times longer than wide, not much longer than the declivity ; epinotal teeth wider at the base than long, somewhat obtuse. Episternal teeth triangular, a little longer than the epimotal. Peduncle of petiole very wide and nearly as long as its node; the latter, seen from above, wider than long, transversely oval, narrower in front than behind, indistinctly hexagonal in outline; seen in profile, the anterior face vertical, the posterior face oblique and merging gradually into the dorsal face. Second node transversely oval, one-third wider than long and wider than the Ist, convex above, transversely and lenethwise. Femora only shghtly swollen. : Victoria Falls. (R.M., G.A. colls.) T. pusintum, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent., France, vol. 63, p. 38, 9, 1895. “6. 17mm. Ferruginous-testaceous, head dark, abdomen piceous ; pilose hairs subclavate, scanty, legs with a shorter pubescence. “Head subrectangular, frontal carinae subparallel and extending back almost to the posterior margin; closely punctured, the cheeks anteriorly and the frons very finely and longitudinally striate ; mandibles shining, punctate ; thorax hardly marginate, longitudinally rugoso-reticulate, epinotum obtusely bidentate, peduncle of petiole punctate, the node angular above, barely longer than thick, 2nd node subglobose, the abdomen shining. “Oo. 25 mm. Piceous, mandibles, antennae, legs, and apex of abdomen testaceous ; head and peduncle of petiole sculptured as in the 9, mesonotum and scutellum longitudinally striate, the epinotum B24 Annals of the South African Museum. acutely bidentate; the petiole more robust, the 2nd node transversely ovate. “Capetown (Simon).” Var. MOSSAMEDENSIS, Forel. Warburg Kunene-Zambesi Exped. (H. Baum), p. 560, 9, 1905. %. 22mm. Reddish-brown, the petiole a little paler, the abdo- men dark brown, legs, antennae, and mandibles brownish-yellow. Head, thorax, and nodes very slightly shining, abdomen smooth and very shining. Pilosity scanty, composed of whitish and rather blunt hairs, oblique on the abdomen, erect elsewhere. Legs and antennae pubescent only, the pubescence very short and sparse. Head longitudinally striate between the frontal carinae, reticulate at the sides, the reticulations becoming finer and smaller towards the posterior angles and the frontal carmae. Thorax, epinotum, and nodes finely reticulate-punctate. On the pro-mesonotum a coarser reticulation is superimposed, almost rugose; the sculpture of the nodes is very feeble. Sides of pronotum closely reticulate-punctate, the sides of the mesonotum more strongly so, with the meshes wider than elsewhere. The peduncle of the petiole very finely reticulate or alutaceous. Head quadrate, hardly longer than wide, the sides feebly convex, the posterior angles narrowly rounded, the posterior margin straight. Eyes placed a little in front of the middle of the sides, moderately large. Frontal carinae very divergent, prolonged back as thin lines to the posterior fourth of the head, no trace of scrobes. Clypeus tricarinate, the median carina the strongest. Mandibles 6-dentate, sparsely punctured, very finely striate. Scapes not reaching the hind margin of the head, Ist joint of flagellum nearly as long as the four following joints taken together, 2nd-7th joints wider than long. Thoracic sutures absent, but the meso- and epinotum are separated by a shallow depression. Dorsum of thorax feebly margi- nate at the sides, half as long again as wide in front, very slightly constricted between the meso- and epinotum; shoulders of pronotum subangular. Dorsum of epinotum horizontal on its basal half, the apical half oblique, sloping towards the declivity, and twice as long as the latter. Epinotal teeth small (but longer than the episternal), as long as their basal width, directed slightly upwards, moderately divergent. Declivity vertical, marginate at the sides, the episternal teeth obtuse. Peduncle of petiole nearly as long as the node; the latter has the anterior face vertical, higher than the posterior face, which is convex and forms with the dorsal face a single convexity. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 325 Seen from above, the node is trapezoidal, wider behind than in front, about one-third wider than long. Second node a little wider than the Ist, distinctly wider than long ; the anterior margin seen from above, is convex, narrower behind than in front. Abdomen ovate, slightly truncate at the base, the basal angles widely rounded. Femora only shghtly swollen. Bulawayo, common in grassy soil. (S.A.M., R.M., G-.A. colls.) Race LapismrrHENsts, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 117, $, 9, 1913. &. 22-24 mm. Brown; the head and abdomen dark brown, egs, antennae, and mandibles ochreous. Closely allied to mossame- densis, but smaller and more slender, and differing from it in the following characters : The sculpture is finer and closer ; on the thorax the larger reticula- tions are almost absent, the pronotum smooth and shining, or only reticulate-punctate at its margins. The frontal carinae are more distinct and form shallow demiscrobes, the floor of which is slightly shining and less strongly reticulate than the rest of the head. The pronotal shoulders are more rounded, and the profile of the dorsum of the thorax is not depressed between the meso- and epinotum, The epinotal teeth are much smaller, much shorter than their basal width, being hardly more than wide angles, also shorter and smaller than the episternal teeth. The thorax is not marginate above. The dorsal surface of the Ist node is as long as wide (wider than long in mossamedensis), submarginate in front, the anterior margin not. so convex as in mossamedensis. ?. 33-3°5 mm. Very dark brown, almost black, the extreme apices of the abdominal segments testaceous; legs, antennae, and mandibles ochreous. Head narrower in front than behind and, excluding the mandibles, one-fifth longer than wide. Mesonotum and scutellum finely, closely, and longitudinally striate, sides of thorax rugulose. Mesonotum rather flat, with the scutellum very little higher than the dorsum of the epinotum. Epinotal teeth acute, subvertical, a little longer than their basal width, longer and larger than the episternal teeth. Second node relatively wider than in the % , about twice as wide as long. Otherwise like the >. Ladismith, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) 326 | Annals of the South African Museum. Race TABLENSE, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 228, 9, 9, g, 1914. 5. 2-22 mm. Colour as in var. mossamedensis. Similar to race ladismithensis, but the head is a little less elongate, the thorax more constricted between the meso- and epinotum. ‘The epinotal teeth are almost obsolete, being represented by two small ridges. The frontal carinae are much shorter, without a trace of scrobes below them. Otherwise like the race ladismithensis. 9. 26 mm. Blackish-brown. The mesonotum and scutellum feebly and longitudinally striate; the dorsum of the declivity steep, the epinotal teeth distinct, acute, triangular, not quite as long as their basal width. Deilated. Otherwise like the ¢. go. 27 mm. Black; legs, antennae, and mandibles dirty yellow. Head subquadrate, widest in the middle, a little wider behind than in front. Scapes extending back as far as the posterior ocelli. Hyes large, convex, occupying the anterior third of the head, not touching the base of the mandibles. Head dull, very finely and closely reticulate- rugulose. Mesonotum and scutellum very faintly and longitudinally striate or aciculate, shining. Epinotum reticulate-striate, dull; nodes feebly reticulate and slightly shining. Abdomen smooth and shining. Table Mountain, nesting under stones. This is one of the few species which appear to be able to hold their own against the invading Iridomyrmex humilis, and it is found at the lower levels of the mountain where humilis has succeeded in driving out almost all other kind of ants. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. SIMILLIMUM, Smith. List of British Animals in B.M., Part 6, 9%, 1851. Roger (Tetrogmus caldarius), Berlin Ent. Zeitschr., p. 12, 9, 1857. Meinert (Myrmica caldaria), Naturv. Afh. Dansk. Vid. Selsk. V, p. 3384, %, 1860. ©. 28mm. Head, thorax, and nodes brownish-ochreous, abdomen brown, the apical half and sometimes the base paler; legs, antennae, and mandibles ochreous. Very sparsely pilose, the hairs fairly thick and blunt, erect on the head and thorax, oblique elsewhere. Legs and antennae with a fine pubescence, rather sparse on the legs. Abdomen and legs shining, the rest of the body dull. The funda- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 327 mental sculpture of the head and thorax is a very fine reticulation, Head longitudinally striate between the frontal carinae, the sides below the carinae only reticulate in the upper half, more longitudinally rugose in the lower half, and in front of the eyes more or less reticu- late rugose. Thorax above fairly closely and finely rugose, more or less longitudinally ; at the sides chiefly reticulate. Dorsum of epi- notum reticulate only, the declivity smooth and shining. Nodes coriaceous, with a few feeble and uneven rugae. Abdomen smooth, without striae at the base. Head a little longer than wide, slightly narrowed in front of the eyes, the sides feebly convex, the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin straight or at the most only feebly concave. Eyes of medium size, placed in the middle of the sides of the head. Clypeus with a thin median carina and a thinner stria on each side cf it. Mandibles slightly shining, aciculate, very sparsely and faintly punctured. Frontal carinae produced backwards as fine lines almost as far as the occipital margin ; the scapes extend back equally far. No trace of scrobes. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, the meso-epinotal very shallow, indistinct. Dorsum of epinotum nearly twice as lone as wide; the epinotal teeth small, forming merely triangular prominences of the ends of the raised margins of the declivity ; episternal lobes rounded, larger than the epinotal teeth. Declivity subvertical. First node, seen from the side, as long as its peduncle, the anterior face vertical, the posterior and dorsal faces forming a single convexity. Seen from above, it is barely wider than long. Second node subglobose, a little wider than long and wider than the lst. Femora moderately swollen. @. 38mm. Similar to the % in greater part, the colour a little darker, the tegulae, metanotum, and a patch behind each ocellus dark brown, Pronotum widely reticulate-rugose, mesonotum and scutellum longitudinally striate, epinotum reticulate-punctate and feebly striate. Nodes rugulose, also very sparsely striate longitudinally. Moderately shining. Head more parallel-sided than in the §, longer than wide. Pronotum exposed above at the shoulders. Mesonotum and scutellum horizontal and flat, except the anterior third of the former, which is moderately convex. Epinotal teeth a little larger than in the 6. (Deialated. ) ¢. 33 mm. Ochreous; the abdomen and ocellar area slightly fuscous. Head, scutellum, and epinotum slightly dull, the rest of the body shining. Head feebly and longitudinally striate, more or less reticulate on the cheeks in front of the eyes. Frontal carinae extend back as far as the level of the anterior ocelli. Head longer than wide, widest across the middle, a little narrower behind than in front, 328 Annals of the South African Museum. The eyes occupy nearly half of the sides, placed in front of the middle of the head. Mayrian furrows well defined, mesonotum smooth and shining ; scutellum and epinotum faintly rugulose. The dorsum and declivity of the epinotum form a single plane, sloping steeply from base to apex. Both nodes smooth and shining. First node, seen from above, more or less lenticular, two-thirds wider than long, as long as its peduncle, the middle of the sides angular. Second node a little wider than long, and a little wider than the Ist. The Ist node is more, and the 2nd node less convex from back to front than in the 9. Wings pale fuscous, the nervures yellowish. Durban. A widely distributed species which has been carried through commerce to many parts of both hemispheres. It is fre- quently found in hothouses in temperate countries. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. Powerit, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 225, 9, 1914. &. 22-26 mm. Yellowish-red, antennae, legs, and mandibles reddish-yellow, Ist abdominal segment more or less brownish, the remaining segments yellow. ‘The demiscrobes are practically obso- lete, their position being indicated only by a smoother area, devoid of sculpture and not lower than the rest of the surface. The frontal carinae are not prolonged backwards, their place being taken by 3 or 4 irregular and longitudinal striae on each side; the median area between the striae almost smooth and distinctly shining. The head is only feebly sculptured behind the eyes, fairly distinctly reticulate in front of them, the floor of the meshes dull and finely rugulose. The pro-mesonotum, except the lateral and anterior margins which are finely rugulose, is smooth and shining; the epinotum and sides of the thorax very finely reticulate-punctate and subopaque, the sculpture finest on the sides of the pro-thorax. Nodes and abdomen smooth and shining. The clypeus is prominently carinate in the middle. Mandibies shining, very sparsely and shallowly punctured, 6-dentate. The pubescence of the legs and scapes is noticeably long and abundant. The scape falls short of the occipital margin by a distance equal to the length of the eye. Thorax feebly marginate above. Epinotal teeth acute, very small, distinctly shorter than the episternal lobes. The nodes of the petiole very convex above transversely, much less so longitudinally. Kimberley (Brother Power). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) ? A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 329 Var. SHILOHENS!IS, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr., Beiheft, p. 218, 9, 1913. OS. 23-25 mm. Bright yellow, with the reticulations and the flagellum somewhat reddish-yellow. The larger forms, found in a different locality, are darker than the smaller ones, but otherwise similar. The pilosity is fairly abundant, and is composed of pointed, yellow hairs, erect on the body, oblique and shorter on the legs and antennae, which are also sparsely pubescent. Head, thorax, and nodes feebly shining. Head, between the frontal carinae, dorsum of thorax, and sides of pro-thorax, rather strongly and longitudinally rugose, also partly reticulate. Sides of head reticulate, the rugae emphasised longitudinally, the floor of the meshes finely reticulate. Distinct demiscrobes present. Sides of meso- and epinotum duller, closely rugulose. Nodes feebly rugulose. Declivity of epimotum and the abdomen smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than wide, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin straight or feebly concave in the middle. Eyes small, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal earinae prolonged back as far as the occipital margin, divergent along their anterior third, nearly parallel behind, Scapes rather short, barely reaching beyond the posterior third of the head. Clypeus tri- carinate. Dorsum of thorax distinctly marginate in front and at the sides. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete above, the meso-epinotal indi- cated by a shallow groove. The thorax is moderately constricted between the pro- and mesonotum, more strongly so between the meso- and epinotum. Dorsum of epinotum one and a half times longer than the subvertical declivity. Epinotal teeth fairly large, acute, a trifle longer than their basal width, and quite twice as long as the episternal lobes; moderately divergent, directed very obliquely upwards. First node of petiole as long as its-peduncle, vertically truncate in front, convex lenethwise above and behind, a little longer than wide. Second node one-third wider than the Ist, as wide as lone, widest behind. Bembesi, 8. Rhodesia (the smaller forms, 2°5 mm.), in the nest of Platythyrea cribrinodis ; Shiloh, 8. Rhodesia, in the nest of Ophthal- mopone Berthoudi. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race IstpinacEenseE, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 225, G, 1914. %. 3-3°3mm. Pale ochreous yellow, the nodes slightly brownish, 330 Annals of the South African Museum. the lst abdominal segment, except the base, brownish-yellow. Mode- rately shining, including the legs. Pilosity scanty, composed of very thin, short, and pointed hairs, pale yellowish. Head sparsely and longitudinally striato-rugose, more reticulate at the sides. Thorax reticulate-rugose, the floor of the meshes finely and shallowly rugulose, the sides of the thorax more closely but less sharply reticulate. Nodes with a few feeble rugae. Abdomen moderately shining, very clearly and evenly punctate, the punctures small. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-sixth longer than wide, the sides parallel, the hind margin shallowly concave, the posterior angles narrowly rounded. Hyes very convex, prominent, and large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae prolonged back as far as the posterior sixth of the head, moderately divergent. Faint traces of demiscrobes present. Clypeus with a few longitudinal striae, hardly carinate. Mandibles smooth and shining, very finely and sparsely punctured, the masticatory margin long, armed with three distinct and small teeth in front and four smaller ones behind, the teeth widely separated. Thorax elongate, quite twice as long as wide in front, the dorsum feebly marginate at the sides and in front, very slightly con- stricted between the meso- and epinotum. 'Theepinotal teeth are very minute, much shorter and smaller than the episternal, which are acute and triangular. The peduncle of the 1st segment of the petiole is almost as long as the node, and bears a small and sharp tooth below near the base; the node is a little longer than wide, and seen from the side, very convex from front to back. The 2nd node is one-third wider than the Ist, and one-third wider than long, transversely oval, narrower and lower in front than behind. Femora swollen in the middle. Isipingo, Natal (H. B. Marley). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race DELAGOENSE, Forel, Mitth, Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 80, 9, 2, ¢, 1894. “OG. 22-25mm. Like simillimumi. sp., but the frontal carinae are straight or only feebly divergent (not curving round again towards each other posteriorly). Eyes nearer to the anterior than to the posterior angles of the head. Thorax rather longer and narrower. Epinotum with two elongate tubercles, barely dentiform. First node of petiole less thick, abruptly truncate and highest in front, sloping convexly backwards from the anterior margin. Both nodes shining, with a very shallow sculpture; abdomen smooth. The club is shorter than the rest of the flagellum (quite as long as the rest in simillimum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. o3l 1, sp.). Sculpture and hairs as in the type species, even so the size of the head in relation to that of the body, but a little more slender ; legs somewhat stouter. Yellowish, thorax and head reddish-yellow, the abdomen paler. “O., 3-34 mm. Head much longer than wide (hardly so in the type species). Thorax longer and lower, the epinotal teeth broad, obtuse, and triangular. First node thinner than in the type species, almost squamiform, thinner than in the. Dorsum of epinotum at, least as long as the declivity. Sculpture, pilosity, and colour as in the 9. Wings almost hyaline, with very pale nervures and stigma. Thorax narrower than the head. “@. 29mm. Dirty brownish-yellow. Epinotum with two feeble tubercles ; the dorsum much longer than the declivity. Head and epinotum reticulate-punctate, slightly shining. Abdomen, mesonotum, and petiole shining and fairly smooth. Antennae 10-jointed, the 2nd joint of the flagellum long. Otherwise like the ?.” Delagoa (Dr. Liengme) ; Natal (Wroughton). Race Botuasr, Forel. Ann, Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 425, 9, 9, ¢, 1910. “O. 2°3-2.5 mm. Larger than the type of the species and its race delagoense. Differs from both by its more robust stature. The dorsum of the epinotum is wide, only very little longer than wide; the episternal and epinotal teeth stronger, more spinose. The Ist node is distinctly wider than long, plainly truncate in front, with a well- defined upper anterior margin. both nodes dull, reticulate-punctate, sometimes striate. Head and thorax chiefly brownish; thorax reddish-brown. ‘Tarsi, antennae, and mandibles reddish-yellow, the club brown. “oO. 3mm. Like the 9. First node nearly twice as wide as long. } “3. 3mm. Nodes a little wider. Otherwise like the type of the species.” Basutoland and Natal (Wroughton, Haviland). T. cargspirum, Linn., race ScHuLtrzer, Forel. Syst. Nat. Edition. 10a, p. 581, 9, 1758. (Race) Schultze Reise Siid Afrika, vol. 4, p. 19, 9, 1910. “O. 19-2 mm. Mandibles finely striate, fairly shining, with 6 or 7 teeth. Head distinctly, although not greatly flattened, quadrangular, 332 Annals of the South African Museum. not wider than long, feebly concave behind. Eyes in the middle of the sides of the head. Clypeus feebly carinate; the frontal carimae short. The scape almost reaches the posterior margin of the head; 3rd—5th joints of the flagellum wider than long. No trace of a scrobe. Thorax short; the profile of the dorsum hardly, or not at all inter- rupted (more distinctly interrupted in the race depressum). Epi- notum with very small teeth. First node almost cuboid, as in caespitum, var. punicum, Smith. Clypeus, frons, cheeks, and thorax finely and feebly longitudinally striate (sometimes indistinctly) shining. ‘The rest of the body smooth. Puilosity and pubescence as in the other races. Brown; legs and antennae brownish-yellow, abdomen dark brown. “ Kgokong-Kang, Kalahari (Schultze) in sand. ‘“‘ Near the race depressum, Forel, but much smaller, not so smooth and without any emargination of the thorax, with a more cuboid Ist node. Also closely allied to the var. punicwm, Smith, but still smoother and with the head depressed. Differs from pusillum, Emery, by the short frontal carinae.” The type species has a wide distribution, occurring over the whole of Kurope and the south shores of the Mediterranean. T’. ERICAE, 0. sp. ®. 17mm. Pale ochreous yellow, the abdomen slightly brownish- yellow ; the clypeus more reddish-yellow. Pilosity abundant, com- posed of thin, whitish hairs, which are erect on the head, thorax and nodes, oblique on the abdomen. Legs and antennae very sparsely pubescent. Head, dorsum of thorax and the nodes nitidulous, finely ‘reticulate-rugose, the sculpture emphasised longitudinally on the head between the frontal carinae, the sides of the head and thorax more densely sculptured, almost rugulose. Abdomen smooth and shining, and in some examples, with a golden reflection on the sides. Head subquadrate, excluding the mandibles as long as wide, the sides nearly parallel, the posterior margin straight, a little narrower in front than behind. Eyes large, placed a little in front of the middle, occupying about one-fifth of the sides of the head. Frontal carinae divergent, extending back almost as far as the occiput, and forming the upper boundary of the fairly deep and wide scrobes. The latter are smooth and shining, divided into two parts over the basal third, by a longitudinal ridge. Scapes as long as the scrobes; Ist joint of flagellum as lone as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th taken together, 3rd—7th joints quite twice as wide as long, the club one and a half times longer than the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles shining, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 339 sparsely punctured, the masticatory margin piceous, with 3 distinct teeth in front, indistinctly denticulate behind. Clypeus feebly carinate in the middle. Frontal area triangular, fairly well defined. Thoracic sutures obsolete. Thorax narrower than the head, widest in front, narrowing gradually behind towards the epinotal teeth, slightly constricted between the meso- and epinotum, one and a half times longer than wide in front, the shoulders of the pronotum rounded. In profile, the thorax is moderately convex lengthwise, the dorsum of the epinotum oblique and merging gradually into the declivity. Epinotal spines acute, divergent, half as long as the interval between their bases, hardly longer than their basal width, one-third longer than the episternal teeth. Declivity marginate at the sides. Peduncle of the petiole half as long as its node; the latter, seen from above, is sub- elobose, nearly one-quarter wider than long. Seen in profile, it is obliquely truncate in front, and the posterior-dorsal face is convex, The 2nd node is transversely oval, twice as wide as long, one-quarter wider than the Ist, convex transversely and longitudinally, as wide in front as behind. Abdomen globose. Femora very shghtly swollen. Hillside, Bulawayo, in sandy soil. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.), type in my collection. This species appears to me to be intermediate im structure between Tetramorium s. str. and its subgenus Triglyphothrix. The absence of branched hairs and the less transverse Ist node are the only points of difference between it and the subgenus. IT have much pleasure in associating this species with the name of Mrs. Hepburn, whose unfailing hospitahty has given me the oppor- tunity to collect many of the interesting species which are found at Hillside, near Bulawayo. Subgenus T'riagLypHoruRix, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. C.R., vol. 34, p. evi, 1890. Characters. ©. Antennae 12-jointed, the club 3-jointed. Mandibles and clypeus as in Tetramorium. Distinct antennal scrobes nearly always present, divided by a longitudinal carina into two halves, for the reception of the folded scape and flagellum. Thorax stout and short, the thoracic sutures obsolete or nearly so. Epinotum armed, episternal teeth also present, as in T'etramorium. First joint of petiole with a short peduncle; both nodes, or at least the 2nd, much wider than long. Hairs usually trifid, sometimes polyfid. 334 Annals of the South African Museum. Q@. Similar to the 9 but larger ; forewing with one closed cubital cell, the radial cell open. g. Antennae 10-jointed; 2nd joint of flagellum very long, 3rd joint short, shorter than the Ist. Mayrian furrows present. Nodes of petiole not so wide as in the 9, the Ist joint subpedunculate. This subgenus is distributed throughout the Ethiopian and Indo- malayan regions. One species, 7’. striatidens, Hmery, has become almost cosmopolitan, and is often found in hothouses in temperate countries. The ants of this subgenus are rather timid insects, -generally feigning death when touched. The nests are made in the ground. One species, 7’. Arnoldi, Forel, is more frequently found in the nests of other ants, apparently in plesiobiotic or cleptobiotic association. Key to the 9 © of Triglyphothriz. (4) 1. Yellow or reddish-yellow species. (3) 2. Thorax dull, very closely and finely punctured; hairs simple. Arnoldi, Forel. (2) 3. Thorax coarsely reticulate and shining between the reticulations. auropunctatus, Forel, var. fusciventris, Forel. (1) 4. Black or brownish species. (6) 5. Epinotum with long spines, as long as the interval between their bases i ; ; : , . Constanciae, Arnold. (5) 6. Epinotum armed only with small teeth. (8) 7. Second node of petiole at least two and a quarter times wider than long . : : ; 3 : : Marleyi, Forel. (7) 8. Second node of petiole not more than twice as wide as long. (10) 9. Thorax irregularly reticulate, brownish; larger species, 3°3.mm. Inezulae, Forel. (9) 10. Thorax strongly and evenly reticulate, piceous; smaller species, 2°6 mm. : : ‘ j ‘ . Hepburni, Arnold. Microps, Mayr, and Trimeni, Emery, are not known to me in nature, and are not included in the above key. Judging by the descriptions Hepburn appears to differ from Trimeni by its larger size and by the Ist node of the petiole, which is clearly wider than long; microps is apparently allied to awropunctatus, but has much smaller eyes. T. aurRopunctatus, Forel. Schultze, Reise Siid-Afrika, vol. 4, p. 20, 9, 9, 1910. “«O. 21-2 mm. Mandibles strongly striated, punctured, with 3 A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 335 distinct teeth in front, and 4 indistinct teeth behind. Clypeus cari- nate, distinctly emarginate in the middle. Head quadrangular, as wide behind as long, narrowed in front, nearly straight behind (hardly feebly concave). Eyes decidedly small, consisting of 10-12 facets, but yet larger than in microps. The scape, incrassate from the middle, reaches the posterior fifth of the head; the 2nd—5th joints of the flagellum are more than three times wider than long. The frontal earinae form exteriorly a deep and wide scrobe for both scape and flagellum, the scrobe bending round behind. Between the groove for the scape and that for the flagellum, there is a raised and sharp triangle, with its base forwards. The floor of the scrobe is shining ‘and finely reticulate. The eye hes close to the outer margin of the groove for the flagellum, which is obsolete in front. Thorax very wide, short, feebly convex, almost marginate above, with blunt anterior angles. Pro-mesonotal suture absent. Meso-epinotal suture feeble, a suggestion of a metanotum. Hpinotal teeth broad, triangular, fairly short and acute; episternal teeth flat and obtuse. First node of petiole with a very short peduncle, the node two and a half times wider than long, almost vertically truncate in front and behind, the upper surface almost flat or only feebly convex transversely, a little declivous behind, the anterior margin feebly emarginate. Second node nearly three times as wide as long, somewhat wider than, and nearly as high as the Ist, with a straight or even slightly concave anterior face, and a convex posterior face. Abdomen truncate in front: Femora distinctly swollen in the middle. Head, thorax, and 1st joint of the petiole coarsely and densely, longitudinally rugose, coarsely and closely punctured between the rugae. Second joint of the petiole (the Ist also partly) coarsely punctured. The rest smooth, merely very finely and sparsely punctured. The whole body, femora and tibiae closely covered with fairly short, yellow and polyfid hairs. Yellowish- red, abdomen more brownish-yellow. The floor of the coarse punctures appears golden in certain lights. «o, 33mm. Like the 9. Mesonotum flat above, longitudinally rugose, sharply and coarsely punctured. Nodes somewhat wider, otherwise like the $. Darker yellowish-red ; a spot on the vertex, the post-scutellum, a part of the mesonotum, and the abdomen brown. Deilated. Pubescence and all else as in the ¢. “ Natal, 2500 metres (Haviland).” Var. BULAWAYENSIS, 0. v. . ‘This differs from the above by the absence of the triangular prominence between the two halves of the antennal scrobe, and by the 22 336 Annals of the South African Museum. entire absence of the meso-epinotal suture. The floor of the punctures without any golden reflection. Bulawayo, living in the nests of Platythyrea cribrinodis, apparently in plesiobiosis. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.), type in my collection. Var. PALLENS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 424, 9 , 1910. “8. 2 mm. A little smaller than the type of the species. Entirely pale yellow, with the same golden punctures. Epinotal spines shorter, only a little longer than their basal width. Nodes of the petiole less broad, the 2nd only twice as wide as long, the 1st one and a half times wider than long. “Natal (Haviland).” Var. FUSCIVENTRIS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 116, 9, 1913. “6. 22-25 mm. A little smaller than the type of the species. Epinotal spines distinctly shorter, subdentiform but acute, very little longer than their basal width. The same golden punctures as in the type. The sculpture a shade finer and more rugose. Nodes a little wider. Of a darker yellow and more brownish colour than that of the type. Abdomen brownish. Otherwise like the type species.” The thorax is narrowed between the meso- and epimotum, but there is no trace of the suture dorsally. The margins of the thorax and the edges of the epinotal teeth are more darkly coloured. The basal third of the abdominal segments paler than the remaining portions. Some of the hairs are simple, the rest are shorter and trifid. Bulawayo, like var. bulawayensis, also nesting in and near the galleries of Platythyrea cribrinodis. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. RHODESIANA, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 221, 2, 1913. “OQ, 364mm. Darker than the type of the species, dark brown. Frons, cheeks, mandibles, antennae, legs and transverse bands on the posterior portion of the abdomen, yellowish-red. Head less emarginate behind and more narrowed in front. The Ist node is more rounded at the sides, and above all, the 2nd node is differently shaped, being obtusely and conically pointed laterally, less flat above, forming more of a rounded, transverse edge. Otherwise like the type.” A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 337 The colour is reddish-brown, that of the head lighter, especially on the anterior third. The base of the Ist abdominal segment is evenly and shallowly punctured. Bembesi, S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. TRIMENI, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 40, 9, 1895. “6. 17mm. Allied to 7. Walshi and lanuginosa (Indian species), but differing in having the 2nd node of the petiole transverse, dis- tinctly wider than the Ist; the lst abdominal segment has foveiform punctures, and the epinotal spines are shorter. “O. 32mm. Very like the 9; abdomen similarly sculptured, 2nd node of the petiole less transverse. Kimberley, 1 9, 2 9 (Simon).” Also a variety of the 9; “less strongly sculptured, Ist abdominal segment without foveiform punctures. Hamimans Kraal, | specimen.” In addition to the above, the author remarks that in T'rimeni the 2nd node is distinctly wider than the Ist and strongly transverse, the lst appears hardly wider than long. T’. microps, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 25, ©, 9, 1901. “6. 23-25 mm. Yellow, fairly dull, abdomen shining. The whitish erect hairs on the upper surface of the body are not long, but are fairly abundant. Mandibles longitudinally striate. The head is coarsely reticulate-punctate, the frons and vertex chiefly coarsely and longitudinally rugose, the clypeus with longitudinal striae and a little median carina, somewhat impressed in the middle in front, the anterior margin emarginate; the scrobe is shining and fairly finely and irregularly rugose, with a few strong transverse striae near the antennal socket. The eyes are very small, composed of from 6-9 facets. Seen in profile, the closely reticulate thorax has the pronotum strongly curved backwards from below and in front; the mesonotum is only slightly convex, the epinotum moderately so. The latter bears two large, triangular, and equilateral teeth. The dorsum of the epinotun merges gradually into the declivity. The Ist node of the reticulate petiole is twice as wide as long, the 2nd node somewhat wider than the Ist, and fully twice as wideas long. The abdomen is smooth, with scanty piligerous punctures. “ O, 34-35 mm. More or less reddish-yellow, or also partly 338 Annals of the South African Museum. brown ; the pubescence and sculpture as in the G@. Mesonotum and scutellum longitudinally rugose. Otherwise like the type of the @. The anterior wings fairly clear. Port Elizabeth. (Dr. H. Brauns).”’ T. Arnoxp1, Forel. (Plate VII, fig. 93.) Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 220, 9, 1913. ®. 22-3 mm. Ochreous or reddish-ochreous; antennae, and sometimes also the abdomen, darker. Head, thorax, and petiole dull, abdomen smooth and shining. Mandibles and clypeus slightly shining. Head, thorax, and petiole very closely and finely reticulate- punctate or granulate; in addition, the head above is finely and longitudinally striate, the scrobes and the cheeks in front finely punctate only. Legs slightly shining. Pubescence very short and yellowish, fairly scanty all over; the erect pilose hairs are also short and sparse. All the hairs simple. Head as long as wide, slightly narrowed in front, the posterior angles widely rounded, the posterior margin almost straight. Clypeus feebly carinate in the middle, and with two or three longitudinal and raised lines on each side of the carina; the anterior margin straight. Frontal area small and indistinct. Mandibles finely striate, with 7 teeth, the 4 posterior ones indistinct. The frontal carinae diverge behind the antennal sockets and are continued in a slight curve almost to the posterior margin of the head, where they curve down- wards and forwards below the eye. The scrobe so formed is distinct but shallow, and is divided into two by a longitudinal raised line, Eyes small, placed at about the middle of the sides. Scape of antenna extends back almost to the posterior fourth of the head ; 2nd-—/th joints of the flagellum quite two and half times wider than — long. Thorax short, not longer than the head, considerably narrowed between the meso- and epinotum, feebly convex longitudinally, a little more strongly so transversely, the anterior face abrupt, the shoulders of the pronotum rounded. Thoracic sutures obsolete. Epinotum marginate laterally, the dorsum one and a quarter times longer than wide, the declivity oblique and shorter than the dorsum. Epinotal teeth almost triangular, very little longer than wide at the base, slightly divergent, merging in front and behind in the raised margins of the epinotum. LEpisternal teeth small and blunt, smaller than the epi- notal. First joint of petiole with the peduncle shorter than the node; the latter one and a half times wider than long, convex behind transversely, straight, or feebly concave in front, the dorsal surface feebly convex transversely and sloping downwards and backwards. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 339 Second node wider than the Ist, twice as long as wide, not longer than the Ist, a little narrower behind than in front. ?. 38 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Dark yellowish-brown, the head somewhat reddish, the legs and antennae paler than the body, the sides of the mesonotum in front dark brown. Pilosity and pubescence asin the 9. Sculpture similar to that of the 9, but the punctura- tion all over is a little stronger, and the longitudinal striae on the head are sharper. ‘The base of the Ist abdominal segment is closely and very finely punctured, rather dull. The eyes are large, occupying about one-quarter of the sides of the head; there is a black spot behind each of the three ocelli. Mesonotum rounded in front, flat behind, the pro-mesonotal suture arcuate. The sides of the meso- notum and scutellum sparsely striate. Dorsum of epinotum wider than long, the declivity nearly vertical. The petiole is similar to that of the %, but the nodes are shorter (thinner). Wings slightly yellowish, the nervures dirty yellow. The smaller sized 6 9, 2°2 mm., and the 9 were taken in an independent nest under a stone; except in size, they do not appear to differ from the larger form. The latter was taken in nests made in the walls of the galleries of Platythyrea lamellosa-rhodesiana, and also of Opthalmopone Berthoud Shiloh and Bulawayo, 8S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. CONSTANCTIAE, n. sp. (Plate VII, figs. 94, 94a.) %. 33-36 mm. Black; mandibles, antennae, and tarsi reddish- yellow, femora and tibiae yellowish-brown in the middle, reddish- yellow at their base and apex. Densely clothed all over, except on the tarsi and flagellum, with fairly long, erect, and whitish hairs, which are distinctly trifid, not hiding the sculpture. Abdomen and legs shining, the rest of the body moderately shining between the reticulations. Head strongly and longitudinally rugose, also some- what reticulate, owing to the presence of feebler transverse anas- tomoses. Thorax and Ist node of petiole strongly reticulate, the meshes rather wide, especially on the epinotum ; 2nd node less strongly and less distinctly reticulate. Abdomen smooth. Head a little longer than wide, a little narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles strongly rounded. Mandibles slightly shining, feebly striate and sparsely punctured, armed with distinct teeth in front, indistinctly dentate behind. Clypeus with a median carinula and 3 or 4 longitudinal raised lines on each side of it, the anterior margin straight. Frontal area obsolete, frontal sulcus replaced by a raised line. 'The frontal] 340 Annals of the South African Museum. carinae sinuate, divergent, extending back to the posterior fifth of the head. The scrobes are shining, with a few transverse striae; the longitudinal ridge, which divides the scrobe into two parts for the reception of the scape and flagellum. respectively, does not reach the posterior end of the scrobe, the outer half of the scrobe not well defined. yes large, prominent and very convex, their margins angular below, placed in the middle of the sides of the head. The scape extends to the posterior fifth of the head; Ist jomt of the flagellum twice as long as wide, 2nd—7th joints wider than long. Thorax only slightly constricted between the meso- and epinotum, thoracic sutures entirely absent. The thorax is convex transversely in front and above, and in profile, moderately convex in front. The epinotal spines are very acute, directed upwards and outwards, rather long, a little longer than the interval between their bases. The brow of the declivity, between the spines, is transversely striate; the declivity marginate at the sides, the raised margins continued into the short and blunt episternal teeth. First joint of the petiole with the peduncle half as long as the node. The latter, seen from above, has the anterior margin almost semicircular, the posterior margin moderately convex ; it is three-fifths wider than long. The 2nd node is transversely oval, very convex from front to back, a little wider than the Ist node, and twice as wide as long. Abdomen one-quarter longer than wide, the sides not very convex. Matopo Hills, 8. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.), type in my collection. This species is allied to gabonensis, André, and mucidus, Forel From the former it differs by its smaller size, colour, the shape of the Ist node and the divided scrobes; from mucidus it differs by the straight anterior margin of the clypeus, by the angulated lower margin of the eye, by the deep scrobes, the shining head and thorax, and by the hairs, which are all trifid, not divided into six or more branches as in mucidus. Quite distinct from Hminii and Rothschildi, Forel. Vv T. HEePBURNI, n. sp. 8. 23-23 mm. Colour as in Constanciae. Pilosity whitish, trifid, less dense than in Constanciae, particularly on the head. Sculp- ture of the head and thorax as in that species, but the reticulations a little closer. The nodes of the petiole reticulate, the 2nd not less strongly than the 1st. Abdomen shining, very sparsely but distinctly punctured, the punctures on the basal fourth shallow and foveiform. Head a little longer than wide, hardly narrowed in front, the hind A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 341 margin more convex than in Constanciae. The thorax is narrower posteriorly than in that species, the width across the brow of the declivity being a little less than half the width across the anterior angles of the pronotum (much more than half in Constanciae). Hpinotal teeth small and triangular, not longer than their basal width, slightly divergent. The Ist node of the petiole, seen from above, is transversely oval, one and a half times wider than long, the anterior margin not more convex than the posterior, not semicircular as in Constanciae. The 2nd node similar to that of Constanciae, transversely elliptical, almost twice as wide as long, not quite one-fifth wider than the 1st. Seen in profile, the pro-mesonotal portion of the thorax is much less convex than in Constanciae. Otherwise like that species. 2. 36mm. Pronotum very short in front, more exposed at the lateral angles. Mesonotum longitudinally rugose, slightly convex in front, flat posteriorly. Scutellum moderately convex. The sculpture, especially on the abdomen, is a little stronger than in the §. Wings tinged with yellow, nervures and stigma pale brownish-yellow. Other- wise like the ¢. 3g. 3mm. Black legs, antennae and mandibles dirty yellow, femora brownish-yellow. Pilose hairs trifid, much less abundant but longer than in the 9. Mesonotum very sparsely pilose. The hairs on the head short, not branched. Head slightly shining, reticulate- rugose. Mesonotum smooth and shining. Scutellunm: and nodes slightly shining and feebly rugose. Epinotum unevenly reticulate- rugose and dull. Abdomen smooth and shining. ; Head subquadrate, about as long as wide, the posterior angles widely rounded, the posterior margin convex, higher behind than in front. Eyes large, occupying about one-third of the sides, placed a little in front of the middle ; ocelli small. Scapes a little longer than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Mesonotum very convex in its anterior half, somewhat flattened above posteriorly. Mesonotum and scutellum much higher than the epinotum. The latter is unarmed, and its upper surface forms a continuous and steep slope from base to apex, the dorsum and declivity not differentiated. The Ist node, including its articular portion behind, as long as wide, much narrower than in the 9 ; 2nd node transversely oval, one-quarter wider than the Ist, half as wide again as long. Wings as in the Q. Hillside, Bulawayo; Matopo Hills, S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M. | G.A. colls.), types in my collection. This species, like the foregoing, has been found by me only on the granite and syenite formations. The Hillside locality, near Bulawayo: is a syenite area, which rises like a small island out of the surrounding 34.2 Annals of the South African Museum. schists. This area harbours not a few species, which, as far as my ex- perience goes, are never to be found on the schist formation. Such are the two species just described, and also Camponotus mystaceus, Emery, Acantholepis longinoda, n. sp., Meranoplus spininodis, n. sp., etc. T. Marueyti, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud, Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 221, 9, 1914. %. 25-3mm. Brown, the abdomen darker, the legs brown, the antennae, mandibles, and tarsi ferruginous. Densely clothed with a white pilosity, not very long, consisting of hairs divided into 3, 4, or more branches. The pilosity is less abundant on the legs and scapes. Head, thorax, and 1st node closely reticulate, the rugae on the head emphasised longitudinally. The spaces between the reticulations feebly shining. Abdomen smooth and shining, very sparsely and finely punctured, except near the base, which is more strongly punc- tured. Second node of petiole only with large and shallow punctures. Head, excluding the mandibles, as long as wide, or with the man- dibles as long as the thorax, only a little narrower in front than behind. The antennal scrobe is almost obsolete. The scapes do not extend back quite as far as the occipital margin. Anterior margin of the clypeus straight or feebly convex. Mandibles sharply striated, finely and sparsely punctured, with three distinct teeth in front. Hyes large, convex, placed in the middle of the sides of the head. Thorax not very convex transversely, more so longitudinally, the anterior angles rounded, the anterior face less convex than in Con- stanciae. The thorax is slightly constricted between the meso- and epinotal regions, twice as wide across the shoulders of the pronotum as it is between the epinotal spines. The latter are short, very little longer than they are wide at the base. Peduncle of the petiole half as long as its node. The latter is distinctly higher than the 2nd, the sides and the anterior dorsal margin convex, the posterior margin and face straight, nearly twice as wide as long; the dorsal surface convex transversely. The 2nd node is almost three times wider than long, one-third wider than the 1st node, the posterior margin more convex than the anterior. All the femora moderately swollen in the middle. Durban and Krantz Kloof, Natal (H. W. Marley). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) This species differs from all the others im our region by the very wide 2nd node, Oo A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 34« T. INEZULAE, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 221, 9, ¢, 1914. ®. 28-3:°2 mm. Very similar to T. Hepburni, but larger. In eolour and pilosity like Marleyi. Head, thorax and nodes reticulate, the sculpture emphasised longitudinally. Abdomen shining, sparsely and evenly punctured, fairly closely punctured at the base. Head feebly narrowed in front, almost quadrate, slightly longer than wide, the sides feebly convex, the posterior margin straight. Man- dibles shining, striated and punctured, with 3 distinct teeth in front; and 3 smaller and less acute teeth behind. Distinct scrobes present, smooth and shining, divided by a longitudinal ridge into two halves. The scrobes and scapes extend back to the posterior fourth of the head. The thorax is similar to that of Marleyi, but a little longer in proportion to the width. The epinotal spines are a trifle longer than in Marleyi, longer than their basal width. The peduncle of the petiole is a little shorter than the node ; the latter, seen from above, is oval, the anterior face hardly more convex than the posterior, not quite twice as wide as long, not higher than the 2nd node. The latter as long as the Ist, not quite twice as wide as long, a little wider than the Ist, and seen from above, also oval. go. 42 mm. Colour and pilosity as in the $, except the man- dibles, antennae, tibiae and tarsi, which are pale brownish-yellow ; the hairs on the abdomen are mostly simple. Head, pronotum, sides of epinotum and the nodes feebly reticulate. Mesonotum shining, sparsely punctured, also with a few feeble longitudinal lines. Dorsum of epinotum longitudinally striate. Abdomen smooth and shining. Mandibles with 5 small teeth. Head quadrate, the posterior angles rounded, very slightly convex above. Hyes large, occupying the anterior third of the sides. The scapes extend back as far as the posterior ocelli; 2nd joint of flagellum three times as long as the Ist, shorter than the scape. Thorax much wider and higher than the head, the pronotum not visible from above. The dorsum of the epinotum is more than twice as long as the declivity, and ends in two blunt ridges or tubercles. Nodes of petiole shorter than in the. ¢, the peduncle of the Ist node longer. Wings pale dirty yellow, nervures yellow. The petiole is much shorter and lower than in desertorum, Forel. The epinotum in the latter is rounded, not angular. Beach Bush, Durban; nesting in sand dunes. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A, colls.) 344 Annals of the South African Museum. T. DESERTORUM, Forel. Schultze, Reise Siid-Afrika, vol. 4, p. 20, 2, 3, 1910. “O, 33mm. Mandibles fairly shining, densely punctured. Cly- peus carinate, moderately emarginate. Head quadrangular, as wide as long, feebly concave behind, distinctly narrowed in front. There is a scrobe for the whole of the scape, with a feebly rugose floor; pos- teriorly the scrobe curves round and forms the beginning of a flat depression, behind the eye, for the base of the flagellum. The large eyes, placed a little behind the middle of the head, occupy one-third of the sides. The scape, like its scrobe, extends back to the posterior fourth of the head; 2nd—7th joints of the flagellam much wider than long. Thorax nearly as wide as the head. Mesonotum flat above. Epinotum with two strong, triangular and almost spinose teeth (slightly longer than their basal width), the dorsum a little longer than the declivity. First node with a fairly short peduncle; both nodes rounded above and at the sides, about one and three-quarter times wider than long, the 2nd node one-third to one-half wider than the Ist. No episternal teeth, only a curved ridge. Coarsely and longitudinally rugose (including the epinotum above), coarsely reticu- late between the rugae; the petiole and some places in part only coarsely reticulate or reticulate-punctate, barely shining. Abdomen and legs smooth, but with fairly abundant pilgerous punctures. The whole body, including the femora, abundantly clothed with a short, woolly pilosity of 3-5 branched hairs. On the tibiae and scapes the hairs are oblique, almost decumbent, and mostly simple. Red-brown to brownish-red; abdomen brown. ‘Tarsi, tibiae, flagellum and man- dibles brownish-yellow-red. Wings not long, faintly tinged with yellow, almost hyaline, with pale nervures and costa. “@. 32-34mm. Mandibles 6-dentate, shining. Clypeus arched, feebly emarginate. Head quadrangular but rounded, as wide as long. Eyes not large. The scape does not reach the occipital margin. Second joint of the flagellum two and a half times longer than the Ist, and not quite as long as the scape. Epinotum with two tubercles; nodes more angular than in the Q, otherwise similar. Head coarsely, petiole more finely reticulate; epinotum and sides of thorax coarsely and longitudinally rugose, the rest smooth, sparsely punctured. Hairs on the body mostly bifid or trifid, or simple. Legs and antennae only with an almost decumbent pilosity. Fairly dark brown; antennae, mandibles and legs yellowish, femora brownish. Wings as in the 9. “ Between Kgokong and Kang, Kalahari (Schultze).” A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 345 Suscgenus XIPHOMYRMEX, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 7, p. 385, 1887. Characters. & and ?. Antennae 11-jointed; antennal scrobes usually well defined. Nodes generally squamiform. ¢. Antennae 10-jointed. Key to the 9% 9 of Xiphomyrmez. (2) 1. Mandibles tridentate; Ist node not squamiform, fossulatum, Forel. (1) 2. Mandibles with 5 or more teeth; 1st node more or less squamiform. (4) 3. Promesonotum smooth. Humbloti, Forel, var. victorensis, Forel. (3) 4. Promesonotum coarsely rugoso-reticulate. Weitzaeckeri, Hmery. T. (XIPHOMYRMEX) WHITZAECKERI, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent., France, vol. 63, p.39, 9, 1895. 9. 35-38 mm. Dark brown, the abdomen piceous, legs and scapes light brown, flagellum, tarsi, and mandibles more or less dark brownish-yellow. Shining, especially the abdomen. Pubescence short and very scanty, present only on the legs and antennae. Pilosity rather sparse, composed of pale yellowish and erect hairs, abruptly truncate at the apex. Head longitudinally and strongly striate or striato-rugose between the frontal carinae, coarsely reticulate-rugose at the sides. Thorax very coarsely reticulate-rugose, the rugae empha- sised longitudinally. The spaces between the striae and rugae finely reticulate, more distinctly so on the head than on the thorax. Declivity of the epinotum, the nodes and abdomen smooth and shining, the latter very polished. The lst node has three impressed lines on the dorsal surface, the outer ones oblique. Head as long as wide, very little narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin nearly straight, the sides feebly convex, very convex above transversely. Eyes fairly large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae divergent, prolonged backwards as strong ridges almost to the occipital margin, curving outwards and forwards at their posterior extremity. The floor of the demiscrobes finely reticulate only. Clypeus with a strong median carina, which is usually forked at its anterior end; the anterior margin feebly excised in the middle. Scapes as long as the scrobes; the flagellum stout, 2nd—7th joints wider than long, the club fairly thick, longer than the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles very finely striate, armed with 6 or 7 rather broad teeth, Dorsum of thorax obtusely marginate at the 346 Annals of the South African Museum. sides, slightly narrowed between the pro- and mesonotum, very much more so between the meso- and epinotum. