72 ME. smith's catalogue of htmenoptebous insects 



This is perhaps the most remarkable genus hitherto characterized 

 amongst the Formicidce ; it presents one of those anomalies which 

 perplex the naturalist. In the aculeate division of the Hymeno- 

 ptera, we have felt that there existed in every species certain un- 

 deviating and tangible characters, whereby the sex at least might 

 always be discriminated ; namely, an additional segment to the 

 abdomen, whereby to distinguish the males, as well as an addi- 

 tional joint to the antennsB ; the number of joints in the male 

 being thirteen, and twelve in the female. It is true that one or 

 two exceptions have been recorded: thus, the male of Crahro 

 vagus, amongst the fossorial group, has only twelve perceptible 

 joints to the antennsa ; and amongst the Abides, the males of the 

 genus Coelioxys have apparently only six segments in the abdo- 

 men ; in the latter case, however, a seventh segment is concealed, 

 or retracted, within the sixth segment ; and in all probability, in 

 the fossorial insect, a joint is concealed within the apex of the 

 scape. In the present genus we find, however, so wide a departure 

 jfrom the normal condition, that it stands almost alone, as an ex- 

 ception to the general rule. In the * Transactions of the Entomo- 

 logical Society,' vol. ii. of the 2nd series, I established a genus 

 {Orectognathm) on characters exhibited in a neuter Ant, the 

 insect having only five joints in the antennae ; but as a neuter 

 cannot be fairly considered the perfect condition of a species, I 

 have thought it possible that the discovery of the other sexes 

 might prove that I had been premature in establishing a genus 

 on the imperfect condition of the species. This cannot be urged 

 in the present instance, as both the female and worker are de- 

 scribed, and neither of them has more than six joints in the 

 flagellum. 



1. Heptacondylus arachnoides. H. capite thoraceque Isevissimis 

 nitidis rufo-testaceis ferrugineo-subnebulosis; abdomine obscure rufo- 

 piceo nitido ; pedibus elongatis gracilibus pubescentibus. 



Female. Length 4^ Hnes. Head and thorax rufo-piceous, with dark fer- 

 ruginous stains on the vertex, scutellum, and metathorax posteriorly; 

 also two longitudinal lines of the same colour on the disk of the 

 mesothorax; the abdomen very dark rufo-piceous, with the three 

 apical segments pale rufo-testaceous ; the entire insect very smooth 

 and shining. The mandibles produced, with three black teeth at the 

 apex, and one on the inner margin towards the apex ; the antennae 

 pubescent; the thorax with scattered pale pubescence; the wings 

 flavo-hyaline, the nervures pale testaceous ; the legs elongate, with 

 the apex of the joints and the tarsi pale rufo-testaceous; thickly 

 covered with erect pale pubescence. Abdomen covered with pale 



