28 Journal New York Entomological Society. Voi. xvii. 



9. Iridomyrmex nitidus Mayr. 



Worker. — Length 4.5-5 mm. 



Head, excluding the mandibles, about one fourth longer than broad, narrowed 

 posteriorly and anteriorly. Posterior margin clearly excised. Eyes distinctly in 

 front of the middle. Mandibles with numerous teeth. Clypeus with broadly rounded 

 anterior margin. Frontal area large, and, like the frontal groove, indistinct. Anten- 

 nal scapes surpassing the posterior corners of the head by about one sixth their length ; 

 joints I, 2 and II of the funiculus fully twice as long as broad, remaining joints but 

 little longer than broad, subequal. Thorax slender, pronotum distinctly narrower 

 than the head, somewhat protuberant but flattened, broader than long ; mesonotum 

 regularly elliptical, one and one half times as long as broad. Mesoepinotal con- 

 striction deep and broad, flattened at the bottom. Epinotum long, with subequal 

 base and declivity, the former flat in profile and falling off abruptly in front, with a 

 vertical surface as long as the length of the mesoepinotal depression with which it 

 forms a right angle. Declivity forming a rounded, obtuse angle with the base. 

 Petiole higher but narrower than the epinotum, with flattened posterior and slightly 

 convex anterior surface and rounded border, slightly produced in the middle above. 

 Legs rather long. 



Smooth and shining throughout ; very finely, sparsely, and indistinctly punctate ; 

 mandibles subopaque, more densely but finely punctate. 



Hairs and pubescence grayish, the former short, suberect or erect and scattered 

 longer on the trunk, inconspicuous or lacking on the antennal scapes and legs. 

 Pubescence very sparse, most distinct on the gaster, but not concealing the shining 

 surface. 



Dark chestnut brown ; mandibles, clypeus, tarsi, articulations of legs, neck, 

 mouth-parts, lower surface of head, thorax and petiole, brownish-yellow. 



Female. — Length 8.5 mm. 



Head similar to that of worker, but with somewhat sharper posterior corners and 

 the clypeus bluntly but distinctly carinate. Thorax long and through the wing in- 

 sertions considerably broader than the head. Prothorax with rounded sides sloping 

 gradually forward to the neck. Mesonotum longer than broad. Epinotum rounded, 

 without distinct basal and declivous surfaces. Petiole thick anteroposteriorly, espe- 

 cially at the base, but becoming suddenly more attenuated towards the apex in profile, 

 with flattened posterior surface and faintly notched superior border. Legs long and 

 stout. 



Less shining than the worker; finely and indistinctly punctate. Mandibles sub- 

 opaque and densely punctate. 



Hairs and pubescence grayish, both much more abundant than in the worker 

 and concealing the shining surface. The scapes and legs with erect hairs like those 

 on the body. 



Dark chestnut brown, nearly black, mandibles, clypeus and tarsi reddish. Ante- 

 rior half of pronotum dull orange. Wings smoky brown, with brown veins and 

 stigma and a single cubital cell. 



Alale. — Length 3.5 mm. 



Head, excluding the mandibles, a little longer than broad, subrectangular. 

 Mandibles bidentate, the terminal tooth very long and acute; eyes in front of the 

 middle ; cheeks short, slightly concave ; posterior corners of head rounded ; clypeus 