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, the meso-epinotal wide but not very deep. Thorax one and a half times longer than it is wide in front, twice as wide in front as it is between the epinotal spines, fairly convex above lengthwise, particularly the pronotum. LEpinotal spines divergent, acute, directed obliquely upwards, as long as the dorsum of the epinotum, much longer than their basal width, and longer than the interval between their bases. Hpisternal teeth small and triangular, hardly one-third as long as the epinotal. Declivity subvertical, lst segment of petiole with the peduncle longer than the node ; the latter squamiform, longer vertically than it is wide, thinner at the sides than at the summit, the anterior and posterior faces vertical, inclined slightly forwards. Second node lenticular, the anterior and posterior faces meeting above acutely, slightly wider than the Ist node, and nearly twice as wide as it is long. Abdomen subglobose, a little longer than wide. Femora moderately swollen. ® (hitherto undescribed). 4 mm. Piceous. Thorax wider than the head. Pronotum coarsely reticulate-rugose, the shoulders subangular. Anterior margin of mesonotum very convex. Meso- notum, scutellum, and epinotum strongly and longitudinally striate ; the striae on the epinotum do not quite reach the bottom of the declivity. Epinotal spines horizontal, less divergent than in the ¢. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma pale yellow. In the largest specimens of the 5 the sculpture is stronger and closer, and the spines are directed more steeply upwards, but the existence of forms intermediate in size and sculpture precludes their separation as a distinct variety. Redbank, 8. Rhodesia; Durban (3:4-3°5 mm.); Bulawayo (3°6 mm.) ; Hope Fountain, S. Rhodesia (3’8 mm.). This species forms largely large nests under stones. It preys to a great extent on termites, and also attends aphides and scale-insects on plants. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. (xIPHOMYRMEX) Humetoti, Forel, var. Victoriensis, Forel. Grandidier Hist. Madagasce. 20, p. 154, 1891. (Variety) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 120, 9, 1913. 0. 32-38mm. Piceous, head slightly reddish, legs, mandibles, and antennae ferruginous. Not unlike Weitzaeckeri, differing from it in the following characters : A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 347 The head is dull and much more finely striate, the striae becoming effaced towards the occiput ; the spaces between the striae are very densely and finely rugulose or reticulate. The mandibles are more strongly striate. The pro-mesonotal suture is faintly indicated, the meso-epinotal suture well defined and deep. The pro-mesonotum is smooth and shining, except the margins, which are feebly punctured. The pronotum has a rounded boss on each side at the posterior corners. The dorsum of the epinotum is depressed, more or less excavated, sparsely and finely reticulate, sparsely rugose at the sides. The epinotal spines are less oblique than in Weitzaeckeri. The summit of the lst node is more convex transversely and lengthwise, and lacks the impressed lines present in the other species. The 2nd node is also more convex and thicker above, the anterior and posterior faces being separated by a convex dorsal face (this is actually only a continuation in the horizontal direction of the anterior face). In the smaller forms (taken from a different nest to that of the larger), the sculpture extends partly over the mesonotum. 2 (hitherto undescribed). 4°5 mm. Thorax paler than in the 9, more castaneous brown. Pronotum widely exposed above at the shoulders, which are rounded. Mesonotum smooth and shining in its anterior third, the posterior two-thirds longitudinally striate; the scutellum very shallowly striate. Epinotum longitudinally striate at the sides and in the middle of the dorsum; the latter very steep, almost in the same plane as the declivity. Hpinotal spines horizontal, stouter and less divergent than in the 9. Nodes thinner and wider. Wings tinged with brownish-yellow, nervures and stigma pale vellow. Otherwise Jike the >. S (hitherto undescribed). 4:4 mm. Head brownish-black. the area in front of the eyes dirty yellow. ‘Thorax and nodes dark reddish- brown, the sides of the scutellum, the clathrate groove between the latter and the mesonotum, and the metanotum dark yellow. Abdomen piceous. Legs, antennae, and mandibles pale yellow, the femora slightly fuscous. Head and sides of the epiotum dull, the rest of the body shining. Head closely and finely reticulate, with a few striae radiating from the ocellar area. Mesonotum smooth, except in the middle behind the forks of the Mayrian furrows, where it is shallowly and longitudinally striate. Scutellum feebly striate, a space in the middle smooth. Epinotum very finely reticulate, feebly striate at the sides; the dorsum is as long as the declivity and has a median A-shaped excavation with a dentiform ridge on each side of the same. The Ist node of the petiole more or less cuneiform, the posterior-dorsal face as long as wide; the 2nd node is half as wide again as the Ist, 348 Annals of the South African Museum. one-third wider than long, the dorsal surface much flatter than in the @, the posterior half of the sides parallel. The eyes are large and occupy the anterior half of the sides of the head. The scape extends back as far as the anterior ocellus, and is a little shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Victoria Falls, nesting in very moist and rotten wood, and under moss. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) T. (xIPHOMYRMEX) FossuLATUM, Forel. (Plate VII, figs. 107, 109) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 428, 9, 1910. ®. 22-2°7 mm. Castaneous, thorax, nodes, and base of abdomen paler, more yellowish-brown. Legs, antennae, and mandibles yellowish- brown. Pubescence very sparse, present only on the antennae and tibiae. Pilose hairs absent, except on the clypeus. Entirely smooth and shining. Head and thorax sparsely and irregularly punctured with wide and shallow pits, more sparsely on the thorax than on the head, the latter almost impunctate anteriorly. Head, excluding the mandibles, a little wider than long, feebly narrowed in front and behind, the posterior margin straight. Eyes large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae widely divergent behind, pro- longed back as sharp ridges to the posterior fourth of the head, forming distinct demiscrobes which are smooth and deep, and hold the basal three-fourths of the scapes. The basal half of the scrobe is delimited below by a longitudinal ridge. Clypeus short, the anterior margin denticulate, carinate in the middle, the carina extending back over the well defined and triangular frontal area. Mandibles smooth, sparsely punctured, tridentate, the anterior pair of teeth close together and separated from the third tooth by a wide space. Scapes extending back as far as the occipital margin, 2ud-7th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the club thick. Thorax as wide in frontas it is long, flat above, except the pronotal shoulders, which are depressed. The pronotum bears an angular prominence, somewhat obtuse, on each side behind the middle. Pro-mesonotal suture feebly indicated ; the meso- epinotal obsolete above. Dorsum of epinotum impunctate, quadrate, submarginate. Epinotal spines long, divergent, acute, as long as the interval between their bases, directed steeply upwards. Episternum with a small rounded lobe on each side. LDeclivity marginate at the sides. First node of the petiole cuneiform, with a vertical anterior face, and a horizontal dorsal face, the margin between the two faces rounded, the peduncle very short, hardly differentiated from the node. Second node rectangular, wider than long, as long as and a little wider A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 349 than the lst node; seen from the side, the anterior face is convex, the dorsal face shorter than the anterior. Abdomen round. Femora and tibiae rather swollen. Willbrook, Natal. (Wroughton. ) This species is quite unlike our other two, and is easily recognised by the form of the mandibles, the clypeus, the peculiar puncturation, and the compact form. (G. A. coll., ex B.M. coll.) Suseenus DECAMORIUM, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg;, vol. 57, p. 121, 1913. Characters. ® and 9. Antennae 10-jointed. Lateral ridges of the clypeus obsolete. Tibiae and femora very strongly swollen. Scrobes well defined and deep. ¢. Antennae 10-jointed. T. (Decamorium) Decem, Forel. (Plate VIII, fig. 111.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 121, G, 1913. ®. 335mm. Head, thorax, and nodes castaneous brown, the head, especially the anterior half, lighter; nodes darker. Abdomen piceous. Legs, antennae, and mandibles dark yellowish-red, the femora somewhat brownish-red. Puilosity and pubescence almost entirely absent, excepting a very short and sparse pubescence on the legs and antennae. Very shining, sides of epimotum slightly dull. Head, dorsum of thorax, and the nodes sparsely, irregularly, but deeply punctured; the sides and front of the head, excepting the clypeus and the sides of the mesothorax, longitudinally rugose. Sides of epinotum closely reticulate-punctate, the declivity transversely striate. The sides of the prothorax and the mesosterna smooth and shining. The apical half of the dorsum of the epinotum rugulose Nodes sparsely punctured, also the abdomen, but much more finely so. Head rectangular, parallel-sided, excluding the mandibles almost one-third longer than wide, the posterior margin slightly concave in the middle. Eyes large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae wide apart in front, moderately divergent for a short distance behind the clypeus, thence parallel and prolonged back to the posterior seventh of the head, forming the upper boundary of a deep and smooth serobe. Scapes curved near the base, broad, flattened, not reaching 350) Annals of the South African Museum. the extremity of the scrobe; 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the 2nd—6th almost half as wide again as long, the apical joint one-third longer than wide. The flagellum is rather thick and short, not much longer than the scape. Median area of clypeus almost vertical in front, the anterior margin feebly emarginate in the middle. Mandibles curved, smooth and shining, very finely and sparsely punctured, armed with 5 widely spaced teeth ; between the posterior pair of teeth there are 2 or 3 denticles. Thorax narrower than the head; pro-mesonotal suture faintly indicated, meso-epinotal deep. Pro-mesonotum feebly convex longitudinally and transversely, one-third longer than wide in front. Shoulders of pronotum slightly rounded, almost rectangular. Dorsum of epinotum moderately convex lengthwise, one and a half times longer than wide; epinotal teeth short, triangular, shorter than the interval between their bases, very slightly divergent, directed obliquely upwards. Declivity of epinotum a little shorter than the dorsum, vertical, sharply marginate at the sides. Hpisternal teeth shorter than the epinotal, wider than long. Peduncle of the petiole shorter than the node; the Jatter narrow and high, one-fourth longer than wide, the anterior and posterior faces subvertical, the dorsal face strongly convex. Second node semi- circular, widest behind, two-thirds wider than the Ist, and a little wider than long, the sides oblique and convex. Abdomen oval, nearly one-half as long again as wide. Tibiae and femora strongly swollen and slightly flattened from front to back. @ (hitherto undescribed). 4-41 mm. Very similar to the @. Hyes hardly larger than in that sex, ocelli small. Pronotum narrowly exposed above in the middle, widely so at the sides, the shoulders as inthe 9. The lateral margins of the pro- and mesonotum almost parallel as far as the tegulae. Mesonotum sparsely and strongly punctured, flattened. First node a little shorter than in the 9. Wings slightly fuscous, nervures pale brownish-yellow. Otherwise like the ¢. ' @ (hitherto undescribed). 3°7 mm. Black, the apical half of the abdomen dirty brownish-yellow, tarsi pale yellow, the rest of the legs pale brown, antennae and mandibles yellow. Head subopaque, closely rugulose. Epinotum and sides of the thorax, and the posterior half of the 1st node more or less rugulose and reticulate, nitidulous. The mesonotum and scutellum sparsely and strongly punctured, also faintly striate in parts. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head high behind and vertically truncate behind the ocelli, the brow of the truncation rounded; the posterior margin is continued round the sides as a trenchant ridge, so that the posterior angles, looked at from A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. dol above, appear almost dentiform. Head about as long as wide across the eyes. The latter large, occupying the anterior half of the head, but not touching the base of the mandibles. The scapes extend back almost as far as the anterior ocellus, a little shorter than the 2nd joint of the flagellum. Anterior half of mesonotum very convex trans- versely and lengthwise; Mayrian furrows fairly deep in front. Dorsum of epinotum oblique, at least twice as long as the declivity, merging gradually into the latter. Peduncle of the petiole with a blunt prominence below, at the extreme base ; the node depressed and narrow, its anterior and posterior faces forming an obtuse angle when seen in profile. Second node campaniform, narrowed in front, about as long as it is wide behind, Legs thin. Wings as in the 9. Nesting in sandy soil, and forming fairly populous communities ; a very slow and timid insect. Redbank, Nyamandhlovu, and Hillside, Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia ; Hartley, S. Rhodesia (H. B. Maufe). The latter are much darker, almost brownish-black, but otherwise similar. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. ULTOR, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 217, 9, 1913. 0. 27-31 mm. Very similar to the type of the species but smaller. The 2nd node is narrower, as long as wide. The colour is darker, and the puncturation much more scanty and finer. The Ist node is not so high as in the type species, and the epinotal teeth are shorter, not longer than their basal width. Shiloh, 8. Rhodesia. Nesting near and in the nests of Paltothyreus tarsatus. (R.M., G.A. colls.) Genus RHOPTROMYRMEX, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien., vol. 16, p. 18, 1901. : haracters. ®. Antennae 12-jointed; maxillary palpi 3-jointed, labial palpi 2-jointed. Head wider behind than in front, the sides convex. Frontal carinae short; scrobes entirely absent. Thorax short and stout; epinotum armed or unarmed (unarmed in all our species). First segment of petiole usually strongly compressed transversely, at least in the anterior half, deeper than wide, the peduncle generally indistinct. Second node globose or much wider than long, and much wider than the lst. Femora not swollen. 23 302 Annals of the South African Museum. ?. Antennae 12-jointed. Somewhat slender and having the facies of the ¢ sex. The four known 9 @ of this genus differ-so greatly in general features that I am unable to define the generic characters for this sex. Mayr’s definition for this sex applies only to globulinodis. S (globulinodis). Antennae 10-jointed, the 2nd joimt of the flagellum long, as. in Tetramorium. For the rest, see description below. Key to the 9 9 of Rhoptromyrmex. (4) 1. Second node of petiole much wider than long. (3) 2. Posterior margin of the head distinctly concave; meso-epinotal suture feeble; smaller species, 3-3°3 mm. . ; . transversinodis, Mayr. (2) 3. Posterior margin of the head straight or nearly so; meso-epinotal suture well defined although shallow ; larger species, 3°4-3°9 mm. Steini, Forel. (1) 4. Second node of petiole not much wider than long, subelobose. : globulinodis, Mayr. R. eLopuninopis, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, pp. 18-22, 5, @, g, 1901. ®. 3-33 mm. Pale reddish-brown, the mandibles, legs and antennae brighter, more yellowish-red. Pubescence decumbent, very scanty, a little longer and more abundant on the legs and antennae than elsewhere. Pilose hairs absent. Smooth and very shining. Head very sparsely and finely punctured, the anterior angles finely and longitudinally striate; the striae end at about the level of the anterior margin of the eyes, and a few striae curve round the antennal sockets. Just behind the clypeus, and bordering the basal portion of the frontal carinae, there are also some short and fine striae. The rest of the head, the pro-mesonotum, nodes and abdomen smooth. On the head and pro-mesonotum a microscopic and very shallow rugulosity is noticeable in some lights. Sides of the thorax, and the epinotum very finely rugulose, duller than the rest. Head, excluding the mandibles, very little longer than wide, the sides convex, the posterior margin fairly deeply concave, not much narrower in front than behind, concave above, flat below. Eyes not larze, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae hardly divergent, not extending back quite as far as the middle of the vertex. Clypeus rather flat, the anterior margin moderately convex, not carinate. Frontal area shallow, indistinct. Mandibles smooth and shining, the external margin convex, the masticatory margin den- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 359 ticulate, with a large tooth at the apex. Scape extending back a little beyond the posterior fifth of the head, 8rd—8th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the 3-jointed club not very thick, longer than the rest of the flagellum. Anterior margin of pronotum convex, the shoulders very round. Pro-mesonotal suture very feeble or obsolete. Thorax strongly constricted between the meso- and epinotum, the meso- epinotal suture narrow and distinct. The mesonotum has a shallow and transverse impression in the middle. The dorsum and declivity of the epinotum, seen in profile, form a continuous and low curve; the declivity marginate at the sides, the raised margins being continued over the dorsum almost to its base; the dorsum a little longer than the declivity. The Ist node is much longer from above to below (7. e. deeper) than it is wide above, compressed and almost lamelliform. The nodal portion of the segment, seen from above, is nearly hemispherical, narrower in front than behind, as long as wide behind. Second node more or less transversely oval, or subglobose, a little wider than long, wider than the Ist. Abdomen oval. 2. 35mm. Brown, mandibles, antennae and legs paler. Pilosity abundant, composed of long and short hairs intermixed. Antennae, legs, sides and vertex of head finely pubescent. The hairs on the abdomen are exserted and very long, shorter and less abundant on the thorax. On each side of the head, behind and between the eyes and the median line, there is a very smooth and shining area, which is tumid in the middle. The rest of the head finely striate, except the clypeus, which is smooth, and the posterior and lateral margins above, which are strongly but sparsely punctured. Thorax above strongly and sparsely punctured, the posterior half of the mesonotum almost impunctate. Pronotum closely and fairly finely striate lengthwise, sides of epinotum sparsely striate and punctate, the punctures large. Nodes and abdomen’smooth and shining, finely and very sparsely punctured. Head high in the middle, sloping steeply downwards on each side of a longitudinal median area which extends from the clypeus to the posterior ocelli ; behind the latter it is also fairly steep. The head is wider just in front of the eyes than it is behind them or across the clypeal portion, the occipital margin deeply emarginate, more angularly so than in the 9, the lateral angles rounded. Hyes placed a little in front of the middle of the sides. Ocelli small and close together ; for a short distance in front of the anterior ocellus there is a smooth and shining depression. Frontal carinae subparallel, extending back as far us the posterior ocelli. The scapes extend back equally as far. The 304 Annals of the Suuth African Museum. thorax is very compressed, as though it had been held on each side and pinched. It is therefore narrow above and much deeper than wide, the sides almost vertical. The pronotum is barely visible from above. The mesonotum and scutellum almost flat, except in front and behind, where they are slightly curved downwards. Seen from above, their outline forms an ellipse, the major axis of which is two and a third times longer than the minor. Dorsum of epinotum obsolete, the upper surface of the epinotum forming a steep and continuous line from base to apex, This upper surface is margined at the sides by a longitudinal ridge, excavated between them, more shallowly so above than below. The petiole resembles that of the 9, but is narrower and longer. Seen from above, the lst segment is pyriform, with a long stalk in front ; the 2nd node campaniform, widest behind, and a little longer than wide. Abdomen narrowed towards the base, the basal margin concave. The Ist segment forms more than half the abdomen, and has above a semi-oval and flattened or depressed area. Wings with | cubital cell and 1 discoidal, the radial cell open. The above descriptions of the 9 and @ are drawn up from speci- mens lent to me by Dr. Brauns, who originally discovered the species. “@. 35mm. Shining, brown, the mandibles, antennae and legs yellow, coxae and femora more yellowish-brown. The pilosity much less abundant than in the 2. Mandibles and also the head fairly smooth, the cheeks with a few longitudinal striae, the sides of the head behind the eyes fairly finely and longitudinally rugulose. The pronotum and the lateral margins of the mesonotum in front of the tegulae finely rugose, mesonotum otherwise smooth ; the scutellum finely and longitudinally rugose, with a more or less distinct longi- tudinal groove; the epinotum finely reticulate rugose. Wings as in the Q. The smooth petiole like that of the 92, but the Ist node is lower. Abdomen smooth. . . . Mandibles as in the 9 and 9, but narrower. The head, including the mandibles, is more or less pentagonal, the apex of the closed mandibles, the eyes and the posterior corners forming the rounded angles. The clypeus is mode- rately arched and arcuately produced in front, wide behind, not prolonged far back between the frontal carinae, the lateral portions havipg an angular posterior edge opposite the antennal sockets. Frontal carinae short, parallel and narrow, the sockets of the antennae being freely exposed. Antennae 10-jointed, the scape extending back almost to the posterior ocelli; the flagellum fairly long, the Ist joint about twice as long as wide, the 2nd three times as long as the Ist, tLe succeeding joints all longer than wide (in three out of the four examples in my possession, the 2nd joint is more or less fused with the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 355 3rd). Hyes moderately large, placed in the anterior half of the head. Behind the eyes the head is gradually narrowed towards the posterior angles, the posterior margin above truncate (hardly concave), dis- tinctly and arcuately emarginate below and at the occipital foramen. Thorax unarmed, the mesonotum not overhanging the pronotum in front. The Mayrian furrows become less distinct before the middle of the mesonotum and before their point of junction. In front of, and parallel to the posterior margin of the mesonotum, there is a curved transverse impression, which is probably present in the living insect, even if not so deep. The scutellum is fairly strongly convex leneth- wise, higher than the mesonotum, less rounded behind than in Tetra- morium. The dorsum of the epinotum is long and fairly narrow, with a median longitudinal groove, oblique, merging arcuately into the much more inclined declivity ; the latter marginate at the sides, the margins becoming stronger below. Wings as in the 2. Legs thin and fairly long. Petiole as in the @. Port Elizabeth (Dr. H. Brauns).” R. TrRansversinopis, Mayr. (Plate VIII, figs. 112, 112a, 113, 113q.) Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 22, 9, 1901. ®. 3mm. Brownish-ochreous; the tarsi, mandibles, and flagellum more reddish-yellow. Smooth and very shining. Sparsely and ex- ceedingly finely punctured, the pubescent hairs arising from the punctures. Under a low magnification practically impunctate. Pubescence adpressed and very scanty, more abundant on the abdomen than on the head and thorax, longer and denser on the legs and antennae. The anterior angles of the head, between the eyes and antennal sockets, finely striate, much more finely so than in globuli- nodis. Very similar to that species, differing from it chiefly in the following characters : The sides of the head are much more convex, the. portion in front of the eyes narrowing gradually towards the clypeus. The posterior margin more deeply and widely emarginate, the posterior angles more prominent. The eyes are placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae shorter, wider apart and more divergent. Thoracic sutures faintly indicated above at the sides, obsolete in the middle. The mesonotum lacks the transverse impression which is present in globulinodis, and, seen in profile, the dorsum is not depressed between the meso- and epinotum. The chief distinction les in the shape of the petiole. The 1st s‘gment, seen in profile, has a short and vertical posterior face; the dorsal face is convex and passes 356 Annals of the South African Museum. arcuately into the almost vertical anterior face. Seen. from above, the nodal portion is much narrower, a little longer or as long as wide, the whole segment appearing gradually clavate. The 2nd segment is fairly convex lenethwise, much less so transversely, transversely oval, slightly more than twice as wide as long, and quite two and three- quarter times wider than the Ist. Q (hitherto undescribed). 3°4-3°5 mm. Brownish-black; the apical half of the abdomen paler, legs brown, paler at the articu- lations; tarsi and flagellum ochreous, mandibles reddish-brown. Shining, the abdomen and nodes a little less shining than the head and thorax. Club of antenna and the last two tarsal joints pubescent, the rest of the body entirely glabrous. The sculpture is very distinctive and remarkable. It consists of elongate, elliptical, and shallow pits, which have a silvery reflection, and give a false impression of containing flattened scale-like hairs, like those of Tetramoriwm setuliferum. However, under a high magnification (100 diameters) it can be seen that such scale-hairs are absent, the silvery appearance being due to the shape of the pits and their polished surfaces. This puncturation is fairly dense and regular on the head and abdomen, larger and more scanty on the thorax. It also extends over the legs and antennae, the pits becoming increasingly more abundant, narrower, and longer towards the apices of those parts, and near the ends of the limbs bearing fine, flattened, pubescent hairs. Head much higher behind than in front, very convex lengthwise, the posterior margin widely concave, the posterior angles rounded and projecting prominently outwards and backwards. The vertex is narrow and convex transversely, not flat, as in globulinodis 9; the sides very steep, much more so than in globulinodis, and shallowly concave above the posterior angles. Seen from above, the sides of the head, from the posterior angles forwards to the eyes, are straight or even a little concave, in front of the eyes moderately convex. The eyes are fairly large, placed a little in front of the middle of the sides of the head. Ocelli smaller than in globulinodis. Frontal carinae wide apart, short, not extending beyond the antennal sockets. Anterior margin of clypeus moderately convex; frontal area shallow and equilateral. Mandibles very convex externally, the masticatory margin denticulate, with a larger apical tooth. The scape extends back about as far as the anterior occllus. Mesonotum and scutellum flat transversely, nearly so longitudinally. The outline of the two parts together, seen from above, is roughly oval, one and three-fifths longer than wide. The posterior half of the scutellum slopes down- A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. B57 wards and is concave transversely. The margins of the mesonotum, in front and at the sides, are rounded and project a little over the vertical sides and front of the pronotum. The sides of the meso- and epithorax are also vertical. The epinotum is very deeply excavated from near its base above to its apex below, in such a way as to leave a narrow wall on each side. Seen from above, only the edges of the walls can be seen, so that the epinotum appears almost bispinose- The declivity is margined by the downward continuation of the walls and is vertical (in globulinodis the dorsum and declivity are oblique, and only feebly marginate at the sides). * First segment of the petiole very strongly compressed laterally, almost lamelliform except at the lower half behind, where it is a little wider. It is produced downwards and is deeper behind than in front, quite one and a half times deeper than long. Its dorsal surface is rounded transversely, very narrow, almost linear. The 2nd segment four times wider than long, and at least four times wider than the Ist, the anterior margin concave, narrower behind than in front. Basal half of the lst abdominal segment depressed in the middle, the lateral angles thereby rendered prominent and forming a more or less elongate tubercle at each corner. Abdomen ovate, not much longer than wide, rather flat above. *Wings hyaline, nervures very pale. The structure of the nodes and epinotum may be made more apparent by reference to the figures on Plate VIII. Port Elizabeth and Bothaville (Dr. H. Brauns); Pretoria, 9 $ and 2 2 (C. K. Brain); type of the 2 im my collection. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) R. Streit, Forel. Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 122, OV, Sis. 0. 34-39 mm. Dark yellowish-brown, the posterior half of the head and the thorax darker, legs, antennae, and mandibles paler, the latter and the flagellum somewhat reddish. Very similar to trans- versinodis, but larger and darker, differing from it also in the following characters : Very finely and sparsely punctured, the head also very finely rugulose. The pubescence longer and a little more abundant. The sides of the head are much more convex, the posterior margin less emarginate, the posterior angles less prominent and wider. Pro- mesonotal suture obsolete, the mmeso-epinotal well defined. The dorsum of the epinotum is proportionately longer and more convex lengthwise, passing into the declivity by a much shorter and less oblique curve than in transversinodis. The 1st segment of the petiole, 358 Annals of the South African Museum. seen from above, is much wider, more pyriform than clavate; the nodal portion is a little wider than long. The 2nd node is trans- versely oval, two and a half times wider than long and about twice as wide as the widest part of the Ist, hardly thinner at the sides than in the middle. Ladismith, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Genus TETRAMYRMA, Forel. Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 20, p. 766, 1912. Characters Q®. Antennae 12-jointed, club 3- or 4-jointed. Frontal carinae divergent, short, not forming scrobes. Lateral portions of the clypeus not ridged posteriorly, the median area more or less trapezoidal, pro- duced fairly far back between the frontal carinae. Frontal area dis- tinct. Mandibles triangular, 5-dentate. Thorax unarmed ; the sutures visible but feeble. First node of petiole pedunculate, both nodes large and round. Femora thin at the base, moderately swollen from the basal fourth onwards. 2. Antennae 12-jointed. Ergatoid. Eyes larger than in the 9. Ocelli absent. A more or less distinct scutellum present. Nodes wider and less convex above. Abdomen dilated, larger than in the ®. Pilose (pilosity absent in the % ). 6. Unknown. T. Bravunst, Forel, (Plate VII, fig. 86.) Loc. cit., p. 767, &. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 122, 2, 1913. %. 5-6mm. Black, thorax, nodes, and mandibles dark red, the nodes darkest, the bases of the femora and tibiae dark rusty red. Tarsi and antennae with a sparse and decumbent pubescence, the rest of the body glabrous. Subopaque. Head, thorax, and nodes coarsely rugoso-reticulate, the rugae emphasised longitudinally on the head and pro-mesonotum; on the nodes and epinotum the sculpture is finer and closer, although still fairly coarse. The spaces between the rugae is finely reticulate. Abdomen very finely, closely, and longi- tudinally striate, also partly reticulate. Legs and scapes sparsely punctate. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 359 Head rectangular, a little longer than wide, slightly narrower in front than behind, the posterior angles rounded, the posterior margin moderately convex, the sides almost straight. Eyes fairly large, placed just in front of the middle of the sides. Median area of the clypeus longitudinally striate, somewhat produced in front, the anterior margin straight, with a longitudinal and shallow impression in the middle. Mandibles sharply striate and sparsely punctured, armed with 5 large and obtuse teeth, the external margin feebly convex. Frontal carinae not extending back beyond the level of the anterior margin of the eyes. Frontal area triangular, depressed, and shining. Scapes not quite reaching the posterior margin of the head ; Ath—7th joints of the flagellum as wide as long, all the rest longer than wide. The wide pronotum has a distinct neck in front, the anterior margin above the latter very convex. In most specimens the pro-mesonal suture is very feeble, almost obsolete. The thorax is widest across the posterior third of the pronotum, behind that point it narrows gradually towards the meso-epinotal suture. Epinotum rounded. The dorsum of the thorax, seen in profile, forms two rounded bosses or convexities which are separated by a deep depression at the meso-epinotal suture. Epinotum unarmed, the dorsum widest in the middle, as long as the declivity, the latter not very steep, strongly and transversely rugose; an episternal lobe on each side below. Peduncle of the petiole ending in a small tooth below. The 1st node twice as long as its peduncle, subglobose, as wide as long, the anterior face nearly vertical. Second node wider than the Ist, nearly half as wide again as long, highest behind the middle, the sides rounded. Abdomen oval, truncate at the base. Q. 65-7 mm. Ergatoid or pseudogyne. A fairly abundant pilosity is present, composed of pale, thin, erect, and whitish hairs, Abdomen and legs with a decumbent and fairly sparse pubescence. Eyes a little larger than inthe $. Thoracic sutures more distinct ; a scutellar portion of the mesonotum faintly defined. Dorsum of epi- notum impressed transversely in the middle, the junction with the declivity more abrupt than in the > ; these features are somewhat masked by the very coarse sculpture. Declivity wider than in the %. Nodes and abdomen wider than in the 9, the former rather less convex above. The sculpture is even more coarse, and the rugae on the head diverge outwards towards the lateral angles behind. Otherwise like the 9. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns.) (S8.A.M., R.M.,G. A. colls.), type of & in my collection, 360 Annals of the South African Museum. Trise MERANOPLINI, Emery. Including the following S. African genera: Calyptomyrmex, Emery ; Meranoplus, Smith; and Dicroapsis, Emery. Genus CALYPTOMYRMEX, Emery. Ann. Mus. Civ., Genoa, vol. 25, p. 147, 1887. Forel, Mitth. N.H. Mus., Hamburg, vol. 18,p. 50, 9, g, 1901. Characters. %. Antennae 12-jointed, club 3-jointed, 2nd—8th joints of flagellum much wider than long. Scape thin at the base, flattened and dilated over the apical two-thirds. Clypeus narrow, the median area vertically truncate in front, the brow of the truncation strongly bidendate. Frontal carinae strong, with very deep and complete scrobes below. Eyes small. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, the meso-epinotal distinet Thorax stout and short, the mesonotum feebly bidendate behind, the epinotum oblique, much lower than the mesonotum, also feebly biden- tate. Petiole pedunculate. anteriorly, both nodes transversely oval. Abdomen round, the 1st segment forming the whole of the dorsal surface. Pilosity partly composed of spatulate hairs. The above characters of the 9 refer only to our single species, C. Arnoldi, Forel. “QO. This sex, as exemplified in C. Schraderi, Forel, an Australian species, does not differ much from the 9. The eyes are rather small, the pronotum somewhat truncate in front, the epinotum bidentate. The thorax is not quite so wide as the head. The pilosity consists of spatulate and clavate hairs, as in the ©. \ “@. Wines as in Meranoplus, 1 cubital and 1 discoidal cell, the stigma large and round, the radial cell open. Head relatively large, convex behind. Clypeus with lateral carinae, without teeth. Frontal carinae of the usual form, not forming scrobes.” Mayrian furrows present on the mesonotum. Nodes of petiole more or less round. C. Arnoupt, Forel. (Plate VIII, figs. 114, 114a.) (Dicroaspis), Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 115, 9, 1913. &. 26mm. Reddish-brown, the thorax and nodes darker, more dark brown. Legs, antennae, and mandibles reddish-yellow. The colour is somewhat masked by the pilosity, which is of an ochreous colour, and consists of short clavate and spatulate hairs. The former A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 361 are erect, and are mainly confined to the margins of the frontal carinae and the legs (the shape of these and of the spatulate hairs is the same as in Strumigenys, see Plate VITI, figs. 1140, 117a and 6). Head fairly closely and longitudinally rugose on the anterior half, becoming more reticulate-rugose on the posterior half, the spaces between the rugae finely reticulate, the scrobes very shallowly and very finely reticulate, almost smooth. Pro-mesonotum coarsely rugoso-reticulate, the spaces between more finely reticulate or rugulose. Epinotum, sides of thorax, and nodes finely and closely reticulate-punctate. Abdomen alutaceous, faintly shining, the rest of the body dull. Head trapezoidal, considerably narrowed in front, the posterior angles widely rounded, the posterior margin straight or slightly convex. Frontal carinae widely divergent, dilated horizontally outwards, extending back as far as the posterior fourth of the head, where they curve downwards and then continue forwards as a fine line, forming the upper and lower margins respectively of deep and wide scrobes, which receive the whole of the folded scape and flagellum. The clypeus is narrow and projects forwards, its upper surface is depressed, slanting downwards, feebly carinate in the middle. The corners of the anterior margin of the upper surface are produced into sharp teeth, the space between the teeth strongly con- cave. Below the teeth, the front of the clypeus is vertical or even inclined slightly inwards, convex transversely. The teeth of the clypeus, seen from above, project well beyond the middle of the closed mandibles. The latter closely striate, sparsely punctured, armed with two sharp apical teeth, the rest of the masticatory margin merely denticulate. Frontal area triangular and shining. Hyes composed of about 10 or 12 facets, placed behind the middle of the sides and below the scrobe. , Scape widened and flattened over the apical two- thirds ; 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum very short, at least three times wider than long, the club acuminate, four-fifths longer than the rest of the flagellum. Pro-mesonotum wide, narrowed behind, as wide in front as it is long ; pronotal shoulders narrowly rounded, prominent ; posterior margin of mesonotum furnished with a small tooth on each side (these are not easily seen, being partly obscured by the spatulate hairs). Dorsum of epinotum nearly flat, quadrate, as wide as long, very oblique, armed with two small, pointed, and triangular teeth. The declivity a little shorter than the dorsum, fairly steep, mareginate at the sides, with an episternal lobe on each side below. The peduncle of the petiole is as long as the node. The latter two-thirds wider than long, rounded above, the anterior and posterior faces vertical, the posterior face feebly convex transversely and concave 362 Annals of the South African Museum. from above to below. Seen from above, the node is transversely oval. Second node also transversely oval, as wide as the Ist, two-thirds wider than long, the ventral surface armed with a small tooth on each side in front. Abdomen truncate in front, the sides very convex, a little longer than wide. Bulawayo, under stones, very rare. Occasionally found singly in nests of Ponerine ants, where its presence is probably accidental. I have never found more than half a dozen together in one place. It is a very slow moving ant, and on account of its colour not easily seen even at close quarters. The 2nd—8th joints of the flagellum are so exceedingly short that they can be resolved only under a magnification of at least 80 diameters, and it is therefore not surprising that this species was originally placed by Dr. Forel under Dicroaspis. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Genus DICROASPIS, Emery. Ann. Soc, Ent. Belg., vol. 52, p. 185, 1908. Characters. &. Antennae 11-jointed, club 3-jointed, the scape swollen near the middle. Clypeus as in Calyptomyrmex Arnoldi. Deep scrobes present. Head much narrower in front than behind, more or less triangular. Pro-mesonotal suture absent, meso-epinotal distinct. HEpinotum armed with two small teeth. Abdomen much longer than wide, as in the genus Cataulacus. Spatulate hairs usually present. @. Secutellum overhanging the epinotum. Nodes wider and abdomen longer than in the $. Otherwise similar, except the usual sexual differences in the structure of the thorax, ete ¥ ; : D. CLAVISETA, Santschi. Géteborgs Kung]. Vetensk. och Vitterh. Handl. XV, 2, p. 27, 9, 1914. “%. 2mm. Brownish-red. Head and dorsum of thorax darker. Abdomen blackish-brown. Dull. Head and pro-mesonotum coarsely and longitudinally rugose. The rugae are slightly divergent towards the back of the head, and convergent behind on the thorax. The spaces between the rugae are more finely rugose and covered with large punctures, shining at the bottom, each one giving rise to an erect clavate hair. The sides of the thorax, the epinotum and both nodes finely reticulate and punctate. On the thorax and abdomen the clavate hairs are fairly long and outstanding, also erect but shorter on A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 363 the head, very short and oblique on the legs. Pubescence indistinct on the body, abundant on the antennae, sparse on the legs. Head a little longer than wide, the hind margin feebly emarginate, the posterior angles rounded ; the sides straight, converging towards the mouth. Hyes placed in the middle of the sides, composed of 8 or 9 facets (3 to 4 along the diameter). Clypeus reticulate, fairly shining, subvertical, produced forwards into a bidentate lobe strongly emarginate in the middle. Frontal carinae as in D. cryptocerus, Emery, widely but shallowly emarginate in the middle of the sides. Mandibles smooth, feebly punctured, fairly shining, with 2 apical teeth, followed by 4 or 5 denticles. Scape cylindrical, slightly dilated in the apical half. First joint of the flagellum as long as the four following joints taken together; 2nd—6th joints three times wider than long. Last joint of the club longer than the two preceding united, the latter shorter than wide. Front of the pronotum transverse, the sides con- vergent behind, submarginate and only feebly arcuate. Dorsum of the epinotum strongly marginate, concave transversely, one-third longer than wide and one-third longer than the declivity. The angles of the epinotum armed with a small tooth. First node nearly twice as wide as long or as high, convex above, the two faces vertical, the anterior face almost as long as the peduncle, the upper margin of the latter very oblique in front. Second node transversely oval, half as wide again as the Ist, nearly twice as wide as long. Much wider and more convex above than below, furnished below with a blunt tooth. Abdomen ovoid, slightly dilated in front.” Pietermaritzburg (Traegaordh). Genus MERANOPLUS, Smith. Trans. Ent. Soc. London, series 2, p. 224, 1854. Characters. ®. Antennae 9-jointed, the club 3-jointed, the scape swollen in the apical half. Distinct and deep scrobes present, receiving the whole of the folded antennae. Eyes prominent and convex. Head usually very steep in front. Frontal carimae wide apart, divergent, prolonged backwards as the upper boundaries of the scrobes. Thorax generally short; the pro-mesonotum forms a single disc, and over- hangs the epmotum behind. The anterior and posterior angles of the pro-mesonotum usually bidentate or bispinose. Epinotum vertical or very steep, generally bispinose, sometimes unarmed, the dorsum and declivity not differentiated, the upper surface of the epinotum forming 364 Annals of the South African Musewm. a single plane. First node usually cuneiform. Second node cuboid or globose. Puilosity long, abundant and woolly. Q. Antennae 9-jointed. Pro-mesonotum not spined nor, dentate. Wings with J cubital, 1 discoidal and 1 closed radial cell. ¢. Antennae 13-jointed, the scape short, the 2nd joint of the flagellum not much longer than the scape. Mayrian furrows usually well defined. Nodes flattened, not cuneiform, sometimes with the anterior angles subdentate. The ants of this genus are slow and timid insects, often feigning death when handled. The nests of all our S. African species are placed in the ground, usually with several entrances, which are surrounded by irregular masses of excavated material. As far as my observations go, they appear to be mainly carnivorous in their diet, but are also fond of sugary substances, and attend aphids and coccids on plants. 1 / VY Key to the 9 9 of Meranoplus. (4) 1. Epinotum unarmed. (3) 2. Posterior margin of mesonotum feebly festooned. inermis, Emery. (2) 38. Posterior margin of mesonotum deeply festooned . nanus, André. (1) 4. Epinotum armed. (10) 5. Mesonotum with short teeth at the posterior angles, much shorter than the epinotal spines. (7) 6. First node of petiole bispinose above. : . spininodis, Arnold. (6) 7. First node of petiole unarmed above. (9) 8. Lateral margins of pro-mesonotum deeply excised between the pro- and mesonotum, strongly lobate on each side of the excision ; head longitudinally striate anteriorly —. : . excisus, Arnold. (8) 9. Lateral margins of the pro-mesonotum feeb excised, hardly lobed on each side of the excision; head reticulate-rugose in front and behind . 5 : 2 Peringueyi, Emery. (5) 10. Mesonotum syined at the posterior angles, the spines as long as those of the epinotum. (12) 11. Abdomen dull . : : : 5 : : . Simoni, Emery. (11) 12. Abdomen more or less shining. (14) 138. Pro-mesonotal suture visible, linear : . var. sutwralis, Forel. (13) 14. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete. (16) 15. Abdomen very shining; pro-mesonotum paler than the head and abdomen, more or less yellowish-red . var. springvalensis, Arnold. (15) 16. Abdomen moderately shining; thorax as dark as the rest of the body, or nearly so . : : : : var. nitidiventris, Mayr. I have not seen imermis, Emery, which has the epinotum unarmed, like the race nanior, Forel, of nanus, André. I have some specimens which have been named as this race by Dr. Santschi, but they do not A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 365 agree in size with Forel’s description, being 2°5 mm. long instead of 19. The two species, imermis and nanus with its varieties, are evidently very closely allied, and in the circumstances, it appears safest to repeat here the authors’ original descriptions. M. inermis, Emery. Ann. Soe. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 41, 9, 1895. “6. 2-22 mm. Fuscous, with an abundant but not long pilosity, scantier on the legs and thorax than elsewhere; head and thorax coarsely reticulate, less shining than the abdomen, which with the petiole is very shining and punctate; disc of pro-mesonotum trans- verse, the anterior angles acute, obtusely 6-lobate posteriorly ; epi- notum unarmed ; nodes of petiole cuneiform.” “Very closely allied to M. nanus, André, from which it differs more especially by the absence of the epinotal spines. The pro-mesonotum is a little shorter, the festoons or lobes of the posterior margin less prominent. The sculpture and pubescence are identical. The nodes of the petiole are still more squamiform. Makapan (Simon).” M. nanus, André. Rev. d’Ent., 2, p. 95, 9, 1892. “OG. 2°75-3°25 mm. The pro- and mesonotum together form a transverse rectangle, much wider than long; the anterior angles of the pronotum acute, the sides straight, separated from the mesonotum by narrow and deep lateral excisions, and by a suture which is superficial but distinct. Mesonotum shorter than the pronotum and of the same width ; its posterior angles are dentiform but blunted, and its pos- terior margin bears 4: short, obtuse and triangular teeth, of which the two exterior are a little larger than the internal pair. Epinotum armed with 2 small, acute and spiniform teeth. Petiole short, its two segments having the form of fairly high scales; the scale of the Ist segment, seen from the side, cuneiform, the summit very thin; the 2nd segment is hardly thicker at the base than at the summit, which is less trenchant and rounder. More or less dark reddish-brown, the legs and antennae testaceous, the abdomen nearly black behind. Head and thorax fairly shining, fairly strongly reticulate-rugose ; clypeus, frontal area and the vertical face of the epinotum nearly smooth ; lst abdominal segment fairly coarsely and shallowly reticu- late-punctate, the other segments nearly smooth. Pilosity whitish, long and abundant all over. Gaboon.” 366 Annals of the South African Museum. Race nanior, Forel. Ann. Mus. Nat. Hong., vol. 5, p. 12, 9, 1907. “6. 19mm. Apart from its smaller size, this form differs from the type of the species by its sculpture, which is much more feeble everywhere, by the more obtuse lobes or denticulations of the margin of the thorax, by the thinner and more squamiform nodes, and by the shorter thorax, which is one and three-quarter times wider than long. The head is narrower than the thorax (equally wide in the type species). Epinotal spines entirely absent, the epinotum being abso- lutely unarmed. The woolly and abundant pilosity is a little shorter. Mto-ya-kifaru, Hast Africa.” Specimens taken near the Victoria Falls have been named for me by Dr. Santschi as being of this race. Excepting their greater size, they agree well with the above description, but not more so than they do with Emery’s description of imermis and with his figure of the same. Emery does not mention the pro-mesonotal suture, which is well defined in these specimens, and ends at each side in a deep pit, which appears to have been formed by the fusion of the opposed outer angles of a former excision. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) \ M. spPININODIS, n. sp. ®. 27-2:°9 mm. Head, thorax, and nodes yellowish-brown, abdomen dark brown, legs, antennae, and mandibles ochreous-yellow. Pilosity pale yellowish, fairly long and abundant. On the legs it is short, oblique, and intermixed with a sparse pubescence. Head longitudinally rugose, the posterior fourth reticulate. Scrobes deep, smooth, and shining, faintly and vertically striate over their posterior half. Mandibles longitudinally striate, quadridentate. Thorax and 2nd node rugoso-reticulate, the reticulations on the node closer and finer than on the thorax. Declivity of the epinotum and the Ist node smooth and shining. Head and thorax moderately shining between the reticulations. Abdomen nitidulous, very finely reticulate or alutaceous ; here and there the reticulations are closer and stronger, forming more or less rosette-like points. Head as wide behind as long, not much narrowed in front, the posterior margin convex, the posterior angles sharp. Hyes moderately large, placed behind the middle of the sides. The frontal carinae and the scrobes extend back as far as and end at the posterior angles. Median area of clypeus margined laterally by a raised line or carina, between them A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 367 are 2 or 3 shorter lines; the anterior margin is straight, slightly produced forwards. Club of antennae as long as the rest of the flagellum. Pro-mesonotum nearly one and two-thirds wider than long, not much wider in front than behind, only very slightly narrowed behind the pronotal region, shallowly incised in front of the mesonotal teeth. The latter are fairly acute, subparallel, a little longer than their basal width. The epinotal spines are very long, quite two and a half times longer than the mesonotal, and two and a half times longer than their width at the base, subparallel, acute, directed obliquely upwards. They are placed very close to the posterior margin of the mesonotum, so that the clathrate space between the latter and their bases (7. e. the dorsum of the epinotum) is very short. First node of petiole cuneiform, the anterior face vertical, the posterior face nearly so; the trenchant dorsal edge of the node bears on each side a sharp and vertical spine, a little longer than wide at the base. The lst node is slightly wider than the 2nd. The latter is subglobose; seen from the side it is somewhat flattened above, wider above than below, the anterior face inclined forwards, obtusely angulated below. Abdomen deeply emarginate at the base at its junction with the petiole. This is a very distinct species, easily distinguished from all our other species by the bispinose Ist node of the petiole and the very long epinotal spines. Hillside, Bulawayo. ‘The entrance to the nest is a very small hole surrounded by a tiny mound of earth. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) ; type in my collection. M. excisus, Arnold. Proc. Rhod. Se. Assen., vol. 13, part 3, p. 29, 9, 1914. ®. 3-33 mm. Head, thorax, petiole, legs, and antennae yellowish- brown, the heal, scape, and club of antenna a little darker, abdomen brownish-black. The pilosity is very dense and composed of long pale hairs, more abundant than in Simoni-nitidiventris. The legs and antennae more sparsely clothed with short and oblique hairs. Head and clypeus longitudinally rugose, the spaces between the rugosities smooth and slightly shining. Thorax reticulately rugose | the rugae emphasised longitudinally, the spaces between them slightly shining. Face of the lst node of the petiole smooth and shining, the 2nd node reticulate-rugose above. First segment of the abdomen shining, very finely rugose and feebly punctured. Legs smooth and moderately shining. 