456 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



149. Apterostigma branneri, sp. nov. 



Plate 5, fig. 37. 



Worker. Length 5 mm. 



Near A. caherti Wheeler. Head, excluding mandibles one and 

 three fourth times as long as broad, with nearly straight sides, as 

 broad in front as behind. Posterior portion convex, behind con- 

 tracted into a rather short neck, the sides of which are straight, the 

 posterior angles somewhat prolonged and the border between them 

 truncate. Eyes convex, located a little behind the middle of sides of 

 head. Clypeus twice as long as broad, Avith rounded anterior border. 

 Mandibles with seven subequal teeth. Frontal carinae in front 

 strongly lobed, behind these becoming very feeble, the posterior por- 

 tion shorter than the lobes. Antennal scape extending nearly one 

 half its length past the occipital corners, first funicular joint nearly 

 as long as the three succeeding joints together; joints 2-9 broader 

 than long. Thorax elongate. Pronotum with a moderately strong 

 anterior border, which is slightly reflexed. Mesonotum with a pair 

 of subparallel longitudinal ridges. Epinotum with similar ridges ex- 

 tending along base, and to base of declivity. In profile the declivity 

 of the epinotum is nearly straight and about as long as the slightly 

 convex base; the angle between the two surfaces rounded. Petiole 

 from above less than twice as long as broad, sides convex, evenly 

 narrowed anteriorly to the point of insertion. In profile the node is 

 rounded, more than half as high as the length of the petiole. Post- 

 petiole slightly broader than long, broadest a little behind the middle, 

 the sides evenly rounded; posterior border very slightly convex. 

 Gaster elliptical, without a longitudinal ridge on each side. Legs 

 long, rather stout. 



Mandibles feebly shining, finely longitudinally striate and sparsely 

 punctate. Funiculus of antennae slightly shining, the rest opaque, 

 very densely punctate. 



Hairs abundant, long, suberect, dark at base, lighter towards apex. 

 Pubescence very short. 



Color dark brown, funiculus lighter. 



Female. Length 5.25 mm. 



Closely resembling the worker. The eyes are larger. Mesothorax 

 without longitudinal ridges. Scutellum with two broad, blunt teeth. 

 Base and declivity of epinotum equal, meeting to form an obtuse 

 angle; base with faint parallel ridges. Wings opaque, dark fuscous, 