24, 368 Annals of the South African Museum. Head very little wider behind than im tront, as long as wide. Hyes very convex and prominent, placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Clypeus subtriangular, wider behind than in front, the anterior margin slightly convex, the posterior margin not clearly defined. Mandibles longitudinally and sharply striate, armed with © small teeth, the apical tooth subacute and larger than the rest. Antennal scrobes smooth and shining, extending back almost to the posterior angles of the head. Scapes dilated in the apical half, as long as flagellum less the apical joint. First joint of flagellum as long as wide, 3rd—5th joints wider than long. The anterior margin of the pro-mesonotal dise convex, produced at the anterior corners into a sharp angle on each side; on each side, in the middle, the margin of the disc is semicircularly and rather abruptly excised, and in front and behind this excision the margin is slightly concave. The posterior angles of the disc are produced into 2 small acute teeth, which are a little longer than they are wide at the base. Between the lateral teeth the posterior margin also bears 2 smaller triangular teeth. The epinotum is margined laterally and produced on each side into a sharp spine, which is at least twice as long as it 1s wide at the base. First node of the petiole cuneiform, almost linear above, as wide at the base as it is high, the anterior face vertical ; 2nd node globose, as wide as the Ist. Sides of the thorax and epinotum transversely and sparsely rugose. Kstcourt, Natal (R. C. Wroughton). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.); type in my collection. M. Perineveyi, Emery. (Plate VIII, figs..115, 115a.) Bull. Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. 18, p. 365, 9, 1886. ®. 27-42mm. Black; tarsi and antennae more or less brownish- black. Head and thorax subopaque, nodes and abdomen dull, legs shehtly shining. Pilosity abundant and woolly, composed of fairly long whitish hairs, erect on the body, oblique, less dense and shorter on the legs and scapes. Flagellum moderately pubescent. Head, thorax, and nodes coarsely reticulate-rugose, the spaces between the reticulations slightly shining and roughened; the rugae more or less longitudinal on the head, on the nodes finer and closer. The abdomen is very closely and fairly finely reticulate-punctate. Epimnotum shallowly rugulose and shining above, striate laterally between the epinotal spines and the posterior margin of the mesonotum. Sides of thorax irregularly and shallowly rugose. Head, excluding the mandibles, as long as wide behind, narrowed A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 369 gradually from back to front, the posterior margin convex, the pos- terior angles rounded. Eyes very convex, large, placed behind the middle of the sides. Scrobes extend back almost as far as the occipital margin, shining and nearly smooth, with a few vertical striae posteriorly. Frontal cariae very divergent. Median area of clypeus longitudinally rugose, wider behind than in front, the sides somewhat raised, the anterior margin convex. Mandibles closely and fairly strongly striate, armed with 5 stout teeth. Pro-mesonotum in front as wide as the head, one-fifth wider than long, the anterior angles acute and dentiform. Lateral margins of pronotum feebly concave; there is a slight excision between the pro- and mesonotum, the suture obsolete. Mesonotum as long as the pronotum, its lateral margins shghtly concave, the posterior lateral angles armed with a tooth, which is hardly longer than wide at the base; between the lateral teeth, the posterior margin is produced into two much smaller and triangular teeth, the space between them concave. Epinotum armed with two acute, divergent spines, much longer than their basal width, and longer than the mesonotal teeth. The upper face of the epinotum is shallowly concave transversely, and nearly vertical. First node of petiole cuneiform, the anterior and posterior faces meeting in a trenchant edge above, the ventral surface convex and bearing a small tooth in front. Second node globose, a trifle longer than wide, not wider than the Ist. Abdomen globose, emarginate at the junction with the petiole, much wider than the thorax. Cape Prov. (Peringuey) ; Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Brauns). The specimens from Willowmore measure 4-4-2 mm. in length, greatly exceeding in size the types of Hmery, which measure 2°7—3°5 mm. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) M. Simoni, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 41, 5, 1895. 20) 7), Tate Fusco-ferruginous, abdomen piceous; head, dorsum of thorax and petiole coarsely reticulate, the abdomen punctulate, dull, evenly clothed with a long pilosity; pre-mesonotal suture obsolete, anterior angles of pronotum acutely produced, the posterior margin of mesonotum deeply emarginate, with a strong, large and acute spine on each side; epinotum bispinose ; Ist node cuneiform, 2nd node sub- globose. Vrijburg (Simon).” “In the shape of the thorax the species approaches M. Magrettui, André, from which it differs more especially by the greater develop- ment of the mesonotal teeth, which form strong spines, longer than 370 Annals of the South African Museum. they are wide at the base. Between them, the posterior margin is deeply and arcuately emarginate, with a little and deeper excision in the middle. The anterior angles of the pronotum are acute and produced forwards; the lateral margins of the pronotum converge gradually and almost in a straight line, from the anterior angles backwards to the position of the suture, where they are abruptly constricted. The sides of the mesonotum converge in the same way as far as the apex of the spines. The head and thorax are very sharply reticulate-rugose ; on the head the sculpture tends to form longi- tudinal ridges, especially in front, but this arrangement is_ less noticeable than in Magrettw. The surface of the head is, moreover, also finely punctulate. The abdomen is very densely punctulate and dull, and sprinkled with small piligerous punctures. The hairs are long, and all of about the same length.” Race suTuRALIs, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 424, 9, 1910. “G6. 3-33 mm. Head and abdomen brown; thorax, petiole and limbs reddish. Clypeus without the 2 very small teeth in front which are to be seen in the race nitidiventris, Mayr. The sides of the thorax are emarginate between the pro- and mesonotum, and the pro- mesonotal suture is visible as a transverse line. Mesonotal spines much wider, longer and more robust than in the race nitidiventris, longer than the thin spines of the epimotum. Otherwise identical ; abdomen shining as in nitidiventris. Natal (Haviland).” (S.A.M. coll.) The reticulations on the pro-mesonotum are much smaller than in nitidiventris. Race NITIDIVENTRIS, Mayr. Ann. K- KN. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p: 26, ©, 1901. ®. 31-36 mm, Brownish-black, thorax and nodes dark reddish- brown, legs dark brown, bases and apices of the femora and tibiae, the tarsi, mandibles and the first five joints of the flagellum paler, more or less ferruginous. The anterior three-fourths of the head longitudinally rugose, becoming more reticulate posteriorly, the posterior fourth reticulate. Hpinotum irregularly rugose and partly reticulate between the spies and the posterior margin of the mesonotum. Abdomen moderately shining, very shallowly, closely and finely reticulate, more strongly reticulate over the basal third. The thorax is duller than in A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 371 the type of the species, but nevertheless fairly shining between the reticulations. The posterior margin of the mesonotum lacks the little median excision which is present in the type. Meso- and epinotal spines equal in length, but the latter are thinner and more acute than the former, which are slightly curved upwards at the apex. Otherwise like the type of the species, 2. 61 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Colour as in the %, but the scutellum, epinotum, and petiole more or less dark red or reddish- brown. Sculpture like that of the %, but the superimposed reticula- tions on the base of the abdomen are stronger than in the 9, and the meshes more elongate. Eyes not much larger than in the §, the ocelli small and depressed. Pronotum very little exposed above in the middle, more exposed at the sides, the shoulders subangular. Mesonotum moderately convex in front, rather flat behind, one-third wider across the tegulae than long. Scutellum subtriangular, the sides feebly convex, narrowly rounded behind, projecting somewhat over the very short metanotum. Dorsum of epinotum obsolete between the teeth. The latter are triangular, acute, as long as wide at the base; the declivity vertical, smooth and shining. Nodes as in the ©. Abdomen emarginate at the base, ovoid, longer than wide. Wings rather long (the front wing 6 mm. long), tinged with yellow, the nervures and stigma brownish-yellow. Otherwise like the ¢. S$. 53 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Black, the articulations of the legs reddish, the tarsi, antennae and mandibles pale dirty yellow. Head, thorax and nodes slightly shining, abdomen very shining. Pilosity thinner, less abundant and less woolly than in the 9. Head and thorax very coarsely reticulate-rugose, the rugae becoming more longitudinal on the posterior third of the mesonotum; epinotum longitudinally rugose above, the declivity transversely striate, the sides of the thorax and epinotum more or less rugoso-striate. Nodes finely striate longitudinally, abdomen smooth except at the extreme base round the articulation with the petiole, where it is fan-wise striate. Seen from the side, the head is almost angular above at the ocellar region, the anterior and posterior surfaces falling steeply downwards from that point. The head is wider than long, widest across the eyes, the outline behind the eyes almost semicircular. Eyes very large and hemispherical, occupying the anterior half of the sides of the head ; the ocelli large and prominent. Mandibles small, elongate, with an acute apical tooth and minutely denticulate behind. Scapes short, half as long as the distance between their sockets and the anterior ocellus ; Ist joint of flagellum slightly longer than wide, the 3rd and following joints all somewhat swollen and thicker at their basal third, Meso- 372 Annals of the South African Museum. notum very convex in front, hiding the pronotum almost entirely from above. The scutellum is very convex lengthwise, and is separated from the mesonotum by a deep and clathrate groove. Dorsum of epinotum very oblique, twice as wide as long, sharply marginate at the sides, a little longer than the vertical declivity. Both segments of the petiole somewhat flattened dorso-ventrally, wider than deep. The Ist segment, seen from above, more or less trapezoidal, almost as long as wide in front, convex and widest in front, the anterior lateral angles acute and produced. Second segment like the Ist but shorter, the anterior margin less convex transversely. First abdominal segment widened towards its apex. Wings as in the 9 but shorter. Legs fairly long and slender. S. Rhodesia, fairly common on the granite and schist formations. Types of 9 and g in my collection. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. SPRINGVALENSI Ss, n.V. ®. 31mm. Head and abdomen very dark brown, the base of the latter a little paler. Thorax and nodes yellowish-red. Legs and antennae brownish-yellow, the scape and club brown. This variety differs from the description of the type of the species only in the almost smooth and very shining abdomen. From the race nitidi- ventris it may be distinguished by the smaller size, paler thorax, and the much thinner epinotal spines. Springvale, 8S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.); type in my collection. Troe DACKTINI, Forel. Including the following genera: Strunugenys, Smith ; Microdaceton, Santschi; and Hypitritus, Emery. All the species are easily recognised by the shape of the head, which is strongly cordate and often deeply emarginate behind. Genus STRUMIGENYS, Smith. Journ. Ent., I, p. 72, 1860. Characters. ®. Antennae 6-jointed, club 2-jointed and usually much longer than the rest of the flagellum. Head cordate, narrowed considerably in front, and higher behind than in front, the posterior margin often A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 373 deeply emarginate. Mandibles elongate, the internal and external margins often much longer than the masticatory, which is generally armed with acute teeth. A complete scrobe present. Eyes small and placed low down on the sides. Frontal carinae widely divergent» forming the upper boundary of the scrobes. Thorax widest in front, narrowed laterally and depressed above at the meso-epinotal suture, both thoracic sutures more or less defined. Epinotum often bidentate or bispinose. Declivity of epinotum often furnished with a foliaceous or membranaceous margin on each side. Petiole generally covered, at least at the sides, with a spongy mass of material, probably formed by a coalescence of spatulate hairs. First segment of petiole with the peduncular and nodal portions distinct; 2nd node wider than the Ist, transverse. Abdomen generally very convex below, flattened above. Lees fairly long and slender, the middle and posterior tibiae without calearia. Pilosity usually composed of clavate and spatulate hairs. 2. Inke the $, except the usual sexual differences in the structure of the thorax. Eyes larger than in the 9; ocelli present. Wings with an open radial cell and one median cell, the cubital and discoidal cells absent. ¢. Antennae 13-jointed. Distribution. Both hemispheres. Key to the 3 9 of Strumigenys. (14) 1. Mandibles distinctly toothed. (11) 2. Mandibles armed with 3 or 4 teeth near the apex; all, or at least three of them very long, acute and spiniform. (10) 3. Mandibles half as long as the head, or very nearly so.* (5) 4, Last joint almost twice as long as the rest of the flagellum. Traegaordhi, Santschi. (4) 5. Last joint not more, or less than one-third longer than the rest of the flagellum. (7) 6. Sides of the head very convex : i . vrorata, Santschi- (6) 7. Sides of head not very convex, Saneeel rectilinear or slightly con- cave in the median third. (9) 8. Mesonotum distinctly depressed behind ; dorsum of epinotum hori- zontal . ‘ , , Arnoldi, Forel. (8) 9. Mesonotum not nepreesed honinde eral feebly convex over its whole length ; dorsum of epinotum oblique . Haviland, Forel. (3) 10. Mandibles distinctly less than half the length of the head. Havilandi, race Marleyi, Arnold. * N.B.—In this key, and in the subsequent deseriptions, the head is measured along the median line, from the anterior margin of the clypeus to the middle of the occipital margin. The measurement of the mandibles excludes the portion hidden beneath the clypeus. 374: Annals of the South African Museum. (2) 11. Mandibles with numerous small and distinct teeth, not spiniform. (13) 12. Colour dark ochreous; anterior margin of elypeus shallowly concave ; 2nd and 8rd joints of flagellum as long as wide . emarginata, Mayr. (12) 18. Colour dark yellowish-brown; anterior margin of clypeus straight ; 2nd and 38rd joints of flagellum wider than long . transversa, Santachi. (1) 14. Mandibles practically edentate, the masticatory margin being very long and furnished with minute denticulations which are visible only under a very high magnification. (16) 15. Pronotum dull, reticulate-punctate. Escherichi, Forel, race boerorum, Santschi. (15) 16. Pronotum shining, almost smooth. (18) 17. 1°7 mm. long; dorsum of epinotum flat . ; . Simoni, Emery. (17) 18. 2:1-2'4 mm. long ; dorsum of epinotum convex. Escherichi, race limbata, Forel. S. TRAEGAORDHI, Santschi. Goteborgs Kungl. Vetensk. och Vitterh. Handl. XV, 2, p. 28, 9, 1914. “O. 2 mm. Dark reddish-yellow, sometimes brownish; the middle of the abdomen brown. Mandibles, antennae, and legs yellowish. Dull. Reticulate-punctate. The front of the 2nd node and the abdomen smooth and shining, except a few striae on the base of the latter. Puilosity spatulate, elongate, and abundant, symmetrical and oblique on the sides of the head and the inferior margin of the scape ; on the latter there are 6 or 7 hairs directed outwards. On the thorax there are only short, erect, and truncate hairs, together with 4 or 6 much longer and clavate hairs; these occur again more abundantly over the whole abdomen. Pubescence fine and more or less decumbent, sparse on the head and thorax, more abundant on the mandibles, antennae, legs, and abdomen. Head one-fifth longer than wide, emarginate behind, the posterior angles widely rounded. Eyes with 3 or 4 facets. The scape, very little dilated, reaches the posterior fourth of the head, as also the scrobe. Fourth joint of flagellum distinctly longer than the Ist; 2nd and 8rd joints wider than Jong ; 5th joint nearly twice as long as the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles linear, slightly curved, with 4 teeth, of which 3 are spiniform and subequal, 2 apical, and 1 placed at the distal third of the mandibles. The 4th tooth is smaller, placed between the innermost and the apical pair, separated by a wide interval. Pronotum twice as wide as long, marginate and arcuate in front, the anterior angles slightly prominent. The pro-mesonotal suture not very distinct. Mesonotum constricted and impressed in its middle, its anterior half forming with the pronotum a fairly strong convexity. Meso-epinotal suture well defined. Dorsum of epinotum marginate, narrower in front than A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 375 behind, and on the same level as the posterior half of the mesonotum. Epinotal spines a little longer than their fbasal width, as long as one-third of the interval between them. Declivity of epinotum con- cave, margined at the sides with a band of spongy tissue. First node higher and wider than long, rounded at the summit, which, seen from above, has a transversely rectangular shape, barely arcuate anteriorly- The anterior face is hardly convex, oblique, and a little shorter than the dorsal face. Second node twice as wide as long, convex in front, nearly straight behind. A spongy mass covers the lower surface and also the sides of the petiole. “ Pietermaritzburg and Sweetwaters, Natal. (Traegaordh).”’ S. rrRoRATA, Santschi. JHC Citing 1Do Py Dc “G. 15 mm. Reddish-yellow. Antennae and legs of a paler yellow. Finely reticulate-punctate. Dull. Nodes and abdomen smooth and shining, except a few striae at the base of the Jatter, and some longitudinal striae on the pronotum. Head clothed with spatulate hairs, short and white; forming a row on the lower margin of the scape and directed outwards, also on the margin of the clypeus. Pronotum also with spatulate hairs, but less abundant. In addition, there are also some long hairs, with or without clavate ends. Man- dibles, legs, and antennae fairly pubescent. Head one-sixth longer than wide, emarginate behind, the sides very convex. Eyes with 4 or 5 facets. The scape and its scrobe extend a little beyond the posterior fourth of the head, the scape fairly dilated. First and 4th joints of the flagellum subequal, the 4th wider than the Ist, the 2nd and 3rd wider than long, the last joint one-fourth longer than the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles linear and moderately curved, distinctly shorter than half the length of the head, with 3 long teeth feebly incurved above, the 3rd placed at the distal fourth of the mandible, the teeth crossing when the mandibles are closed. Pro- notum (without the neck) twice as wide as long, marginate and arcuate in front, the shoulders rectangular, well defined but obtuse ; the sides straight, submarginate and convergent behind. Pro-meso- notal suture distinct, concave behind. Mesonotum twice as long as wide in the middle, twice as wide in front as behind, submarginate. Epinotum marginate, the dorsum narrower in front, a little longer than it is wide behind. Epinotal spines as long as they are wide at the base, nearly as long as one-third of the interval between them. Declivity margined with a band of spongy tissue. First node 376 Annals of the South African Museum. obtusely angular, wider than long, more convex transversely in front than behind. The anterior face straight and inclined, a little shorter than the peduncle. Second node two and a half times ‘wider than long, feebly emarginate in front, surrounded by a large mass of spongy tissue which extends below the Ist node: “Lake Sibayi, Zululand. (Traegaordh).” .§. Arnoup1, Forel. (Plate VIIL, figs. 117, 117a-d.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 114, 9, 1913. &. 18mm, Reddish-ochreous ; legs, antennae, and mandibles a little paler. Head dull, very densely reticulate-punctate. Dorsum of thorax and the 1st node subopaque and reticulate-punctate, but much more shallowly than the head; the pronotum longitudinally and irregularly striate in addition. Sides of thorax, 2nd node, and abdomen smooth and shining. The abdomen with 4 or 5 strong and oblique striae on each side of the base, extending beyond the basal third of the Ist segment. Legs and scapes closely reticulate-punctate and dull. Mandibles rugulose. Pilosity on the head composed of whitish-yellow spatulate hairs (see fig. 1176), fairly abundant and evenly disposed. A row of 7 hairs, directed outwards, lies on the outer margin of each scape. The pilosity of the thorax, nodes, and abdomen very sparse and irregular, composed of long clavate hairs (see fig. 117a). Femora and tibiae more sparsely pilose, the hairs smaller and more decumbent and less distinctly spatulate. Mandibles, tarsi, and flagellum with a sparse decumbent pubescence. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-fifth longer than wide (or including the posterior lateral lobes, two-fifths longer), a little more than twice as wide at its greatest width as it is across the anterior margin of the clypeus ; fairly convex at the sides over the posterior third, almost parallel-sided in frout, the posterior margin concave, deeply and widely emarginate. Scrobes deep, distinctly margined above and below, and divided in the basal half by a strong and longitudinal ridge. Eyes small, composed of 4 or 5 facets, placed below the lower margin of the scrobe and not visible from above. Clypeus triangular, equilateral, the anterior margin straight. Frontal carinae convex outwardly above the antennal sockets, thence widely divergent. First and 4th joints of the flagellum subequal, 2nd and 3rd wider than long, 5th joint one-third longer than the rest of the flagellum. Mandibles linear, half as long as the head, almost parallel, feebly convex externally, armed with 4 long and spiniform teeth. Two of these subequal and placed at the apex, the innermost at about A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 377 the distal third ; between the latter and the apical pair lies a smaller tooth. Pronotum submarginate at the sides, feebly carinate in the middle, a little longer than wide, the anterior margin very convex transversely, sloping downwards and forwards. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete above. Mesonotum longer than wide, the posterior half narrower than the anterior and depressed. The dorsum of the epi-. notum a little longer than wide, feebly convex lengthwise, merging by a short curve into the declivity. The latter is margined on each side by a spongy band, which reaches the lower edge of the epinotal spines. The latter are longer than their basal width, nearly as long as the interval between them. Peduncle of the petiole longer than the node; the latter cuboid, as wide as long, a little wider behind than in front. Second node transversely oval, twice as wide as the lst, two-thirds wider than long. Both nodes margined behind and below (including the peduncle) with spongy tissue, which also extends over the sides of the base of the abdomen. Under the 2nd node this spongy tissue is deeper than the node itself and covers a spinose process. Abdomen flattened above, very convex below. Bulawayo. Taken on one occasion only, under a stone and in the nest of Bothroponera Krugeri, Forel. Apparently very rare. (R.M., G.A. colls.) S. Havinannp1, Forel. Mitth. Mus. Hamburg, vol. 22, p. 18, 9, 1905. “%. 2:42°6 mm. Mandibles half as long as the head, feebly curved outwardly near the base and thence almost straight or barely convex, so that a space is left between them which is a little wider than the width of the mandible itself. The latter is narrow, at first parallel-sided, then gradually attenuated in the apical half, quadri- dentate. Two long sharp teeth are placed on the inner margin behind the apex. The two apical teeth are long, thin, and widely divergent, the upper one longer than the lower. ‘The mandibles are dull, with a long, yellowish and adpressed pubescence, and a row of longer and outstanding hairs on the inner margin before the apex. Head cordi- form, much longer than wide . . . with a feeble semilunar emargination posteriorly. Not emarginate laterally. Clypeus wider than long, emarginate in front, fairly flat. Frontal carinae dilated in front. Scapes curved, feebly spindle-shaped. Last joint some- what longer than the rest of the flagellum. The anterior part of the head, in front of the antennal sockets, transversely rectangular much wider than long. Eyes fairly small. Pronotum convex in, 378 Annals of the South African Museum. front, behind which the dorsal profile of the thorax is straight and without any emargination. Pro-mesonotal suture indistinct. Meso- epinotal suture very clearly defined. Dorsum of the epinotum distinctly marginate, about one and one-third times longer than wide, a little wider behind. Epinotal teeth short, about as long as two-thirds of the interval between them. Declivity of the epimotum with a feeble translucent band on each side. Both nodes wider than long, the 2nd twice as wide as the Ist, the latter shorter than its peduncle. There is a ribbon of spongy tissue below the Ist segment of the petiole, and a mass of the same tissue around the ventral projection of the 2nd node. There is very little of it above and behind the nodes. Legs fairly long and thin. Sides of thorax, 2nd node, and abdomen smooth; the latter almost without basal striae. Head dull, densely reticulate-punctate. All the rest very finely reticulate, at the most only slightly shining, in part dull. On the dorsum of the thorax the meshes are partly converted into longi- tudinal rugae. On the body there is a scanty pilosity composed of very short clavate hairs. There is also a row of such hairs on the anterior margins of the clypeus and scapes, and along the sides of the frontal carinae. Similar clavate hairs, shining and decumbent, are plentiful on the head, scanty on the rest of the body. In addition, there is a fine adpressed pubescence on the body and the linbs, the latter without outstanding pilosity. Rusty yellowish-red. The vertex and a cloudy transverse band on the abdomen yellowish- brown.” “ Natal, 53800 ft. (Haviland).” Race Maruryi, Arnold. Proc. Rhod. Sc. Assn., vol. 13, part 3, p. 31, 9, 1914. 5. 26 mm. Differs from the type of the species as follows: The mandibles are shorter, much less than half as long as the head. The head, measured from the anterior margin of the clypeus to the apices of the posterior angles, is two and a half times as long as the mandibles. The last jomt of the flagellum is not longer than the rest of the flagellum. The dorsum of the epinotum is slightly shining, wider than long. The sides of the thorax are not smooth as in the type species, but distinctly reticulate-punctate and dull. The base of the abdomen distinctly striate at the sides, the striations covering a fan-shaped area. Otherwise like the type. Durban. 'T'wo specimens in a nest of Pheidole punctulata (H. B, Marley); type in my collection. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 379 S. EMARGINATA, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 26, 5, 1901. O. 222 mm. Ochreous; the abdomen and mandibles slightly brownish-yellow. Abdomen and 2nd node moderately shiniug, the rest of the body dull. Head, thorax, excepting the pronotum, dorsum of epinotum, and Ist node finely and closely reticulate-punctate ; the declivity of the epinotum, the 2nd node, aud the abdomen smooth, the basal third of the latter strongly and obliquely striate on each side (about 6 striae on each side). Head, pro-, and mesonotum clothed with curved spatulate hairs, very scantily on the pro- and mesonotum, fairly abundantly on the head. Anterior margin of the scape with a row of such hairs, directed outwards. The anterior margin of the clypeus with a dense row of scale-lke hairs. The rest of the body very sparsely and irregularly pilose, the hairs fairly long and acuminate, not clavate. Legs with adpressed and simple hairs. Head not quite half as long again as wide, at its widest point two and two-fifths wider than the width of the anterior margin of the clypeus, the posterior margin widely and fairly deeply emarginate, not very convex at the sides. The scapes and the scrobes do not extend back beyond the eye by a distance greater than the long diameter of the Jatter. The scrobes much shallower than in Arnoldi or Haviland, the upper and lower margins not very clearly defined. First joint of the flagellum a little longer and thinner than the 4th, 2nd and 3rd joints about as long as wide, 5th joint nearly one-third longer than the rest of the flagellum. Eyes fairly large, composed of 20 or more facets. Posterior margin of clypeus angular, the anterior margin shallowly concave. The mandibles are more than half hidden under the clypeus, the exposed apical portion feebly convex externally, the internal margin armed with numerous small teeth. The dorsal profile of the thorax is almost flat, the pronotum slanting very slightly down- wards and forwards, the mesonotum feebly depressed in the middle. The pronotum is longer than wide, rounded at the sides and in front, faintly striate. Pro-mesonotal suture very feeble, the meso-epinotal a little more distinct. Dorsum of epinotum widest between the spines, as long as wide. Hpinotal spines long and acute, almost parallel, quite as long as the interval between their bases. First node, seen from above, more or less hemispherical, rounded and narrower in front; 2nd node twice as wide as long, a little more than twice as wide as the Ist, transversely oval or lenticular, the anterior margin more convex than the posterior. Abdomen distinctly depressed in the middle near the base. Both nodes covered behind and below 380 Annals of the South African Museum. with masses of spongy tissue, very large below the peduncle of the Ist node. A very narrow band of the same tissue margins each side of the vertical declivity of the epinotum. Ventral surface of abdomen very convex. Port Elizabeth (Brauns). (G.A. coll.) S. TRANSVERSA, Santschi. Goteborgs Kungl. Vetensk. och Vitterh. Handl., XV, 2,p.31, 9, 1914. “G. 22 mm. Dark yellowish-brown. Mandibles, antennae and legs of a lighter brown. Head covered with curved spatulate hairs. A regular fringe of similar hairs borders the clypeus and the lower margins of the scapes, but on the latter the five inner hairs are directed inwards, and the two outer ones outwards. . “Kalahari, between Kooa and Sekgoma, and between Keokong and Kang (Schultze).” Var. GWAAIENSIS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 129, /, G, 1918. “). 6-66 mm. Very similar to the type of the species, having almost exactly the same colour, size, and rectangular, parallel-sided A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 459 head. But the 2nd node is much narrower, only one and a-half times wider than long, having at the sides only two fairly short cones, whereas in the type of Schultzei it is twice as wide as long, and has spines at the sides, although these are shorter than in spinulosa.” S. 24-26mm. Almost identical with the type, slightly darker, with the mesonotal impression a little more accentuated. This species is closely related to spinulosa, but differs from it in the Y as follows: The head is parallel-sided, not wider behind than in front, if anything a little wider in front than behind. The occipito- frontal sulcus is much deeper. The sculpture extends further back, reaching the middle of the head above, and well beyond the middle at the sides. The occipital emargination is deeper and more angular at the apex. The thorax is narrower; the posterior lateral angles of the pronotum are more prominent, since there is a fairly pronounced constriction of the sides between them and the mesonotum. The transverse torus on the mesonotum is thicker. The dorsum of the at 4 Fig. 28.—P. Schultzei, Forel, var. gwaaiensis, Forel. epinotum is longer and the teeth are closer together. The dorsal face of the first node is parallel-sided, not angular in the middle. The % 9 of the two species are very much alike, but in gwaaiensis the scapes are more slender and longer, extending back as far as the middle of the pronotum, whereas in spinulosa they do not project _ beyond the occipital margin by more than one and a-half times the length of the eye. In addition, in gwaaiensis the frontal carinae are slightly arcuate and divergent, the head is narrower and convex behind, not straight or slightly emarginate as in spinulosa. The transverse impression of the mesonotum is also shallower, the first node of the petiole less high, the second node longer and distinctly longer than wide. Q. 72mm. (hitherto undescribed). Head longitudinally striate, the spaces between the striae closely and finely reticulate. A few strong rugae radiate outwards from the ocelli. There is a deep and _ shining occipital groove which reaches as far as the anterior ocellus. Posterior two-fifths of the mesonotum obliquely and sharply rugulose, the rest of the mesonotum and the scutellum shining and very 460 Annals of the South African Museum. sparsely punctured. The epinotal spines are directed upwards and shghtly backwards, acute, hardly as long as their basal width. The colour of the head is yellowish-red, without darker stripes, the anterior margin darker than the rest. Otherwise like the type of the species. } It differs from the 9 of spinulosa-nexa by the much shorter thorax, and by the mesonotum, which is much more convex along the anterior margin. The metanotum does not project over the epinotum, and the dorsum of the latter is less deeply excavated. The dorsal edge of the Ist node is more feebly emarginate, and the dorsal face is as wide in front as behind, not narrower as in spinulosa-neza. The 2nd node is narrower and the lateral teeth more obtuse, shorter and somewhat flattened. The colour is also quite different from that of NCL. 6. 5mm. Dirty ochreous yellow, the head black, the mesonotum yellowish-brown, with a V-shaped yellowish band in front. Legs, antennae and mandibles pale yellow. Head very closely and finely reticulate-punctate, with a few rugae superimposed and radiating from the ocell. The latter are glassy yellow, large and very promi- nent. Mesonotum sculptured more finely than in the 9. Eyes occupying the anterior half of the head, ovoid, wider in front than behind. Scutellum convex and gibbous behind. Dorsum of epinotum fairly oblique, distinctly longer than the declivity, and as long as it is wide. Second node of petiole widest behind, the sides moderately angulated at the posterior third. Flagellum densely pubescent, the scapes not extending back as far as the anterior ocellus. Seen from in front the head is trapezoidal, widest anteriorly. Other characters as in the type of the species. S. Rhodesia, fairly plentiful on the Forest Sandstone and Kalahari Sand formations, but not occurring elsewhere as it is a distinctly areniphilous species. The nest is very distinctive and like that of the type-species; it may be seen all along the railway line from Nyamandhlovu to the Victoria Falls. The entrance, of exceptional width (from 1 to 2 in. in diameter), is surrounded by a wide but low-walled crater. The area enclosed therein is kept perfectly smooth and bare. Asa rule, the entrance at about 4 or 5 in. from the sur- face leads into a circumconical space from the bottom of which galleries radiate outwards; the central cone itself is pierced by a vertical gallery which again leads into a second and lower circum- conical chamber, similar to the upper one. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; types of 2 and ¢ in my collection.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 461 P. scutprurata, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 16, p. 897, Y, 1866. “Y. 95mm. Head 3°8 mm. long, 2°38 mm. wide at its widest. Shining, testaceous red, the head ferruginous, abdomen fusco- ochraceous, legs reddish testaceous, mandibles castaneous, the anterior margin of the head and the masticatory margins of the mandibles blackish; abundantly clothed with a short, yellowish pilosity, which is slightly exserted on the legs. Head elongate quadrangular, deeply excised behind, a little wider in the middle than in front or behind, indistinctly impressed behind and below the eyes; mandibles strongly convex, shining, smooth, sparsely punctured with small piligerous punctures, with some short striae at the base and near the trenchant masticatory margin, obtusely bidentate in front. Clypeus with a longitudinal median carina and some short striae behind, emarginate in front; cheeks striate, coriaceous-punctate and rugulose; the frons Fie. 29.—P. sculpturata, Mayr. finely but closely striate, the frontal sulcus smooth; the vertex in the middle more finely and longitudinally striato-rugulose, at the sides finely coriaceous-punctate and rugulose, with large, scattered and shallow punctures; thorax finely rugulose and reticulate-punctate, strongly constricted between the scutellum and the epinotum; pronotum with a rounded tubercle on each side; scutellum distinct, epinotum with two erect spines, not long, shorter than the transversely rugose basal portion; petiole transversely rugose and coriaceous- rugulose, the peduncle of the Ist segment low, the node a little emarginate above, the 2nd segment transverse, with a subobtuse and conical spine on each side which is directed outwards but hardly curved backwards, furnished below anteriorly with a blunt denticle ; abdomen finely coriaceous-rugulose and with some scanty piligerous punctures. “ Caffernland”’ (S. E. Africa ?). I have seen specimens of the 2/ from Pretoria and from Bothaville, O.F.S., which agree with the above description in greater part, but the colour is darker, especially of the abdomen, which is very dark brown, 4.62 Annals of the South African Museum. with the basal third of the Ist segment reddish-brown and the apical margins of all the segments testaceous. The scutellum is more distinctly defined, and the 2nd node of the petiole is shorter and much wider than in any of the preceding species. 9. 3-32 mm. Dark reddish-brown, the disc of the pronotum and the dorsum of the epinotum paler or more castaneous red, femora and tibiae reddish-yellow-brown, flagellum and tarsi yellowish-brown. A few long and exserted hairs occur on the body, shorter on the head than elsewhere; legs and antennae with a fairly abundant, long and exserted pubescence of a pale-yellowish colour. The frons and vertex are fairly smooth and shining, the rest of the head finely reticulate and longitudinally striate, the striae becoming weaker behind the eyes, hardly reaching as far as the posterior angles. Mandibles finely and longitudinally striate, with a few shallow punctures near the masticatory margin; the latter is armed with two large and acute teeth at the apex, and five or six smaller teeth behind. Pronotum sparsely and transversely striate in front, very superficially reticulate- rugulose and shining at the sides and behind, almost smooth, the rest of the thorax a little duller and closely reticulate. Nodes of petiole shallowly rugulose and slightly shmmg. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, as long as wide, widest in the middle, the sides fairly convex, the hind margin straight or only feebly concave. Eyes rather large, placed in the middle of the sides. Clypeus carinate, the anterior margin convex. Frontal area large. Frontal carinae subparallel, hardly extending back beyond the level of the anterior margin of the eyes. The scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by as much as the length of the 1st joint of the flagellum; the latter is twice as long as the 2nd joint. Pro- mesonotal suture obsolete. Posterior lateral angles of pronotum prominent, slightly produced outwards, and, seen from the side, subdentiform. Mesonotum with a feeble transverse impression, the declivous face of the scutellar portion longer than the upper face. Meso-epinotal suture deep, the thorax fairly strongly constricted at this point. Dorsum of epinotum marginate at the sides, widening towards the apex, twice as long as wide. Epinotal teeth vertical, acute, a little longer than their basal width, half as long as the space between them: the declivity shorter than the dorsum. First segment of petiole two-thirds longer than high, the dorsal edge not high and barely emarginate, the dorsal face wider in front than behind; 2nd node with the sides produced into two very distinct cones, obtuse at the apex. Bothaville, O.F.S. (Dr. H. H. Brauns); Pretoria (Lounsbury). A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 463 Var. AREOLATA, Forel. Sitzb. k. Bayer Akad. Wissensch., p. 269, 1, 9, 1911. “yy. 8mm. Head 3 mm. long and 2°6-2°7 mm. wide. Clypeus barely emarginate, indistinctly carinate. Sides of head straighter than in the type-species. Head very little narrowed behind; a large, superficial network occurs over more than the posterior half of the head, in addition to the fine reticulate-punctate sculpture. Otherwise like the type-species. “%. 28mm. Head somewhat narrowed posteriorly, with a more distinct posterior margin and less convex sides than in the type- species, also very distinctly longer than wide. “ Bothaville, O.F.S. (Dr. H. Brauns).” Race Bertuounpt, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 89, /, 9, 1894. “YY. 53-6 mm. Head, excluding the mandibles, 2°7 mm. long and 2°] mm. wide, a little wider in front than behind, nearly parallel- sided. Mandibles smooth, shining, very sparsely punctured, striate externally at the base. Clypeus very short, carinate, widely emarginate in the middle. Frontal carinae short, very divergent, ending in front of the anterior fourth of the head. Eyes small. Directed outwards, the very short scape hardly extends beyond the anterior corner of the head. Head deeply and narrowly excised behind, the excision being continued into the occipito-frontal sulcus. Pronotum with two blunt bosses above and below. Mesonotum with a weak transverse torus. Epinotum not marginate, armed with two long, thin, nearly vertical and strongly divergent spines, which are nearly as long as the dorsum of the epinotum. First segment of the petiole with a long peduncle, the node feebly emarginate above. Second segment wider than long, produced at the sides into two very long teeth or blunt spines. Legs fairly long. Head dull or with a slght gloss, very finely reticulate- punctate, also more coarsely striate longitudinally over the anterior two-thirds, the posterior third closely and transversely striate, under- neath only reticulate and shining. Thorax slightly shining, finely reticulate and irregularly rugose, transversely so in front ; epinotum reticulate-punctate only. Petiole and Ist abdominal segment reticu- late, the rest of the abdomen smooth. Legs smooth and sparsely punctured. Pilosity moderately abundant except on the head and legs, very short, oblique, yellowish, and not quite decumbent. 'Tibiae and scapes without exserted hairs, the latter sparse on the body. 4.64: Annals of the South African Musewm. Dark reddish-brown; abdomen dark brown, legs and antennae brownish-red. “6. 32mm. Head quadrangular, as wide as long. Eyes fairly large, placed at the anterior third. The scape extends beyond the hind margin of the head by one-fifth of its length. Pronotum with two small but quite distinct bosses above (posterior lateral angles). Mesonotum very distinctly impressed transversely. Dorsum of the epinotum rectangular, ending in two strong triangular spines. Second segment of petiole wider than long, produced at the sides into blunt cones. Clypeus carinate. Fairly closely reticulate punctate and almost dull. Abdomen reticulate and moderately shining. A few longi- tudinal striae on the cheeks and frons. Mandibles sharply striate. Pilosity as in the {. Dark brown, mandibles, antennae and legs yellowish-brown. Valdezia, Transvaal (Rev. P. Berthoud).” Race zAMBESIANA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 138, Y, 9, 1918. Y%. 6mm. Head dark reddish-brown, thorax and abdomen very dark brown or almost black, legs and antennae ferruginous. The whole body abundantly clothed with a long, yellowish and decumbent pubescence, shorter on the legs and antennae. Erect pilosity almost absent. Fairly dull, only the occipital lobes and the abdomen having a slight gloss. The whole head, excepting the occipital lobes, finely and longitudinally striato-rugose, the spaces between reticulate- punctate and partly rugulose. Occipital lobes fairly closely but not coarsely punctured. Mandibles very convex externally, strongly punctured, some of the punctures coalescing to form longitudinal striae. Thorax with a fine and somewhat superficial fundamental reticulation, which is strongest on the epinotum; there are a few irregular rugae in addition, more or less transverse on the promeso- notum. Nodes rugulose. Abdomen very finely punctured, rugulose at the base. Head quadrate, parallel-sided as far as the occipital lobes, the outer margins of which curve slightly inwards, one-eighth longer than wide, deeply, angularly and widely excised behind. Clypeus carinate, the anterior margin straight. Frontal carinae strongly divergent, not extending beyond the anterior fourth of the head. Hyes placed at the anterior fourth. Scapes not reaching the middle of the head. Pro-mesonotal suture fairly distinct; the posterior lateral angles of the pronotum considerably rounded. Mesonotum hardly depressed in the middle, its scutellar portion vertical behind, and bearing a transverse torus above. Dorsum of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 465 epinotum marginate at the sides, wider than long, moderately excavated, shorter than the declivity; epinotal spines divergent, subvertical, longer than their basal width, two-thirds as long as the space between them. Dorsal face of Ist node nearly one and a-half times wider than long, feebly emarginate in front. Second node twice as wide as long, longer and less wide than in the type-species, the sides produced into two fairly acute spines, strongly curved backwards. ®. 24mm. Blackish-brown or black, antennae, mandibles and tarsi ferruginous, tibiae and femora dark brown, the articulations reddish. Erect pilosity very scanty, the legs and antenna moderately pubescent. Head and thorax densely reticulate-punctate and dull. Nodes very superficially reticulate, legs and abdomen smooth and shining. A few longitudinal striae on the cheeks and vertex. Mandibles striate and sparsely punctate. Head as long as wide, the sides convex, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles narrowly rounded. Clypeus carinate, the anterior margin straight. Hyes convex, rather large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae slightly divergent posteriorly. Pro-mesonotum strongly convex in all directions, the mesonotum with a transverse impression and a tolerably distinct scutellum. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum one and a-half times longer than wide, flat. Epinotal teeth subvertical, shehtly divergent, acute, one-third as long as the space between them. Dorsal edge of Ist node feebly emarginate ; 2nd node a little wider than long, the sides obtusely conical. Victoria Falls and Shiloh, 8. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., Gu. colls.) P. Lienemer, Forel. (Plate VI, fig. 71.) Mitth. Schweiz. Hnt. Ges., vol. 9, p. 98, ©, 1894. Ann. Soc. Hnt. Belg., vol. 57, p. 184, 2/, 1913. Y%. 7-85mm. Of avery dark reddish-brown, the abdomen blackish- brown, legs and antennae ferruginous. Head, thorax and basal third of abdomen dull, the rest of the abdomen and the legs smooth and shining. Pilosity reddish-yellow, fairly sparse, the pubescence also sparse. Head strongly rugoso-striate; the striae are longitudinal on the anterior half or three-fifths but divergent posteriorly. On the posterior half or two-fifths the striae are much more oblique or almost transverse, and also closer and finer. The spaces between the striae closely and finely reticulate. Thorax and nodes reticulate-punctate, less closely on the sides and on the dorsum of the epinotum than on 4.66 Annals of the South African Museum. the pro-mesonotum, very finely on the nodes. The latter and the pro- notum are also sparsely rugose transversely ; the sides of the epinotum have three or four very strong and more or less concentric striae. Basal third of abdomen microscopically alutaceous and longitudinally aciculate; the rest of the abdomen smooth, with shallow piligerous punctures. Head a little longer than wide, slightly narrowed in front, widest across the posterior fourth, the sides nearly straight. The cheeks, behind and between the eyes and vertex, feebly and obliquely depressed. The posterior margin widely and deeply excised, the apex of the excision subangular. Mandibles smooth, shining, sparsely and finely punctured. Hyes convex, placed in the anterior fourth of the sides. Clypeus carinate, shallowly emarginate in front. The scapes extend alittle beyond the middle of the head. Occipito-frontal sulcus very deep and tranversely striate in its posterior half. Posterior lateral angles of pronotum large and prominent. Pro-mesonotal suture more or less apparent. Mesonotum shallowly impressed transversely in oe OO Bs Wamalindana) % Fie. 30.—P. Liengmei, Forel. front of the scutellar region, the latter surmounted by a narrow transverse torus. Meso-epinotal suture wide and deep. Dorsum of epinotum feebly margined at the sides, as long as wide. Epinotal spines distinctly long, acute, subvertical, divergent, longer than the interval between their bases and as long as, or a little longer than, the dorsum of the epinotum. Dorsal edge of the Ist node very feebly emarginate, the dorsal face a little wider in front than behind and about as long as wide. Second node twice as wide as long, the anterior margin convex, the sides produced into two cones which are curved backwards. ®. 38-4 mm. Dark brown, abdomen nearly black, antennae and legs yellowish-brown, the tarsi yellower, mandibles brownish-red. Pubescence and pilosity scanty. Legs and apical two-thirds of the abdomen moderately shining, the rest of the body dull. Head and thorax closely and strongly reticulate-punctate, appearing granulate under a low magnification. Nodes finely reticulate. Base of abdomen very finely areolate or reticulate, and also longitudinally aciculate. The head has in addition a few longitudinal rugae at the sides in A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 467 front of the eyes. Mandibles moderately shining, striate, and with a row of large punctures parallel to the masticatory margin. Head, excluding the mandibles, fairly round, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles widely rounded. Hyes large, convex and prominent, placed at the middle of the sides. Clypeus feebly carinate, the frontal area largeand well defined. Frontal carinae parallel, extend- ing back a little beyond the first third of the head. Scapes extending beyond the hind margin by a length equal to twice their apical width. Pronotum convex in front and above, the posterior lateral angles pro- duced into two rather large cones; these are more easily seen in profile. Mesonotum with a feeble transverse impression. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum nearly twice as long as wide, sub- margined at the sides. Epinotal spines very long, acute, subvertical, feebly divergent, not quite as long as the dorsum of the epinotum. First joint of petiole four-fifths longer than high, the dorsal edge obtuse. Second node not much wider than long, the sides angular. Legs long. @. 9:8 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Puilosity and pubescence as in the 2/. Colour darker than in the 1. The sculpture of the head like that of the 2/, but much stronger. The vertex strongly and longi- tudinally striate, the spaces between the striae nearly smooth and very shining. Head obliquely truncate behind the ocelli and trans- versely striate. The fundamental sculpture of the mesonotum is reticulate-rugulose, with some fairly close longitudinal rugae super- unposed; these converge inwards and meet in the middle; a small anterior median area smooth and shining. ‘The anterior half of the mesonotum is also very sparsely and shallowly punctured. Scutellum smooth, shining, coarsely and sparsely punctured. Paraptera longi- tudinally rugose. Epinotum and nodes transversely rugose, the abdomen sculptured more strongly than in the 2/. Head, excluding the mandibles, as long as wide behind, widest behind, the posterior half of the sides convex, the anterior half concave. The eyes placed at the anterior third, very prominent. Clypeus asin the /. Posterior margin of the head shallowly concave, the posterior angles only narrowly rounded. Head hardly wider than the mesonotum, the metanotum slightly projecting. The dorsum and declivity of the epinotum form a single and nearly vertical plane. EHpinotal spines. acute, horizontal, divergent, about as long as their basal width and as long as the space between them. Petiole and abdomen as in the 2/, but larger. Wings yellowish, nervures brownish-yellow, stigma brown. Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, not common. The nest is usually placed under stones. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of @ in my collection. ) 50 468 Annals of the South African Museum. Var. SHINSHENDENSIS, Forel. Rev. Zool. Afric., vol. 2, p. 327, 9, 1913. “6G, 442mm. A little larger than the type of the species. Black, legs and mandibles brown. The sculpture is coarser than in the type, even on the abdomen. Otherwise identical. “Shinshenda, Katanga (Dr. Bequaert).” I have some specimens from Bembesi, 8. Rhodesia, which appear to agree with this variety. The superimposed rugae on the head are stronger and more abundant. The thorax is also coarsely and irregularly rugose. The epinotal spines are as long as, or a little longer than the dorsum of the epinotum. Y%. 8mm. (hitherto undescribed). The sculpture is like that of the type of the species, but stronger everywhere. The head is more convex above transversely, the occipital sulcus is less deep, and the occipital emargination shallower, hardly more than half as deep as in the type-species. The epinotal spines are a little longer, stouter and somewhat compressed (blade-shaped). Otherwise like the type of the species. Bembesi, S. Rhodesia. Forming populous nests in sandy soil. A very pugnacious insect. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of 2/ nm my collection.) Var. MALINDANA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 135, 9, 19138. ®. 45-52 mm. Black, mandibles, scapes and legs dark-brown, tarsi and flagellum ferruginous. Sculpture lke that of shinshendensis, but the posterior half of the head is widely reticulate-rugose. The base of the abdomen finely areolate and aciculate, but more strongly so than in the type of the species. Posterior margin of the head shallowly concave. Posterior lateral angles of pronotum strong, sub- dentiform. Epinotal spines very long and acute, longer than the dorsum of the epinotum. Second node of petiole with a conical projection on each side, a little less obtuse than in shinshendensis. Malindi, 8S. Rhodesia. (R.M., G.A. colls.) Race MICRARTIFEX, Forel. Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 215,/, 9, 1913. Y. 65-72 mm. Colour similar to that of the type-species, but darker. Sculpture also similar, but stronger, especially on the head, where the transverse rugae on the posterior part are coarser and wider A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 469 apart. The occipital emargination is narrower, a little deeper, and more angular at the apex. The inner sides of the occipital lobes are distinctly convex (straight, or almost so in the type of the species). Occipito-frontal sulcus deeper and wider. The head is as wide behind as in front. The epinotal spines are less divergent than in the type of the species. The 2nd node of the petiole has a long spine on each side, longer in proportion to the rest of the node than in the type of the species. Occasionally the head is much paler than the rest of the body, being of a bright castaneous red. S. 3-3:4mm. Black, tarsi and flagellum ferruginous, scapes and legs dark brown. Middle of the frons and vertex shining and almost smooth, the rest of the head more finely and superficially reticulate than in the type of the species. Thorax sharply reticulate-punctate and dull. Nodes and base of abdomen more strongly reticulate. Epinotal spines shorter than in the type, hardly two-thirds as long as the dorsum of the epinotum. Nodes as in the type of the species. Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) P. EXCELLENS, Mayr, race RHopESIANA, Forel. (Plate VI, fig. 69.) Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 744, 2, 1862. (Race) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 131, Y, ¢, 1913. Y%. ¢mm. Piceous, the posterior half of the head sometimes more or less dark, castaneous; flagellum and tarsi ferruginous, scapes, femora and tibiae dark brown, the latter paler at base and apex. Pubescence on the head almost decumbent, longest on the legs and abdomen, more exserted on the legs than elsewhere. Pilosity scanty, yellowish, very oblique on the head, more or less exserted on the thorax. Anterior half of the head longitudinally striate, the spaces between the striae shining and very superficially rugulose; posterior half of the head smooth, shining, shallowly and sparsely punctured, here and there also very feebly rugulose. Thorax fairly shining, the pro-mesonotum feebly and irregularly rugulose transversely, with a few stronger rugae at the sides. Hpinotum more strongly sculptured, especially at the sides, transversely rugoso-striate. Sides of pro- and mesothorax irregularly rugose. Nodes transversely rugulose. Abdomen smooth and shining, the extreme base faintly aciculate. Legs smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, not quite one-fifth longer than wide, parallel-sided, deeply excised behind, the excision angular at the apex. The sides of the head, between the vertex and the eyes and behind the latter, have a slight oblique concavity. Occipito-frontal sulcus fairly deep posteriorly, the anterior half shallow. 470 Annals of the South African Museum. Frontal carinae short and strongly divergent. Scapes short, extending beyond the lateral margins by about twice their apical width. Eyes small, placed a little in front of the anterior third. Mandibles stout, very convex externally, smooth and shining. Clypeus feebly carimate, shallowly emarginate in front. Posterior lateral angles of pronotum very rounded and inconspicuous. Pro-mesonotal suture indicated by a thin raised line. Scutellum fairly well defined, bituberculate. Metanotum fairly distinct but short. Meta-epinotal suture rather shallow. Dorsum of epinotum flat, submarginate at the sides, wider than long; epinotal spines subvertical, divergent, about two-thirds the length of the space between their bases. Declivity of epinotum longer than its dorsum. Dorsal face of the lst node a little wider than long, the dorsal edge shallowly emarginate. Second node, including the lateral spines, three times wider than long; the spines are obtuse at the apex and usually longer than their basal width, more or less curved backwards. &. 3mm. Piceousor black, legs and antennae as in the Y. The pilosity and pubescence very scanty. Anterior half of the head, but excluding the frons, reticulate and longitudinally striate; the rest of the head smooth and very shining. Meso- and epithorax and sides of the Ist segment of the petiole reticulate and faintly shining, the rest of the body smooth and shining. Head as long as wide, the sides feebly convex, the hind margin straight. Clypeus carinate. Frontal carinae parallel. Hyes placed in the middle of the sides. Mandibles longitudinally striate. The scape extends back beyond the occipital margin by about twice its apical width. Posterior lateral angles of the pronotum distinct but small. Mesonotum with a moderately deep transverse impression. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum margined at the sides, one and a-half times longer than wide. Epinotal spines short, triangular, subvertical, hardly two-thirds as long as the space between them. Dorsal edge of the Ist node rounded, not trenchant ; 2nd node with the sides produced into strong conical teeth, the anterior margin strongly convex. ¢. 62 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Thorax, legs, antennz and mandibles pale brownish-ochreous, head yellowish-brown, apex of scutellum and greater part of the metanotum brownish, the mesonotum with a median and two smaller lateral longitudinal bands more darkly coloured than the rest of the thorax, abdomen yellowish-brown. Pilosity moderately abundant, yellowish, and not long, longest on the back of the head and on the petiole. Head dull, very finely reticulate- punctate, also finely striate between the eyes and the insertion of the scape. HEpinotum and nodes subopaque and finely rugulose, metanotum transversely striate, the rest of the body smooth, shining, and nearly A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. A471 impunctate. Head triangular, widest in front. The eyes occupy the anterior half of the sides. Ocelli very large, pearly white, prominent. Scapes hardly longer than the space between the posterior ocelli; 1st joint of flagellum a little longer than wide, widest apically, but not globose. Clypeus with a prominent tubercle in the middle. Mandibles triangular, shining, feebly striato-punctate, armed with 5 or 6 sharp teeth. Dorsum of epinotum twice as wide as long, feebly bituberculate, a little longer than the subvertical declivity. Peduncle of the Ist segment of the petiole as long as the node, widened on each side near the base into a small lobe; the node low. Second node with fairly sharp lateral angles, sometimes almost dentiform. Wings yellowish, nervures ochreous, the stigma brown. Bulawayo, not common. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of gin my collection. ) P. AKERMANT, N. sp. A rather small species of the sculpturata group, but also resembling the capensis group in the relatively small size of the Y 2/. Y. 46-49 mm. Dark castaneous brown, the posterior fourth of the head, the thorax and petiole with a redder tinge, abdomen piceous, scapes, tibiae and tarsi raw-umber brown, femora brown but paler at the bases and apices. Pilosity yellowish, oblique, fairly long and moderately abundant; pubescence inconspicuous except on the tarsi. Head and thorax dull, abdomen and legs shining. Head closely and evenly reticulate-punctate, fairly strongly and lonegi- tudinally rugose at the sides between the eyes and vertex, the latter only longitudinally striate as far as the posterior third of the head and with the fundamental reticulation absent between the striae, the occipital lobes and lower surface of the head smooth, shining and sparsely punctured. Mandibles shining, striate at the base, sparsely punctured with deep and large punctures. Clypeus strongly carinate, its anterior margin arcuately emarginate in the middle. Pronotum finely and transversely rugulose, mesonotum rugulose-reticulate in front, reticulate-punctate at the sides and behind. Epinotum and petiole reticulate-punctate, the petiole very finely so. Abdomen very finely striate longitudinally at the base medially. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly one-third longer than wide, barely wider behind than in front, the sides straight, the occipital emargination angular, wide and deep, the occipital lobes rounded behind. Occipital sulcus deep. Sides of the head behind the eyes with an oblique and shallow depression. The scapes extend back as far as the middle of the head. 472 Annals of the South African Museum. Lateral angles of the pro-mesonotum obtuse and not prominent, pro-mesonotal suture obsolete; mesonotum with a feeble transverse torus, not depressed in front of the same, vertical behind it. Dorsum of epinotum as long as wide between the spines, the latter relatively shorter than in our other species of the sculpturata group, erect, triangular, as high as they are wideat the base. Declivity of epinotum subvertical, a little longer than its dorsum. Petiole shaped exactly like that of Iiengmei, race micrartifex. %. 26mm. Head piceous, excepting the anterior margin and the clypeus, which are yellowish-brown. Thorax reddish-brown (burnt umber), abdomen dark brown, antennae, femora and tibiae brown, bases and apices of the femora, tarsi and mandibles brownish-ochreous. Pilosity yellowish, oblique, fairly scanty, but more abundant than in micrartifer, Forel. Mandibles, clypeus, legs and abdomen fairly shining, the rest dull. Head and thorax closely and evenly reticulate- punctate, the pronotum with two or three median longitudinal striae on the disc, and finely and longitudinally aciculate on the posterior half of the sides; petiole superficially reticulate, abdomen smooth. Head oval, one-fifth longer than wide, the sides moderately convex. the posterior margin straight. Mandibles sparsely but very finely punctured and with a few longitudinal aciculations, with seven teeth. Anterior margin of the clypeus convex, finely but distinctly carinate in the middle. Frontal area triangular, large and well defined. Eyes placed in the middle of the sides of the head. The scapes extend beyond the posterior margin by one-seventh of their length. Frontal carinae nearly parallel. Pronotum strongly convex, with barely defined posterior lateral angles. Pro-mesonotal suture arcuate, indi- cated by a fine raised line. Mesonotum transversely and shallowly impressed in front of the middle. Dorsum of epinotum horizontal and flat, one and a-half times longer than wide, the spines acute, short, not longer than their basal width, directed vertically upwards. Node of 1st joint of the petiole obtuse above, hardly as long as wide; 2nd joint of petiole as long as wide, its anterior margin convex, obtusely angulated in the middle of the sides, but not dentiform or spinose. Pietermaritzburg (Dr. C. Akerman), ex. Natal Museum coll. (Type in my collection.) P. crassinopa, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 32, Y, 9, 1895. “)/. Piceous; mouth and coxae dull ferruginous ; antennae, tibiae and tarsi rufescent, sparsely pilose; legs with a long and very oblique A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. A73 pubescence. Head subquadrate, hardly narrowed in front; occiput not very deeply excised, the occipito-frontal sulcus shallow ; (head) opaque in front, punctulate and longitudinally rugose; behind very shining and with large scattered punctures; clypeus striate, nitidu- lous; mandibles shining, striate at the base. Thorax dull, punctulate and transversely rugose, the pronotum gibbous on each side; meso- notum with a distinct scutellum and a transverse torus; epinotal spines erect, a little shorter than the dorsum of the epinotum. First segment of petiole with a squamiform lobe (= the nodal portion) and emarginate above; 2nd segment more than twice as wide as the Ist, not much wider than long, the anterior margin arcuate, the sides obtusely angulate, densely punctulate, dull; the first abdominal segment punctulate at the base, 7 mm. long, the head without the mandibles 2°6 mm. x 2°4 mm. “G. Piceous, mouth, antennae, articulations of the legs, tibiae and tarsi rufescent, dull, very densely punctured, the abdomen shining, except at the base; head ovate, cheeks longitudinally rugose, man- dibles striate, pro- and mesonotum without prominences ; dorsum of epinotum sulcate in the middle, the epinotal teeth triangular and obtuse, 2nd segment of petiole three times wider than the Ist, sub- globose, the sides obtusely angulated, 4mm. ““Makapan ; Verulam, Natal (Weitzaecker).”’ PHEIDOLE CRASSINODA, Emery, var. Seah. is Wo 4. Mandibles deep castaneous brown, antennae and tarsi yellowish- red, all the rest of the body black. Apart from the colour, this variety also differs from the type of the species as follows: The sculpture is much stronger everywhere. The head, excepting the median area of the clypeus and the mandibles, is dull all over, the reticulate and fundamental sculpture extending over the occipital lobes. The thorax is much more coarsely rugose and the sutures are deeper, also the transverse impression on the mesonotum. The basal third of the abdomen is dull, very sharply reticulate. The scanty punctures on the abdomen are also deeper and larger. Otherwise like the type of the species. 8. 41mm. Femora and coxae piceous ; tibiae, scapes and basal half of the flagellum very dark brown; mandibles, tarsi and apical half of the flagellum ferruginous, the rest of the body black. Legs and apical half of the abdomen smooth and shining, the rest of the body dull, very strongly reticulate-punctate, and much more strongly sculptured than in the type of the species, which it otherwise resembles. ATA Annals of the South African Museum. Amatongas Forest, Portuguese E.A. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. Types in my collection.) Race ruspoui, Emery. (Plate VI, figs. 63-66.) Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen., vol. 38, p. 597, ¥, 9, 1897. Y%. 8 mm. Piceous or very dark reddish-brown; femora and tibiae a little paler or more reddish, tarsi and antennae ferruginous. Pubescence almost obsolete on the body, yellowish, coarse, oblique and - fairly long on the legs and antennae. Pilosity short and yellowish, very scanty, especially on the thorax ; some of the hairs on the head and abdomen are closely adpressed, the rest oblique. Anterior half of the head with a slight gloss, the clypeus and space between the frontal carinae smooth and more shining, closely reticulate-punctate and longitudinally rugoso-striate, the striae fairly wide apart. Posterior half of the head very smooth and shining, with a few large punctures. Thorax, upper faces of the nodes and the extreme base of the abdomen superficially and finely reticulate, and with a few feeble transverse rugae here and there; abdomen smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, as long as wide, widest in the middle, distinctly narrowed in front, not much so behind, the sides convex, the posterior margin not deeply excised, the apex of the excision and the occipital lobes rounded. Occipito-frontal sulcus shallow. The head is highest in the middle, and has a very shallow depression on each side above and behind the eyes. Clypeus feebly carinate, widely and fairly deeply emarginate in front. Mandibles smooth, shining, very finely and sparsely punctured ; a row of larger punctures borders the masti- catory margin. Scapes extend a little beyond the middle of the head. Hyes small, placed at the anterior third of the sides. Posterior lateral angles of the pronotum moderately acute and prominent. Pro- mesonotal suture distinctly defined. Mesonotum with a transverse median impression, and a transverse torus above the scutellum. Dorsum of epinotum horizontal and flat, one and three-quarter times longer than wide, as long as the declivity ; epinotal spines acute, sub- vertical, divergent, very little longer than their basal width. Posterior dorsal face of the 1st node as wide as long, the dorsal edge barely emarginate ; 2nd node two and a-third times wider than long, the anterior margin semicircular, the sides moderately angular, but not spinose or dentiform. Abdomen subcircular, the base transverse. O. 44-47 mm. Piceous; mandibles, flagellum, tarsi and articu- lations of the legs ferruginous. Pilosity and pubescence as inthe 2. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 475 Head, thorax and nodes dull, closely and finely reticulate-punctate (granulate), the nodes more shallowly so than the rest of the body. Abdomen and legs smooth and shining. Mandibles nitidulous, feebly striate. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-sixth longer than wide, oval. Eyes convex, fairly large, placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal carinae parallel; frontal area depressed and shining. Clypeus with a feeble median carina, the anterior margin entire and convex. The pronotum is rather long, very little shorter than wide, the posterior angles feeble. Mesonotum with a wide transverse impres- sion; in most specimens the anterior margin of the mesonotum is slightly raised in the middle. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum much longer than wide, a little longer than the oblique declivity, longitudinally suleate in the middle. Epinotal teeth acute, vertical, very small, and hardly longer than their basal width. Dorsal edge of Ist node rounded and thick; 2nd node subconical or hemispherical, widest at the posterior fourth, behind which point it is rather abruptly contracted, but without forming sharp lateral angles. Abdomen oblong. Legs long, the femora a little swollen. 2. 10:5 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Black, the head sometimes paler or piceous, the mandibles dark castaneous brown, the flagellum and tarsi ferruginous. Pilosity and pubescence as in the 1. Head dull, the sides closely reticulate-punctate and with large longitudinal rugae superimposed, the vertex longitudinally striato-rugose, the spaces between the striae rugulose. The occipital groove is distinctly defined and transversely ribbed, or clathrate, ending at the anterior ocellus. Mesonotum rugulose, with a shallow and longitudinal rugosity superimposed ; a small anterior median area and the borders of the parapsidal sutures smooth and shining. Paraptera longi- tudinally rugose. Scutellum and metanotum finely and transversely rugulose, the former slightly shining in the middle. Epinotum shining, the sides sparsely and coarsely rugose, the declivity finely and superficially reticulate. Nodes dull, reticulate-punctate and rugose ; the rugae on the 2nd node transverse. Basal fourth of Ist abdominal segment dull and reticulate, the extreme base with a few short rugae, the rest of the abdomen smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, about one-seventh wider than lone, widest behind, the sides convergent anteriorly, the posterior margin concave. Eves placed in front of the middle of the sides. Clypeus as in the 2/. Mandibles feebly striate but more strongly punctured than in the /. The scapes extend back as far as the posterior ocelli. Head barely wider than the mesonotum. The latter almost one-third wider than long. Dorsum of epinotum obsolete between the teeth, the declivity 476 Annals of the South African Museum. subvertical ; epinotal teeth horizontal, wide at the base, triangular and as long as wide at the base. Second node two and a-quarter times wider than long, widest in the middle, the sides bluntly angular, the anterior margin convex, but not semicircular asin the ¥. Abdomen half as long again as wide. Wings yellowish, nervures ochreous, stigma yellowish-brown. ¢. 73mm. (hitherto undescribed). Reddish-brown yellow (raw umber), tarsi dark ochreous, the middle of the femora brown, antennae pale ochreous, head brown, clypeus and mandibles brownish-yellow. The mesonotum has three longitudinal and sharply-defined dark-brown bands, the median one ending before the middle. Pilosity yellowish, fine, oblique, fairly abundant on the thorax and nodes, sparse elsewhere. Legs and antennae pubescent. Head dull, very finely reticulate, with a fine rugosity superimposed, the rugae radiating outwards from the ocellar region. Mesonotum longitudinally strigose, also sparsely and very shallowly punctured. Scutellum transversely rugulose. Epinotum shallowly reticulate, the sides striate above, the striae becoming stronger and more or less concentric below. Nodes microscopically reticulate and sparsely striate. Thorax slightly shining, more especially the mesonotum and base of the scutellum. Nodes dull. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head triangular-trapezoidal, widest in front, the posterior margin feebly convex and somewhat produced at the lateral angles. The eyes occupy a little less than the anterior half of the sides. Clypeus subtuberculate or gibbous in the middle. Mandibles with one large apical tooth and three smaller teeth behind. Scapes shorter than the space between the posterior ocelli; Ist joint of the flagellum sub- globose, very little longer than wide. Thorax much wider than the head ; scutellum convex above, higher than the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum with a feeble elongate ridge on each side. First node of petiole as long as wide, the anterior face convex from side to side, the anterior margin rounded; 2nd node campaniform, widest behind, a trifle wider than long. Abdomen large, ovate, narrowed towards the apex, the Ist segment nearly as long as the remaining segments taken together. Wings as in the 9. This is a common species near Bulawayo, and is fond of making its nest near houses and in gardens. There are several entrances to the nest, surrounded by large heaps of excavated soil. It is partly graminivorous and collects the seeds of a variety of grasses. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) The following species, being unknown to me in nature, have not been included in the analytical key : A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 477 P. ASPERA, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 746, Y, 9, 1862. Reise der Novara, Zool. II, Formicid., p. 97, Y%, 3, g, 1865. “y. 5mm. Yellowish-brown, the head brown and darkest, the thorax red or yellowish-brown, the flagellum brownish-yellow. The outstanding pilosity is yellow and fairly abundant, that of the legs dense and nearly decumbent. Mandibles longitudinally striate, the apical half sparsely and coarsely punctured, smooth and shining between the punctures. Head dull, the anterior half longitudinally striate, the cheeks rather rugose. The posterior half of the head, as far as the posterior angles, is obliquely and finely rugose and also superficially reticulate-punctate. Clypeus smooth in the middle, shining, fairly sharply carinate, the anterior margin entire. Pronotum more or less transversely rugose, widened on each side behind into a hump. Mesonotum with a transverse torus in the middle, which is angular on both sides. The epinotum is transversely rugose; the epinotal teeth divergent, directed upwards, not acute and not long. The sides of the thorax are sharply reticulate-punctate and somewhat striate. Petiole finely rugose. The Ist node, seen from behind, quadrate, its dorsal edge emarginate; the 2nd node with dentiform dilated sides. Abdomen smooth and shining. “&. 3mm. Head blackish-brown, thorax reddish-brown, petiole and abdomen yellowish-brown, mandibles and flagellum brown-yellow, the legs brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown. Brighter specimens have the head and thorax reddish-brown, and the rest more or less yellowish-brown. The pilosity is fairly abundant. Mandibles longi- tudinally striate at the base, smooth at the apex and sparsely punctured. Clypeus feebly and longitudinally striate, smooth in the middle, carinate, its anterior margin entire. Vertex, between the frontal area and the frontal carinae, longitudinally rugose, the middle of the head more finely rugose or almost smooth and shining; sides of the head finely rugose. Pronotum shining and almost smooth, its posterior lateral angles feeble. The mesonotum has a feeble trans- verse torus, and like the epinotum, is reticulate-punctate ; epinotal teeth acute, erect and fairly short. First node of petiole not emarginate above, reticulate-punctate and also sparsely rugose length- wise; 2nd node shining, nearly smooth, not dilated at the sides. Abdomen smooth and shining. Cape of Good Hope.” Iam unable to place this species in any of my groups, as the shape of the head is not stated. 478 Annals of the South African Museum. P. carrra, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 33, 21, 1895. “YY. 45 mm.; head, 17 mm. x 16 mm. Ferruginous, dull, abdomen piceous and shining. Head depressed behind, narrowly and deeply excised, very closely punctate above, dull, the occipital margin shining, the anterior two-thirds evenly and longitudinally rugose; the frontal carinae prolonged backwards, antennal scrobes as long as the scapes ; clypeus with a short carina, barely striate, excised in the middle; mandibles sparsely punctured, striate at the base externally. Thorax transversely rugulose, the pronotum indistinctly bigibbose, the mesonotum with a transverse torus, the epinotum longitudinally grooved above, the spines fairly long, not very acute at the apex. First node of petiole emarginate above, the 2nd node wider, transverse, the sides obtusely conical. Legs shining, with oblique pubescence. “ Hamman’s Kraal (Simon).” is On a number of points this form agrees fairly well with the description of P. aspera (Mayr), which I have not seen. It differs markedly from it by the emarginate clypeus. Mayr does not state that in his species the head is depressed behind, nor that the frontal carinae are prolonged backwards—characters which separate caffra from most of the African species of Pheidole and unite it with certain Indian forms such as latinoda, rhombinoda, Feai, etc. The head of caffra is barely longer than wide, its sides fairly parallel over the anterior two-thirds ; further back the sides converge a little ; the large occipital lobes are separated by a deep emargination. Seen from the side, the head appears distinctly depressed in its posterior third, the profile of which is oblique. On the median line, which is marked by a distinct groove, there is a wide impression, recognisable only in a certain light. The sculpture of the head consists of a fundamental reticulate puncturation, over which are imposed some trenchant rugae, very regular and longitudinal on the frons, less regular, thicker and anastomosed on the sides; these rugae extend as far as the frontal carinae, i.e. as far as the posterior fourth of the head. The scrobes are as long as the scape and are formed by a space between two rugae, wider than the others, one of which is the prolongation of the frontal carinae. On the occiput the punctures are intermixed with rugae and large piligerous foveae. The whole thorax is finely punctured and transversely rugulose. Petiole with piligerous foveae only ; abdomen shining, very finely punctulate, more strongly so at the base, which is dull; in addition, it has some elongate piligerous punctures. The legs A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. A79 have a long, oblique and decumbent pubescence, but no erect pilosity.” As far as one can judge from the above description, this species should be placed in the Punctulata group, and appears to stand nearest to rotundata, in which the head is also distinctly depressed behind and shows faint traces of scrobes. P. Kitscuneri, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 436, 2,5 (?), 1910. “Y 32mm. Resembling P. minima, Mayr, but the frontal carinae are not prolonged backwards, and do not form scrobes. Mandibles smooth, feebly punctured. Clypeus shallowly emarginate in the middle, also feebly carinate in the middle, and having a longitudinal carinula on each side extending from the articulation of the antennae to the anterior margin. Head fairly depressed, obtusely rectangular, the sides convex, slightly longer than wide, feebly concave behind, as wide in front as behind, with a deep occipital sulcus joining the frontal sulcus. Hyes fairly small, placed at the anterior third. The scape does not reach the posterior third of the head. The pro-mesonotum forms a single convexity, without a transverse impression or torus ; it is, however, truncate behind and margined above on each side with a little ridge. Epinotal spines acute, shorter than half the space between them. Petiole as in P. punctulata, Mayr, but the 2nd node a little narrower. Pronotum without prominent posterior lateral angles. Anterior half of the head longitudinally rugose; a few rugae and reticulations on the sides of the epmotum. The rest of the body smooth. Hrect pilosity yellowish, sparse on the body, absent from the tibiae and scapes, which have only sparse, oblique, or nearly decumbent hairs. Brownish-yellow; legs and antennae dirty yellow. “ O(7). 25mm. Head oval-rectangular. Mandibles dentate, striate near the base. Clypeus without carinae, feebly emarginate. The mesonotum with two small ridges behind, as in the ¥. Epinotum subdentate. Head fairly smooth in front, excepting a few rugae in the antennal hollows; epinotum reticulate. Otherwise in sculpture, pilosity and colour like the ?/. “ Mountains of Natal (Wroughton). A species distinctly charac- terised in the 2/ by the shape of the head, clypeus and mesonotum.” P. ARENIPHILA, Forel. Schultze, Reise Siid-Afrika, vol. 4, p. 11, /,9,9,¢, 1910. “VY. 42-47 mm. Mandibles smooth, shining, sparsely punctured, with two teeth in front and two behind, flattened externally at the 480 Annals of the South African Museum. base. Lower margin of the head in front bidentate. Clypeus with a low swelling in the middle, but not carimate, emarginate in the middle in front. Head as wide as long, wider behind, the sides convex posteriorly (widest behind the eyes), deeply excised behind, the occipital groove strong and merging into the frontal sulcus, not depressed behind. The scrobe, which receives the whole of the scape, is reticulate-punctate, not deep, margined above by the frontal carina and below by a strong longitudinal ruga; there is also a shallow impression to receive the end of the flagellum. Frontal carinae prolonged as far as the end of the scapes. Eyes convex, placed at the anterior third. The scape extends back as far as the posterior third of the head. All the joints of the flagellum longer than wide. Head 1-7 mm. long and equally wide. Pronotum rounded above, with two very obtuse and indistinct tubercles. Mesonotum with a very deep transverse impression, and a strong, thick and transverse torus. Dorsum of epinotum horizontal, somewhat longer than the declivity, excavated in the middle posteriorly. Hpinotal spines long, thin, as long as the interval between them, directed more upwards than backwards. First node of petiole almost cuneiform, with a fairly long peduncle in front, narrow, very feebly emarginate above. Second node almost three times wider than the Ist, wider than long, very angularly dilated at each side (rhomboid). Fairly shining. Head coarsely and regularly rugose longitudinally, lightly reticulate in between, the posterior part of the head merely reticulate. Thorax coarsely and irregularly rugose transversely, reticulate between the rugae. Petiole more closely reticulate, nearly dull, with a few transverse rugae. First segment of abdomen finely and lightly reti- culate, the rest nearly smooth. A fairly short, sparse and yellowish pilosity on the body, the legs and antennae with decumbent hairs only. Brownish yellow-red; the legs paler. Abdomen in front of a bright brownish-yellow, entirely or partly brown behind. “OS. 23-2°5 mm. The whole of the masticatory margin of the mandibles dentate. Clypeus without emargination. Head longer than wide, convex behind the eyes, but the sides converge gradually up to the articulation, without a distinct hind margin and without a neck. Hyes strongly convex, placed in the middle of the sides. The scape extends beyond the articulation of the head by quite one-third of its length. No trace of a scrobe. Mesonotum transversely impressed. Dorsum of epimotum much longer than wide and longer than the declivity, with two fairly long spines which are almost as long as the interval between them. First node low, cuneiform, with a long peduncle. Second node quite three times wider than the first, very A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 481 wide and as long as wide. Fairly shining, lightly and finely reticulate all over ; posterior half of abdomen smooth. Pilosity as in the )/. Reddish-yellow, head brownish-yellow. Abdomen yellowish, with brown apex and often with brown sides. “0, 65mm. Mandibles, clypeus and scrobe as in the 2/. Head trapezoidal, wider than long, narrower in front, the posterior margin straight. Eyes in the anterior third. The scape does not quite reach as far as the posterior margin of the head. Mesonotum somewhat wider than the head, flat above, with two lateral longitudinal lines. Spines nearly as long as the dorsum of the epinotum, blunt at the apex. Petiole as in the ¥, but the even wider 2nd node has the sides acutely conical. Head coarsely, mesonotum finely and evenly rugose lengthwise. Hpinotum smooth above; sides of thorax coarsely rugose. Petiole and abdomenas in the /, but the first abdominal segment is nearly dull and closely reticulate-punctate over its basal half. Pilosity as in the 2/. The exserted hairs on the body very short. Yellowish-red; legs and base of the abdomen dirty yellow, the rest of the abdomen dark brown. Dealated. “@g. 5-52mm. Mandibles bidentate. Head, excluding the eyes, as wide as long, narrowed like a trapezoid towards the articulation behind. Dorsum of epinotum much longer than the declivity, ending in two blunt tubercles. Scape as long as the second joint of the flagellum. Fairly shining, finely and irregularly reticulate or rugulose. Pilosity as in the % and §. Brownish-yellow. The vertex and abdomen in part brownish. Wings tinged with brownish-yellow, nervures brownish-yellow, stigma brown. “ Khakhea, Kalahari (Schultze), in sand. Perhaps allied to caffra, Em., but the latter has the head strongly depressed behind in the /.” P. VANDERVELDI, Forel. Rev. Zool. Afric., vol. 2, p. 326, 1, 5, 1913. “YW. ¢mm. Closely allied to speculifera-crassinoda, Em., and particularly to its var. cubangensis, Forel. It differs particularly in its much longer scape, which almost extends back to the posterior third of the head ,(to the posterior half in speculifera), also in its head, which is much longer than wide, the sides but slightly convex (very convex in speculifera and only little less so in cubangensis) and in the mesonotum, which has a stronger torus behind, and the pro-mesonotal suture, which is deeper. The eyes are also more convex. The head ig in great part dull, with a strong and sparse puncturation on the occiput and vertex. The sides of the occiput alone are slightly shining. 482 Annals of the South African Museunv. The rugae on the front of the head are coarser and wider apart than in cubangensis. The thorax is dull, and so also are the petiole and the base of the abdomen, which are simple reticulate-punctate, whereas the thorax is indistinctly rugose as well. Dark brown, the legs paler, the tarsi and flagellum rusty red. Otherwise identical with var. cubangensis of speculifera, with the same large node. “6. 39-4mm. Larger than speculifera-crassinoda, the hind margin of the head rather indistinct but nevertheless defined, wanting in speculifera. ‘The antennae are a little longer, and also the joints of the flagellum. The same differences present in the 2 also occur in the mesonotum of the ©, which has a distinct tubercle in front, which is absent in speculifera. Entirely dull except the posterior half of the abdomen and the legs, which are shining. The front of the head has some fairly coarse and longitudinal rugae. The pilosity is oblique and more abundant than in speculifera. Entirely black, the legs, scapes and mandibles brown. ‘Tarsi and club of the antennae rusty red. “Sankisia, Katanga (Dr. Bequaert) ; perhaps simply a race of speculifera.” Durban (‘Traegaordh), teste Santschi. Trine CREMASTOGASTRINI, Forel. - Including only the following genus. Genus CREMASTOGASTER, Lund. Ann. Sc. Nat., vol. 23, p. 132, 1831. Characters. 3. Antennae 10- or 1l-jomted (varely 9-jointed, C. edentula Santschi), the club formed of two or three joints ; maxillary palpi 5- jointed; labial palpi 3-joited. Thorax usually widest in front, constricted at the meso-epinotal suture. The latter deep and well defined, the pro-mesonotal suture usually more or less obliterated at least in the middle. Epinotum armed with two teeth or spines, rarely unarmed. First segment of petiole squamose or cuneiform and decumbent, articulating with the epinotum by avery short and narrow piece, or almost sessile in front; 2nd segment thick, with a short peduncle in front, nodose behind, the node frequently grooved in the middle lengthwise so that the node appears to be made up of two hemisperical lobes or discs. Petiole articulating with the dorsal surface of the abdomen. The latter subcordate, the basal margin straight or subtruncate. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 483 @. Antennae 10- or 1l-jomted. Thorax elongate, pronotum not exposed dorsally. Hpinotum with the spines or teeth usually much shorter than in the 9, or reduced to mere angles. Abdomen oblong- ovate, narrowed apically. Wings with i cubital and | discoidal cell; the radial cell usually closed. Petiole as in the %, but the first segment thicker. 6. Considerably smaller than the 9. Antennae 12-jointed, the scape short, rarely longer than the Ist and 2nd joints of the flagellum taken together ; usually all the joints of the flagellum except the Ist longer than wide. Pronotum not exposed above; mesonotum and scutellum high; Mayrian furrows obsolete or indistinct. Epimotum unarmed. Segments of the petiole shorter and flatter above than in the 9. Abdomen subcordate or ovate. Legs thin. Distribution both hemispheres. This very large genus contains very many closely allied forms, and to judge by its tendency to form minute variations, appears still to be in a very plastic condition. Owing perhaps to this condition, which does not appear to have been sufficiently realised by some myrmecologists, and also to the lack of abundant material, the taxonomy of the genus is hopelessly confused, and its study presents us with greater difficulties than that of any other genus represented in our region. Many species have a very extended distribution, and exhibit numerous geographical subspecies and varieties. The variation may apply to one or several anatomical features, in such a way that a species may possess several extreme forms, at least some of which are connected with the central type-form by a series of more or less gradual and transitional links. Where such links are numerous, no doubt is left as to the relationship of the terminal forms to the central type. But on the other hand, such links are frequently missing, and where the gaps appear to be rather wide, the tendency has been to accord specific rank to each form. If at a later period the annectant forms are discovered, the natural result is to render the boundaries between the so-called species exceedingly vague, in which case it becomes very difficult to place the latter in any analytical key unless their status is revised and altered. With the yearly growth of our knowledge of the genus and the increase of material brought about by labours of collectors over the whole con- tinent, the time will come when we shall be able to unite many so-called species as forms of one type, and thereby reduce the number of apparently distinct species which are recognised at the present day. Apart from the differences manifested in geographical varieties, minor distinctions may be shown to occur in the members of the different nests of one species, and it is therefore desirable that large 51 484. Annals of the South African Museum. series derived from many nests and localities should be studied before attempting to make innovations in the classification. It is frequently the case that the % 9 of the first brood differ not only in size but also in minor details of structure from those of later broods, and I am inclined to believe that not a few new races and varieties have been erected on such slender foundations. In the separation of the species the following points should be noted: The pro-mesonotal suture, although usually more or less effaced in the middle, can generally be traced by a depression which becomes deeper at the sides and is often angular im form. At the apex, or a little behind the apex of the mesonotum, there is in many species a longitudinal median tubercle or carinula. It is of some diagnostic value, but as it is hable to variation in the degree of prominence and length, even within the species, too much reliance should not be placed on it. The epinotal spines are similarly variable within the limits of a species, and a great deal too much importance has been attached to the comparative length of those structures in the separation of the species. The mesonotum has a declivous face behind, just above the meso-epinotal suture. This face is usually much shorter than the anterior and more or less horizontal face; it is sometimes concave transversely, and its lateral margins are sometimes defined by sharp raised edges or carinulae. The length of the declivity and its degree of obliquity are characters of diagnostic value and fairly reliable. The Ist joint of the petiole is nearly always thicker (from above to below) behind than in front, and seen from above is generally of a trapezoidal or triangular form, the apex of the triangle truncate and invaginating the short and globose peduncle of the 2nd joint. In measurements of these two joints the length of the Ist should be taken from the level of its anterior angles to the level of the point behind where it touches the anterior margin of the node of the 2nd joint; the length of the 2nd joint should be taken over the node only, since the short peduncle in front is telescoped into the Ist joint to a variable depth and can rarely be seen in its entirety (see Text- fig. 31). Owing to the peculiar mode of attachment of the petiole, which is articulated to the base of the dorsal plate of the abdomen, the latter can be carried reflected over the thorax, and this atti- tude is assumed when the insect is alarmed, but in some species that position of the abdomen is adopted without any apparent provocation, more especially when the insect is moving head downwards on a vertical or steep plane. From the anal glands a sticky whitish fluid of an unpleasant odour is secreted, which is freely exuded when the ants are disturbed. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 485 All the members of the genus are very fond of sugary substances, and for this reason most of them are aphidicolous and coccidicolous, and also cultivate the society of Membracid, Fulgorid and Lycaenid larvae for the sake of their secretions. In some Indian species (sub- genus Physocrema) the ants appear to be able to draw on a supply of fluid furnished by their own bodies and secreted by the epinotal glands. These glands, which are probably to be found in most ants, are greatly developed in this sub-genus, so that the epinotum becomes greatly inflated. The gland communicates with the exterior by a Vex >, Vy, *, poste rior 272 VE of median carinicla [ ‘ é 2a or lubercle Be Ee ots oe | _¢ pronotum. = & y (sharply marginale) Oey, C / declivity of 7 mmesonoltrrl . postervor marge OER asa em k. . anlerior aa lengli of- GN j ----/ segment. pedu CIO R ee ie we node “eI fer eae we i peer moslertor gn Se (adr jded { i a pial gh MY arlicula 7 por LIOPL \of he -€ 2K Seormestl. nO inlo Ewo a ses) Fie. 31.—Thorax and petiole (semi-diagrammatic), Cremastogaster, 9. small aperture on each side situated below or behind the stigmatic orifice. Bingham remarks that ‘‘in live specimens there seems to be a continual flow from this aperture of a sweet fluid, and I have watched the 5 9 of C. physothorax licking one another’s thoraces vigorously.” With the exception of an undetermined sp. of Microdon, which was bred from the nest of C. castanea var. medio-rufa (collected at Aberdeen, C.P., by Dr. Brauns), no records of parasitic or myrmeco- philous insects attached to this genus are known to me from our South African species. Nevertheless, in other parts of the world various insects of different orders have been found in the nests of Cremasto- 4.86 Annals of the South African Museum. gaster, such as the coleopterous Myrmedonia, Conurus, Xenalluaudia. and a few Paussidae and the orthopterous Myrmecophila. Most of the species of the genus are tree-ants, making their nests under the bark, in hollow branches or forming carton nests, which may be either sheltered in cavities in the trees or attached to branches, reeds and bushes. The character of the nest built by any one species is not invariable. Thus rufo-nigra, which in Natal usually builds large carton nests attached to the branches of a tree or shrub, is, according to my experience, always found in S. Rhodesia to make its nest in hollow branches, empty galls or under stones without the elaboration of any carton-like substance. Very few of our Rhodesian species nest as a rule in the ground, although young incipient nests may occasionally be found in that situation. Key to the § 9 of Cremastogaster. (46) 1. Antennae 11-jointed. (3) 2. Antennae exceptionally long, extending back as far as the petiole, and one-third of the scape extending beyond the hind margin of the head Schultzei, Forel. (2) 3. Antennae of usual length. (7) 4. Head distinctly longer than wide, parallel-sided or nearly so. (6) 5. First joint of petiole trapezoidal; scapes short, reaching the posterior third of the head . ; : : . nigronitens, Santschi. (5) 6. First joint of petiole oblong, one-third longer than wide; scapes longer, reaching the posterior fourth of the head Welmani, Forel, race retusa. (4) 7. Head as wide as, or wider than long, very rarely a trifle longer than wide, the sides more or less convex. (17) 8. First joint of petiole not trapezoidal. (10) 9. Head and thorax strongly striate; 1st joint of petiole subpyriform, longer than wide, not much wider in front than behind arborea, Mayr, race melanogaster, Km. (9) 10. Head and thorax not strongly sculptured ; 1st joint of petiole not sub- pyriform. (12) 11. First joint of petiole quadrate, wider than long sordidula, Nyl., var. vectinota, Forel. (11) 12. First joint of petiole longer than wide. (16) 138. First joint of petiole minutely bidentate near the posterior margin ; the 2nd node globose and without even a trace of a median groove. (15) 14. Epinotum sharply and widely reticulate, its dorsal lateral margins strongly convex; abdomen elongate, not cordate transvaalensis, Forel. (14) 15. Epinotum not sharply reticulate, the lateral dorsal margins straight and divergent; abdomen cordate Muralti, Forel, race livingstonei, Santschi. Ne) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 487 . First joint of petiole not bidentate behind; 2nd node with a feeble median groove; epinotum with very small teeth constructor, Hmery. . First joint of petiole more or less trapezoidal, widest in front. . Second node of petiole much wider than long and clearly wider than the 1st; whole body very polished and shining Santschii, Forel. . Second node of petiole not wider, or very little wider than long. . Second node of petiole without a median longitudinal groove, entire or only slightly emarginate behind; pronotum sharply marginate at the sides, at least on the posterior half. . Dorsum of epinotum not deeply impressed longitudinally in the middle; mesonotum without a wide transverse impression on each side behind the median tubercle; seen in profile, the mesonotum is not raised above the level of the pronotum. . Pro-mesonotal suture very shallow, obsolete or nearly.so over the middle third : ‘ . Kneri, Mayr, race hottentota, Emery. . Pro-mesonotal suture deep and wide, at least at the sides, and fairly clearly defined in the middle. . Head in greater part smooth and shining; colour more or less bright ochreous . d . gambiensis, Andre, var. krantziana, Forel. . Head distinctly sculptured ; colour more or less dark brown or reddish- ochreous. . Median carinula of mesonotum prominent and long; colour dark brown ; dorsum of epinotum rather deeply impressed in the middle Kneri, Mayr, var. amita, Forel. . Median earinula less prominent; colour reddish-ochreous ; dorsum of epinotum very shallowly impressed : . Kneri, Mayr. . Dorsum of epinotum very deeply impressed in the middle ; mesonotum with a transverse and wide impression on each side behind the median tubercle; seen in profile, the mesonotum is raised above the level of the pronotum ‘ F . Kneri, Mayr, var. matabele, Arnold. 29. Second node of petiole more or less clearly grooved longitudinally in the middle. . Epinotum unarmed, or with very minute dentiform tubercles imermis, Mayr, and races. . Epinotum with distinct spines or teeth. . Epinotal spines curved downwards ; : . Buchneri, Forel. . Epinotal spines horizontal or directed more or less upwards. . Sides of pro-mesonotum not marginate, or (rarely) the sides of the mesonotal declivity feebly marginate. . All the joints of the flagellum as long as, or longer than wide Growp A, q. v. infra. . At least some joints of the flagellum wider than lone. . Head, excepting a narrow longitudinal streak on middle of the vertex, dull and closely sculptured 5 : - Group B, q. v. infra. . Head very superficially sculptured and fairly shining, at least over the posterior two-thirds. . Small species, 3 mm. or less; head not reddish. . gallicola, Forel. . Larger species 3-5 mm. 488 Annals of the South African Museum. (42) 41. Head distinctly reddish . acaciae, Forel, race victoriosa, Santschi. (41) 42. Head yellowish or more or less brown. (44) 43. Lateral margins of the disc of the mesonotum bevelled brunneipennis Andre, var. omniparens, Forel. (43) 44. Lateral margins of mesonotum not bevelled Neuvillei, Forel, race Cooperi, Forel. (84) 45. Sides of mesonotum distinctly marginate over the greater part of their length; the sides of the pronotum also sharply marginate, at least over their posterior half. j : : Group C, q.v. infra. (1) 46. Antenne 10-jointed : Group D, subgenus Decracrema, Forel. The four groups mentioned in the key are composed of the following species. Group A.—Peringueyi, Em.; monticola, Arnold; opaciceps, Mayr ; solers, Forel ; with their varieties and races. Group B.—Godefreyi, Forel ; bulawayensis, Forel; misella, Arnold ; with their varieties and races. Group C.—Castanea, Smith; scrutans, Forel; excisa, Mayr; impressa, Emery ; with their varieties and races (var. medio-rufa feueelly fits in with their group, but it cannot be placed elsewhere). Group D.—Liengmei, Forel; Arthur-Muelleri, Forel; with their varieties and races. Three sub-genera are represented in our region, viz. Atopogyne, Forel; Oxygyne, Forel; and Decracrema, Forel. These will be dealt ~ with in their place further on. C. casTANEA, Smith. Cat. Hymen. B.M., vol. 6, p. 186, 5, 9, 1858. “6. Length 2 lines (4:1 mm.). Head and thorax rufo-ferruginous, abdomen brownish-black, with the base obscure rufo-fuscous. The head, seen from above, rotundate, scarcely shining; the thorax deeply constricted at the base of the metathorax (epinotwm), which is armed with two diverging acute spines; the legs ferruginous, the tibiae and tarsi darkest. Abdomen: the Ist node of the petiole, viewed in front, heart-shaped, the pointed end upwards; the 2nd node globose, with a deep longitudinal incision above. “O. Length 4 lines. Rufo-ferruginous, smooth and shining; the thorax with a central and two lateral longitudinal rufo-fuscous stripes, the metathorax not spined; wings hyaline, the nervures testaceous. Abdomer oblong, the apical margins of the segments fuscous, slightly depressed and thinly sprinkled with short cinereous pubescence.” It has been shown by Hmery that tricolor, Gerst., as a specific name A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. A89 must sink as a synonym of castanea, Smith, which antedates it; it is retained, however, as the sub-specific name of the form which occurs in Madagascar and Natal. As far as | am aware the type-species is not African. Race tricotor, Gerst. (Plate VI, figs. 72, 72a). Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 263, 9, 1858. Forel, Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 7, p. 388, 9, ¢, 1887. O. 4248 mm. Head, thorax and petiole varying from bright yellowish-red to chestnut-red (burnt sienna), the lst segment of the abdomen varying from ochreous yellow to reddish ochreous over its basal two-thirds, the whole of the remaining segments dark brown with yellowish and somewhat translucent apical margins. Tibiae and tarsi more or less brownish-red. Antennae coloured like the head but somewhat fuscous on the club and on the basal half or two-thirds of the scape. Pilosity almost entirely absent excepting a few short and thin hairs on the pronotum and apical margins of the abdominal seoments. Pubescence very fine, microscopical, not very abundant, decumbent all over except on the flagellum, where it is oblique and longer than elsewhere. Head dull, very finely and closely rugulose longitudinally, sometimes almost striato-rugulose ; the anterior corners, between the antennal sockets and the eyes, distinctly striated obliquely. The space between the frontal carinae is slightly shining, with the sculpture somewhat effaced. Mandibles longitudinally striate, dull, the masticatory margin black, armed with 4 or 5 sharp teeth. Thorax dull, reticulate-rugulose, the sculpture on the epinotum becoming progressively weaker, so that at least the lower half of the declivity is smooth and shining. Occasionally there is a feeble longitudinal rugosity superimposed on the pronotum and extreme base of the epinotum. Petiole microscopically reticulate or alutaceous, dull except the upper face of the 1st node, which has a slight gloss. Abdomen and legs feebly shining, the former very finely alutaceous. Head rotund, a trifle longer than wide, the sides convex, the hind angles widely rounded, the posterior margin very feebly concave in the middle, or nearly straight. Anterior margin of the clypeus feebly convex in the middle; the median area fairly convex transversely and lengthwise, its posterior margin arcuate and not clearly defined. Frontal area triangular and indistinct. Behind it is a median impressed line ending at the posterior third of the head. Scape as long as the head, Ist joint of flagellum twice as long as wide, 3rd and 490 Annals of the South African Museum. Ath joints as long as wide, all the remaining joints longer than wide, the club 3-jointed. ‘Thorax at its widest point hardly half the width of the head. Pronotum much wider than long, the posterior half of the sides sometimes fairly sharply margined. Pro-mesonotal suture indicated by a wide and shallow depression. Mesonotum longer than its basal width, the sides marginate, the median tubercle elongate and well defined. Meso-epinotal suture very deep. The dorsum of the epinotum widens gradually backwards, and merges gradually into the oblique declivity, which is longer than the dorsum. Epinotal spines acute, strongly divergent, directed obliquely upwards, nearly two and a half times longer than their basal width, as long as, or a little longer than the dorsum of the epinotum. First node of petiole more or less subcordate or trapezoidal, the anterior angles rounded, the dorsal face shallowly concave transversely, wider than long. Peduncle of 2nd joint as long as its node, the latter twice as wide as long, and divided by a strong longitudinal groove into two more or less spherical and convex discs. Abdomen cordate-triangular, longer than wide, the basal margin straight, with moderately sharp angles. 2. 86 mm. Pilosity and pubescence as in the ¢, the colour similar but darker. Head dull, finely, closely and longitudinally striate, the striae curving outwards behind the ocelli, the spaces between the striae very finely and sparsely punctured and somewhat rugulose. The clypeus and anterior third of the head more strongly striate than the rest. Mandibles strongly striate and punctured between the striae. Pronotum dull and finely reticulate-punctate and rugulose. Mesonotum and scutellum smooth and shining, sparsely and finely punctured. Dorsum of epinotum feebly rugose and dull, the sides sharply striate and reticulate-punctate between the striae; declivity smooth and shining. Sides of thorax reticulate- punctate and longitudinally striate, more finely so than on the sides” of the epinotum. Nodes coriaceous and dull, the 2nd also shallowly punctured. Abdomen smooth and moderately shining. Head widest in the middle, the sides converging in front of the eyes, parallel and straight behind the same, the posterior margin straight, strongly convex above. Head nearly one-third wider than the thorax. Mesonotum moderately convex from side to side, a little longer than wide. Paraptera and scutellum together a little more than half as long as the mesonotum. Dorsum of epinotum nearly four times wider than long, merging by a very short curve into the vertical declivity. First node of petiole similar to that of the 9 but shorter, more deeply excavated in front, with the anterior angles more rounded. Second node convex at the sides, one and a-half times wider than A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 491 long, the median groove almost obsolete. Abdomen one and a-half times longer than wide. Deialated. “@. 37mm. Head and abdomen brown, the rest of a very pale brown. Wings hyaline. A moderate and oblique pilosity present on the body. First joimt of petiole wider in front than behind.” Durban, Grahamstown and Port Alfred. Common in Natal. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. stmra, Forel. Schultze, Reise Sid-Afrika, vol. 4, p.6, 9, 9, ¢, 1910. “O8, 46mm. Larger than the type-species, from which it differs by the coarsely and longitudinally rugose dorsum of the thorax, the declivity of the epinotum excluded. The mesonotum is also less sharply marginate. Otherwise like the type in all particulars, including colour and the dull reticulate-punctate sculpture of the thorax. “Oo. 95mm. Head large, much wider than the thorax. Mesonotum smooth. Sides and dorsum of epinotum longitudinally rugose. Other- wise like the type of the species. “@. 43 mm. Mesonotum partly Jongitudinally rugose (ruqulose?) and shining. Otherwise like the type-species. “ Chakamakue, between Lehututu and Letlake, Kalahari. In acacia wood.” Var. DURBANENSIS, Forel. (As var. of ferruginea) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 234, 5, 1916. ©. 4-5 mm. Head, thorax and petiole brownish-red (burnt umber), the thorax sometimes paler than the head. Abdomen dirty ochreous-yellow, the apical fourth of all the segments brownish. The meso-epinotal suture is deeper than in tricolor or rufonigra, and the base of the epinotum a trifle more convex lengthwise than in tricolor. The dorsum of the epinotum widens rapidly backwards (i. e. the sides are strongly divergent posteriorly) and the spines are about twice as long as their basal width. The 2nd node of the petiole has a deeper and narrower median groove than tricolor. Otherwise like that race. 2. 9mm. Abdomen dark reddish-ochreous, the apical margins brownish, the apical segment yellowish-brown except at the base. The upper face of the 1st node is more concave, and the excavation extends further back than in tricolor. Otherwise like that race. 492 Annals of the South African Museum. Durban. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) This variety should be attached to race tricolor rather than to race ferruginea. The dorsum of the metanotum is like that of tricolor, and moreover, except in colour and the shape of the Ist node, the 9 Q of the two are indistinguishable. Fic. 32.—Race tricolor, var. durbanensis. Race RUFONIGRA, Hmery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 27, 9, 1895. &. 42-5 mm. Head and thorax varying from pale reddish-brown to dark chestnut (a reddish burnt umber). Petiole darker than the thorax, abdomen dark brown or brownish-black, a trifle paler at the base but not yellow as in race tricolor. Legs dark brown, tarsi more ferruginous, antennae reddish-brown, the club and scape usually darker. The fundamental sculpture of the thorax is a little stronger, and the reticulations wider apart than in tricolor. The sides of the mesonotum are not so sharply margined as in that race, and the epinotal spines are considerably stouter, especially at the base, and also a little shorter or not more than twice as long as their basal width. The median groove on the second node is shallower than in tricolor, and the posterior margin of the discs of the node less sharp. Otherwise like race tricolor. Q. 8-9-6 mm. (hitherto undescribed ?}. Head dark chestnut red, usualiy paler in front. Thorax dark brown, the epinotum and petiole less dark. Abdomen black, legs and antennae dark brown. The apex of the scutellum is narrower and more angular than in tricolor, and the brow of the declivity of the epinotum is less abrupt. The 2nd node is more distinctly divided into two discs, the median groove being fairly deep behind. Otherwise like tricolor. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma pale yellow. S$. 4mm. Dark brown; the head black, the paraptera, metanotum, dorsum and declivity of epinotum brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown. Flagellum pale dirty ochreous; tarsi pale brown; wings hyaline, nervures and stigma brownish-yellow. Pilosity pale yellow, short and scanty, exserted on the scutellum and petiole, more or less decumbent elsewhere. Flagellum with abundant and exserted pubescence. Head A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 493 very finely striate longitudinally, and in part reticulate punctate, dull, except a shining groove between the clypeus and the indistinct frontal area. Anterior half and sides of mesonotum shining, the median portion behind very finely striate and duller, with large and shallow punctures all over. Scutellum and epinotum smooth and shining, the latter very shallowly rugulose near the base. Petiole moderately shining, the 1st node faintly reticulate-punctate. Abdomen shining, the first segment with a few large and shallow punctures. Head one-third wider than long, widest in front, the sides subparallel for a short distance behind the eyes, thence converging posteriorly. The eyes occupy a little more than the anterior half of the head. Scapes very short, hardly twice as long as wide, or about as long as the 2nd joint of the flagellum ; the Ist joint of the latter subglobose, as long as wide. Mandibles small, with 2 or 3 teeth. Anterior half of mesonotum very convex transversely and lengthwise. Mesonotum a little longer than wide, sides of scutellum vertical, very finely striate longitudinally. Dorsum of epinotum very short, the declivity steep. First joint of the petiole as long as wide, the anterior half of the upper face excavated ; 2nd joint nearly twice as wide as long, oblong. S. Rhodesia, common. ; Natal (H. W. B. Marley and C. B. Cooper). This is a pugnacious pneeles: which in 8. Rhodesia makes its nests in hollows in trees, or in hollow branches, and more rarely in galls ; elsewhere it has been recorded as making large carton nests, attached to the branches of trees and shrubs. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. mEDIO-RUFA, Forel. (Plate VI, figs. 77, 77a and b.) Voeltzkow, Reise Ost Afrika, vol. 2, p. 81, 9, g, 1907. ®. 4mm. Head, thorax and petiole reddish-brown, the median pos- terior fourth of the head and the sides of the thorax generally darker. Abdomen brownish black, antennae and legs dark brown. The sculpture is similar to that of race rufonigra, but stronger and more distinctly reticulate punctate (granulate). The dorsum of the epimotum also has a fine longitudinal striation superimposed, absent in the race. It differs from the latter in the following features : The sides of the pro- notum are barely marginate, of the mesonotum not at all; the median tubercle of the latter is feebler, the declivity of the mesonotum is more oblique and shorter, and the suture shallower; the dorsum of the epi- notum is narrower between the spines and more parallel-sided (in the race the dorsum is more or less trapezoidal). 2. 8mm. Pilosity and pubescence as in rufonigra, colour similar but a shade darker, particularly the head, which is castaneous red. 494: Annals of the South African Museum. The head is duller than in the race, and the sculpture stronger, the spaces between the striae roughened. The scutellum is wider and less convex posteriorly, and the dorsum of the epinotum is strongly striate transversely and furnished with a fairly acute triangular tooth on each side (these are absent in the race).. In addition, the declivity is vertical, its brow rectangular, the two faces not merging by a gradual curve as in the race. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma dark brown (yellow in the race). 3. 41mm. Dark brownish-black. The sculpture is stronger than in the race, and the mesonotum has a very fine reticulate puncturation in addition to the rugulosity, and is in consequence duller. The posterior half of the Ist node is reticulate-punctate, and in front is vertically truncate. The exserted hairs on the epinotum, petiole and abdomen are longer and a little more plentiful than in the race. Otherwise like rufonigra. Aberdeen, Cape Prov. (Dr. H. Brauns). (S8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. ; type of 9 in my collection.) Var. CACODAEMON, Forel. (As race of OC. Peringueyi, Em.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, 1s PEt Oy D5 By Ue The insects described under this name by Dr. Forel include two distinct forms, one of which is a variety of Peringueyi, and the other variety described hereunder, which must be attached to castanea, race rufonigra, and is closely allied to var. mediorufa. For the other variety a new name is required, and will be treated further on as var. angustior of Peringueyi. 2. 37-41 mm. Reddish piceous, the petiole and thorax in parts sometimes a little paler, abdomen piceous or black, legs and antennae dark brown. Sides of pronotum more convex than in mediorufa, the mesonotum more convex lengthwise, the declivity merging gradually into the anterior part of the mesonotum. Epinotal spines less divergent than in mediorufa. First segment of the petiole distinctly narrower than in mediorufa, much less widened in front than in that variety, and with less rounded anterior angles. Otherwise like mediorufa. 9. 95 mm. Black, flagellum, mandibles and tarsi dark reddish- brown. The sculpture of the head a little finer and much closer than in mediorufa. Mesonotum, excepting a narrower anterior and median area which is shining, dull and coarsely rugulose-punctate. Dorsal face of the Ist segment of the petiole a little shorter, the anterior angles less rounded than in mediorufa. Otherwise like that variety. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 495, ¢o. 38 mm. Thorax narrower than in mediorufa, the median shining area on the mesonotum narrower and more sharply defined. Second segment of the petiole wider and shorter, twice as wide behind as long (one and a-third times wider than long in mediorufa). Other- wise like that variety. Willowmore, C.P. (Arnold). The nest is a small and irregularly- shaped carton nest attached to the branches of median-sized shrubs or small trees. Var. QuiIsgurLia, Santschi. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 84, p. 502, 9, 1916. ®. 5mm. Of a brighter red than in the type, the base of the abdomen diffusely reddish-brown in some specimens. The fundamental sculpture is stronger than in the race, and the thorax has also some longitudinal rugae which are strongest on the base of the epinotum. The epinotal spines area little longer than in the type of the race, and are also slightly sinuate in their apical half. The anterior angles of the lst node are more pronounced, and the upper face of the node is distinctly margined at the sides. Otherwise like the race. Victoria Falls, S.R. (G.A. coll.) Var. BRUTA, Santschi. (As race of ferruginea, Forel.) Bull. Soc. Ent. France, p. 412, 9 ,1913. ©. 43-45 mm. Head and thorax reddish-brown or sordid yellowish- brown; Ist, 2nd and 3rd segments of abdomen more or less dark, brownish-yellow in the middle, shading off to dark brown at the sides and at the extreme apical margins, the paler areas most distinct on the lst segment, the apical segments dark brown. The median tubercle of the mesonotum is stronger than in quisquilia. The petiole is narrower than in that variety, and the Ist joint less distinctly marginate at the sides. The 2nd joint is longer than it is wide across the middle. Apart from these slight differences this form hardly differs from var. quisquilia, and I think it should therefore be placed with rufonigra rather than with ferruginea. Springvale, S. Rhodesia. (G.A. coll.) Race FERRUGINEA, Forel. (As species) Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 8, p. 358, 5, 1892. “65. 48-6 mm. Mandibles longitudinally striate, with 4 or 5 teeth. Head, excluding the mandibles, rectangular and rounded at 4.96 Annals of the South African Museum. the angles, somewhat wider than long, fairly straight in front and behind, much the same as in tricolor, but with the sides less convex. Club of antenna distinctly 3-jointed. Pronotum and mesonotum about the same as in tricolor, but the pronotum is nevertheless narrower and less sharply and less projectingly marginate at the sides. The lateral marginal carinae of the mesonotum are more obtuse and less distinct behind. Meso-epinotal suture as in tricolor. The epinotum is much narrower than in tricolor, especially in the middle at the level of the spines, and hardly wider there than in front or behind (rhomboidal in tricolor and strongly dilated in-the middle). Moreover, the sides of the dorsum of the epinotum diverge but feebly, so that the thorax, seen from above, appears less constricted than in tricolor. The spines are fairly long, thin, and widely divergent. The declivity of the epinotum is lower and more oblique than in tricolor. First segment of the petiole trapezoidal, with rounded anterior angles and straight anterior margin, wider in front than long, and wider there than behind, with a blunt tooth in front below. Second segment of petiole divided by a median groove into two hemispheres. Abdomen fairly flat, long and relatively narrow. Head closely and finely punctate-rugulose, with a somewhat silky gloss. Thorax coarsely and sparsely longitudinally rugose, closely reticulate-punctate between the rugae and fairly dull, excepting the smooth and shining declivity of the epinotum. Petiole closely reticulate-punctate. Abdomen feebly reticulate, evenly and sparsely punctured, very shining. Outstanding pilosity almost obsolete. Femora and scapes with a decumbent pubescence. The pubescence is very short and scattered. Rusty yellowish-red. The abdomen brighter, of a reddish brown-yellow. Legs and club of antennae brownish. Mandibles brownish-red. Closely allied to tricolor, but clearly distinct on account of the shape of the epinotum and the Ist segment of the petiole, by the longer, narrower, and flatter form, and by the colour and sculpture.” Somaliland ; and East Coast of Africa, including Natal. Having only a single specimen (a co-type) of this species, I have preferred to copy the original description. In the specimen referred to the dorsum of the epinotum is shorter and much more convex lengthwise than in tricolor; the spines are shorter than in that race, or not quite twice as long as their basal width, and a little shorter than the dorsum of the epinotum. The posterior margins of the hemi- spherical discs of the 2nd node are more elevated and prominent than in tricolor, and the pro-mesonotal suture is also deeper. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 497 C. Nevuvituet, Forel. Rev. Ent. (Caen), vol. 26, p. 140, $ ,1908. “6. 39-5 mm. Mandibles strongly striated, the masticatory margin moderately oblique, short. Anterior margin of clypeus straight and entire. Frontal area distinct. Head more or less quadrate, slightly wider than long, distinctly wider behind than in front, feebly emarginate behind, rounded behind the eyes. The latter fairly large, placed in the middle of the sides, of which they occupy nearly one-quarter. The scapes extend back as far as the occipital margin. Antennae 11-jointed, all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide, but the 3rd—5th joints are almost as wide as long. Club 3-jointed. Dorsum of pronotum convex and marginate. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Dorsum of mesonotum longer than wide, wider in front than behind, slightly convex, marginate at the sides, without a median carina or tubercle. Meso-epinotal suture fairly strong. Dorsum of epinotum fairly convex, widened posteriorly, wider than long, ending in two robust spines, short, feebly pointed, subhorizontal, feebly divergent and slightly curved inwards; their external margins continuous with those of the dorsum; they are a little longer than their basal width. Declivity oblique, as long as the dorsum of the epinotum. First node as in C. scutellaris, Ol., widened in front, the anterior margin straight, the anterior angles rounded, without a tooth below. Second node divided into two subcircular halves by a deep groove; it is a little less wide than the Ist node. Abdomen fairlyelongate. Finely but quite distinctly reticulate, not very shining. Thorax and petiole subopaque. Clypeus and cheeks finely and closely striated longitudinally. Pronotum finely rugose transversely. Legs and scapes reticulate; declivity of the epinotum smooth. There is a sparse and much obliterated punc- turation, somewhat more distinct on the abdomen. Pilosity absent, except a few hairs on the front of the head and the under-side of the abdomen. ‘There is a yellowish, adjacent, short and evenly spaced pubescence on the whole body and on the limbs. Castaneous brown, including the legs. Thorax and petiole of a rather paler brown. Abdomen yellowish rusty-red, mandibles and front of the head of a more reddish-brown. “ Uomber, S. Africa.”’ Race Cooperi, Forel. (Plate VI, figs. 76, 76a.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 238, 5, 1914. «6, 33-5mm. Differmg from the type-species by the 2nd node being much less deeply grooved. The groove is very superficial in 498 Annals of the South African Musewin. front of the constriction (7. e. the posterior articulation of the node). There is a very distinct transverse impression in the middle of the mesonotum which does not occur inthe type. In addition, the abdomen has a fairly long pubescence, whereas it is very short and more scattered in the type. The colour is yellower and duller, but similarly distributed. Otherwise identical.” The transverse impression on the mesonotum is absent in the smaller 9 %,and even in some of the larger ones. The epinotum is armed with very short, triangular teeth, somewhat variable in length, but not longer than their basal width. The scapes do not reach the occipital margin, falling short of the same by as much as the apical width of the scape. The dorsal face of the Ist node is distinctly con- cave from side to side, more so than in castanea, tricolor and ferruginea. The median tubercle of the mesonotum is very prominent, especially when seen from the side, and the dorsum of the epinotum is convex, short, hardly more than half the length of the declivity. Fie. 33.—C. Newvillet, race Cooperi. 2. 9mm. (hitherto undescribed). Castaneous brown, the petiole a little brighter, the apical margins of the abdominal segments dirty ochreous and translucent. Sculpture, pilosity and pubescence as in tricolor, but the epinotum above and at the sides is duller and more densely rugulose. The epinotal teeth as in tricolor, the declivity of the epinotum shorter. The scapes are shorter and thicker, not extending back beyond the posterior ocelli, also more strongly curved near the base. The Ist node is twice as wide as long, more deeply excavated in front than in f¢ricolor; 2nd node feebly grooved posteriorly. Durban. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of 2 in my collection.) Race CoopeERi, var. INGRAVIS, Forel. Loc. cit., p. 341, 9. ®. 31-48 mm. Much darker than the race, of a warm reddish- brown. The sides of the head are a little less convex. This form hardly merits separation as a variety; I am unable to confirm the other differences noticed by Forel. Durban (L. Bevis and C. B. Cooper). (S8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 499 C. Neuvitwet, Forel, race cARININOTUM, Santschi. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 85, p. 279, 9, 1916. “S. 38-4mm. Reddish-brown. Legs more or less pale casta- neous brown, abdomen black, its base sometimes more or less reddish- brown. Occiput and 2nd joint of the petiole brownish. Reticulate, the thorax distinctly reticulate-punctate. Head finely and longitudi- nally striate; the frons more or less smooth. Abdomen very finely reticulate, almost smooth. Declivity of the epinotum smooth. Nearly dull, only the frons and abdomen fairly shining. Pilosity sparse, pubescence as in thetype. Margin of pronotum rounded. The meso- notum has a median carina in front, absent from the type of the species and its races. Meso-epinotal constriction fairly deep ; epinotal teeth as long as their basal width, but also somewhat variable. Second node of petiole as strongly grooved as in the type of the species, which it otherwise resembles.”’ Bulawayo (Arnold). C. BRUNEIPENNIS, Andre, race OMNIPARENS, Forel. Rev. d’Ent., vol. 9, p. 3238, 9, 2, 1890. (Race) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 237, 9, 1914. ®. 2°6-3°9mm. Varying from a brownish ochreous yellow to a clear reddish-brown, the abdomen usually darker and the head paler Fig. 34.—C. bruneipennis, race omniparens. and more clearly reddish-brown or burnt sienna. Sides of head in front of the eyes finely longitudinally striate, the rest of the head very smooth and shining (more polished than in race Cooperi), sparsely, finely and sharply punctured. Thorax and petiole moderately shining, very superficially, irregularly and sparsely striato-rugulose. Abdomen smooth and shining. The anterior face of the pronotum is less oblique than in Newvillei, race Cooperi, joining the dorsum by a shorter and more abrupt curve. The disc of the mesonotum is obliquely bevelled at the sides (in Cooper: it forms a continuous con- vexity transversely). In most specimens the epinotal spines are a little longer than in that race, and the median longitudinal impression on the dorsum of the epinotum is a trifle deeper. The petiole is shaped like that of Cooperi, but the Ist node is usually a little wider 32 500 Annals of the South African Museum. (varying from one-fourth to nearly one-third wider than long), and the anterior angles are more widely rounded; the 2nd node has a shallow median groove, somewhat deeper than in Cooperi. Durban (Arnold). This form appears to me to be very.closely allied to Newvillei, and I would attach it to that species as a variety but for the fact that bruneipennis, Andre, is known to me only from the description. Indeed, some of the specimens determined by Forel as omniparens (No. 330, leg. C. B. Cooper) cannot be distinguished from Newvillei, race Coopert. (SAM RM, G- A: colls.) C. acactaE, Forel, race victoriosa, Santschi. Zool. Anzeiger, vol. 15, p. 142, 9, 1892. (Race) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 84, p. 497, 9, 1916. ®. 3-5 mm. Head, thorax and petiole varying from a clear yellowish-red to dark reddish-brown, the head usually paler and more yellowish. Abdomen dark brown or piceous, the apical margins of the segments testaceous, the lst segment in greater part dull brownish ochreous, becoming lighter towards the base. Legs dull, ochreous, the antennae somewhat redder. Pilosity and pubescence sparse. Head very shining, the rest of the body moderately shining. Cheeks, clypeus and mandibles finely and longitudinally striate, the rest of the head smooth, shallowly and sparsely punctured, the occipital face microscopically rugulose. Pro- and mesonotum very finely rugulose, the mesonotum also finely striolate longitudinally ; dorsum of epinotum rugulose, the rest smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, as wide as, or a little wider than long, the sides fairly convex, slightly narrowed in front (less so in the smaller $ 9 than in the larger), the posterior margin almost straight. Hyes not small, placed in the middle of the sides of the head. Frontal area triangular and clearly — defined ; frontal sulcus distinct and extending to the middle of the vertex. The scape extends back as far as the occipital margin; 3rd— 6th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Pronotum not marginate. Pro-mesonotal suture fairly well defined in the larger 9 9. Im the latter the mesonotum is fairly convex from side to side in front, and slightly constricted on each side in front of the declivous face, the latter short, oblique and feebly marginate at the sides. In the smallest % @ the declivity of the mesonotum is almost obsolete, the profile of the pro- and mesonotum forming a single convexity as far as the meso-epinotal suture. The latter is fairly deep. Dorsum of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 501 epinotum very convex lengthwise in the $ major, barely convex in the © minor, about twice as wide as long, not much wider behind than in front, ending in two very divergent spines, directed obliquely upwards, distinctly curved inwards towards their extremity, and about one- fourth as long as the space between their bases. First joimt of petiole trapezoidal, as wide as, or a little wider than long, the angles widely rounded. Second node very shallowly grooved in the middle, the groove becoming a little deeper behind, the hind margin emargi- nate in the middle and very prominent when seen in profile. Victoria Falls. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Not unlike Newvillei, race Coopert, from which it may be dis- tinguished by the shape of the mesonotum, the more prominent hind margin of the 2nd node, and the 3rd—6th joints of the flagellum, which in Cooperi are longer than wide. Fig. 35.—C. acaciae, race victoriosa. C. excisa, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 1389, ¢, 1895. “G. 35-33 mm. Bright rusty red, antennae and legs brown, abdomen usually dark brown, the lst segment either of a brownish- red more or less all over, or only at the extreme base. Pilosity altogether wanting ; the short decumbent pubescence is very sparse on the head, thorax and petiole, less so on the abdomen and legs, more abundant on the antennae. Mandibles quadridentate, sharply striate longitudinally. The head is about as long as wide, or wider, the cheeks close and finely longitudinally striate, the clypeus more or less finely rugulose longitudinally, the anterior margin fairly straight, the frontal area indistinctly defined, the frons between the frontal carinae, and particularly in their immediate vicinity, finely and longitudinally rugulose, in the middle shining and often smooth, the back of the head shining and smooth, with very scattered piligerous punctures; laterally and near inner margin of the eyes finely rugulose, behind the eyes finely coriaceous-rugulose, or almost smooth. The scape of the 11-jointed antenna almost reaches the posterior margin of the head, the 3rd-5th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the two following joints about as long as wide, the club distinctly 3-jointed. The eyes are placed a little behind the 502 Annals of the South African Museum. middle of the sides of the head. The moderately finely and longi- tudinally rugulose thorax is fairly short and quadrate, gradually narrowed from the rounded shoulders of the pronotum as far as the meso-epinotal suture. The pronotum, neglecting the neck-like pro- longation in front, is wider than it is long in the middle, very distinctly marginate at the posterior angles and somewhat prominent ; the pro-mesonotal suture somewhat impressed. The mesonotum is very feebly arched, the anterior part quite flat, the median carimula weak, distinctly marginate at the sides; the declivous face slopes downwards to the meso-epinotal suture fairly steeply and is feebly concave, and when seen obliquely from in front appears arcuately emarginate above, margined on each side by a sharp edge, which ends above in a very blunt tooth or projection. The meso-epinotal suture is narrow but deep. The dorsum of the epinotum is about twice as wide at the base as it is long in the middle. It has in addition to the longitudinal rugae a fine reticulate rugulosity, which is also apparent to some extent on the lateral margins of the dorsum of the pro-mesonotum. ‘The epinotal spines are straight, directed outwards, backwards and upwards, fairly far apart, hardly longer than one-third of the space between them; the declivity of the epinotum is fairly large, feebly concave, smooth and shining. The Ist segment of the finely coriaceous-rugulose and shining petiole is trapezoidal, somewhat wider than long, or perhaps as long as wide, with strongly rounded anterior angles ; the 2nd segment deeply and sharply grooved above. The shining abdomen is exceedingly finely coriaceous and almost smooth. “ Loango, West Africa; Sierra Leone.” The type-species has not been recorded from our region, but is possibly represented by the following variety : Var. MALEDIcTA, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 236, ¢, 9, 1914. “G. 33-4mm. Differs from the type of Mayr by its deeper reddish colour, by the subopaque head, finely but not deeply striate longitudinally. It is smaller and darker than the race lacustris, Santschi, which, besides, has not a striated head. The eyes are fairly convex.” ' Assuming that the “ base ” of the dorsum of the epinotum in Mayr’s description is equivalent to the term “apex” (i.e. the brow of the declivity) which has been used throughout this work, this form would appear to differ considerably from the type-species in the structure A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 503 of the epinotum. In all my specimens the dorsum of the latter is decidedly long (much longer than in tricolor, etc.), bemg as long as wide at the base and two-thirds as long as the width of the apex at the base of the spines. It is fairly flat above. The spines are quite twice as long as their basal width, and not one-third, but at least half as long as the interval between them. The declivity of the epinotum is very slightly inclined and not at all concave. The head is subcireular. 2. 98mm. Dark castaneous red, the head and petiole a little paler and redder than the thorax; abdomen black. Head longi- tudinally and closely striate, sparsely but clearly punctured, the space between the frontal area and the anterior ocellus slightly shining, with the sculpture effaced. The thorax in shape, sculpture and gloss closely resembles that of rufonigra, but the sides of the dorsum of the epinotum are more parallel. The Ist segment of the petiole has more Fic. 36.—C. eacisa var. maledicta. acute anterior angles than that species. Otherwise like the 9 of rufonigra. C. GopFreyI, Forel. (As race of foraminiceps, Santschi) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p- 237, ©, 1914. (Race of vulcania, Santschi; Forel emend.) Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 24, p. 406, 1916. 9. 3mm. Dark brownish-red, with a tinge of yellow, the back of the head more brown, the legs less reddish than the thorax, the abdomen dark brown, becoming somewhat paler towards the base. Pilosity absent except on the clypeus. Pubescence pale, fairly long, not very abundant except on the abdomen, where it is adjacent (oblique on the head). Head dull, very delicately and longitudinally striate or aciculate, sparsely and finely punctured, the striation more or less effaced in the middle of the vertex. Thorax very finely and super- ficially reticulate-punctate above, fairly dull, the dorsum of the epinotum with a few transverse rugae. Sides of thorax longitudinally rugulose and partly reticulate-punctate. Abdomen and petiole very slightly shining, the former microscopically alutaceous. Head, ex- cluding the mandibles, quadrate, about as long as wide, the sides 504 Annals of the South African Museum. feebly convex, the posterior margin shallowly concave, the posterior angles very little rounded. The scape almost reaches the posterior margin of the head’; 3rd—5th joints of the flagellum wider than long, 2nd and 6th as wide as long, club 3-jointed. Eyes placed in the middle of the sides. Mandibles finely striate. Head very little more than one and a-half times wider than the thorax at its widest point. The frontal sulcus is fairly well defined as a narrow and shining impression, reaching the middle of the vertex. Pronotum not marginate behind at the sides, the posterior corners convex. Mesonotum two-thirds longer than its basal width, flat and horizontal or even slightly inclined upwards posteriorly, the median tubercle round and very prominent. The declivity of the mesonotum short, barely marginate at the sides. Meso-epinotal suture narrow and deep. Dorsum of epinotum flat, merging very gradually into the oblique declivity, about twice as wide at its base as it is long in the middle, considerably widened towards the teeth. The latter are very short, hardly as long Fie. 37.—C. Godfreyi. as their basal width, triangular. The Ist joint of the petiole is a trifle wider than long, the anterior margin straight, the anterior angles widely rounded, the dorsal face almost flat. The 2nd joint is not deeply grooved in the middle, but the posterior margins of the nodal discs are prominent, the sides of the discs not very convex. King William’s Town (Rev. R. Godfrey). (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) Unwilling as I am to add to the number of species in this confused genus, it nevertheless appears necessary to me to separate this form from vulcania, Santschi. I have not seen specimens of the latter, but from Santschi’s description and illustrations itis clear that Godfreyi is tolerably distinct. In vuleania the dorsum of the epinotum is convex, the pro- and mesonotum form a single convexity, the pronotum is marginate at the sides, the mesonotal tubercle is feeble, and lastly, the petiole is differently formed. Var. Arnoupt, Forel. (As species) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 288, ¢, 1914. ®. 3-3°5 mm. Dark brown, the anterior half of the head some- times paler or brownish-yellow, mandibles ferruginous. The thorax A Monograph of the Formicidae of South A frica 505 is less reddish than in the type-species. The head is more strongly striate and more sharply and less sparsely punctured. The striae are effaced along the middle of the head, which is distinctly shining, the rest of the head being dull. The posterior margin of the head is very slightly concave or almost straight. The thorax appears a little narrower, owing to the mesonotum being less dilated in front and the sides of the dorsum of the epinotum less divergent. The declivity of the mesonotum is shorter than in the type of the species and subvertical,sothat the meso-epinotal suture appears much narrower. Epinotal spines variable, like those of the type, or sometimes a little longer, but not more than one-third the length of the space between their bases. The anterior half of the sides of the 1st joint of the petiole, seen from above, are sometimes almost straight, but this character is also variable, as half the specimens before me have the petiole formed exactly as in the type of the species. The sculpture of the thorax is perhaps a shade coarser than in the type. = \ IE f Fia. 38.—C. Godfreyt var. Arnoldi. Durban (H. B. Marley and C. B. Cooper). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. ) This form, described by Forel as a distinct species, differs very little from Godfreyi, 1. sp., and merits at the most only varietal rank. The specimens collected by Mr. Cooper are more strongly punctured on the head than the others and are of a slightly darker colour. Var. FORAMINICIPOIDES, Forel. Rey. Suisse Zool., vol. 24, p. 406, G, 1916. O. 38-46 mm. Black, flagellum and tarsi ferruginous. Man- dibles castaneous brown. Pubescence on the abdomen shorter than in the type. Sculpture similar, but stronger everywhere, the head fairly abundantly punctured with small, sharply defined and_pili- gerous punctures. The pro-mesonotal suture is wider and deeper, and the median tubercle of the mesonotum longer and distinctly carinate, shining and more prominent than in the type of the species. The declivity of the mesonotum is vertical, more abruptly delimited from the anterior plane than in the type. The Ist joint of the petiole is more trapezoidal, the sides converging more inwards pos- teriorly; there is a small and acute tooth on the ventral surface, 506 Annals of the South African Museum. quite absent in the type. The 2nd joint has a deeper groove on the node and the abdomen is more shining than in the type. Bulawayo. (R.M., G.A. colls.) C, arBorEA, Smith (nec Mayr). Cat. Hymen. B.M., vol. 6, p. 188, 9, 1858. The validity of this species (in regard to which there is considerable confusion) cannot, in my opinion, be maintained. Mayr (Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus., vol. 10, p. 136, footnote) definitely synonymises Smith’s species with tricolor, Gerst. (= castanea, Smith, race tricolor, Gerst.). I am in agreement with this view on the evidence of a specimen received m exchange from the British Museum, which had been compared and found to agree with Smith’s type by Mr. Meade- Waldo. The specimen in question is a little larger than the average tricolor, the spines are somewhat thinner, and the lst segment of the petiole is a fraction narrower, but otherwise not distinguishable from tricolor. On the other hand, Dr. Forel in litt. supports the validity of Smith’s species, and points out that it differs from tricolor in its larger size, the longer epinotal spines, the coarser sculpture, especially on the head, the shape of the petiole, which is less wide in front, and the lateral discs of the 2nd node less separated. These characters certainly hold good in the race melanogaster, Emery, but Mayr refers this variety to his own arborea and not to Smith’s (Ent. Tidsk., p. 251, 1896, footnote). Smith’s description suffers from the vagueness which is character- istic of that author’s diagnoses of Formicidae, but serves at least to show not only that the specimen received from the British Museum agrees in the characters tabulated and was therefore correctly identified with Smith’s species, but also that Dr. Forel is in error in ascribing a coarse sculpture to arborea, Smith. I reproduce Smith’s description and the greater part of Mayr’s remarks on his own species, from the study of which, together with the characters presented by the race melanogaster, Hm., one must conclude that Smith’s species ought to sink as a synonym of castanea, race tricolor, Gerst. (Smith.) “ G. Length 2 lines (4:1 mm.). Pale ferruginous, with very thinly scattered, short, glittermg hairs; the head subovate, slightly emarginate behind, delicately striated longitudinally, the mandibles with 4 strong acute teeth; the antennae, tarsi and apex of abdomen more or less fuscous. Thorax flattened on the dise, deeply strangulated between the meso- and metathorax, with the latter armed with 2 acute spines. Abdomen: the Ist node of A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 507 the pedunele, viewed in front, pear-shaped, with the broad end down- wards; the 2nd node ovate, with a deeply impressed line above. aoe onteNatalled: (Mayr.) loc. cit. “Mr. W. F. Kirby sent me for examination a typical example of C. arborea, Smith, from the British Museum. This © agrees with C. tricolor, Gerst., only the pronotum has more and stronger longitudinal rugae than is the case in the examples in my collection, in regard to which I should say that in many specimens of the latter the longitudinal rugosity is quite obsolete, in some only feebly indicated, and in others quite distinct, so that I do not consider it justifiable to base a variety on the specimen referred to,”’ C. aRBOREA, Mayr. Ent. Tidsk., pp. 250-251, 1896. “Abdomen dark brown, the Ist segment above brighter, especially in front and in the middle. The exserted pilosity is almost entirely wanting, on the ventral surface of the abdomen very sparse, the external margins of the tibiae without exserted hairs; the decumbent pubescence is sparse on the upper surface of the head and abdomen. The head is almost a little wider than long, nearly quadrate, the posterior corners more rounded off than the anterior; it is longi- tudinally striate near the inner margin of the eyes. Mandibles quadridentate. Clypeus moderately arched .. . . its anterior margin fairly straight, without a depression behind. . . . The scape of the 11-jomted antenna extends beyond the posterior margin of the head, all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide. The indistinctly defined frontal area is closely and longitudinally striate like the frons. The eyes are placed distinctly .behind the middle of the sides. The pronotum above is somewhat smooth near the suture and has a broad obtuse hump on each side. The mesonotum is feebly arched from side to side and obtusely marginate on both sides. The dorsum of the epinotum has a transverse impression in front of the base of the spines, less distinct in the middle. . . . The Ist seg- ment of the petiole is widest between the anterior and middle third, but yet very little wider there than behind ; there is a small and not very evident tubercle on the sides in front of the posterior corners. The abdomen is almost smooth or very delicately rugulose only on the Ist segment, but all the segments are finely coriaceous-rugulose near the posterior margins. The upper surface of the abdomen has pili- gerous punctures and the Ist segment is broadly truncate at the base.” 508 Annals of the South African Museum. ARBOREA, Mayr, race MELANOGASTER, Emery. Ann. Soc, Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 29, 9, 2, 1895. &. 46-555 mm. Head, thorax and petiole bright red, abdomen black, antennae and legs dark reddish-brown, the tarsi and articula- tions of the legs paler. Exserted pilosity sparse, fairly long, present only on the clypeus, pronotum, petiole and margins of the abdominal segments. Decumbent pubescence long and sparse all over except on the flagellum and,abdomen. Head dull, strongly, closely and longi- tudinally rugoso-striate, the striations strongest near the anterior margin. Mandibles longitudinally striate, 4-dentate. Thorax dull, coarsely and irregularly rugose above, the rugae chiefly longitudinal on the mesonotum and dorsum of the epinotum, the spaces between the rugae roughened; the rugae are coarsest on the epinotum. ‘The sides of the thorax longitudinally rugose, the rugae fairly regular and close together. Declivity of epinotum shining and fairly smooth, or with only one or two feeble rugae. Nodes of petiole closely and Fia. 39.—arborea, Mayr, race melanogaster, Emery. longitudinally rugoso-striate, except the dorsal face of the Ist node, which is smooth and slightly shining. Abdomen smooth and moderately shining, the basal half of the Ist segment duller and very finely rugulose in the middle. Head, excluding the mandibles, about one- seventh wider than long, widest behind the eyes, but not much wider behind than in front. The eyes are large, convex and placed behind the middle of the sides. The scape extends well beyond the occipital margin ; club 3-jointed, all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide. The pronotum has a distinct subangular and marginate boss on each side behind. The pro-mesonotal suture is wide, much wider than in tricolor and other races of castanea. Median tubercle of the mesonotum feeble. The mesonotum is one-third longer than wide at the base, feebly marginate at the sides posteriorly, and seen from the side clearly convex, the posterior half or thereabouts sloping down- wards to the deep meso-epinotal suture. The dorsum of the mesonotum is plainly higher than that of the epinotum. ‘The latter is fairly flat and not much wider at the apex than at the base, much less rhomboidal than in castanea and races. Hpinotal spines thin, acute, not very divergent (much less than in castanea), nearly three times as long as A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 509 their basal width. The Ist segment of the petiole viewed from in front subovate, the anterior margin convex, widest a little in front of the middle, and wider in front than behind. The upper face is as long as wide, feebly tuberculate on each side behind; the ventral surface bears a sharp, vertical tooth. The node of the 2nd segment is one-quarter wider than long, feebly grooved in the middle, the sides only slightly convex. Abdomen truncate at the base, the corners subacute. “oO. . . . Entirely dark castaneous brown, smooth and shining, the cheeks and clypeus striate; the frons also has some longitudinal rugae; the epinotum is finely striate at the base and on the sides, Head wider than long. Epinotum armed with 2 strong teeth. First node of petiole parallel-sided, bearing a transverse crest behind, ending on each side in a small angular projection ; the crest separates a wide anterior plane from a very short posterior one. Second segment convex, without a longitudinal groove. The antennae are much shorter than in the 9.” De Aar (Simon); Namaqualand (Peringuey); Willowmore (Brauns); Conway, C.P. (Hewitt). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Mayr (Ent. Tidskr., p. 251, 1896) remarks that a 9 of this race, received by him from Prof. Emery, agrees so closely with the type- species that he is unable to discover any substantial difference which would justify the separation of the form even as a variety. Only the transverse impression at the base of the epinotal spines 1s wanting in that specimen. But even this slight distinction is lacking in some of the specimens which I have seen. C. Perineueyi, Emery. (Plate VI, fig. 83.) J AMM. SOc. Hint. Hrance, vol. 63, p. 27, OF 95 do), ldo: ®. 35-52mm. Black, dull, very closely and fairly finely striate longitudinally on the head, more coarsely on the thorax, especially the e, smooth, sparsely sprinkled with small, shallow and piligerous punctures. ‘The pilosity is scanty, fairly long epinotum. Abdomen shining and yellowish; pubescence moderately abundant, decumbent and pale yellowish. Head about one-seventh wider than long, decidedly convex g, above, the sides moderately convex and gradually convergent in front of the eyes, the posterior margin straight. ‘lhe scape hardly reaches the posterior margin of the head ; 2nd—5th joints of the flagellum as long as wide, or a little longer; the club 3-jointed with the joints sharply differentiated. Mandibles strongly and longitudinally striate. Frontal area small but well defined; a shallowly impressed shining line extends from the frontal area to the posterior fifth of the head. 510 Annals of the South African Museum. Hyes rather large, placed in the middle of the sides. Width of pronotum a little more than half that of the head. Pronotum rounded at the sides and hind angles, not marginate. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct, fairly deep at the sides. Mesonotum about one-fifth longer than wide at the base, the median carinula not high, extending over the anterior third of the mesonotum. ‘The latter is not marginate at the sides, moderately convex in profile. Dorsum of epinotum twice as wide as long, widening moderately towards the apex, slghtly convex lengthwise. The spines are thin, acute, moderately divergent, oblique, and usually half as long as the interval between them; the declivity very smooth and shining. First joint of petiole trapezoidal, about as long as wide in front and not much wider in front than behind, the dorsal face smooth and shining, concave. There is a very small tubercle on each side terminating the upper margin of the sides. Node of 2nd joint grooved longitudinally in the middle, the groove not deep, the discs a little longer than wide. “oO. 89mm. Very similar to the 9 in colour, the head is also dull, more sharply striate, thorax shining above, finely striate at the sides, epinotum obtusely bidentate, the Ist segment of the petiole wider, the sides straight, obliquely concave in front, without posterior tubercles, the 2nd segment less deeply grooved. Wings hyaline, the costa pale fuscous. “@. 4mm. Black, head dull, thorax nitidulous, delicately striate, abdomen shining, punctures piligerous and foveiform, antennae 12-jointed, moniliform, the mandibles narrow, acutely tridentate; the Ist segment of the rather short petiole is obliquely truncate in front, the 2nd evenly convex.” Capetown (Peringuey) ; Port Elizabeth (Brauns). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A nest of this species sent to me by Dr. H. Brauns is very much like the one which has been figured and described by Mayr in the Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 14, 1901. It consists of an ovoid carton mass, attached to the stems of a reed or grass, of a dark brown colour and pierced by numerous galleries and chambers, and looking, when cut across, very much like a coarse toilet-sponge. The outer surface is composed of less compact material than the imner substance, being in fact a close felt-like layer formed of short pieces of grass. The reed stems pass through the nest near its major axis. \ Var. ANGUSTIOR, n. v. (= race cacodaemon, Forel, pars). 0. 36-43 mm. Smaller and narrower than the type-species. The head, excluding the mandibles, is a little longer than wide, the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 511 pronotum is less convex at the sides and longer; it is only twice as wide as long in the middle, excluding the neck (at least two and a-half times in the type of the species). The median carinula of the mesonotum is much more distinct. The dorsum of the epinotum is longer, narrower apically, or about two-thirds wider than long (twice as wide as long in the type-species). The spines are shghtly but quite clearly curved inwards. 2. 96mm. Black, mandibles, flagellum and legs dark reddish- brown. Pubescence fairly long, scanty everywhere. Exerted pilosity pale yellowish, fairly long and sparse. Head closely and longi- tudinally striate, the striae on the median area of the clypeus converging inwards. Mesonotum and scutellum. smooth, shining, very sparsely and shallowly punctured. Dorsum of epinotum strongly rugose transversely. Abdomen and petiole smooth and shining. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly one-fifth wider than long, the posterior margin straight, the posterior three-fourths of the sides subparallel, the anterior fourth moderately convergent. Thorax Fig. 40.—O. Peringueyt, Forel, var. angustior, n.v. twice as long as wide across the tegulae. Hpinotum unarmed, the dorsum four times wider at the base than long; the declivity vertical. First node of petiole trapezoidal, two and a-quarter times wider in front than long in the middle, the anterior angles narrowly rounded. The 2nd node feebly grooved posteriorly, not so wide as the anterior margin of the Ist node. Dealated. 6. 37 mm. Black. Pilosity and pubescence sparser than in the 2. Head very finely striate, chiefly lengthwise, but behind the ocelli radiating outwards, dull. Mesonotum very finely and closely striate or rugulose longitudinally, the scutellum smooth and shining. The whole epinotum rugulose and only slightly shining. Nodes nitidulous and reticulate. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head a little wider than long, subovate, the outline of the posterior half forming a single convexity. Scape nearly as long as the Ist and 2nd joints of the flagellum taken together; these two are a little wider than long, the 3rd as wide as long, the rest longer than wide. In the single specimen before me, the mesonotum has a median impression in front of the hind margin with a semilunar and raised area on each side of it, but this may be only a teratological feature. 512 Annals of the South African Museum. Dorsum of epinotum convex, short, not distinctly delimited from the vertical declivity. First segment of petiole as long as wide, the sides feebly convex and parallel. Second segment transversely ovate, hardly wider than the Ist. Wings hyaline, nervures pale brown. Durban (C. B. Cooper). (S.A.M.,.R.M., G.A. colls.; types in my collection. ) As I have remarked on a previous page, cacodaemon, Forel, includes two quite distinct forms, those from Willowmore being no more than a slight variety of castanea, race rufonigra. Var. GEDEON, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 341, 9, 1914. O. 41-5 mm.° Very dark reddish-brown. Sculpture stronger than in the type of the species of var. angustior. Thorax longitudinally rugose (in one specimen belonging to the same nest the thorax is very distinctly transversely rugose). Median tubercle of mesonotum larger and more prominent than in the type of the species. The sides of the head are less convex, and the 2nd node of the petiole is more deeply grooved in the middle. Otherwise like the type-species. Pietermaritzburg (R. D. Boyce); New Hanover Rail., Natal (C. B. Hardenburg). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. cacocHymA, Forel. (As race) loc. cit., p. 235, 9, 2. ©. 45-5:2 mm. Light reddish-brown, the back of the head and the apical half of the abdomen darker than the rest, mandibles yellowish-red. Pro-mesonotal suture less deeply impressed than in the type-species, sculpture of the thorax a shade stronger, particularly on the epinotum. In all my specimens the mesonotal carinula is as strong as, or even stronger than in the type-species, and the petiole, contrary to Forel’s description, is not wider than in the type-species. “@, More robust than the type. The mesonotum entirely smooth (partly striate in the type of Peringueyi).” Hab.? ex. S.A.M. coll. (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) C. capensis, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 764, 9, 9, 1862. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, pp. 185-7, 1895. “G. 445 mm. Dirty reddish-brown, antennae and abdomen chiefly dark brown; pilosity sparse. Mandibles sharply striate longi- tudinally ; head finely and longitudinally striate above, rugose at the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 513 sides. Thorax finely and longitudinally rugose, constricted between the meso- and epinotum, the latter with two acute spines, directed backwards, upwards and outwards. Petiole shaped as in C. scutellaris. Abdomen shining, exceedingly finely rugulose. “O,. 78mm. Dark reddish-brown, partly brownish-black, parti- cularly the mesonotum ; pilosity sparse. Head and petioleasin the >. Thorax finely longitudinally rugose ; epinotum with two small teeth, wide at their bases. Sculpture of abdomen as in the $. “Cape of Good Hope (Novara ).” The above description is insufficient, but from Mayr’s table of South African species in the Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. the following additional characters may be extracted : The second segment of the petiole has a deep median groove, and all the joints of the flagellum are as long as, or longer than wide, excepting the third, which is a little wider than long. Var. cALENS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg.,vol. 54, p. 435, 9, 1910. “6. Differs from the type of the species by its spines, which are longer than half the interval between them, and by its entirely brown colour. 3-3°6 mm. (alittle smaller than the typical capensis). “Delagoa (Dr. Liengme).” A co-type of this variety, in my collection, has the head very super- ficially sculptured or almost smooth, excepting the area between the eyes and the front of the head, which is finely and longitudinally rugulose-striate. In addition, contrary to Forel’s statement, the epinotal spines are barely half as long as the interval between their bases. N C. MISELLA, 0. sp. O. 34-3°9 mm. Head, thorax, petiole and antennae reddish- brown, abdomen piceous brown, legs brown with the tarsi a little paler. Pilosity short andscanty, absent except onthe clypeus and apical margins of the abdominal segments. Pubescence very sparse, short and decum- bent, almost entirely absent on the head and thorax. Head dull, closely and fairly finely reticulate, here and there somewhat reticulate rugulose, the reticulations near the inner margins of the eyes emphasised longi- tudinally ; a longitudinal area on the vertex with the sculpture some- what effaced and moderately shining. Mandibles dull, strongly striate. Thorax fairly dull, very regularly reticulate, the strands of the reticu- lation sharply defined and narrower than the spaces which they 514 Annals of the South African Museum. enclose, the spaces slightly shining; on the epinotum the reticulation is less sharp, the declivity smooth and shining. Petiole and abdomen shining, microscopically reticulate or alutaceous. Legs fairly shining. Head globose, as wide as long, the sides very convex, the posterior margin straight. Scapes not reaching the posterior margin of the head, falling short of the same by as much as their apical width ; 3rd joint of flagellum a trifle wider than long, 4th and 5th at least one-third longer than wide, the club 5-jomted. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Posterior angles of pronotum submarginate ; pro- mesonotal suture obsolete. Mesonotum marginate at the sides, strongly so on the declivous posterior part, which is oblique and about as long as the rest of the mesonotum. The median tubercle fairly prominent and subcarinate. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum convex lengthwise, widened apically. The spines acute, divergent, oblique, half as long as the interval between their bases. The declivity of the epinotum longer than its dorsum. First segment of petiole trapezoidal, the anterior corners widely rounded, the upper 2n8 Fria. 404.—C. misella, n. sp. face concave transversely, as long as wide; 2nd node divided into two discs by a complete median groove. The Ist segment of the petiole bears at its base below a sharp, triangular tooth poimting downwards. Bulawayo. In hollow stems of Acacia horrida. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) This species is allied to capensis in the structure of the antennae, but differs from it and all our other species by the sculpture of the thorax, which consists of a remarkably sharply defined and raised reticulation, the spaces between being smooth and flat. These specimens had previously been named by Dr. Forel as gallicola, race Sjoestedti, Mayr—quite a different insect, having the 3rd—d5th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the sides of the mesonotum not marginate, and a different sculpture. C. opacicrrs, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 12, 9, 1901. “oO. 36-42 mm. Dull, clypeus and legs more or less shining, abdomen nitidulous; dark rusty red, the abdomen brown. ‘The A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 515 exserted pilosity sparse, the decumbent pubescence more abundant, the scapes and tibiae with short and almost adjacent hairs. Mandibles shining, longitudinally striate and very sparsely and coarsely punctured, with several teeth. Clypeus and cheeks longitudinally rugose, the rest of the head, the thorax and petiole sharply, closely and fairly finely reticulate-punctate, the disc of the pronotum and the dorsum of the epinotum with not coarse longitudinal rugae superimposed, the declivity of the epinotum shining and very superficially reticulate. The abdomen finely rugulose, and also with a few shallow punctures. The head is rectangular, the corners rounded, very little wider than long, anterior margin of clypeus fairly straight, not emarginate. Frontal carinae well developed and of the usual length. The scape of the 11-jointed antenna extends back almost as far as the posterior marein of the head; the 2nd joint of the flagellum is somewhat longer than wide, the 3rd—5th as long as wide, or barely longer, the 6th and following joints all longer than wide, the club distinctly 3—jointed. The shining frontal sulcus is distinct. Eyes placed a little behind the middle of the sides of the head. Posterior margin of the head moderately arcuate. The pro- and mesonotum together, seen from above, reversed trapezoidal, with strongly rounded shoulders, the upper surface of both parts feebly convex; pro-mesonotal suture distinct; mesonotum about as long as wide, not marginate at the sides. The meso-epinotal suture deep; the dorsum of the epinotum horizontal and trapezoidal, shorter than wide behind, the spines moderately long, straight, divergent and oblique. ‘The Ist segment of the petiole trapezoidal, shorter than wide in front, the anterior margin moderately arcuate, the convexity directed forwards, the widely rounded anterior corners ending before the middle of the segment, the upper surface concave in front. The 2nd segment with a sharp and fairly deep longitudinal groove. “Port Elizabeth ” (Brauns). “The nests are made of carton, of a brownish colour, and attached to the branches of Hrica and other low shrubs. The surface of the nests (which measure about 10-13 cm. in diameter and 18 cm. long) is rougher and more uneven than those of Peringueyt.” Race DEFLETA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Bele., vol. 54, p. 484, 9, 1910. «6. 31-34mm._ A little smaller than the type of the species. The epinotal spines much shorter, hardly half as long, barely longer than a fourth of the interval between them. Pro-mesonotum narrower, 39 516 Annals of the South African Museum. but much more convex, forming an even and strong convexity raised much above the level of the dorsum of the epinotum. The head is a little narrower, more rounded, and the eyes are a little smaller. ‘The abdomen is entirely shining and nearly smooth (densely reticulate and more or less subopaque on the Ist segment in the type of the species). Rusty red ; posterior half of abdomen, and sometimes also the head and antennae brown. Otherwise quite like the type, particularly in the sculpture, the petiole and mesonotal carina. C. opaciceps is closely allied to capensis, Mayr, from which it hardly differs except in the sculpture, which is clearly reticulate-punctate (in capensis more striato-rugose). “Transvaal, in Acacia horrida (Dr. C. Keller).” C. souers, Forel. Schultze, Reise Stid-Afrika, vol. 4, p. 7, 9, 1910. “&G. 4 mm. Mandibles striate. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Head quadrate, as lone as wide, feebly concave behind, the sides convex. Eyes flat, placed barely behind the middle. The scape hardly reaches the posterior margin of the head ; club 3-joimted ; the middle joints of the flagellum as wide as long. Pro-mesonotum much longer than wide, evenly arched or convex on all sides, not wide in front. When viewed from in front there can be seen a fairly sharply defined, arcuate marginal line on the sides and the front of the pro- notum. Disc of mesonotum rounded, as long as wide, without a median carinula, not marginate at the sides. Thoracic emargination =meso-epinotal suture ?) sharp, steep, fairly deep, not wide. Epino- tum with 2 broad triangular teeth, which are hardly longer than their basal width. First segment of petiole trapezoidal, shorter than wide in front, the anterior margin straight, with rounded anterior angles. Its sides are deeply arcuate-emarginate, so that it presents wide anterior and narrow posterior halves. Second segment much wider than long, divided by a deep median groove into 2 discs. Abdomen of the usual form. The Ist segment of the petiole bears a tooth below. Head very nearly smooth, very finely and sparsely punctured. Clypeus, cheeks and thorax, excepting the smooth declivity of the epinotum and the sides of the pronotum, finely and irregularly rugose lengthwise. Abdomen very finely and superficially coriaceous-rugulose, the petiole somewhat more sharply so. Sparsely pubescent all over, the hairs yellowish and decumbent. Pilose hairs absent except on the clypeus, the apex and ventral surface of the A Monograph of the Fornicidae of South Africa. 517 abdomen. Scapes, tibiae, tarsi and abdomen brown. Head reddish- brown, the rest brownish red-yellow. “Great Namaland, Arasab River, near Kubub (Schultze) ; on the bark and in the heart of an Acacia horrida.” V C. MONTICOLA, 0. sp. 0. 38-4 mm. Ferruginous or reddish raw-umber, the posterior half of the head above, the dorsum of the thorax partially and the apical half of the abdomen darker, or more mahogany brown. Fairly smooth and shining all-over, the head sparsely and finely punctured, longitudinally and fairly closely striate at the sides in front of the eyes. The meso- and epipleura longitudinally rugoso-striate, and Fria. 40B.—C. monticola, n. sp. partially reticulate-punctate between the striae, the dorsum of the epinotum with afew longitudinal striae at the base. Clothed all over with a fairly abundant, long, silky and whitish pubescence, obliquely exserted ; on the head this pubescence is shorter, decumbent and less plentiful. This pubescence, which is only too easily rubbed off, is very striking, and renders this insect tolerably distinct from all our other species of the genus. Head quadrate, between one-sixth and one-seventh wider than long, the sides distinctly convex, the posterior margin straight. The median area of the clypeus feebly convex, a little longer than wide. The scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by about as much as their apical width. Mandibles longitudinally striate and shining. Eyes placed at about the middle of the sides. Posterior half of the lateral margins of the pronotal disc submarginate. Mesonotum feebly convex, as long as wide, without a clearly defined posterior declivity. Meso-epinotal suture shallow. Dorsum of epinotum feebly 518 Annals of the South African Museum. convex lenethwise, widened towards the spines, which are divergent, acute, and hardly longer than their basal width. First node of the petiole trapezoidal, about as long as wide in front, the anterior angles rounded. Second node wider than long, with a fairly well-defined median longitudinal groove. Mountains of Natal, 11,000 ft. ( Haviland), ex Natal Museum coll. (R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) C. scrutans, Forel. Zool. Jahrb., vol. 29, p. 258, 9, 1910. “OG. 2-7-3:3mm. Mandibles closely striate and sparsely punc- tured. Head somewhat wider than long, the sides convex, feebly concave behind. Eyes moderately convex, placed in the middle of the sides of the head. ‘The scape extends beyond the occipital margin by a trifle (not as much as one-third of its width); 3rd—5th joints of the flagellum somewhat wider than long. Frontal area and sulcus feebly defined, the latter almost obsolete. Pronotum and mesonotum together form a moderate and elongate convexity lengthwise and transversely ; both are only indistinctly and obtusely marginate, without a trace of a median carinula or prominence, the pro-mesonotal suture visible. The meso-epinotal suture forms only a slight, some- times very feeble constriction of the dorsum of the thorax. The dorsum of the epinotum, distinctly convex lengthwise, is not lower than the mesonotum; it is somewhat wider than long and ends in two short, narrow, divergent and nearly horizontal little spines, which are about one-third the length of the interval between them. Declivity oblique, as long as the dorsum of theepinotum. First segment of the petiole not toothed below, wider than long, trapezoidal, the anterior margin somewhat arcuate (or with bluntly truncated anterior angles). Second node as wide as the Ist, with a complete median longitudinal groove. Abdomen more oval than cordate. Head smooth; only the cheeks in front and the antennal pits rugose. Thorax finely reticulate, with a few weak rugae, less shining than the head. Abdomen and petiole very lightly reticulate, shining. Abdomen with a sparse puncturation. Some isolated yellowish hairs on the body, none on the tibiae and scapes, which have only a decumbent pubescence. The latter is very sparsely distributed on the body. Dull reddish-brown head and abdomen dark brown. “ Nefassit, Abyssinia. ‘“‘Near solers, Forel, which, however, has almost straight sides to the head, with the latter wider in front, a median prominence on the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 519 mesonotum, a deeper meso-epinotal suture and a longer and narrower Ist segment of the petiole, toothed below, and of a somewhat different shape. Also allied to Newvillei, Forel.” This species has not been recorded from our region, but is repre- sented by the following variety. Var. Inet, Forel. JEG inp, 10, HDS), D- “ Differs from the type-species in the pronotum and mesonotum, which are flatter above and sharply marginate. ‘The epinotal spines are also stouter and the meso-epinotal suture deeper. “ Zoutpansberg. 9 C. Scuuuttze1, Forel. Schultze, Reise Siid-Afrika, vol. 4, p. 6, 9, 9, 1910. ®. 933-3'7 mm. Brownish-reddish-yellow, the front of the head and the petiole paler, the antennae more yellowish-red, abdomen dark brown to blackish-brown. Head and thorax slightly shining, very sharply and longitudinally striate, more closely on the head than on the thorax, the striation of the pronotum somewhat irregular, 2nd node of petiole longitudinally striato-rugulose. Abdomen smooth and shining, finely and very sparsely punctured. Pubescence and pilosity yellowish, sparse, the legs and scapes with only a fine decum- bent pubescence. Head quadrate, slightly wider than long, the sides subparallel in front of the eyes and convex behind them, the hind margin feebly concave. Hyes large, convex, and placed at the posterior third of the head. Clypeus slightly impressed in the middle just behind the anterior margin, the latter almost straight. Mandibles striate. Frontal area indistinct, frontal carinae well developed. Antennae unusually long, reaching back as far as the petiole or beyond, the scape extending beyond the occipital margin by quite one- third of its length ; all the joints of the flagellum much longer than wide. Posterior lateral angles of the pronotum very prominent, raised above the level of the rest of the pronotum and of the meso- notum. Pro-mesonotal suture ill-defined in the middle, wide and deep at the sides. Mesonotum convex lengthwise, without a distinct declivous face behind, obtusely marginate at the sides. Dorsum of epinotum convex, marginate at the sides, about one-third wider at the base than long. Epinotal spines long, thin, acute, oblique, and about as long as the interval between their bases, with a transverse impres- 520 Annals of the South African Museum. sion in front of the latter. First segment of the petiole toothed below, subpyriform (the apex truncate, the broad end anterior), not much wider in front than behind, the sides not very convex, as wide as long; 2nd segment with a shallow median groove, the discs well defined behind, each disc at least half as long again as wide. Abdo- men cordate, the apex acute. Legs decidedly long. “O, 105-11 mm. Near arborea-melanogaster, but the back of the head is shining, almost smooth and smaller (narrower than the thorax). Clypeus impressed in front. Dark brown. Head, petiole and patches on the middle of the abdominal segments brownish-red, like the legs and antennae.” Steinkopf, Little Namaland; in nest of Hamitermes runconifer, Silv. ‘The subterranean nest was hidden under a stone; also at Kammagas, Little Namaland, one 9; Prince of Wales’s Island (Schultze). (G.A. coll.) Fig. 41.—C. Schultzei, Forel. C. Bucunert, Forel. Mitt. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 94, 9, 1894. “6G. 465mm. Mandibles coarsely striate and sparsely punctured. Head noticeably large, somewhat flattened, wider than long, deeply emarginate behind, narrower in front than behind. Anterior margin of clypeus widely and deeply excised in the middle and at the sides. Clypeus fairly flat, not carinate. Frontal area and sulcus deep. Eyes flat, placed at or a little behind the middle of the sides. The scape does not reach quite as far as the hind margin of the head ; club 8-jointed, all the joints of the flagellum at least a little longer than wide. Pronotum fairly narrow, and fairly distinctly marginate at the sides. Mesonotum convex, with a high and elongate median carina, obliquely declivous at its posterior extremity, barely marginate Jaterally.. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Epinotal spines broad, mode- rately long, only slightly divergent, feebly curved downwards, two- thirds the length of the interval between them. First segment of petiole considerably flattened ; in the small 9 9 rectangular, rounded at the corners and longer than wide; in the large 9 9 as long as wide, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 521 nearly round. Second segment wider than long, widely impressed above posteriorly. Abdomen distinctly flattened, truncate at the base. With a silky gloss, shallowly and sparsely punctured all over ; abdomen and legs somewhat more shining. Head and thorax very closely and fairly finely striate longitudinally, with a finer sculpture between the striae; pronotum transversely striate above. The striae on the head diverge posteriorly. Petiole and abdomen finely reticulate- punctate. Legs reticulate, the scape longitudinally striate. Somewhat sparsely clothed all over with yellowish decumbent hairs, the out- standing pilosity very scanty. Scapes with short oblique hairs, the tibiae with decumbent hairs only. Reddish-brown. Scapes, tibiae, tarsi and vertex darker brown; abdomen more dirty yellow-brown, with darker transverse bands. “ Benguella (Buchner).” The type-species has not been recorded from our region, but in view of Forel’s latest pronouncement in regard to it and several allied forms, I have reproduced the original description. Dr. Forel (Rev. Suisse Zool., vol. 24, p. 411, 1916) is now of the opinion that the evidence presented by the numerous annectant varieties necessitates the inclusion of the following species as mere races of Buchneri: kasaiensis, Forel; vulcania, Santschi; impressiceps, Mayr; excisa, Mayr; impressa, Emery; Kohli, Forel; Alulai, Emery ; and Meneliki, Forel. On the other hand, Santschi has recently raised africana, Mayr, var. bulawayensis, Forel, to the rank of species ; I adopt this arrangement for the present, although it is likely that the discovery of new forms later on may require its being linked again to the race africana of Buchneri or to the type of the species. Race africana, Mayr, described originally from the Cameroons, has not been recorded within the limits of our region. C. BpuLAWAYENsIS, Forel. (Plate VI, figs. 74, 74 a.) (As var. of race africana) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 125, ¢, 1913. (Synonym, gallicola, var. oraclum) Rev. Zool. Afr., vol. 2, p. 328, 5) ISIS, ®. 3-4] mm. Piceous brown, the anterior half of the head and sometimes the thorax with a reddish tinge; legs brown, flagellum brownish-red, the club (excepting apical half of last joint) paler or yellowish red. Pilosity absent, excepting a few hairs on the elypeus and pronotum. Pubescence very fine and decumbent, almost absent on the thorax and very sparse elsewhere. Head, thorax and petiole 022 Annals of the South African Museum. with a slight gloss. Head very finely and closely rugulose, and behind the vertex also microscopically reticulate; the sculpture 1s more or less effaced on each side of the frontal sulcus, leaving a more shining area which is sparsely and finely punctured. The sculpture around the antennal pits a little stronger. Mandibles dark ferruginous, finely striate and sparsely punctured. Thorax and petiole regularly and finely reticulate, the upper face of the Ist node very super- ficially sculptured. Abdomen smooth and shining, microscopically alutaceous. Legs smooth and shining. Head a trifle wider than long, the sides feebly convex, the posterior margin very shallowly concave in the middle. Frontal area distinct, the frontal sulcus more or less clearly defined and ending beyond the middle of the head. The scape falls short of the occipital margin by about the length of the eye. Second joint of the flagellum as wide as long, 3rd—5th wider than long. Posterior corners of pronotum slightly tumid, not marginate. Promesonotal suture fairly deep and wide at the sides, Fie. 42.—C. bulawayensis, Forel. very shallow across the middle third. Median tubercle of mesonotum very prominent, elongate but hardly carinate. Declivity of mesonotum oblique, obtusely marginate at the sides, forming one-third or less of the mesonotum ; the latter is about one and a-half times longer than wide at the base. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum much wider than long, widening towards the apex, distinctly convex at the base when seen in profile, its sides external to and not continuous with the outer margins of the epinotal teeth. The latter divergent, short, very little longer than their basal width, subtri- angular. First segment of petiole trapezoidal, as long as wide in front, or a little longer, the anterior corners fairly angular, the anterior margin straight, the ventral lamella ending in front in a small tooth. Node of 2nd segment wider than long, divided by a shallow longitudinal groove which is deeper behind, the posterior margins of the discs prominent. Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) IT am obliged to unite to this species the var. oraclum, Forel, of C. gallicola, Forel. Apart from the smaller size and paler colour, there are no differences of any value. It is true that in some of the specimens (no. 30) determined by Dr. Forel as oraclwm the mesonotal A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 523 declivity is more oblique and less abrupt above, but in looking through a large series a complete gradation will be found between one extreme and the other. Var. RHODESIANA, Forel. (Plate VI, figs. 82, 82 a.) (C. inermis, Mayr, race delagoensis, var.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., Wl, O75 fos IAS; © 5, IMIS. This variety must be removed from the inermis group, to which it bears a superficial resemblance in the sculpture and shape of the petiole. It differs from it quite clearly by the presence of distinct epinotal teeth and by the shape of the mesonotum. It is exceedingly closely allied to bulawayensis, i. sp. From the latter it differs as follows : The size is greater, 3:2-44 mm. The head is duller and more densely rugulose. The thorax is also duller and has a very close and Fie. 43.—C. bulawayensis, Forel, var. rhodesiana, Forel. somewhat coriaceous reticulate sculpture, over which is superimposed a sparse and longitudinal rugosity; the epinotal teeth are more robust. Bulawayo; Victoria Falls. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls). The specimens from the Victoria Falls have the middle of the head a little more shining, and the meso-epinotal suture deeper and narrower.* Var. DESPERANS, Forel. (C. gabonensis, Em., var.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 233, 0, 1914. ®. 32-4mm. Reddish-brown, the thorax and petiole paler, the basal third of the abdomen paler than the apex, the anterior third of the head more yellowish-red; flagellum ferruginous, tarsi brownish-ochreous. Pubescence long, decumbent, pale whitish-yellow, fairly abundant all over, on the abdomen very abundant and sparse on the legs. Sculpture of head and thorax like that of the type of the species but a little stronger, the surface duller. Petiole closely reticulate-punctate and * The profile figure in Plate VI is inaccurate, the convexity of the mesonotum having been somewhat exaggerated. For this reason I add a corrected drawing in Text-fig. 43. 524, Annals of the South African Museum. dull. Abdomen microscopically rugulose and dull, fairly closely and finely punctured. Head more deeply marginate behind than in the type-species, the scapes as long as in the type-species or very little shorter. Thorax resembling that of the type-species, but the pronotum is subvertical in front, the junction of the vertical and horizontal faces rounded ; the declivity of the mesonotum is shorter, less oblique, fairly distinctly marginate at the sides, the margins ending in front in a subdentate prominence. The dorsum of the epinotum is relatively longer and flatter than in the type, and also less widened towards the apex; it is as lone in the middle as it is wide at the base. First segment of petiole as wide as long. Node of 2nd segment a little narrower in front than behind, one-third wider than long. Otherwise like the type-species. Durban. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Apart from the shape of the dorsum of the epmotum and the deeper occipital emargination, this form differs but little except in size from the type of the species. It has no relationship whatever to gabonensis, Kia. 44.—C. bulawayensis, Forel, var. desperans, Forel. Hmery, in which species the 2nd node is entire, without a median groove or even a posterior emargination. Moreover, in gabonensis the spines are nearly as long as the dorsum of the epinotum, and the sculp- ture is of a different character. Race INFACETA, Santschi. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 84, p. 498, 5, 1916. ®. 36-5 mm. Black, tarsi brown, mandibles dull ferruginous, antennae reddish-brown, the scapes and flagellum darker towards the apex. Sculpture similar to that of the type-species but stronger. The striae on the head become increasingly oblique posteriorly and near the posterior angles are directed outwards, or almost transverse. The smooth median area is wider (covering about one-third of the diameter of the vertex) and more strongly punctured. The dorsum of the epinotum is very sharply reticulate, with a few oblique and fine rugae near the base. ‘The sides of the pro- and epithorax more coarsely sculptured than in the type of the species. First abdominal segment very finely punctured. The frontal area and sulcus more clearly defined than in the type of the species. The scape extends back A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 525 as far as the posterior margin of the head. The posterior corners of the pronotum more tumid than in the type-species, the pro-mesonotal suture deeper and wider, especially at the sides. This race differs from the type-species chiefly in the structure of the mesonotum and epinotum. The declivity of the former is vertical, forming an abrupt angle with the upper plane, sharply marginate at the sides, the margins extending forwards almost as far as the pro-mesonotal suture and produced at the junction of the two planes into a small dentiform projection. The meso-epinotal suture is much deeper than inthe type. The dorsum of the epinotum is strongly convex at the base, the convexity starting at the suture ; the teeth are longer, and directed more upwards. The Ist segment of the petiole is a little longer, and the median groove of the second is deeper. Otherwise similar to the type of the species. Victoria Falls. Nesting in a hollow branch of a Combretum. (R.M., G.A. colls.) Race INFACETA, var. PUDICA, Santschi. Loc. cit., p. 499. 6. 31-48mm. Differs from the race in the following characters: The colour of the head, thorax and petiole is paler, of a dark reddish- brown. ‘The sides of the head are less convex. The anterior plane of the mesonotum is merely obtusely marginate at the sides, and the pro-mesonotal suture is shallower and narrower at the sides. In the larger specimens the dorsum of the epimotum is transversely rugose. The epinotal spines are somewhat shorter than in the race, except in the larger > 9. Victoria Falls. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) C. Kneri, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 762, >, 1862. ®. 4-5 mm. Head and abdomen ochreous-red, the abdomen darker and more brownish. Thorax and petiole reddish-yellow. Mandibles, anterior margin of the head, flagellum and tarsi fuscous- ochreous, scapes, tibiae and femora brownish-ochreous. Pubescence pale, whitish-yellow, short, decumbent, scanty on the head and almost wanting on the thorax. Hrect pilosity sparse, occurring only on the clypeus, pronotum, petiole 4nd ventral surface of abdomen. The fundamental sculpture of the head and thorax is a fine, dense and rather superficial reticulation. On this is superimposed a coarser sculpture as follows: Anterior half of head from the cheeks to the 526 Annals of the South African Museum. frontal carinae and including the clypeus longitudinally striate, the rest longitudinally rugulose, a narrow area on each side of the frontal sulcus nearly smooth and shining, with a row of 6 or 7 piligerous punctures. Thorax longitudinally rugulose, with a few stronger rugae on the pronotum and dorsum of epinotum. Sides of prothorax and epithorax moderately shining and reticulate-rugulose, sides of meso- thorax strongly reticulate-punctate and dull. Petiole very lightly reticulate above. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head a little wider than long, not much wider behind than in front, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin widely but not deeply concave. The scape reaches the hind margin of the head; all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide, the Ist joint shorter than the 2nd and drd together, the club 3-jointed. Anterior margin of clypeus almost straight in the middle. Frontal area and sulcus well defined. Eyes placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Pronotum and meso- notum marginate all round, the margin continued on to the epinotum and joining the lower margin of the spines. Pronotum with a wide and shallow median longitudinal impression, the posterior corners Fie, 45.—C. Kneri, Mayr. fairly prominent. Pro-mesonotal impression wide, fairly deep at the sides. Mesonotum three-fourths longer than its basal width, furnished with an elongate tubercle or carinula in front, the posterior declivous face forming a little more than one-fourth of its whole length, oblique and merging gradually into the anterior plane. Seen from the side, the profile of the mesonotum forms a continuous convexity, and is distinctly higher than the dorsum of the epinotum. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum of epinotum very slightly convex lengthwise, trapezoidal, widened towards the apex, its lateral margins continuous with the upper margins of the spines. The latter are long, thin, acute, widely divergent and oblique, longer than the dorsum of the epinotum and as long as the interval between their bases. Declivity of epinotum smooth and shining. First segment of petiole subcordate, wider than long, the anterior angles widely rounded and somewhat raised, the upper face shallowly concave transversely. The sides of the segment are much less sharply bevelled than in the preceding species. Node of 2nd segment oblongo-ovate, one and two-thirds as wide as long, without a median groove. Abdomen one-fourth longer than wide, rather convex above transversely. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 527 2. 10:l1mm. Reddish-brown, the anterior half of the head, the paraptera, the base of epinotum and Ist segment of petiole paler or yellowish red-brown ; abdomen dark brownish-red, antennae, mandibles and tarsi dull ochreous, femora and tibiae brownish-ochreous. Pilosity and pubescence as in the 9. Head longitudinally striate, the striae more or less effaced between the frontal area and the ocelli, that area being more or less shining, sparsely and strongly punctured. Mandibles striate, sparsely punctured between the striae. Anterior margin of clypeus with a row of large punctures. Mesonotum and scutellum smooth and shining, with some sparse, evenly distributed and fairly large punctures. Dorsum of epinotum dull, transversely striato-rugulose. Petiole: Ist segment very finely rugulose and dull, 2nd segment slightly shining, feebly rugulose and sparsely punctured. Abdomen smooth and shining, sparsely punctured, the punctures small and piligerous. Head widest behind, one-fifth wider than long, the posterior margin straight, the angles narrowly rounded. Frontal area scutiform and well defined, the frontal suleus deep and ending at. the anterior ocellus. Eyes convex, placed at the middle of the sides. Scapes not quite reaching the posterior margin of the head. Mesonotum not so narrow as in tricolor and allied forms, as wide as long, scutellum (excluding the paraptera) half as long as the mesonotum, its hind margin semi-circular. Dorsum of epinotum four times wider at the base than iong, ending on each side in a stout, horizontal, and triangular tooth ; the declivity vertical, shining and smooth. First segment of petiole more or less trapezoidal, one-third wider in front than long, the anterior angles subacute; node of 2nd segment one and a-half times wider than long, widest in front, with pronounced anterior angles, the posterior margin slightly concave in the middle. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma dark yellow. Bothaville, O.F.S. (Brauns). (G-.A. coll.) Var. amita, Forel. (Plate VI, fig. 75.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 125, 5, 1913. ®. 35-43 mm. Dark-brown, the base of the abdomen paler. Legs pale-brown, tarsi and flagellum reddish-ochreous. Pro-mesonotal suture much deeper than in the type-species, the mesonotal median carinula much more prominent and longer, extending back as a raised line as far as the brow of the declivous face; the latter less oblique than in the type. The dorsum of the epinotum has a deep, median and longitudinal impression, which is barely indicated in the type. The posterior margin of the head is less emarginate. I am unable to 528 Annals of the South African Museum. recognise the other differences indicated by Forel. The petiole is precisely similar to that of the type, and the sculpture is quite as strong. Bulawayo. (8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Var. MATABELE, 0. v. ®. 41-52 mm. Head and thorax of a warm reddish-brown, abdomen piceous, legs dark brown, the articulations, tarsi, flagellum and mandibles reddish-ochreous. Very similar to var. amita, but differing from it in colour, size, and also in the following characters. The fundamental reticulate sculpture of the thorax is much sharper and more coarse. The superimposed rugae on the pronotum finer and less regular than in amita. The pro-mesonotal suture is con- siderably wider and deeper, and joins in the middle a longitudinal impression which divides the pronotum into two (visible also in amita, but much less distinct). ‘The anterior plane of the mesonotum, seen from above, is almost pentagonal in outline, the posterior half of the sides sharply marginate, the declivous plane also marginate, Fia. 46.—C. Kneri, Mayr, var. matabele, n. v. longer and steeper than in amita (in some specimens almost vertical). The median tubercle is also more sharply carinate and longer than in amita. The epinotal spines are as long as in the type-species, less divergent and directed more upwards than in amita. The median longitudinal impression on the dorsum of the epinotum is even stronger than in that variety. Hillside, Bulawayo. Nesting under a stone. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) : Not unlike C. Bequaerti, Forel, from which it appears to differ by the weaker sculpture, the much smaller eyes and the pro-mesonotal suture, which is very wide and deep at the sides. Race HoTTENTOTA, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 43, p. 482, 9, 1899. %. 3-8°9mm. Head and thorax varying froma dull ochreous yellow to dark yellowish or reddish-brown, the anterior third of the head usually paler. Abdomen dark brown, becoming paler or more reddish- yellow towards the base. Antennae, legs and mandibles dark ochreous, the tibiae and femora more or less brownish-yellow. Pubescence A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 529 much shorter and a little less abundant than in the type-species. Head smooth and shining, very finely and sparsely punctured, the anterior third, including the clypeus, duller, finely, and very super- ficially striate longitudinally. Mandibles dull, densely striate. Thorax with a weak fundamental reticulation, with a few longitudinal rugae superimposed ; these are strongest on the dorsum of the epinotum. Thorax moderately shining. Petiole very superficially coriaceous and rugulose, the upper face of the Ist node shining, the 2nd slightly so. Abdomen smooth and shining. Head a trifle wider than long,-the ‘posterior margin almost straight, the posterior angles much more widely rounded than in the type-species. Frontal area and sulcus shallow and indistinct. Head twice as wide as the pronotum. The latter is much less clearly marginate at the shoulders than in the type- species, and is not marginate at all in the middle in front, the upper surface merging into the neck by a gradual curve (in the type-species almost vertically truncate in front). The posterior angles of the pronotum not tumid as in the type-species. The promesonotal suture very shallow, nearly obsolete in the middle. Seen in profile, the pro- and mesonotum form an almost continuous convexity, the mesonotum hardly higher than the pronotum, its declivity much more oblique and eradual than in the type-species. The median carinula weaker, the sides of the declivity less strongly marginate. The epinotum similar to that of the type-species, but the spines are more horizontal and shorter, barely longer than the dorsum of the epinotum, about twice as long as they are wide at the base. First segment of the petiole a little wider than long, trapezoidal, the anterior angles somewhat raised, slightly concave transversely. Node of 2nd see- ment transversely oblong, not grooved in the middle, the sides much less convex than in the type-species, the posterior margin feebly indented in the middle. Abdomen narrower than in the type-species, one and a-half times longer than wide. Bedza and Springvale, 8. Rhodesia; Sipapoma, 8. Rhodesia. The latter are somewhat intermediate in structure, the lst segment to the petiole being nearly half as wide again as long, and the pronotum less obliquely curved in front. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) C. GAMBIENSIS, Andre. Rev. d’Ent., vol. 8, p. 228, 9, 1889. “G6. 35-45 mm. Head wider than long. Antennae 11-jointed, club 3-jointed; scape short, not reaching the posterior margin of the 58 Annals of the South African Musewm. head. Eyes placed in the middle of the sides of the head. Mandibles sharply striate longitudinally. Clypeus and front of the head longi- tudinally striate, very superficially so on the former; the rest of the head smooth and very shining. Pronotum and mesonotuin very feebly marginate at the sides; pronotum only slightly depressed, very rounded at the shoulders; mesonotum without a median carina, separated from the pronotum by a feebly marked depression ; meso- epinotal suture deep; epinotum armed with 2 short, stout spines, not very acute, feebly divergent and shorter than the interval between their bases. The thorax is smooth and very shining, except the sides of the meso- and epinotum and the dorsum of the latter, which are longitudinally rugose. First segment of the petiole longer than wide, trapezoidal, a little wider in front than behind, the anterior angles rounded; 2nd segment transversely oval, neither grooved nor emarginate above. ‘The 2 nodes are superficially rugose and shining. Abdomen smooth and very shining. Pubescence fine, short and very scanty, almost absent on the head, a little more abundant on the abdomen. Scapes and tibiae without erect hairs. Varying from ferruginous to reddish-brown; the legs often paler; abdomen blackish-brown, often reddish at the base. “Gambia.” Var. KRANTZIANA, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 2384, 9, g, 1914. «“®. 36-45 mm. The spines are slender and much longer than in the type-species, three-fourths as long as the interval between them. The petiole is also wider in front and the anterior angles more rounded. The colour is paler and duller, and the Ist abdominal segment is entirely yellowish. Otherwise like the type of Andre, which is in my possession.” Q. 92 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Dark reddish-ochreous, the ocellar area, two longitudinal bands on the parapsidal sutures, the middle third of the abdominal segments and the apex of the abdomen more or less reddish-brown. Head dull, very finely striate longi- tudinally, the striae almost effaced behind the ocelli. Mesonotum and scutellum nitidulous, smooth, sparsely and feebly punctured. Dorsum of epinotum transversely rugose and dull. Petiole dull and very finely coriaceous. Abdomen smooth, not very shiming. Head quadrate, parallel-sided, or very little narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles narrowly rounded. Mesonotum one-fourth longer than wide, two and a-half times longer A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 531 than the scutellum; the posterior margin of the latter semicircular. Dorsum of epinotum convex lengthwise, three times wider than long in the middle, armed with 2 acute and small triangular teeth; the declivity subvertical. Petiole as in the >, but the anterior angles of the Ist segment less rounded. Abdomen with subacute lateral angles at the base. Wings hyaline, slightly tinged with yellow, nervures and stigma dark ochreous. ¢. 4mm. Dark brown, petiole and abdomen paler than the thorax ; legs, mandibles and antennae dark ochreous-yellow, the legs also somewhat brownish. Shining. Head finely striate longitudinally. Mesonotum very finely striate in the middle, the striae on each side converging posteriorly. Scutellum very finely striate at the sides and in the middle, with a broad and shallow transverse impression at the base. The scape as long as, or a little longer than the Ist joint of the flagellum ; the latter as lone as wide, the 2nd—5th joints wider than long} the remaining joints very little longer than wide. First segment of petiole a little longer than wide, the sides subparallel, the anterior face oblique and hardly longer than the upper face; 2nd seoment subcircular, not very convex above, barely wider than the Ist. Wings with pale yellow nervures. Krantz Kloof, Natal (1. W. B. Marley). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) The ) has a sharp tooth below the Ist segment of the petiole as in race hottentota of C. Kneri, to which this variety appears to be closely allied. Apart from the greater size, the only appreciable differences lie in the wider head, shallowly but distinctly emarginate behind, the more clearly marginate thorax, the longer spines and the wider Ist seoment of the petiole. The sculpture of the thorax is also a little finer than in hottentota, and the surface duller. C. g@auticona, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 95, 9, 1894. “6. 22-3 mm. Mandibles striate. Clypeus without a carina; the anterior margin not emarginate in the middle. Head rectangular, the angles rounded, somewhat longer than wide, with convex sides. Eyes placed a little behind the middle of the sides. The frontal suleus is continued very shallowly as far as the posterior margin of the head, the latter shghtly emarginate. The scape does not reach quite as far as the posterior margin. Club of antenna almost 2- jointed in the % major, 2-jointed only in the 9 minor; 2nd—5th joints of the flagellum wider than long. Pronotum barely marginate at the 34 5382 Annals of the South African Museum. sides, the mesonotum not at all. The latter has an elongate, median tubercle. Meso-epinotal suture narrow and deep. Epinotal teeth short, as long as two-fifths of the interval between them. First segment of petiole with a very short and blunt tooth below in front, much the same as in C. scutellaris; somewhat wider than long. Second segment with a complete median groove and 2 not very projecting discs. Abdomen cordate. § minor shining, lightly reticu- late, distinctly but sparsely and finely punctate, the abdomen and back of the head nearly smooth, the cheeks sparsely striate. © major less shining, more sharply reticulate all over, the head in greater part very finely and closely striato-rugulose and reticulate, with shallow and widely spaced punctures which are distinct and abundant. Pubescence very fine, scattered. Pilosity almost entirely wanting, except on the ventral surface. % major, brownish-black, mandibles, cheeks, club of antenna and articulations of the legs dark yellowish- red. © minor, yellowish or dark yellowish-brown, posterior half of the abdomen blackish-brown. “ Delagoa, in a gall (Dr. Liengme).” Fie. 47.—C. gallicola, Forel. The % 9 before me are all small examples, 2'4 mm. or less, derived from an incipient nest. In these the head is as wide as long, excluding the mandibles. Frontal area feebly defined. The 2nd—7th joints of the flagellum wider than long. ‘The pro-mesonotal suture is very shallow but fairly visible. The declivity of the mesonotum is quite two-thirds as long as the anterior plane, and the latter has a rounded tubercle in front. The lst segment of the petiole is as long as wide, with the anterior angles somewhat obtusely truncate. Apart from these slight differences these specimens agree fairly well with Forel’s description ; they have also been determined as gallicola by Dr. Santschi. 2. 8 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Blackish-brown, tarsi and flagellum ferruginous, mandibles castaneous red. EHrect pilose hairs very sparse on the abdomen, and almost entirely wanting elsewhere. Pubescence moderately plentiful, decumbent ; fairly long on the legs and antennae. Sides of the head, in front of the eyes, finely and longitudinally striate, behind the eyes very superficially rugulose and feebly punctured, moderately shining. Clypeus nearly smooth in the middle, Mandibles coarsely striato-punctate. Mesonotum and scutellum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 533 very smooth, shining, finely and sparsely punctured. Hpinotum faintly rugulose above and at the sides, the declivity smooth and shining. Petiole and abdomen smooth, shining, very minutely and sparsely punctured. Head subquadrate, as long as wide behind, slightly narrowed in front, the posterior angles narrowly rounded, the hind margin straight. Frontal area well defined, longitudinally striate. Head very little wider than the thorax across the tegulae. Scutellum half as long as the mesonotum. ‘The dorsum of the epinotum very short, joining the vertical declivity in a very short curve. First segment of petiole subquadrate, a little wider in front than behind, nearly one-third wider than long, the anterior two-thirds semicircularly bevelled. Second segment subglobose, a little wider than long, the posterior margin feebly emarginate in the middle. Deilated. Somabula, S. Rhodesia; in a gall, 1 9,14 695. (RM, GA. colls.; type of Q in my collection.) Race LATRO, Forel. Schultze, Reise Siid-Afrika, vol. 4, p. 6, S, 1910. «6. 33-37 mm. Like the type of the species, but larger. Entirely yellowish-brown. The Ist segment of the petiole wider than long, feebly arcuate in front (in the type of the species as long as wide, the anterior margin straight). “Between Keokong and Kang, Kalahari (Schultze) ; in gall-like swelling on the branches of an Acacia, in company with Aphides.” C. TRANSVAALENSIS, Forel. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 96, 5, 1894. “OG. 27-238 mm. Mandibles smooth, shining, quadridentate. Clypeus fairly flattened, impressed in the middle anteriorly. Head rectangular, with the angles rounded, somewhat wider behind. Eyes large, placed at the posterior third.* Club of the antenna 2-jointed ; the scape reaches the posterior margin of the head. Pronotum fairly distinctly marginate at the sides, with a little longitudinal carina in the middle. Pro-mesonotal suture barely visible. Mesonotum without a median carina, marginate at the sides behind, the declivity short and oblique. Meso-epinotal suture not deep. Dorsum of epinotum marginate, wider behind than in front. Epinotal spines short. First segment of petiole, seen from above, almost quadrate, higher behind than in front, with 2 quite small and blunt denticles or corners behind, below toothed in front, the tooth short, thick, obtuse 584 Annals of the South African Museum. and continuous with its lower surface. Second segment of petiole somewhat wider than long, as wide as the Ist, quite round, without a trace of a median groove or impression. Cheeks, sides of the clypeus, apart of the sides of the frons finely and longitudinally striate, reticu- late between the striae. The rest of the head, the abdomen, 2nd segment of petiole, a part of the mesonotum and sides of the pronotum smooth, shining, sparsely and finely punctured, with a mere trace of a reticulate sculpture here and there. The rest of the thorax closely and not very finely punctate-reticulate and fairly dull; 2 or 3 longitudinal rugae on the pronotum. First segment of petiole reticulate. Erect pilosity sparse and fairly coarse. The hairs are somewhat truncate and clavate as in Leptothorax. Pubescence decumbent and very scanty. The tibiae’ and femora with only decumbent hairs. Dark castaneous brown. Mandibles, antennae and tarsi reddish-yellow. Legs and club of antennae more brownish. “Transvaal (Rev. P. Berthoud) ; Capetown and Vrijburg (Simon).” N Var. Hamm, n. v. &. 24 mm. Pitch black, legs and antennae brownish. The whole thorax, including the declivity of the epinotum, and the sides Fia. 48.—C. transvaalensis, Forel, var. Hammi, n.v. of both segments of the petiole, very sharply reticulate, the meshes wide and shining, the strands thin and trenchant. The reticulation is strongest on the epinotum, more superficial and closer on the mesonotum. The pro- and mesonotum are also finely rugoso-striate longitudinally. The declivity of the mesonotum distinctly marginate at the sides, the margins being continued over the dorsum of the epinotum and along the inner side of the spines. The latter are not very short, quite half as long as the interval between their bases. The Ist joint of the flagellum is as long as the 2nd—4th taken together, the 8rd, 4th and 5th a little wider than long, the 2nd and 6th a trifle longer than wide. Erect pilosity whitish, fairly long. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection. ) IT have much pleasure in naming this variety in honour of my friend, Mr. A. H. Hamm, of the Hope Museum, Oxford. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 535 C. constRuUcTOR, Hmery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 29, 9, 1895. “6. 3-3'5 mm. Piceous, nitidulous, sparsely pilose, erect hairs absent, head subglobose, finely striate in front; the scape of the 1]-jointed antenna reaches back beyond the occipital margin, the club indistinctly 3-jointed; thorax short and thick, not marginate, pronotum obtusely bigibbose, mesonotum moderately convex, declivity of the epinotum large. very smooth, forming an obtuse angle with the dorsum, the latter fairly round, with a short tooth on each side; sides of the first segment of petiole bisinuate, slightly narrower behind, impressed in the middle above, the 2nd segment very shallowly impressed. Hammans Kraal (Simon). Makes carton nest in trees.” : i In the shape of the epinotum, which is almost devoid of spines, this ant recalls C. inermis and allied forms, from which it is quite distinct in not having the Ist segment of the petiole trapezoidal. 30 (Emery) Fig. 49.—C. constructor, Emery. The sculpture is feeble, so that the greater part of the head is shining, not showing puncturation or longitudinal striation except under a very high magnification. The thorax is a little duller, except the declivity of the epinotum, which is smooth above, faintly punctured and slightly concave below, longer than the dorsum, from which it is separated by a much-rounded angle. The mesonotum is uniformly convex, separated from the pronotum by a shallow suture, which em- phasises 2 not very prominent bosses formed by the lateral portions of the pronotum. The Ist segment of the petiole is hardly wider in the middle than in front or behind, the anterior angles well defined ; it is longer than wide, and shallowly excavated in the middle above, . . .” Var. Kirsyi, Mayr. Aun. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 187, 5, 1895. “This variety differs from the type of the species by the presence of epinotal spines, which are directed somewhat outwards and upwards, and are about half as long as the width of the epinotum at the meso- epinotal suture. “8, Africa.” 536 Annals of the South African Museum. C. muRALTI, Forel, race LIVINGSTONEI, Santschi. Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 482, 9, 1910. (Race) Bull. Soc. Vaud., vol. 52, p. 344, 9, 1919. ®. 2:2-2.4mm. Piceous, legs, antennae and mandibles brownish- yellow. Shining, the pronotum, sides of mesonotum and mesopleurae less shining than the rest of the body. Pubescence very scanty on the thorax, and fairly so elsewhere, composed of thin, decumbent and yellowish hairs. Erect pilosity yellowish, absent from the head except on the clypeus, very sparse on the thorax and petiole, a little more abundant on the abdomen, where they are slightly clavate and truncate. Head smooth, finely and very sparsely punctured, microscopically aciculate at the sides in front of the eyes. Pronotum and sides of the mesonotum sharply and finely striate longitudinally, the striae very regular, the middle of the mesonotum smooth. Dorsum of epiotum Fig. 50.—C. muralti, Forel, race livingstonei, Santschi. with a few short striae on each side and a fairly discrete reticulate patch in the middle, the declivity almost smooth, at the most only very superficially reticulate. Nodes and abdomen smooth and shining, the dorsal surface of the Ist node slightly duller and very superficially coriaceous. Head as wide as long, narrowed a little in front, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin shallowly concave. Eyes small, flat, placed just behind the middle of the sides. The scapes do not extend beyond the posterior sixth of the head; 2nd-7/th joints of the flagellum at least twice as wide as long, club 2-jointed or indistinctly 3-jointed. Mandibles smooth, shining, 4-dentate. Clypeus transversely impressed behind the anterior margin of the median area. Pro-mesonotum, seen from above, reversed pyriform, the apex (7. e. meso-epinotal suture) broadly truncate. Pro-mesonotal suture obsolete, meso-epinotal fairly deep and narrow. Declivity of the mesonotum marginate at the sides and merging into the anterior plane by a low curve. Dorsum of epinotum submarginate at the sides, very short, much wider than long, delimited from the declivity only by the difference of the sculpture. Epinotal teeth triangular, short, erect, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 537 acute and compressed; the declivity concave lengthwise, at least three times longer than the dorsum. First segment of petiole with the sides parallel or only feebly convex, almost one and a-half times longer than wide, the dorsal face not excavated, if anything a little convex transversely, with a minute tooth on each side in front of the posterior margin; node of 2nd segment subglobose, without a trace of a median groove or posterior emargination. Livingstone, N. Rhodesia. On the trunks of a tree. This-locality is Just outside the limits of our region, but it 1s most probable that the species will be found to occur also on the south side of the Zambesi. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) C. sorpipuLA, Nylander. Act. Soc. Fenn., vol. 3, p. 44, 9, 1849. Mayr, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 5, p. 472, 2, 1855. Forel, Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 3, p. 308, g¢, 1870. The type-form of this species is distributed, together with numerous varieties, over the southern Palaearctic region ; it is represented in our region by the following forms: Var. RecTINOoTA, Forel. (Plate VI, fig. 73.) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 126, 9, 1918. ®. 18-21 mm. Pale ochreous-yellow, the head reddish to brownish-ochreous, the Ist segment of the abdomen entirely pale ochreous or sometimes yellowish-brown, the rest of the abdomen pale piceous brown, the extreme apex brownish-yellow. Pilosity yellowish, fine and pointed, oblique and fairly abundant on the abdomen, sparse elsewhere. Pubescence inconspicuous. Shining and nearly entirely smooth. Head quadrate, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles widely rounded. Mandibles smooth, shining, finely and sparsely punctured. The scapes fall short of the occipital margin by the length of the eye; 2nd joint of flagellum as long as wide, 3rd—7th joimts much wider than long, club 2- or almost 3-jointed. Frontal area indistinct. Head a little less than one and a-half times wider than the thorax. The latter very short, not quite as long as the head including the closed mandibles. Pro- mesonotum marginate in front and at the sides, the shoulders sharply angular. Pro-mesonotal suture indicated only by the slightly raised anterior margin of the mesonotum; the latter has no distinctly 538 Annals of the South African Museum. delimited declivity. Epimotum marginate at the sides, the margins being continued along the inner side of the spines; the latter one- third as long as the interval between their bases, divergent, oblique and slightly compressed. Excepting a very small and transversely concave face at the extreme base, the whole of the upper surface of the epinotum forms one continuous plane. First segment of petiole subquadrate, the slanting dorsal face one-third wider than long, the anterior angles very slightly rounded; node of 2nd segment sub- globose, as long as wide, without a median groove or posterior emargination. 9. 79mm. (hitherto undescribed). Length of front wing 7:3 mm. Head pale yellowish-brown, thorax, petiole, legs, antennae and man- dibles dull ochreous, the scutellum, base of mesonotum and declivity of epinotum more or less brownish-yellow, abdomen brown, paler near the base. Legs, antennae and abdomen with thin, oblique and pale yellow hairs; head, thorax and petiole with fairly abundant erect hairs, which are long and coarse. Head nitidulous, longitudinally striate and rugulose between the striae, with a few large and shallow punctures. Mandibles shining, feebly striate, sparsely and coarsely punctured. Mesonotum and scutellum smooth and shining, very sparsely but strongly punctured: Dorsum and sides of epinotum dull and longitudinally rugose, the declivity and the petiole dull and rugulose. Abdomen smooth and shining, finely punctured. Head nearly as long as wide behind the eyes, the posterior margin convex. Hyes large, convex and prominent, occupying a third of the sides. Median area of clypeus smooth and excavated lengthwise in the middle. Frontal area and sulcus distinct. Head, excluding the eyes, very little wider than the thorax across the tegulae. Thorax fairly convex from side to side and in front, a trifle wider than long. Seutellum a little wider than longer, not much narrowed behind. Dorsum of epinotum very short, armed with a blunt, horizontal and triangular tooth on each side. Declivity vertical, not marginate. The vertical anterior face of the Ist segment of the petiole is a little longer than wide, parallel-sided, the anterior angles rounded, the posterior angles surmounted by a small vertical tooth. Second node wider than the Ist, semicircular when seen from above (the convexity posterior), the anterior angles subacute, without a median groove or posterior emargination. Wings deeply tinged with yellow, the nervures and stigma brownish-ochreous. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of 2 in my collection.) This species is fairly common, always nesting in Rhodesia under stones, very often in close proximity to the nests of termites. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 539 Race naTALENSIS, Forel. Ann. Soc. Hnt. Belg., vol. 54, p. 431, 9, 2, g, 1910. ©. 225mm. Pilosity longer than in var. rectinota. It differs from that variety as follows: The pronotum is not marginate in front, where it is gradually curved into the neck, not almost vertically truncate as in rectinota. The pro-mesonotum is narrower and longer, as long as wide in front (in rectinota wider in front than long). The anterior face of the Ist segment of the petiole is as long as wide. Otherwise like the type of the species. “?. 6-67 mm. Scape as in the 9, not reaching the occipital margin. Spines longer than in the type of the species. First node quadrate, possibly wider than long. Body more elongate and less squat than in the type of the species. Pilosity shorter. Reddish or slightly brownish-yellow, abdomen more or less brown. Front wing 6°3 mm. long, subhyaline, nervures pale. “@. 23mm. Yellowish-brown. Joints of the flagellum a little longer than wide (a little wider than long in the type-species). Wings and pilosity asin the 9. Otherwise like the type of the species.” Hstcourt, Natal (Wroughton) ; Krantz Kloof, Natal (H. W. B. Marley). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race NATALENSIS, var. BRAUNSI, Forel. Reva Zoolyp Amie: vol Minor 2dde nO nmlo tele ©. 26-35 mm. Head yellowish-brown, thorax and nodes varying from ochreous to reddish-brown-ochreous, abdomen reddish-brown. The puncturation is stronger than in the race, and in the larger ® 9 the pro-mesonotal suture is clearly indicated by the raised margin of the mesonotum. ‘The epinotal spines are a little longer, the declivity marginate at the sides. First node of petiole a little longer than in the race, distinctly longer than wide. Otherwise like the type of the race. Estcourt, Natal (Wroughton). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) C. INERMIS, Mayr, race pELAGoENSIS, Forel. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 766, 3, 1862. (Race) Mitth. Schweiz. Hnt. Ges., vol. 9, p. 99, G, 1894. “0. 3441 mm. Mandibles closely and fairly coarsely striate. Head at least as long as wide (wider in the type of the species). Thorax wider, more robust and more deeply constricted than in the 540 Annals of the South African Museum. type-species. Tubercle of the mesonotum very distinct. Epinotum with two distinct, broad and blunt teeth. Abdomen distinctly cordate. Glossy and in part somewhat shining, the abdomen even more so. Irregularly, finely reticulate-rugulose and very sparsely punctured (the head strongly, closely and regularly punctured). Epimotum reticulate-punctate; pronotum and back of the head transversely rugulose, the rest of the head longitudinally striato-rugulose. The ventral surface of the Ist node has a small tooth in front. Brownish- black; mandibles, cheeks, flagellum and articulations dark reddish. Hrect pilosity almost entirely wanting. “* Delagoa (Dr. Liengme).” The type-species has a North African distribution. It has the head smooth and shining; sparsely and finely punctured. The epinotum is entirely devoid of teeth or even tubercles. The race delagoensis, of which I possess a co-type, differs very considerably from the type- species. The head, thorax and petiole are dull or very nearly so. The scapes are much shorter, falling short of the occipital margin by Fic. 51.—C. inermis, Mayr, race delagoensis, Forel. about the length of the eye. The head is also wider, the posterior margin shallowly concave (straight in the type of the species). The eyes are placed a little behind the middle of the sides of the head. The pro-mesonotal suture is more deeply impressed, and the dorsum of the epinotum widens towards the apex (hardly wider there than at the base in the type of the species) and bears on each side a broad tubercle ending ina minute dentiform point. The Ist segment of the petiole is trapezoidal, a trifle longer than wide. The node of the 2nd segment has a median groove (not so deep as in the type-species), and the discs have rather prominent posterior margins. C. Santscuu, Forel, var. cLyMENE, Forel. Rev. Zool. Afric., vol. 2, p. 322, 9, 1913. (Var.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 337, 5, 1914. °. 33-35 mm. Black, the club of the flagellum yellowish-red, the tarsi brown. Pilosity absent, the decumbent pubescence very short and sparse, a little less sparse on the abdomen. The whole body very smooth and very shining, only the sides of the mesopleura, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 541 epinotum and the 2nd node of the petiole very superficially rugulose. Abdomen microscopically alutaceous. Head subglobose, as long as wide, a little wider in front than behind, the posterior margin shallowly concave in the middle. Eyes placed a little behind the middle of the sides. The scapes almost reach the posterior margin ; 3rd—6th joints of the flagellum very little wider than long, the club 3-jomted. The profile of the pro-mesonotum forms a continuous curve, the pro- mesonotal suture obsolete in the middle, at the sides very shallow, or sometimes entirely obsolete. Pro-mesonotum not marginate, the mesonotum without a distinct declivity. Dorsum of epinotum twice as wide at the apex as long, fairly convex lengthwise, armed with two acute, fairly slender and moderately divergent spines, about one-third as long as the interval between their bases. First segment of petiole as long as wide, at least one and two-thirds wider in front than behind, slightly excavated longitudinally in the middle, the anterior angles widely rounded. Node of 2nd segment very wide, almost twice as wide as long, with a very shallow median groove and the posterior Fic. 52.—@. Santschi, Forel, var. clymene, Forel. margin widely emarginate in the middle, distinctly wider than the Ist segment. Durban (C. B. Cooper). (G.A. coll.) C. NIGRONITENS, Santschi. ®. 28-38 mm. Black; tarsi brown, mandibles and flagellum ferruginous, the club brown. Very sparsely pubescent; pilosity absent except on the clypeus. Very smooth and shining, the head finely and very sparsely punctured, the clypeus and area around the antennal pits superficially rugulose longitudinally. Head, excluding the mandibles, distinctly longer than wide, varying from one-seventh to one-fifth longer, the sides barely convex, nearly as wide in front as behind (in the larger 5 9 wider behind than in front), the hind margin almost straight, the posterior angles rounded. Mandibles narrow, longitudinally striate, obtusely 4-dentate. Anterior margin of clypeus feebly convex in the middle. Scapes very short, hardly extending beyond the posterior third of the head; 2nd to 7th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the club 3-jointed. Eyes almost flat, 542 Annals of the South African Museum. placed at the middle of the sides. Thorax long and narrow. The sides and front of the pronotum subvertical. Pro-mesonotal suture feeble in the smaller 9 9, more distinct in the larger 9 9, in which the mesonotum is somewhat tumid in front and clearly higher than the level of the pronotum. Declivity of the mesonotum short and oblique in the small 9, longer and steeper in the larger 6 9. Meso- epinotal suture not deep; mesopleura feebly reticulate. Median tubercle of the mesonotum obsolete or nearly so. Dorsum of epinotum merging into the declivity by a very gradual curve, armed with two very short, suberect teeth, which are shorter than their basal width. First segment of petiole trapezoidal, a little longer than wide in front, the anterior angles widely rounded. Node of 2nd segment feebly emarginate behind.and shallowly grooved longitudinally above, not so wide as the Ist segment. Abdomen elongate, two-thirds longer than wide. § minor Fie. 538.—C. nigronitens, Santschi. Matoppo Hills, S. Rhodesia; nesting in the hollow and dead branches of a small shrub. A very distinct species, easily recognised by its polished integu- ment, elongate head, short scapes and minute epinotal teeth. Sus-c—enus OXYGYNE, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 45, p. 376, 1901. “Distinguished in the ? by the more or less completely edentate mandibles which lack a masticatory margin; by the rudimentary frontal carmae and by the aberrant and characteristic structure, whereas in the 9 2 of Cremastogaster, s. str., the structure varies but little and is not very characteristic of the species.” ‘Type of sub-genus, C. Emmae, Forel. In C. Daisyi, Forel, the 9 > also have no frontal carinae, and the mandibles are 4-dentate and very narrow, the epinotum with long spines, antennae 11-jointed. In some species the % % have the epinotum unarmed, and the frontal carinae are sometimes fairly developed, so that the characters diagnostic for the sub-genus appear as yet to be insufficiently deter- mined for the ¢ caste. (On. to) A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 543 Itis generally assumed on the evidence of the structure of the 9° (although I believe no proof has yet been furnished) that the queens of this sub-genus and of the sub-genus Atopoqgyne exhibit a method of nest-formation, based on a temporary social parasitism on other species of Cremastogaster, similar to that shown in the case of the dolichoderine Bothriomyrmex meridionalis, var. atlantis. In this species the queen enters the nest of a Tapinoma erraticum and takes refuge from the attacks of the Tapinoma workers by climbing to the back of their queen. While in this position she applies her energies to the task of sawing off the head of the unfortunate victim below her, and by the time this has been accomplished has acquired the nest odour of the Tapinoma and is then adopted by the workers in place of their dead and mutilated queen. The workers bring up the progeny of the Bothriomyrmex queen, and as the former eventually die of old age the nest becomes a pure colony of Bothriomyrmex.* In one species of Oxygyne, C. Ranavalonae, the aged queen has the abdomen enormously enlarged, like the queens of the permanently parasitic genus Anergates. C. (sub-gen. Oxyeyne) Oscaris, Forel. Schultze, Reise Stiid-Africa, vol. 4, p. 7, 9, 2, g, 1910. “6. 35-4 mm. Mandibles 4-dentate, narrow, closely striate, punctured, nitidulous and pilose. Clypeus widely impressed in the middle in front and shallowly emarginate. Frontal carinae very short, almost obsolete. Frontal area indistinct. Eyes moderately flat, placed somewhat behind the middle of the sides. Head wider than long, feebly concave behind, the sides very convex. The scape extends beyond the back of the head by a good third of its length; club 3- jointed with distinct constrictions between the 3 joints; 2nd— 7th joints of the flagellum only a little, but nevertheless distinctly longer than wide. Pronotum rounded, feebly impressed in the middle. Mesonotum without a median carina, barely convex, with an arcuate transverse torus at about the posterior third (the convexity of the torus in front); behind the torus a transverse impression. Thoracic constriction fairly strong. Dorsum of epinotum convex, wider than long, with a very shallow longitudinal groove, the epinotal spines very acute, nearly as long as the dorsum or as the interval between them, distinctly curved a little inwards and down- wards. Declivity concave, shorter than the dorsum. First segment of the petiole a little longer than wide, trapezoidal, with laterally trun- * See Santschi, ‘Ann, Soc. Ent. France,’ vol. 75, pp. 362-92, 1906. 544. Annals of the South African Museum. cate anterior angles. From these truncate angles to the posterior margin the sides are concave. Second segment nearly twice as wide as long, very shallowly impressed above. Abdomen almost truncate in front, acute apically. Legs fairly long. Moderately shining. Head quite finely, the thorax more coarsely longitudinally rugose (the striae on the epinotum divergent), and reticulate between the striae. Clypeus very superficially rugulose like the abdomen. Petiole almost reticulate only. Body and limbs with a sparse, fine and yellowish pubescence, pilosity absent. Black ; mandibles, antennae and lees blackish- brown. “« o, 45mm. Mandibles narrow, sickle-shaped as in Polyergus, with the apex acute, shining, striate, punctate. Head short, widely truncate in front up to the level of the frontal area, somewhat as in Colobopsis, but the truncated face is only obtusely and indistinctly marginate. Clypeus almost flat, without a carima, feebly emarginate in the middle in front. Behind the eyes the head is abruptly nar- rowed and almost trapeziform, but not narrowed ina neck-like manner, the posterior margin consisting of the articular border only. The scape extends beyond the posterior margin by two-fifths of its length ; the joints of the flagellum are longer than in the $. Frontal] carinae asin the 9. Thorax narrower than the head; the mesonotum over- hangs the pronotum to a certain extent infront. Metanotum pointed, projecting in an almost dentiform shape over the epinotum. Scutellum large. Epinotum quite unarmed, declivous, with a very short dorsum. First segment of petiole wider than long, concave in front, otherwise asin the 9. Second segment more than twice as wide as long, in front wider and produced laterally. Abdomen, frontal area and clypeus smooth; only a few transverse rugae in front on the clypeus. Legs and antennae shining, with numerous piligerous punctures. Otherwise the head, thorax and petiole are nearly dull, closely and rather coarsely longitudinally rugose, and coarsely reticulate-punctate or reticulate in between the rugae. The scutellum and declivity of the epinotum like the rest. Legs and antennae with abundant decumbent hairs, head, thorax and petiole with dark yellowish exserted hairs. Abdomen almost glabrous. Brownish-black, abdomen, the front of the head, antennae and legs brown. Mandibles brownish-red. Wings hyaline, with pale nervures and stigma. “g. 3mm. Mandibles narrow, with only an apical tooth. Head rather wider than long, with a distant hind margin. The mesonotum overhangs the pronotum. Thorax somewhat wider than the head. Epinotum unarmed, but with 2 well-defined faces, the dorsal one short and nearly horizontal. Nitidulous, Head and thorax finely A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 545 rugose ; abdomen finely reticulate; petiole reticulate-rugose. Wings long. Nearly black, antennae and legs brown. Pilosity, etc., as in the ©. “ Kammagas, Little Namaland, in a large nest on an orange-bush. (Schultze). The carton nest is 36 cm. long by 26 cm. wide. . . .” Sus-cenus ATOPOGYNE, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 47, p. 343, 1911. ‘““Characterised by the depressed head, rectangular or trapezoidal, by the straight mandibles with a long masticatory margin, and by the elongate and anteriorly narrowed thorax, all these characters applying only to the ? .” C. (sub-gen. Aropoagynn) Wetmant, Forel, race retusa, Santschi. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 53, p. 64, 9, 1909. (Race) Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 84, p. 500, 5,29,¢, 1916. 0. 32-4 mm. Head bright red (burnt sienna or brick-red), thorax red or brownish-red, becoming progressively darker towards the petiole, abdomen black, lees brownish-red, the first 4 tarsal joints paler, antennae brownish-red, the club paler, Pilosity absent, except a few hairs on the clypeus and abdomen. Pubescence exceedingly fine and sparse, more abundant on the abdomen than elsewhere. Mesopleura reticulate-punctate and dull, sides of the epinotum finely and longitudinally rugulose and moderately shining, the rest of the thorax, the head and the petiole very smooth and shining, finely and sparsely punctured. Abdomen smooth, shining, impunctate. Clypeus, frontal area and the anterior third of the sides of the head longi- tudinally striate or aciculate. Mandibles longitudinally striate, 4-dentate. Head, excluding the mandibles, one-sixth longer than wide, rectangular, the sides subparallel, the posterior margin widely and shallowly concave, the posterior angles feebly rounded. ‘The scape does not extend beyond the posterior fourth of the head, 3rd—7th joints of the flagellum wider than long, the club 5-joited. Eves flattened, placed at the middle of the sides. Median area of clypeus fairly convex lengthwise, the anterior margin straight. Pronotum rounded at the sides, the anterior face rather steep. Pro-mesonotal suture faintly defined in the middle, more strongly defined at the sides. Mesonotum at least one-third longer than wide at the base, with a trace of a very obtuse median carina in front; the declivity fairly steep, and rounded above. Meso-epinotal suture deep. Dorsum 546 Annals of the South African Museum. of epinotum convex at the base lengthwise, its lateral margins also convex, armed with two feebly-pointed tubercles (hardly dentate). First segment: of petiole oblong, very little wider in front than behind, nearly one-third longer than wide, slightly concave in front. Node of 2nd segment distinctly narrowed in front, hardly wider than the Ist, barely emarginate behind, with a trace of a median longitudinal groove (quite obsolete in some specimens). Abdomen a little longer than wide. Q. 82 mm. Mandibles and anterior margin of the head dark reddish-brown; a longitudinal band on each side of the meso- notum brownish, legs reddish-yellow, abdomen dark brown, becoming eradually paler or more reddish towards the base; otherwise the colour is like that of the %. Sculpture of the head as in the 9, but stronger and more abundantly punctured. Mandibles strongly striate, sparsely punctured in the striae, 5-dentate. Mesonotum and scutellum very smooth and shining, sparsely and sharply punctured. Epinotum dull, transversely rugulose. Petiole and abdomen moderately shining. Fia, 54.—C. Welmani, Forel, race retusa, Santschi. Head less enlarged r=) than the other two. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly one-third longer than wide, hke that of the 9 in general, but with the posterior angles much more pronounced, and the sides near the eyes very distinctly concave (in the > there is only a slight trace of this concavity). Hyes placed a little in front of the middle of the sides, feebly convex. Ocelli depressed. 'The scape hardly reaches the posterior third of the head ; 3rd joint of the flagellum wider than long, 4th as wide as long, all the rest longer than wide. The mesonotum slopes downwards from back to front, and is considerably narrowed apically ; it is one-fourth longer than wide across the tegulae. Metanotum produced in the middle, subdentiform. Epinotum unarmed, the dorsum at least four times wider than long, the declivity subvertical. First segment of petiole subtrapezoidal, the sides convex, widest a little in front of the middle. Second node oblongo-ovate, not wider than the Ist, without a median groove or posterior emargination. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma ochreous. gd. 35mm. Head black, the anterior third reddish-brown, thorax and abdomen brown, the paraptera and metathorax paler than the rest, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 547 legs pale-brown, tarsi, mandibles and antennae fuscous ochreous. Antennae densely pubescent ; the brow of the declivity of the epinotum has a tuft of thin, long hairs on each side ; elsewhere the pubescence is very sparse. Smooth and very shining, except the head, which is very superficially reticulate-rugulose. Head trapezoidal, as long as wide across the eyes. The latter large, occupying the anterior half of the sides. Mandibles shining and bidentate. Clypeus with a transverse groove across the median area. Scapes two and a-half times longer than wide; Ist joint of flagellum shining, the remaining joints dull, 3rd joint wider than long, the remaining joints as long as, or longer than wide. Scutellum conical in outline, much higher than the epinotum. First segment of petiole wider than long, declivous, a little narrowed in front; 2nd segment subglobose, a little wider than the Ist. Victoria Falls. A populous nest under the bark of a leguminous tree (Baikaiea or allied genus), containing several dozens of 2 9 and ¢ g, and about three or four hundred 6 9. Sus-cenus DEHCRACREMA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Bele., vol. 54, p. 18, 1910. Characters. S and 9 with 10-jointed antennae. Otherwise like Cremastogaster, 8. str. C. (sub-gen. DecracremA) ArtTHUR-Miuuert, Forel. (As race of gallicola, Forel) Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 96, Wo SOA: Mayr, Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 144, 1895. “8. 38mm. Club of antenna more or less 3-jointed. First segment of petiole with a long thin tooth below in front. Dorsum of thorax less uniformly flattened than in gallicola. The scattered puncturation somewhat stronger. Epinotal spines even shorter than in that species. Otherwise like the § major of the type-species.” Delagoa (Dr. Arthur Miiller). This species and C. Liengmei were wrongly described by Forel as forms of gallicola. Mayr, in correcting the error, remarks that “(. gallicola has a short mesonotum strongly rounded from side to side in front, and the Ist segment of the petiole has only a very small tooth below, or none at all. C. Arthwr-Miilleri has a much larger mesonotum, and the meso-epinotal suture is much deeper; the Ist segment of the petiole has a thin spine below in front, which is directed steeply forwards and downwards. Larger than C. gallicola.” 39 548 Annals of the South African Museum. C. Lizenemet, Forel. (As race of gallicola) Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 9, p. 96, 1894. Mayr, Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 144, 1895. “OG. Like gallicola in size, and with the same brighter colour in the § minor and with more equal sized 9 $. Posterior half of the head very shining and fairly smooth. Mesonotum without a median tubercle in front. Epinotal spines longer than in gallicola. First seoement of the petiole with a quite obtuse protuberance below in front, directed entirely forwards (not projecting out underneath). Thorax somewhat more coarsely rugulose and more feebly constricted. Otherwise similar. “ Delagoa (Dr. Liengme).”’ Race WEITZAECKERI, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 28, 9, 1895. 5. 38-37 mm. Black; abdomen, antennae, legs and mandibles dark brown or blackish-brown. Finely and very sparsely pubescent ; pilosity absent except on the clypeus. Head smooth and shining, sparsely and finely punctured, the clypeus, mandibles and sides in front of the eyes finely striate longitudinally. Thorax longitudinally rugulose above and dull (sometimes more strongly sculptured, almost rugose), the sides of the pronotum shining, the mesopleura reticulate. First segment of petiole fairly dull, very finely reticulate or coriaceous, the 2nd segment and the abdomen smooth and shining. Head as wide as long, very little narrower in front than behind, the posterior margin straight, the sides very convex. Eyes placed in the middle of the sides. Frontal area indistinct. The scape nearly reaches as far as the occipital margin; all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide, except the 3rd and 4th, which are about as wide as long. Seen in profile, the anterior face of the pronotum is subvertical, its brow rounded, the rest of the pronotum and the mesonotum flat. The pro- mesonotal suture is very shallow, the meso-epinotal deep. Dorsum of epinotum oblique, forming a continuous plane with the declivity. Epinotal spines thin and acute, divergent, directed obliquely upwards, a little more than one-third the length of the interval between their bases. The mesonotal declivity is short and slightly concave trans- versely. First segment of petiole trapezoidal, wider than long, the anterior angles obliquely truncate, with a minute denticle on each side in front of the posterior margin; node of 2nd segment with a A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 549 wide median longitudinal groove, the posterior margin of the lateral discs well defined. The Ist node is unarmed below. Pietermaritzburg (Simon); Hstcourt, Natal (R. C. Wroughton). Durban. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) I have attached to this race a large numberof specimens from Durban and neighbourhood, which have been wrongly recorded by Dr. Forel as C. excisa, Mayr, race Andrei, Forel (Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 236, 1914), and also his C. coelestis, Santschi, var. kloofensis (loc. cit., p. 237). These specimens have 10-jointed antennae, whereas the true Andrei (from the Congo) has 11 joints. In the same place Forel describes several other varieties, also erroneously placed with species of Cremastogaster s. str. These are dealt with below. Cer Fia. 55.—C. Liengmei, Forel, race Weitzaeckeri, Emery. Race WEITZAECKERI, var. THats, Forel. (As var. of race Andrei) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 126, 9, 1913. ®. 25-35 mm. Differs from Weitzaeckeri by its more brownish and paler colour. The head is much more convex above, especially in its posterior half. The 2nd joint of the flagellum is clearly wider than long, and the whole flagellum is a little shorter and thicker than in the race. Otherwise similar. Port Elizabeth (Brauns) ; Grahamstown (Sherry). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race WEITZAECKERI, var. GORDONENSIS, Forel. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Se. Nat., vol. 50, p. 236, 5, 1914. S. 28-32 mm. This form is intermediate between Weitzaeckeri and var. acanthobia, Forel. Like the former the Ist segment of the petiole is wider than long, and the epinotal spines are fairly long and thin; it resembles acanthobia in having the steep declivity of the mesonotum strongly concave transversely, even more so than in that variety, the sides of the declivity standing out as distinct ridges. Gordon’s Bay, Cape. Prov. (S.A.M., G.A. colls.) 550 _ Annals of the South African Musewm. Race WEITZAECKERI, var. ACANTHOBIA, Forel. IDG, Cie (Oe %. 28-33 mm. Head longer than in the race, as long as wide (not longer than wide as stated by Forel), barely narrower in front than behind. In the race the head is clearly narrower in front, and is also one-sixth wider than long. The sculpture of the head is stronger in front, even the clypeus showing a fairly clear longitudinal rugulosity. The thorax is quite dull (slightly shining in Weitzaeckeri), more strongly sculptured than in the race, almost longitudinally rugose. The declivity of the mesonotum is steeper and longer, nearly as long as the anterior plane, more deeply concave transversely. Seen in profile, the dorsum of the thorax rises from front to back as far as the mesonotal declivity. The dorsum of the epinotum is less widened towards the apex, and the spines are broader at the base and shorter, or barely half as long as the interval between their bases. The first segment of the petiole is as long as wide in front, the anterior angles less abruptly rounded. It bears below in front a short obtuse tooth, directed downwards. Willowmore, Cape Prov. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) The specimens from Durban which were also assigned to this variety by Dr. Forel are quite different, having the broad head and other characters distinctive of typical Weitzaeckeri, with which they should be placed. They are duller and more strongly sculptured on the thorax than Weitzaeckeri, but this character is too variable within the group to justify the separation of the Durban specimens as a variety. The var. pensitata, Forel (loc. cit. p. 341) should be sunk as a synonym of acanthobia. It is merely a little smaller and has the angles of the Ist segment of the petiole more rounded. C. LizneGMEI, race cacunata, Forel. (As race of C. Peringueyi) loc. cit. p. 341, >. ®. 35-4 mm. Colour as in var. acanthobia. Sculpture of the thorax more reticulate and rugulose and a little stronger than in that variety, [especially the dorsum of the epinotum, which is almost rugose ; sides of the meso- and epithorax and of the segments of the petiole sharply reticulate. Head globose, a little wider than long. Thorax similar to that of acanthobia but more robust, the declivity of the mesonotum as large and as sharply margined laterally as in that variety, but meeting the anterior plane in a less acute angle. Meso- epinotal suture deeper than in acanthobia. Dorsum of epinotum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 55] wider at the apex, two and a-half times wider than long, hardly twice as wide as long in acanthobia. First segment of petiole wider than long, bearing below a fairly acute triangular tooth pointing down- wards. Durban (C. B. Cooper). (G.A. coll.) All these races and varieties of C. Liengmei are, in my opinion, closely related, and it is most probable that when we have much more extensive material than is now at our disposal, it will be found that they will all be connected together by minute gradations whereby the limits of the present known forms will be entirely obscured. Sup-FamMInty CAMPONOTINAE. Characters. Gizzard with a 4-sepaled-ealyx separated from the cavity of the crop by circular muscles. (In the Dolichoderinae there is either no calyx or it is enclosed within the cavity of the crop.) Petiole 1-jointed, variously shaped. The poison gland forms a flat or oval cushion; the poison vesicle large and elliptical; no true sting present; only a vestige of it is present, acting as a support for the orifice of the poison vesicle. Pupae usually enclosed in cocoons. The following subdivisions of the sub-family have been instituted by Dr. Forel (Mem. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 20, p. 87 et seq., 1912): Suction I. PROCAMPONOTINAE. Calyx of gizzard greatly shortened. The 4 sepals strongly divergent and chitinised from their base upwards. ‘They are very short and strongly recurved at their ends. Mandibles inserted very close together, linear, porrect, longer than the head. No frontal carinae present. Antennae inserted far behind the posterior margin of the clypeus, in an isolated antennal socket . : . Genus Myrmoteras, Forel (not African). Section Il. MESOCAMPONOTINAE. Calyx of gizzard reflected. Including the following 8. African genera: Apho- momyrmex, Plagiolepis and Acantholepis. Section III. HUCAMPONOTINAH. Calyx of gizzard straight or slightly curved, but never reflected. Including the following 8. African genera: Oecophylla, Prenolepis, Camponotus and Polyrachis. The Mesocamponotinae contains three tribes, of which two are represented in our region, distinguished as follows : 502 Annals of the South African Museum. A. Antennae 11-jointed in the $, 12-jointed in the g. Gizzard longer Tribe Plagiolepidini, Forel. B. Antennae 9- or 10-jointed in the ¢,10- or 11-jointed in the g. Gizzard shorter . : : : ; . Tribe Myrmelachistini, Forel. The Eucamponotinae contains five tribes, three of which are represented in our region, and distinguished as follows : A. Antennae 12-jointed in the ¢$, 13-jointed in the g. Calyx of gizzard slightly curved or recurved. Antennae inserted at the sides of the frontal area B. Gizzard long andl narrow, the cake straight. Antennae inserted somewhat behind the frontal area, but near the ends of the frontal carina Tribe Prenolepidini, Forel. Tribe Oecophyllini, Forel. C. Gizzard as in B. Antennae inserted at the sides of the frontal carinae, far from the clypeus and the frontal area : Tribe Camponotini, Forel. (2) 1 (1) 2 (6) 3 (®) 2 (4) 6 (3) 6 (8) 7 (7) 8. (10) 9. (9) 10, G2) alate Gay) 12. Key to the Genera of Camponotinae, > >. . Antennae 9-jointed . : : . -Aphomomyrmea, Emery. . Antennae with 11 or 12 joints. . Antennae 11-jointed. . Epinotum and petiole more or less bidentate or bispinose Acantholepis, Mayr. . Epinotum unarmed . : : ; . Plagiolepis, Mayr. . Antennae 12-jointed . Maxillary palpi 5-jointed. Antennae inserted behind the frontal area but near the anterior ends of the frontal carinae Oecophylla, Smith. Maxillary palpi 6-jointed. Antennae inserted at the sides of the frontal area, close to the posterior margin of the clypeus : . . Prenolepis, Mayr. Antennae inserted at the sides of She frontal carinae, some distance from the frontal area and clypeus. % % polymorphic. Petiole not spinose or dentate. Shoulders of the pronotum very rarely dentate or sharply angular, never spinose in S. African species 0 : Camponotus, Mayr. § ¥ monomorphic. Petiole mostly, ailnagis spinose or dentate. Shoulders of pronotum often spinose, at least dentate . . Polyrachis, Smith. Section MESOCAMPONOTINAH, Forel. Tripe MYRMELACHISTINI, Forel. Genus APHOMOMYRMEX, Emery. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 43, p. 498, 1899. Characters. “G. Head short. Antennae 9-jointed (or less?), the Ist joint of the flagellum longer than the 2nd, the following joints gradually A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 5598 incrassate, without a distinct club. Clypeus slightly prolonged arcuately between the frontal carinae, short, feebly projecting in front; no distinct frontal area. Eyes oval, placed noticeably distant from the frontal carinae, the latter far apart; ocelli distinct. Mandibles of the usual shape. Thorax of the Plagiolepis type, the postscutellum (metathorax) forming a transverse torus. “Scale of petiole thin. Pilose hairs thin and aculeate, not branched at the apex. “0. Head longer, otherwise formed as in the ®. Antennae 8- or 10-jointed. Thorax narrow, elongate. Scale of petiole thick and low. Neuration of the wings as in Plagiolepis. “@. Much smaller than the 9. Antennae 10-jointed as in the ? (in the only species in which the g is known), the scape longer than half the flagellum. Mandibles dentate. Frontal carinae nearer together. Scale of petiole about the same as in the 9. Genital armature well developed, stipes forming a falciform plate, the volsella slender and longer than the lacinia, which is distinct.” Distribution—Cameroons and Natal. Also Borneo if A. Andrei Em., is correctly ascribed to this genus. A. MURALTI, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 499, 9, 1910. “6. 24 mm. Closely allied to A. afer but smaller. Head more convex in front, the sides also more convex. Pro-mesonotal suture deeper; dorsum of epinotum more convex. Entirely smooth and shining, without pubescence and impunctate. Pilosity and colour as in afer. “ Natal (Dr. L. v. Muralt). It is perhaps only a race of afer, from which it differs chiefly by the absence of puncturation and pubescence and also by its smaller size.” The above diagnosis needs amplification by reference to A. afer, the description of which is as follows : “O. Black; antennae, trochanters, base of tibiae, and tarsi rusty red, the scape paler; very shining and smooth on the sides of the head, thorax and abdomen, less shining and finely punctulate on the vertex and also on the dorsum of thorax and abdomen; the latter are covered with a fine greyish pubescence, arising from the punctures. There are also some pilose hairs on the whole body, including the scapes and legs. Head subquadrate, a little narrower in front, the posterior angles rounded, the eyes placed in the middle of the sides, the ocelli forming a large triangle. Clypeus convex, its anterior 554 Annals of the South African Musewm. margin arcuate in the middle, feebly sinuate on each side; the suture between the clypeus and the frons very weak; the clypeus and cheeks are finely striolate and have some large punctures. Mandibles strongly striate, 3-dentate. The distance between the insertion of the antennae is a little less than their distance from the sides of the head. Antennae 9-jointed; the scape does not reach the posterior margin of the head; the flagellum gradually incrassate towards its apex, the last joint almost as long as the three preceding joints taken together. The thorax is squat, the pronotum and mesonotum together forming a globose mass, behind which the metanotum (at the bottom of the depression separating the mesonotum from the epinotum ) forms a transverse torus bearing the stigmatic orifices. The epinotum in profile forms a continuous curve, its declivity is concave in the middle, very polished and shining. The scale is high and thin, narrower towards the summit, which is excised. Length 5-3°5 mm.” A. muralti is apparently a very rare species, as it has not been recorded again since it was first discovered by Dr. Muralt. Tripe PLAGIOLEPIDINI, Forel. Including the genera Acantholepis, Mayr, and Plagiolepis, Mayr. Genus ACANTHOLEPIS, Mayr. Kurop. Formicid., p. 42, 1861. Characters. &. Antennae I1-jointed, the scape long and usually extending beyond the back of the head, the flagellum filiform, incrassate apically but without a club. Antennae inserted close to the posterior margin of the clypeus, that is at the anterior end of the frontal carinae and at the sides of the frontal area. Frontal carinae short and fairly far apart. Ocelli or traces of the same sometimes present. Mandibles dentate, the masticatory margin oblique and usually long. Maxillary palpi decidedly long. Median area of clypeus gibbose, carinate or subcarinate in the middle. Pronotum long, the thorax always con- siderably narrowed in its meso- and metanotal portion, widening again at the epinotum. Both thoracic sutures well defined. Mesonotum small, oval or subcircular or quadrate, divided by a_ transverse impression or suture from a well-defined metanotum. This segment bears two stigmata which occupy a dorsal position and are often raised, so that this part of the thorax has a bituberculate appearance. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 505 Epinotum always rather large and somewhat inflated, armed with a tooth or spine on each side or simply bituberculate, often excavated longitudinally above, and sometimes more or less emarginate between the teeth or tubercles. The dorsum of the epinotum higher than the meso- and metanotum. Petiole with a more or less scale-like node anteriorly and a peduncle behind, the scale emarginate, or bidentate or bispinose above. Abdomen oval, acute apically. Legs long and slender. 2. Not considerably larger than the 9. Ocellinot large. Pronotum not visible from above. Mesonotum broad, the scutellum much wider than long, its posterior margin wide and not angular. Meta- thorax fairly evident. Epinotum lower than the anterior part of the thorax, unarmed. Scale of petiole round or pentagonal, unarmed or merely emarginate above. Abdomen massive. Wings long, extending beyond the apex of the abdomen ; anterior wing with | cubital cell, the radial cell closed. ¢6. Much smaller than the 2. Antennae 12-jointed; the scape long, at least half as long as the flagellum. Head more or less triangular, eyes large, ocelli small. Pronotum not visible from above, Scutellum narrower behind than in the 92, the posterior outline more or less conical, much higher than the epinotum. The latter unarmed. Scale of petiole thicker than in the 9. Wings long, but yet shorter and wider than in the °. Distribution.—Palaearctic, Ethiopian and Indo-Malayan regions. The members of this genus are very active insects. All our species form their nests in the ground, usually under stones. The colonies are of moderate size, nests containing more than about 200 9 > being rare. I have no records of myrmecophilous insects having been found in the nests of any of our South African species. Most of them are omnivorous, with a partiality for sweet substances, and therefore aphidicolous. Key to the Species of Acantholepis % %. (10) 1. Node of petiole bispinose above, the spines as long as or longer than the node is wide. Petiole very long, two and a-half times as long as the node is high (excluding the spines) ; the spines long, thin and straight. (4) 3. Head and thorax reddish-brown, dull and reticulate-punctate to (5) longinoda, Arnold. (3) 4. Head and thorax ochreous, smooth and shining . arenaria, Arnold. (2) 5. Petiole shorter, as long as, or very little longer than the node is high. (9) 6. Spines of node round in cross-section, thicker at the base than at the apex. 556 (8) 7. (as: (6) 9. (1) 10. (24) 11. (19) 12. (18) 13. (a5), 1 (14) 15. (7) 16. (16) 17. (13) 18. (12) 19. (21) 20. (20) 21. (23) 22. (22) 23. (11) 24. (28) 25. (27) 26. (26) 27. (25) 28. (32) 29. (31) 30. (30) 31. (29) 32. (84) 33. (83) 34. (40) 35. (37) 36. Annals of the South African Museum. Head and thorax more or less yellowish-red, abdomen pale, at least at the base : . spinosior, Forel. Head and thorax piceous, Aydorren Se heily black spinosior var. natalensis, Arnold. Spines of node flattened from front to back, as thick at the apex as at the base : . spinosior, var. ballaensis, Arnold. Node of petiole only Bidenrate or emarginate above ; if bidentate, then the teeth are much shorter than the width of the ode: Small species, 2:2 mm. or less; body not entirely black or dark brown. Whole body very smooth and shining. Thorax more or less ferruginous, head and abdomen dark brown. Scapes and tibiae pubescent only. : . rubrovaria, Forel. Scapes and tibiae with exserted pilose hairs in addition to the pube- scence. Head dark brown. i : rubrovaria, race pilosa, Forel. Head ferruginous . rubrovaria, race pilosa, var. avunculus, Arnold. Dark reddish-ochreous, apical third of abdomen blackish Arnoldi, Forel. Whole body dull. Epinotum straight between the tubercles, which are almost obsolete Foreli, Arnold, var. convexa, Arnold. Epinotum concave between the tubercles, which are well developed. Mesonotum feebly convex transversely, the meta-epinotal suture shallow P . F Foreli, Arnold. Mesonotum Heronelyie convex Sranesersclys ire meta-epinotal suture deep .. : : : Foreli, var. impressa, Arnold. Larger species, more (han 2°2 mm. long; body entirely or in greater part black or dark brown. Head and thorax with a greenish abdomen with a violaceous metallic lustre; dorsum of epinotum with a deep median longitudinal groove. Head and pro-mesonotum shining . : submetallica, Arnold. Head and pro-mesonotum dull submetallica, var. aspera, Arnold. Body without any metallic lustre. é Epinotum very coarsely and irregularly rugose; pilosity long and white. Smaller species, 2°4 mm.; scape extending beyond the back of the head by one-fourth of its esac é . crinita, Mayr. Larger species, 2°6-3°3 mm. ; scape extending beyond the back of the head by nearly one-third of its length hirsuta, Santschi, var. elevata, Forel. Epinotum finely sculptured ; pilosity not white. Large stout species; head and thorax closely and finely sculptured and dull : z . stlvicola, Arnold. More slender species ; Then aa shoves more or less smooth and shining. The scape extends beyond the back of the head by nearly half its length, or more. Head not narrower in front than behind; the scape extends by more than half its length beyond the back of the head egregia, Forel, race Santschii, Arnold. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 557 (36) 37. Head narrower in front than behind ; a little less than half the scape extends beyond the back of the head. (39) 38. Lateral profile of the dorsum of the epinotum very convex, scale of petiole thick . : 4 egregia, Forel. 388) 39. Lateral profile of dorsum of e Sean ceria and inclined upwards p ] p posteriorly ; scale thinner . capensis, Mayr, var. validiuscula, Emery. (35) 40. The scape extends beyond the back of the head by very little more than one-third of its leneth. (42) 41. Metathorax and epinotum fairly dull, rugulose or reticulate; scale bidentate j 5 : : capensis, Mayr. (41) 42. Metathorax and syoftnt ner hima (44) 48. Length 2-4-2°8 mm. ; scale emarginate above capensis, Mayr, race simplex, Forel. (43) 44. Length 2mm.; scale more deeply emarginate, or almost. bidentate capensis, race laevis, Santschi, var. Alexis, Arnold. The above key does not include capensis, race Junodi, and var. simplicoides, Forel, and simplex, var. minuta, Forel, which are not known to me in nature. A. sprnosior, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 144, 9, 1918. ®. 2-7-3 mm. Head, thorax and petiole dark rusty red (dark burnt sienna), the head somewhat darker than the thorax, abdomen dark brown, becoming paler or rusty red towards the base; the basal segment sometimes pale all over except the sides. Legs yellowish-red, flagellum brown and darker at the apex. scapes dark ochreous, becoming gradually darker towards the apex. Pubescence very fine on the legs and scapes, very sparse on the thorax and abdomen, absent from the head. Abdomen with suberect, thick and bristly brownish-black hairs, elsewhere the pilosity is wanting. Head, thorax and petiole dull, very closely finely and evenly reticulate-punctate. Abdomen moderately shining. Mandibles very finely striate, feebly shining, with three or four acute teeth. Head, excluding the mandibles, nearly one-fourth longer than wide, ovoid, considerably narrowed in front, the posterior margin straight. Eyes large, placed in the middle of the sides. Ocelli much reduced, just visible under a high magnification. Clypeus very convex transversely, subearinate in the middle. Scapes extend- ing beyond the back of the head by two-fifths of their length ; second joint of flagellum one and a-half times longer than wide, all the other joints much longer. Pronotum somewhat flattened above, the sides fairly convex, two-fifths wider than long in the middle. Mesonotum subcircular, a little wider than long, half as wide as the 558 Annals of the South African Museum. pronotum; meso-metanotal suture feeble. Metanotum a little wider than long, the stigmatic tubercles fairly prominent. Meta-epinotal suture not very deep. Dorsum of epinotum as long as the declivity, fairly convex and rising posteriorly when seen in profile; seen from above subrectangular, not much widened posteriorly, the lateral margins convex, armed with two fairly acute, triangular teeth, dis- tinctly excavated lengthwise in the middle of the apical half. Declivity oblique, the stigmata below prominent. Petiole as long as high in front, ending in front in a wedge-shaped scale which is inclined forwards, and armed above with 2 long, divergent spines directed upwards. The spines are thick at the base, as long as the scale is wide above, and seen from the side are distinctly curved backwards. Abdomen large, longer than wide. 2. 5 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Black; legs reddish-brown, tarsi, mandibles and antennae reddish-ochreous, the apical third of the scape brownish. Pubescence decumbent, exceedingly fine, abundant all over. Apical margins of the abdominal segments with a few short, obtuse, yellowish erect hairs. Head and thorax dull, closely and fairly finely punctate-coriaceous. Abdomen dull, rugulose. Head subquadrate, wider than long. Ocelli placed close to the hind margin of the head. Hyes large, occupying the middle third of the sides, Mesonotum convex in frent, flat above bebind, a trifle wider than long, with a depressed median line over its anterior fourth. Scutellum broad, not much wider in front than behind, sloping gradually down- wards to the metanotum. Dorsum and declivity of epinotum forming a continuous and steep curve. Petiole short, without a long peduncle behind the scale, the latter thin, unarmed, its upper edge convex from side to side. Abdomen one and a-half times longer than wide, the apex broad and obtuse. Wings fusco-hyaline, nervures and stigma brownish. Bulawayo. Not common. The entrance to the nest is a very small hole, rarely surrounded with excavated material. A very agile species, and not easily seen, since its colour matches that of the soil. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of 2 in my collection). ; V Var. BALLAENSIS, n. v. %. 3mm. Head brownish-black, thorax dark red, petiole and abdomen black; legs and flagellum brown, tarsi and greater part of the scapes dull ochreous. Pilosity on the abdomen black, longer than in the type of the species. Thorax more robust than in the type- species, pronotum one and a-half times wider than long in the middle ; mesonotum circular, as long as wide, the metanotum one-third wider than long. The petiole is a little longer than high in front and the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa, 559 spines of the node are flattened from front to back, directed obliquely backwards; their anterior edge when seen in profile is straight, not convex as in the type-species. Otherwise like the type-species, but a much more robust and darker insect. Balla-Balla, 8. Rhodesia. (R.M., G.A. colls.; type m my collection. ) V Var. NATALENSIS, 0. V. ®. 24mm. Very similar to var. ballaensis but smaller. Sculp- ture and pilosity as in that variety. The head is narrower, being one- fifth to one-fourth longer than wide. The scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by one-third of their length. Epinotal teeth smaller than in the type of the species, and considerably smaller and more obtuse than in var. ballaensis. The petiole resembles that of the type of the species, the teeth being curved backwards, but they are shorter, being barely longer than their basal width. Colour like that of var. ballaensis. Pietermaritzburg (Dr. C. Akerman), ex. Natal Museum coll. Type in my collection. A. LONGINODA, 0. sp. (Plate VIII, figs. 120, 120 a.) 6. 3-38 mm. Head, thorax and petiole dark castaneous red or reddish-brown, abdomen black, legs brownish, the tarsi paler, flagellum dark brown, mandibles and scapes reddish-ochreous, the scapes becoming brownish towards their apices. Dull, very closely and finely reticulate-punctate, or apparently granulate; the thorax with a fine, widely-spaced reticulation superimposed, more apparent and closer on the epinotum than elsewhere. Abdomen almost smooth, shining. Femora reticulate-punctate and dull. Mandibles slightly shining, finely striate and sparsely punctured, 5-dentate. Pubescence very fine and sparse, almost absent on the thorax. Abdomen witha sparse, erect, black, short and obtuse pilosity. Clypeus with about 6 long dark and exserted hairs. Head, excluding the mandibles, about one-sixth longer than wide, oval, the posterior margin straight. Eyes large, occupying nearly the middle third of the sides. Ocelli barely distinguishable. Scapes very long, quite half their length extending beyond the back of the head, reaching as far as the pro-mesonotal suture; 2nd joint of flagellum twice as long as wide, the other joints much longer. Pronotum long, nearly as long as the meso-metanotum, not more than one-fourth wider than long in the middle, fairly convex above from side to side. 560 Annals of the South African Musewm. Mesonotum longer than wide behind, widest in front, feebly convex transversely, straight longitudinally; meso-metanotal impression feeble. Stigmatic tubercles of metanotum prominent, subconical in profile. Meta-epinotal suture fairly deep. Dorsum of epinotum convex lengthwise, a little wider than long, not much narrowed at the base, seen from above broadly campaniform, armed with two fairly long oblique and feebly divergent teeth, longer than their basal width ; declivity as long as the dorsum, steeply inclined, the stigmata at the base not very prominent. Petiole two and a-half times longer than its node is high, the latter with a fairly large dorsal face, which is as long as wide and bears posteriorly two long, subvertical and thin spines. The spines are longer than the node is wide and at least three times longer than their basal width. Abdomen very convex transversely, longer than wide, pointed towards the apex. 2. 57 mm. Black, legs brownish, tarsi ochreous, mandibles ferruginous, antennae brown, the basal half of the scape more or less ochreous. Anterior third of the head with a fine, decumbent and whitish pubescence. Abdomen, legs and antennae densely pubescent, the pubescence closely adjacent on the abdomen and of a golden ochreous colour, somewhat pruinose; the apical margins with a few erect, short and blunt hairs. Whole body, including the legs and antennae, dull. Head and thorax very regularly coriaceous, the abdomen rugulose. Mandibles slightly shining, finely striate, sparsely and coarsely punctured. The shape of the head and thorax resembles that of spinosior 9. The petiole without a long peduncle behind the scale, seen from the side cuneiform, higher than long, the upper edge convex transversely, unarmed. Deialated. Hillside, Bulawayo. A very distinct and handsome species, easily recognised by the exceptionally long petiole in the §, and_the pruinose-golden sheen on the abdomen of the Q. (SA.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; types in my collection.) y A. ARENARIA, 0. sp. %. 2°8-3:1 mm. Ochreous to dark amber-yellow, the head usually darker, at least in front, and of a more reddish-yellow colour. Apical halves of the 3rd and 4th and the whole of the 5th abdominal segments more or less black or brown, the apical third of the posterior femora and more or less the apical half of the posterior tibiae, and the last two tarsal joints of all the legs brown. Scapes and flagella infuscate near their apices, the last joint of the flagellum nearly black. Pubescence yellowish, very short, fine and sparse all over, A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 561 more abundant on the legs and antennae. Abdomen and anterior margin of the clypeus with erect whitish-yellow and fairly long pilose hairs, scanty. Legs and antennae microscopically coriaceous and dull, mandibles very finely aciculate and dull, thorax dull and reticulate-granulate, excepting the pronotum and disc of mesonotum, which, like the head, are smooth and shining, with traces of an almost effaced reticulation ; abdomen smooth and shining. Head a little less than one-quarter longer than wide, hardly narrower in front than behind, the sides moderately convex, the hind margin straight. Clypeus distinctly convex transversely, obtusely Fie. 56.—A. arenaria, n. sp. subcarinate in the middle, the anterior margin convex. Mandibles. 5-dentate and very finely striate. Frontal area triangular, wider than long. Scapes long, extending back as far as the middle of the mesonotum, 2nd joint of the flagellum twice as long as wide, all the other joints longer. Hyes large and convex; traces of 3. ocelli present. Pronotum one-third wider than long, convex transversely above. Mesonotum oval, a trifle longer than wide, nearly one-third longer than the metanotum, from which it is indistinctly defined ; metanotal stigmata placed in the middle, prominent in profile. Meta- epinotal suture wide and deeply impressed. Dorsum of epinotum rising gradually towards the apex, a little wider there than at the base, wider than long, ending at each side in an acute tooth which is 562 Annals of the South African Museum. as long as it is wide at its base; declivity oblique, about as long as the dorsum, produced at each angle below into a blunt tubercle, directed outwards, clearly visible when looked at obliquely from the side. Petiole like that of A. longinoda, but the node is narrower, less convex vertically in profile, and armed with longer and thinner spines, which are as long or nearly as long as the node is deep. Sawmills, Umeusa River, 8.R. A very distinct species, most nearly allied to A. longinoda, but with a very different sculpture and colour. ‘The nest was situated in loose yellowish sand, the colour of which so closely matched that of these insects as to render them almost invisible. A very agile and swift species. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) A. RUBROVARIA, Forel. (As var. of simplex) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p.449, 5, ¢, 1910. This species differs from its race pilosa in being a little larger, in having a wider head, and in the absence of exserted pilosity on the scapes and tibiae. In the ¢, which is 2mm. long, the scape does not extend beyond the posterior margin of the head by more than one-third of its length. Basutoland (Wroughton). I have not seen the type-species, and the above characters are extracted from Forel’s description of the race pilosa. Race priosa, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 141, , 1913. OS. 17-19 mm. Head dark brown, thorax varying from yellowish- red to brownish brick-red, abdomen and petiole black. Scapes and first two joints of the flagellum dirty ochreous, the rest of the flagellum brown ; legs brown, the articulations and the tarsi ochreous. Without sculpture, entirely smooth and shining. A whitish, short and fairly sparse pilosity on the body, scapes and legs. Head subquadrate, as long as wide, hardly narrowed in front, the sides moderately convex, the posterior margin shallowly emarginate in the middle. Eyes placed a little in front of the middle of the side. Scapes short, only just extending beyond the back of the head; 2nd and 3rd jomts of the flagellum wider than long, 4th and 5th as wide as long, the remaining joints very little longer than wide. Mandibles tridentate, sparsely punctured and shining. Clypeus very convex in the middle, but not A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 563 carinate. Pronotum fairly flat above, about two-thirds wider than long in the middle. Meso-metanotum hardly longer than the pronotum ; meso-metanotal suture feeble, the meta-epinotal stronger. Dorsum of epinotum rising from base to apex, the latter distinctly concave transversely between the teeth; the teeth small, divergent, merely prominent angles, the declivity as long as the dorsum, the stigmata below raised and subangular in profile. Petiole one- fourth longer than the scale is high, the peduncle as long as the scale, the latter inclined forwards, its posterior face convex trans- versely, the dorsal edge straight. Abdomen not very convex above, about one-third longer than wide, broadly ovate. Legs rather short. Redbank, 8. Rhodesia. On sandy soil; a few specimens taken on one occasion only, apparently a rare species. (R.M., G.A. colls.) V Race PILOSA, var. AVUNCULUS, 0. V. S. 23-25 mm. Head and thorax ferruginous, petiole and abdomen piceous, the bases of all the segments more or less paler or reddish-brown. First 3 or 4 joints of the flagellum, the scapes, articulations of the legs, anterior tibiae and all the tarsi reddish- ochreous, the rest of the legs and flagellum reddish-brown. Erect pilosity longer and more abundant than in the type of the race. Smooth and very shining. Second and 38rd joints of the flagellum as long as wide, 4th and Sth a little longer than wide. Pronotum more convex transversely than in the type of the race, also narrower or not more than one-third wider than long in the middle. Mesonotum one-fourth wider than long and nearly twice as long as the metanotum (three-fifths wider than long and very little longer than the metanotum in the type of the race). Dorsal edge of scale thinner than in the type of the race, straight or slightly concave. Otherwise like the type of the race. Sawmills, Umgusa River, 8.R. (R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection. ) A. Arnoupt, Forel. Ann, Soe. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 142, 9, 1913. ®. 17-2 mm. Dark reddish-ochreous (deep orange-yellow), the 3rd to 5th abdominal segments and the sides of the apical margins of 1st and 2nd brownish-black ; the flagellum, excepting the Ist joint, yellowish-brown, becoming darker apically. Apical halves of the 36 564 Annals of the South African Museum. middle and hind tibiae and femora brownish. Without sculpture entirely smooth and shining. Pilosity and pubescence similar to that of rubrovaria-pilosa. Very similar to that species, from which it differs by the colour and the following characters. The head is narrower, about one-sixth longer than wide, narrower in front. The 2nd joint of the flagellum is as long as wide, the 3rd a trifle longer. The meso-metanotum is narrower, two-thirds longer than wide, and the dorsum of the epinotum is longer and flatter, the teeth blunter and smaller, merely tubercles. The scale of the petiole is feebly but distinctly emarginate above. Redbank and Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia. The nest is placed in loose sandy soil in the hottest situations. A very agile species. In one nest several & % were found which had the abdomen considerably swollen (as long as the head and thorax together), but not so rotund as in the repletes of Myrmecocystus or of Plagiolepis Triment. Probably the habit of using some of the members of the colony as storage-vessels for honey is only in the incipient stage in this genus. N A. Forett, n. sp. (Plate VIII, fig. 121.) %. 16-1:9 mm. Head and thorax bright red (burnt sienna), abdomen dark brown, with the middle of the upper surface of the Ist and 2nd segments ochreous. Front pair of legs and the scapes ochreous, flagellum, middle and hind legs brownish, the tarsi ochreous. Entirely dull, the head and thorax microscopically rugulose or coria- ceous. Pubescence whitish, decumbent and very sparse, more plentiful on the legs, head and antennae than elsewhere. Apical margins of the abdominal segments with a sparse, white, fairly short and obtuse pilosity. Head subquadrate, a little longer than wide, hardly narrowed in front, feebly emarginate behind, the sides feebly convex. Clypeus produced more forwards than in the two preceding species, hiding the closed mandibles, subcarinate. Eyes placed in the middle of the sides; the ocelli vestigial as in the two preceding species. The scapes just reach the posterior margin of the head; 2nd joint of flagellum wider than long, the 3rd as long as wide, all the, remaining joints longer than wide. Pronotum like that of pilosa, but the meso- and metanotum are wider than in that race or in Arnoldi, the mesonotum being almost twice as wide as long. The stigmata of the metanotum only slightly prominent. Epinotum as in Arnoldi, but more concave between the tubercles, not inclined upwards posteriorly but horizontal or even slightly inclined downwards, The petiole is as long as the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 565 scale is high ; the latter thin, inclined forwards, distinctly emarginate above. Abdomen longer than wide. Sipapoma, S. Rhodesia. Running about on very hot sandy soil. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) Var. IMPRESSA, n. Vv. &. 17-22 mm. Apart from its more robust form and larger size, this differs from the type @f the species as follows: The colour is similar but darker in all parts. The thorax is wider, the mesonotum more convex transversely and the meta-epinotal suture deeper. The metanotum is not more than two-thirds the length of the mesonotum (quite as long in the type-species) and its stigmata are more prominent. Hillside, Bulawayo; in similar situations as the type-species. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) Vv Var. CONVEXA, 0. V. 8. 18 mm. Colour and sculpture as in impressa. The pube- scence is longer and much more apparent than in that variety or in the type of the species. It differs from both by the narrower thorax, the pronotum more convex transversely ; the dorsum of the epinotum is straight between the tubercles, not concave as in the type and var. impressa, and the tubercles are even smaller than in the type. The chief distinction hes in the shape of the scale of the petiole, which is thinner, much narrower and more convex above. Hillside, Bulawayo. Type in my collection. A. orinita, Mayr. Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien, vol. 10, p. 149, %, 1895. «6. 24mm. Black, the apical half of the mandibles, the antennae (excepting the apical fourth of the scape and the apical half of the flagellum), and the tarsi more or less bright reddish-brown or brownish-yellow. The whole body is abundantly clothed with long, whitish, exserted and not very thick, bristly hairs, the femora and tibiae with similar hairs, but only moderately long. A decumbent pubescence is not recognisable. Head, pronotum and mesonotum shining and nearly smooth, or partly and very superficially coriaceous and rugulose, the metanotum and sides of the mesonotum coarsely and longitudinally striate; the whole epinotum coarsely rugose and fairly dull; petiole and abdomen smooth and shining. The body is 566 Annals of the South African Museum. thicker than in capensis, Mayr. The oval head, moderately emarginate behind, has the same shape as in capensis. The scape extends beyond the back of the head by about one-fourth of its length, the 2nd joint of flagellum is hardly half as long again as wide, the other joints longer. The pronotum, as in capensis, is not strongly arched. The constriction of the thorax is distinct, stronger than in capensis. The epinotum has two cones rounded at the apices and directed steeply outwards, upwards and backwards. he scale of the petiole has two pointed teeth above and is arcudtely emarginate between them. “ Durban (Brauns).” v A. SUBMETALLICA, Nl. Sp. ®. 32-3°3 mm. Black, femora blackish-brown, tibiae brown, tarsi brownish-yellow, flagellum brown, scape dirty ochreous, be- coming brown towards the apex. Head and thorax with a greenish metallic lustre, not very pronounced, abdomen with a very evident violaceous or steely blue lustre. Pubescence present on the clypeus, lower surface of the head, legs and antennae only, fine and decumbent. The pilosity consists of long, thin, erect and white hairs, most abundant on the abdomen, absent from the legs and antennae. Legs dull, the whole body shining, especially the abdomen. Head almost smooth, at the most only microscopically reticulate. Pro-mesonotum very finely reticulate above or sometimes smooth, also with a few small piligerous punctures. Metanotum with 3 or 4 strong longitudinal rugae between the stigmatic tubercles; epimotum striated on the inner half of the lateral cones, the striae curving outwards posteriorly. Sides of meta- and epithorax longitudinally striate. Petiole and abdomen smooth. Head a little longer than wide, subovate, con- siderably narrowed in front, the posterior margin feebly concave, the posterior angles widely rounded. Clypeus carinate in the middle. Mandibles almost smooth, 5-dentate. Eyes large, placed at about the middle of the sides; ocelli vestigial. Antennae long; the scape extends beyond the back of, the head by one-third of its length. 1st joint of flagellum as long as the 2nd and 3rd together, all the joints longer than wide. Pronotum distinctly flattened above and sloping forwards, two-thirds wider than long in the middle (excluding the neck). Pro-mesonotal suture deep. Mesonotum convex, large, as wide as long, at least twice as long as the metanotum. Meso- metanotal suture feeble. Dorsum of epinotum convex longitudinally, divided by a deep median groove into two lateral cones, divergent and ending in subdentiform points; declivity oblique, longer than the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 567 dorsum, the stigmata below prominent. Petiole a little longer than its scale is high, the latter convex behind, flat in front, the dorsal edge emarginate and subdentate on each side of the emargination. Abdomen longer than wide, acute at the apex, rather large, very convex above. Legs long and slender. 2. 58mm. Black; femora and tibiae brown, mandibles, anterior margin of the clypeus, antennae and tarsi bright ferruginous. A metallic lustre is just visible in some lights, more or less bronzy on the head and mesonotum, faintly greenish on the epinotum and abdomen. Pilosity less abundant than in the 9, almost entirely absent from the thorax; the pubescence is very abundant all over, longest on the scutellum, epinotum and abdomen, decumbent except on the scutellum and epinotum, where it is oblique. Whole body nitidulous, the abdomen somewhat duller than the rest, very closely and regularly punctured. The punctures are piligerous, finest and most abundant on the abdomen, fairly fine on the scutellum, large and deep on the mesonotum and back of the head; the epinotum is obliquely striate, punctured between the striae. Mandibles shining, sparsely and coarsely punctured. Head subtriangular, as long as wide behind. Clypeus carinate on the anterior half of the median area. Scapes very long, extending beyond the back of the head by half their length. Mesonotum with a shallow transverse impression a little in front of its basal margin, and a median longitudinal and impunctate line extending from front to back; parapsidal sutures clearly defined. The dorsum and declivity of the epinotum form a single oblique plane, bearing a small tubercle on each side above ; the extreme apex of the epinotum, facing the petiole, is shining and impunctate. Petiole longer than wide, convex from side to side above. Abdomen elongate, twice as long as wide. Wings tinged with brown, the nervures and stigma dark brown. 6. 28 mm. Dark brown, the thorax paler than the head and abdomen and with yellowish-brown sides, antennae, legs and man- dibles pale ochreous. Very shining. Pilosity and pubescence sparse, the former much shorter than in the 9 or 9. Hxceedingly finely and sparsely punctured. Abdomen impunctate. Head subcireular, a little wider than long, nearly as wide as the thorax. The eyes occupy the anterior two-thirds of the sides; the distance between the posterior ocelli is twice as great as the distance between them and the anterior ocellus. The scape is two-thirds as long as the flagellum, and extends by a good deal more than half its length beyond the back of the head. Epinotum with a small tubercle on each side above, as in the ?. Seale of petiole thick, almost half as thick as wide across the top, the 568 Annals of the South African Museum. dorsal edge straight and furnished at each corner with a minute sub- acute tubercle. Wings as in the 9, but paler. Bulawayo. Forming fairly populous nests in the ground, the entrances sur- rounded by a large amount of excavated material, more or less crateri- form. A very distinct species, easily recognised by the metallic lustre and by the deeply-divided epinotum in the 9, and by the long scapes in the Q and g. Excluding some species of Monomorium (in which, how- ever, there is a slight suggestion of a metallic sheen on the abdomen only) this is the only South African ant which has a metallic lustre. In the Australian fauna, on the other hand, this feature is quite common in many genera of Formicidae and of other Hymenoptera. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; types in my collection.) | N Var. ASPERA, 0. v. ®. This differs from the type of the species only in having the head and pro-mesonotum very finely rugulose and dull, and in the less pronounced greenish tinge. The abdomen, however, has the same violaceous lustre as the type. Amatongas Forest, Portuguese E.A. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. ; type in my collection.) A. CAPENSIS, Mayr. Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. 12, p. 699, 5, 1862. Reise der Novara, Zool. 2, Formicid., p. 56, ¢, 1865. Emery, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, vol. 9, p. 366, 2, 1877. “6. 28-33 mm. Shining, sparsely hirsute, black, the mandibles, legs and antennae brown, the mandibles sparsely striate longitudi- nally. Head and thorax very finely, superficially and coriaceously rugulose, almost smooth. The Ist joint of the flagellum twice as long as the 2nd. Epinotum with 2 blunt teeth. Scale of petiole bidentate above, strongly emarginate between the teeth. Abdomen almost smooth. The body much more compressed or narrower than in A. Frauenfeldi, Mayr. “Cape of Good Hope.” The only examples of the type-species which I have seen are a few (ex S.A.M. coll.) which have been determined as such by Dr. Forel. They agree with Mayr’s description in all but colour, which is dark A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 569 brown, the abdomen reddish-brown. This may be due to exposure and consequent bleaching, since the specimens were collected in 1899. Mayr’s diagnosis of the species being so short, I append a fuller one, based on these specimens. ®. Pilosity brown, very short and sparse. Head, pro-mesonotum, petiole and abdomen shining and smooth (at the most only with a microscopical sculpture) ; meta- and epinotum finely rugulose and dull. Head subovate, widest behind, as wide as long, the posterior margin straight, the posterior angles widely rounded. Eves barely convex, rather large, placed a little behind the middle of the sides. Scapes extending beyond the posterior margin by very little more than one-third of their length ; Ist joint of flagellum twice or a little more than twice as long as the 2nd, the latter as long as wide, all the remaining joints longer than wide. Clypeus obtusely carinate, the anterior margin convex. Pronotum one and a-half times wider than long in the middle, its anterior half somewhat flattened. Mesonotum a trifle wider than long, one-third longer than the metanotum. Meso- metanotal suture not deep. Metanotum widening posteriorly, twice as wide behind as in front. Meta-epinotal suture fairly deep. Dorsum of epinotum ending in a blunt cone on each side, between the cones feebly concave transversely, hardly convex lengthwise; the declivity as long as the dorsum. The posterior face of the scale of the petiole a little convex transversely, the anterior face flat, bidentate above (the teeth small, shorter than the interval between them), emarginate between the teeth. The whole petiole is about as long as the scale is high. “g. 3mm. Brownish-black, fairly shining, clypeus, scape, tibiae, femora and abdomen brown; flagellum, tarsi and mandibles more or less brownish-yellow, the genital armature partly brown, partly brownish-yellow. The pilosity 1s sparse; on the head, thorax and base of abdomen there are only a few isolated hairs, the end of the abdomen more abundantly pilose, the legs without pilosity. Pubescence yellow, fairly fine and not abundant, most plentiful on the legs. Head triangular, with strongly-rounded corners, fairly smooth, very slightly rugulose or rugulose-punctate. Mandibles flattened, very shining, feebly rugulose, 4-dentate. . . . The clypeus like that of the 9. Frontal area large, triangular, not clearly defined behind. Antennae 12-jointed, . . . scape long and thin, the flagellum thicker, the 1st joint nearly twice as long as the 2nd, which is the shortest, the remaining joints becoming gradually longer in succession towards the apex. Frontal carinae fairly short, straight and parallel. The frontal sulcus not distinct. Eyes large, hemispherical, placed at 570 Annals of the South African Musewm. about the middle of the sides. The thorax is more closely rugulose- punctate and less shining than the head and abdomen, and is about as high as wide; the pronotum is very narrow, and the mesonotum projects over it a little. The epinotum is steep, feebly convex, the dorsum and declivity not clearly delimited, The scale is small and strongly inclined forwards. The abdomen is sparsely rugulose-punctate and about as large as the thorax, . . . The wings are large, almost hyaline, nervures brown, the anterior wing with | cubital cell, but without a closed discoidal-cell. . . .” ®. I omit Emery’s description of this sex, as it is too short to be of any value for purposes of identification. Var. vALIDIuscuLA, Emery. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, vol. 18, p. 602, 9, 1897. ®. 28-33 mm. Jet black, the tarsi and flagellum brown, the tibiae and femora brownish-black, the scape ochreous-yellow with the apical 3rd or 4th brownish. Sometimes the legs and flagellum are paler, and the head more or less brownish-black. The chief distine- tion between this variety and the type of the species lies in the ereater length of the scape, which extends beyond the back of the head by almost half its length, and by the pilosity, which is much longer, coarser (more bristly) and more abundant, particularly on the pronotum and back of the head. The epinotum is as a rule less flat above, being very shallowly excavated in the middle almost to its base, and the lateral cones more divergent and larger. Mesonotum as long as wide, rarely so short as in the type-species. I refer to this variety a large number of specimens derived from different parts of South Africa. Some of these exhibit a slight amount of variation in minor details, such as the sculpture and degree of opacity of the meta- and epinotum, and the pilosity. 9. 46-5 mm. Dark brown, the head and thorax almost black, legs, basal half of the scapes and flagellum paler brown, the tarsi and mandibles ochreous. Pubescence dense, very fine, adpressed and of a pale greyish-yellow ; the pilosity composed of short, yellowish hairs, present only on the abdomen and clypeus. Head and mesonotum very finely and fairly closely punctured, the scutellum rather sparsely punctured. Hpinotum closely striato-rugulose, trans- versely so on the declivity. Head and thorax with a very slight gloss, almost dull. Abdomen dull, microscopically punctate-rugulose. Head subtriangular, as long as wide, the posterior angles widely A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 571 rounded. Clypeus very convex and raised in the middle, but not distinctly carinate. Mandibles smooth and shining, sparsely and very finely punctured. Eyes not very convex, placed a little behind the middle, occupying about a third of the sides. Ocelli placed far back, close to the occipital margin. The scape extends beyond the back of the head by about one-fourth of its length, all the joints of the flagellum longer than wide. Thorax about one-third wider than the head. The pronotum is slightly exposed in the middle above. Mesonotum one-third wider than long, the scutellum half as long as the mesonotum and sloping downwards gradually behind. Dorsum and declivity of epinotum not distinctly delimited, forming a single vertical plane which is feebly convex above. Scale of petiole as wide as high, its dorsal edge almost linear. Abdomen one-third longer than wide, oval, all the segments much wider than long. Wings dirty ochreous, the nervures brown, the stigma pale yellowish- brown. ¢. 27 mm. Black, femora, tibiae and scapes brown, tarsi and flagellum pale ochreous. Smooth and shining. Pubescence very fine, fairly abundant, longer and less decumbent than in the ?, intermixed on the mesonotum with a short, dense and bristly pile of a blackish colour. Apex of abdomen, the epinotum and back of the head with some longer and brownish pilose hairs. Head, including the mandibles, having the shape of an isosceles triangle, much narrower in front of the eyes than behind them. Clypeus with an elongate median tubercle. Eyes convex, occupying about one-third of the sides of the head. Scapes extending beyond the posterior margin by about one-third of their length; 2nd—7th joints of the flagellum less than half as long again as wide. Mesonotum very convex in front, one-fourth wider than long. Scutellum longer and narrower posteriorly than in the @ , three-fifths the length of the mesonotum. Scale of petiole widest above, wider than high, the dorsal edge fairly thick, not linear as in the 9. Abdomen ovate, the genital armature large and exserted. Wings brownish, the nervures and stigma dark brown. The % 9 taken with the ¢ ¢ from which the above description is derived differ slightly from those taken with the 9, the dorsum of the epinotum being more convex, but I do not consider that difference sufficient to enable me to regard these ¢ ¢ as belonging to anything but the var. validiuscula. S. Rhodesia and Cape Province. Generally distributed and very common. Nesting usually under stones ; an industrious attendant on Aphididae and Coccidae. (S8.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) 572 Annals of the South African Museum. Var. simpLicorpEs, Forel. Voeltzkow’s Reise Ost Afrika, vol. 2, p. 86, 9, 1907. “A form transitional to simplex, Forel, with blunt and wide epinota. teeth, and with the scale only emarginate, barely dentate. Basutoland (Wroughton). This form proves that simplex is only a race of capensis.” Var. minuta, Forel. Rev. Suisse Zool. vol. 24, p. 488, 9, 1916. “5. 15mm. Differs from the type, apart from its very small size, by its more robust build and by the short scapes, which extend beyond the hind margin of the head by barely as much as their apical width. It differs from var. laevis, Santschi, by its jet-black colour and wider head. “ Shiluvane, Transvaal (Junod).” Race Junop1, Forel. Loe. cit., 9, p. 438. “6G. 25-28mm. Differs from the race incisa, Forel, like which it has a bispinose scale, by the legs and scapes covered with white subdecumbent hairs, by the yellowish and fairly pointed hairs on the body, by its much wider head, by the shorter scapes which extend beyond the head by barely one-fourth of their length, and by the less deep incision of the thorax. It differs from curta, Emery, by the spines on the scale and by its narrower head. “Shiluvane, Transvaal (Junod).” Race simpLex, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 36, p. 43, ¢, 1892. Mitth. Schweiz. Ent. Ges., vol. 8, p. 350, 2, ¢, 1892. @. 24-28 mm. This race differs from the type of the species as follows : The pilosity on the abdomen is much longer, finer and more abundant. The meso-metanotum is slightly narrower and longer. The meta- and epinotum are nitidulous and very feebly sculptured. The scale of the petiole is shallowly emarginate above and without teeth at each corner of the emargination. Forel says that an additional distinction exists in the shape of the epinotum, in which A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 573 the brow of the declivity is straight transversely, not concave as in the type-species. This difference is not recognisable in the specimens determined for me as simplex by Dr. Forel. “¢. 2mm. Smooth, shining (in capensis there is some sculpture on the thorax, especially on the epinotum). Sparsely hirsute. Scale low. Brownish, the legs paler. Wings fairly clear, with pale nervures and stigma. The mandibles have 4 or 5 minute teeth and are fairly long.” Bulawayo; Grahamstown (Baines and Cherry). (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) Race LAEVIS, Santschi, var. ALEXIS, n. v. (Race) Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 312, 9, 1913. Bull. Lab. Zool. Sc. Agr. Portici, vol. 8, p. 378, 1914, ®. 2mm. This differs from race simplea as follows: Entirely smooth and shining, except a slight roughening of the dorsum of the epinotum and the lateral margins of the disc of the mesonotum. Pubescence adjacent, short and very sparse. Pilosity scanty, almost absent from the head and thorax, composed of whitish short and blunt hairs. The scape extends beyond the posterior margin of the head by one-third of its length; Ist joint of the flagellum as long as the 2nd and 38rd together (shorter in simplex), 2nd joint a trifle longer than wide, the 3rd one-fourth longer than wide. Pronotum convex transversely (a little flattened in simplez), as long as wide, the pro-mesonotal suture distinct. Mesonotum more convex than in simplex, the lateral cones of the epinotum less prominent and a little more acute. The scale of the petiole is more deeply emarginate, almost bidentate at the corners. It differs from Jaevis by the dull and striated mandibles, by the pronotum, which is quite one and a-half times wider than long, by the subdentate scale, and its slightly larger size. From var. minuta, Forel, it differs by the much longer scapes. Colour as in simplez. Hillside, Bulawayo. Nesting in the ground. (R.M., G.A. colls.; type in my collection.) Race HIRSUTA, Santschi, var. ELEVATA, Forel. (Race) Voyage d’Alluaud et Jeannel, Formicid., p. 124, 9, 1914. (Var.) Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sc. Nat., vol. 50, p. 249, 9, 1914. ®. 28-53 mm. Jet black, tibiae brown, tarsi yellowish-brown, basal half of the scape ochreous. Pilosity long, thin and whitish on 574. Annals of the South African Museum. the thorax and abdomen, shorter and brownish-white on the head, most abundant on the abdomen and epinotum, oblique and fairly long on the legs and scapes. Smooth and shining, except the meta- and epinotum, which are a little less shining and also coarsely and irregularly rugose, the rugae extending over the declivity. The sides of the epinotum are finely and longitudinally striate and somewhat dull. On the sides of the meso- and metathorax there are 2 or 3 very strong longitudinal rugae. The mesonotum, seen from above, is subquadrate, parallel-sided, the anterior margin nearly straight in the middle, not convex as in capensis, 1. sp., simplex and conveaiuscula, a trifle wider than long. The meso-metanotal and meta-epinotal sutures strongly clathrate. The metanotum is about half as long as the mesonotum and twice as wide as long. The epinotal teeth are raised towards their apices, more divergent than in capensis, directed more outwardly, and projecting over the sides of the epinotum when looked at direct from above. The declivity is longer than the dorsum; the latter seen from the side is straight. The petiole is as long as its scale is high, both the scale and its posterior peduncle fairly thick. The scale is bidentate above (the teeth narrow and acute), emareinate between the teeth. Abdomen rather large, high and very convex at the base. Nesting under a stone. Hillside, Bulawayo. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) A. EGREGIA, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 57, p. 148, 9, 1913. ®. 3-34mm. Closely allied to capensis-validiuscula and possibly only an extreme form of capensis. Black, tibiae and antennae brown, tarsi pale brown, basal three-fourths of the scape ochreous, mandibles reddish-yellow. Pilosity scanty, composed of thin, long and dark brown hairs on the abdomen, somewhat thicker and shorter on the head and thorax. Posterior half of the head with a very sparse, pale and decumbent pubescence. Very shining. The sculpture similar to that of validiuscula but a little stronger, composed of a very fine and altogether superficial reticulation ; a little coarser on the dorsum of the epinotum, which is also duller than the rest of the thorax. The sides of the meso- and metathorax longitudinally striate, the sides of the epinotum rugulose. Head like that of validiuscula. Mesonotum as long as wide, the anterior margin semi-circular ; metanotum as long as wide, quadrate, very little shorter than the mesonotum, with prominent stigmatic tubercles (in validiuscula and A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 575 capensis, i. sp., the metanotum is much wider than long, and widened considerably towards the base). Meso-metanotal impression wider and shallower than in validiuscula. The meta-epinotal suture deep, much deeper than in validiuscula. The dorsum of the epinotum is moderately concave transversly and convex lengthwise. It rises more steeply from its base than in capensis and its varieties. The teeth are more angular than in that species and directed more distinctly upwards. The brow of the declivity is strongly concave transversely ; the upper two-thirds of the declivity vertical or nearly so, the lower third oblique or subhorizontal, with a very prominent and dentiform stigma on each side. Petiole about as long as its seale is high, the peduncle behind shorter than its scale and shorter than in capensis. The scale is much thicker, especially at its base; above it is biden- tate and deeply emarginate between the teeth, the latter short and fairly acute (in some specimens the teeth are very short and almost blunt). Redbank, S. Rhodesia. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) v Race Santscuii, subsp. n. &. 4mm. Head subcircular, excluding the mandibles only a very little longer than wide, not narrower in front than behind (distinctly narrowed in front in the type). Pilosity much coarser, thicker and longer, more abundant on the back of the head and on the thorax than in the type. The femora have some exserted pilose hairs, which are absent in the type. The scape is longer, distinctly more than half its length extending beyond the hind margin of the head (hardly half in the type) ; 1st joint of the flagellum one-third longer than the 2nd (nearly twice as long as the 2nd in the type). The meso-metanotum is narrower and there is no distinct suture between the two segments as in the type-species, only a long and fairly deep concavity. Epi- notum like that of the type-species. Peduncle of petiole as long as the base of the scale. The latter is thicker above than in the type and its posterior face is strongly convex transversely (almost flat in egregia, i. sp.). The eyes are relatively larger and more convex. Cawston Farm, Umeusa, 8. Rhodesia. Easily distinguished from egregia type by its larger size, coarser and more abundant pilosity, which is present also on the femora, by the shape of the head and by the longer antennae. Possibly this form should rank as a distinct species. Type in my collection, 576 Annals of the South African Museum. / \} d A. SILVICOLA, 0. Sp. 5. 34-3°8 mm. Head dark reddish-brown, thorax and petiole piceous, abdomen black, tarsi brownish-yellow, flagellum and scapes brown, the basal two-thirds of the latter dark ochreous. Legs, petiole and abdomen shining, the rest of the body dull. Pilosity yellowish, long, exserted, fairly abundant all over including the legs and scapes, present also on the edge of the scale, longest and most plentiful on the head and abdomen. A scanty and decumbent pubescence on the man- dibles, flagellum and legs. Head, pronotum, epinotum and dorsum of the meso-metanotum very finely and densely granulate, the sides of the meso-metanotum sharply and longitudinally striate, the lower angles and margin of the epinotum smooth and shining. Scale smooth. Abdomen microscopically reticulate, finely punctured. Head, including the closed mandibles, subcircular, a trifle longer than wide. Eyes very Fia. 57.—Acantholepis silvicola, n. sp. large, placed just in front of the middle of the sides. Clypeus convex, its anterior margin arcuate, sharply carinate in the middle over the anterior two-thirds of its length. Mandibles 6-dentate, finely and closely striate. The scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by a little less than half their length. Head one-third wider than the pronotum. The latter is two-thirds wider than long, distinctly flattened above, its sides veryconvex. The thorax is strongly constricted at the mesonotum, which is barely half as wide as the pronotum and about as wide as long. Metanotum widened posteriorly, two-thirds as long in the middle as the mesonotum, separated from the latter by a wide and deep depression. Metanotal stigmata very prominent, sub- conical when seen in profile. Meta-epinotal suture deep. The dorsum of the epinotum rises abruptly and vertically from the suture, and is thence continued backwards and inclined upwards towards the posterior margin, which bears on each side a large and broad tubercle. Seen from the side these tubercles appear as wide and upturned teeth. Across the apices of the tubercles the dorsum of the epinotum is three times as wide as it is long in the middle. The declivity is wide and oblique, longer than the dersum. In front of the tubercles the dorsum A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 577 is slightly concave transversely. Petiole higher than long below, its scale inclined forwards. The dorsal edge of the scale is fairly thick and slightly emarginate in the middle; the anterior face of the scale is convex from above to below, the posterior face concave. Abdomen massive, subovate, very little longer than wide. ?. 6mm. Anterior wing 65 mm. long. Colour as in the %, but the anterior angles of the head and the greater part of the clypeus castaneous. An abundant, very fine, long and yellowish pubescence present all over, oblique on the cheeks behind the eyes, decumbent elsewhere. Pilosity yellowish, fairly abundant, outstanding, very short on the mesonotum. Head dull, thorax and abdomen moderately shining. Head and upper two-thirds of the epinotum finely and densely punctate and aciculate. Mesonotum and scutellum densely and fairly coarsely punctured, the abdomen and legs very finely and densely punctured. Scale smooth and shining. Head quadrate, as wide as long, slightly narrowed in front, the pos- terior margin straight, the posterior angles rounded. The eyes occupy the middle third of the sides. Mandibles and clypeus as in the 9. The scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by one-third of their length. Mesonotum one-third wider than long. Scutellum semi- circular, half as long as the mesonotum. Dorsum of the epinotum obsolete, the declivity subvertical: Scale much wider and thinner above than in the ¥, its dorsal edge trenchant and feebly excised in the middle. Abdomen oblong, half as long again as wide. Wings brownish-yellow, nervures brown. 6. 33mm. Dark brown, scutellum, epinotum and petiole reddish- brown, tarsi ochreous, femora ochreous at the base and apex and brown in the middle, mandibles and antennae smoky yellow. Shining. Meso- notum and abdomen very finely punctured, clypeus and sides of the head, between the eyes and frontal carinae, finely reticulate-punctate, the rest of the body smooth. Mandibles dull, 3-dentate and aciculate. Head as long as wide across the eyes, the sides behind the eyes and also the posterior margin straight, narrower behind than in front. The eyes occupy the middle third of the sides. Clypeus two and a quarter times wider than long in the middle, carinate. The scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by one-third of their length. Thorax like that of the ?, but the upper face of the epi- notum is oblique. Scale, seen from behind, trapezoidal, as long as wide above, where it is widest, the dorsal edge thin, the posterior face twice as long as the anterior and feebly convex from above to below. Base of abdomen concave transversely, Wings as in the ?., 578 Annals of the South African Museum. Amatongas Forest, Portuguese HE. A. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls. ; types in my collection.) Nesting in a decayed tree-stump in the shadiest part of the forest. This species is unlike any other of the genus known to me. The remarkably deep impressions in front and behind the metanotum and the peculiar shape of the epinotum are very distinctive. Genus PLAGIOLEPIS, Mayr. Europ. Formicid., p. 42, 1861. Characters. ®. Sometimes polymorphic, the forms differing chiefly in size, very little in structure. Antennae 11]*-jointed, without a club. Scape as long as the head or longer. Clypeus large. Frontal carinae short ; frontal area not well defined. ‘Traces of the ocelli are present. Pro- notum and epinotum large, usually much wider than the rest of the thorax. Pro-mesonotal suture distinct; meso-metanotal and meta- epinotal sutures more or less distinct. Epinotum unarmed. Scale of petiole usually inclined forwards, without a peduncle or with only a very short one. Q. Antennae 11*-jointed. Thorax similar to that of Acantholepis Q, but broader and shorter. Petiole as inthe 2. Abdomen usually very massive. Wings with a closed radial and one cubital cell; discoidal cell absent ¢. Antennae 12-jointed, the scape at least half as long as the flagellum. Genital armature large and exserted. Distribution.—Both hemispheres. V The genus may be divided into the following sub-genera : (4) 1. Metanotum distinctly defined in front and behind. é (3) 2. %. Metanotum very prominent, separated from the short and convex epinotum by a deep suture; the epinotum higher than the meta- netum. Rarely polymorphic (a sub-genus transitional to the genus Acantholepis) . . Sub-genus Anacantholepis, Santschi. (2) 3. %. Metanotum not prominent; meta-epinotal suture usually feeble ; epinotum oblique, not higher or not much higher than the metanotum. Small species, not polymorphic. 9. Not much larger than the §, but considerably larger than the ¢. g. Scapes not much longer than the head, the latter wider than long. Sub-genus Plagiolepis, Mayr, s. str. (1) 4. Metanotum indistinctly defined or almost obsolete. (6) 5. &. 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ADLARD & SON & WEST NEWMAN, LTD., 23, BartHotomew Cross, Lonpon. Messrs. WILLIAM WESLEY & SON, 28, Essex STREET, ae Lonpon, - Or THE LIBRARIAN, Sours Arrican Mutsrvm, Oise Town. i unl s ANNALS SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM VOLUME XIV. PART V, containing :— 1.—A Monograph of. the Formicidee of South Africa (Myrmi- cine). By George Arnotp, M.Sc., A.R.C.S., F.E.S., Curator of the Rhodesia Museum. Bulawayo, pp. 579-674. pare aN INstitgy “aoule Gp, aX mie \ A 1999 i a) ea tos MSs avaty : Bi WV, ‘thoy Aad Wass Bae ISSUED OCTOBER, 1922. PRICE 5s, PRINTED FOR THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM By P. W. M. Trap, LEIDEN. <\5 As 46 i #. tie. et. ae Teanga rae a A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 579 co. Scapes long, much longer than the head; the head as long as, or longer than wide . . Sub-genus Zealleyella, Arnold, n.s.-g. * (5) 6. 8. Meso-metanotal suture obsolete, the meta-epinotal suture very feeble. Dorsum of epinotum not very convex, not higher, or very little higher than the mesonotum. (head hardly narrower in front than behind; 2nd joint of the flagellum much shorter than the Ist). In some, if not all species, some of the 88 are used as honey-storage vessels, and have the abdomen thereby abnormally distended. Q. Not much larger than the 9. Sub-genus Anoplolepis, Santschi. * I had originally erected this sub-genus to include the species 7'rimeni, deceptor, Macgregort, decolor and melanaria. Fortunately before the revision of the type- script of these pages had been completed, I received a letter from Dr. Santschi, in which he points out that the type of his sub-genus Anoplolepis is precisely the Indian species, F. longipes Jerdon, in which the metanotum is not delimited from the mesonotum. In this character, longipes agrees with the five species mentioned above, although in the elongate and constricted form of the mesonotum it differs very considerably from any of them. However, as it seems to me that the absence of the meso-metanotal suture is a feature to which greater importance should be attached, the five especies should be’ placed with longipes in the sub- genus Anoplolepis. On the other hand, it is quite clear that the species custodiens, Steingroevert and Brawnsi which were cited by Santschi as belonging to his new sub-genus (see Voyage de Alluaud et Jeannel, p. 123, 1914) can not be attached to the same group as longipes, and I therefore propose to transfer the name Zealleyella to a new sub-genus to include those three species. I have much plea- sure in naming this sub-genus in honour of my friend the late Mr. A. E. V. Zealley, of the Geological Survey of S. Rhodesia and formerly Curator of the Rhodesia Museum. . Key to the species of Plagiolepis, 8 8, e (repletes or honey-vessels not included). (10) i. Metanotum small, much less than half as long as the mesonotum, the meso metanotal suture feeble or obsolete, at least in the 68 minima, (sub-genus Zealleyella). . (7) 2. Epinotum very convex and much higher than the meso-metanotum ; 88 usually polymorphic. (4) 3. Thorax (and abdomen) dull, clothed with a dense, decumbent and rather silky pubescence z : custodiens, Smith. (3) 4. Thorax more or less shining, at tear the angngianr with a sparse pube- scence or none at all. (6) 5. 8 major: scale of petiole thinner above than below; sides of head dis- tinctly convex. 8 minor: whole body moderately shining, particularly the head and pronotum; meso-metanotal suture feeble Steingroevert, Forel. (5) 6. 3 major: scale as thick above as below; sides of head only slightly convex; % minor: body very shining; meso-metanotal suture stronger . Braunsi, Forel. 37 580 @) Tt. (ish) 8, (10) 9. (9) 10. (8) 11. (13) 12. (12) 13. (15) 14. (14) 15. (1) 16. (28) 17. (21) 18 (20) 19. (19) 20. (18) 21. (23) 2, (22) 23. (25) 24. (24) 25. (27) 26. (26) 27. (17) 28. (34) 29. (33) 30. (82) 31. Annals of the South African Museum. Epinotum not very convex or gibbous, not higher than the meso-meta- notum ; $9 all of the same size, excepting some which are used as honey- storage vessels and have the abdomen artificially distended, (sub-genus Anoplolepis). Scapes barely extending beyond the hind margin of the head; the head as wide as long, only in the smallest workers a trifle (1/10th) longer than wide. Mesonotum wider than long; colour more or less ochreous Trimemi, Forel. Mesonotum longer than wide; colour dark brown Macgregort, Arnold. Scapes extending beyond the hind margin of the head by at least one- fifth of their length; head at least one-sixth longer than wide. Sculpture of head and thorax distinct, reticulate-punctate deceptor, Arnold. Sculpture feeble, merely rugulose. Fairly shining; colour and pilosity black . . melanaria, Arnold. Dull; colour and pilosity more or less ochreous Trimemi, var. karrooensis, Arnold. Metanotum at least half as long as the mesonotum. Metanotum very prominent, separated from the mesonotum by a deep and wide concavity, and from the epinotum by a strong suture, (sub genus Anacantholepis). . Scapes extend beyond the hind margin of the head by at least one-fourth of their length. J Scapes extend beyond the hind ae by about four-fifths of their length ; thorax black . : : Deweti, Forel. Scapes extend beyond the here margin by a, little more than one-fourth of their length; thorax testaceous Van den Kelleni, Forel, race polita, Sants. Scapes much shorter. ; Head and thorax dull; the scape barely extends beyond the hind margin of the head . ; F 6 : Van den Kelleni, Forel. Head and thorax shining, or at least not quite dull; scape longer. Colour entirely black . ; ; 6 . Jouberti, Forel. Colour partly red or yellow. Head and thorax only slightly shining Van den Kelleni, var. tricolor, Forel. Head and thorax very shining 5 . 5 decora, Santschi. Metanotum not very prominent, separated by narrow sutures from both the meso- and the epinotum; or, if the meso-metanotal suture is large, then the metanotum is not prominent (Srunnz). (sub-genus Plagiolepis s.str.). Meso-metanotal and meta-epinotal sutures moderately distinct. The scape extends beyond the hind margin of the head by at least one- fifth of its length. Meta- and epinotum transversely rugulose and dull; meso-metanotal suture not deep : 5 pygmaea, var. bulawayensis, Arnold. . Meta- and epinotum amon and shining; meso-metanotal suture deep pygmaea, var. intermedia, Emery. A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 581 (30) 33. The scape just reaches the hind margin of the head pygmaea, Latr. (29) 34. Meta-epinotal suture very shallow; the scape barely extends beyond the hind margin of the head. (38) 35. Colour chiefly brown or brownish red, at least the abdomen brown. (37) 36. Thorax dark ochreous ; : pygmaea, var. mima, Arnold. (36) 37. Thorax brown or reddish brown pygmaea, var. punctum, Forel. (35) 38. Colour mainly dark orange-ochreous, only with blackish patches here and there, chiefly on the abdomen. (40) 39. Pubescence fairly abundant, especially on the abdomen and the sides of the head : , : : Brunni, var. pubescens, Forel. (39) 40. Pubescence scanty, almost wanting on the abdomen Brunm, Mayr. P. rufescens Santschi, P. fuscule Emery and P. decolor Emery being unknown to me in nature, are not included in the above key; P. capensis Mayr is a synonym of Acantholepis capensis. Mayr. P. nuptialis Santschi is known only in the & sea, and cannot therefore be included in the key. Sus-Genus ANACANTHOLEPIS, Santschi. Goteborgs Kungl. Vetens. och Vitterh. Handl. XV, 2. p. 36, 1914. For characters see table of sub-genera. P. (sub-gen. ANACANTHOLEPIS) DEcorA, Santschi. OCs Cit. Pp.) 30,2: 8. 4:6-1:°38 mm. Bright ochreous or amber yellow, the head with a reddish tinge in many specimens. Cheeks in front of the eyes, the apical third or more of the flagellum, the bases of the femora, the peduncle of the petiole and a spot on the sides of the first two abdominal segments brown. The spots on the abdomen are variable in size, sometimes limited to a triangular patch near the apical margin, and in other cases covering the whole of the sides of the segments. Smooth and shining, only the antennae slightly dull. A microscopic pubescence on the antennae, and a few brownish, sub- erect hairs on the margins of the abdominal segments, otherwise ‘almost glabrous. Head subrectangular, with the corners widely rounded, the sides and posterior margin moderately convex, one fifth longer than wide. Eyes placed well in front of the middle of the sides. Clypeus and its anterior margin convex. The scape extends beyond the posterior margin of the head by a little less than the length of the 1st joint of the flagellum; the latter is longer than the 2nd and 3rd joints taken together. Pronotum convex, about as long 582 Annals of the South African Museum. as wide, forming with the mesonotum a convexity which is a little higher behind than in front. Mesonotum a little wider than long, as long as the metanotum, from which it is separated by a deep suture. The metanotum, seen in profile, is angular, the stigmata placed at the apex of the angle, the anterior plane a little longer than the subvertical posterior plane. Meta-epinotal suture fairly deep. Kpinotum convex, the dorsum twice as wide as long. Scale sub- ovate, rounded transversely above, as high as the petiole is long. Q. 33 mm. (hitherto undescribed). Dark brown, the mandibles, antennae and legs brownish ochreous, the femora somewhat darker or yellowish brown. Head, thorax and petiole shining, the abdomen moderately so, the legs and antennae subopaque. Clothed with a very fine, decumbent greyish yellow pubescence, which is most abundant on the abdomen, and rather scanty on the dorsum of the thorax. Apical margins of the abdominal segments with a few long brown hairs. Head and abdomen closely and microscopically punctured, the vertex rather sparsely, the thorax almost impunctate above. Head subquadrate, hardly narrowed in front, the posterior angles narrowly rounded, the posterior margin shallowly concave in the middle. Mesonotum and scutellum flat above; the former is as long as wide between the tegulae, the scutellum a little less than half as long as the mesonotum. The dorsum and declivity of the epmotum form a single oblique plane when seen in profile. Scale of petiole wider above than below, nearly as wide as high, the anterior face convex transversely, inclined forwards. Deiilated. Stamford Hill, Natal (Traegaordh); Durban, (Arnold, Bell-Marley). The examples in my collection had been erroneously determined by Dr. Forel as P. Brunni Mayr, to which they bear a very strong likeness, but from which they may be easily distinguished by their larger size and by the very different structure of the thorax. (S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.; type of 9 in my collection). P. (sub-gen. ANACANTHOLEPIS) DEwert1, Forel. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. vol. 48, p. 423, 8, QO. 1904. 8. 2:5-2°7 mm. Mandibles Smooth, shining, with a few large punctures, armed with 5 or 6 unequal teeth. Clypeus subcarinate, the anterior margin convex. Frontal carinae short. Eyes fairly large, placed barely in front of the middle of the sides. Three distinct ocelli, Head oval-rectangular, the posterior margin rounded at the A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 583 corners, straight in the middle. The scapes extend beyond the occiput by almost half their length. Second joint of the flagellum half as long as the Ist, one and a half times longer than wide. Thorax bi-emarginate. The mesonotum is constricted in the middle as in Acantholepis, forming in profile, a saddle-shaped depression. Its anterior portion forms with the pronotum the usual convexity. Its posterior portion, seen from the side, is cuneiform, almost acute and almost sub-bidentate at the summit, descending in a slope towards the deep meta-epinotal suture. The epinotum forms a rounded and high boss, the dorsum convex and ascendant, the declivity almost flat. Scale low, subrectangular, inclined forwards. Epinotum and clypeus subopaque, finely but distinctly rugose transversely. The rest of the body shining and almost smooth, except the abdomen which is feebly shagreened.