28 HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA. 



PONERA, Latr. 



Head transverse in the $ , sub-elongate in ? and ^ > 

 antennee filiform and thirteen-jointed in the $ clavate and 

 twelve-jointed in the ? and 5 , ocelli and compound eyes 

 large in the $ , small in the ? , the former absent in the 

 5 , and the compound eyes present but exceedingly small 

 in both of our Bi'itish species. Maxillary palpi in the <S 

 four-jointed, labial palpi three-jointed ; in the ? and ? 

 maxillary palpi one to two-jointed, labial palpi two-jointed, 

 mandibles narrow with blunt apices in the (J, broad and 

 triangular in the ? and ^ ; wings with two submarginal 

 cells ; abdomen constricted in all the forms between the 

 second .and third segments ; apex of abdomen in the ^ 

 simple or with a down curved spine on the dorsal valve ; 

 legs slender in the S and the tarsi very long, rather robust 

 in the ? and 5 • We have two species of the four recorded 

 from Europe. 



(2) 1. Apical dorsal valve of (J with a down curved 



spine, surface of the head in the ? and 



$ dull, and with the eyes small, not 



nearly touching the base of the 



mandibles, 5 puncturation distinct . contracta. 

 (1) 2. Apical dorsal valve of ^ simple, surface of 



head iu $ and 2 somewhat shining, ? 



eyes large, nearly touching the base of 



the mandibles, 5 puncturation so 



exceedingly fine and close as to be 



scarcely distinguishable .... punctatissima. 



P. contracta, Latr. — S black brown, shining, antennae 

 and legs piceous ; antennae very long, reaching to about the 

 middle of the abdomen ; wings hyaline, apical spine of the 

 abdomen pale. 



? and 5 pals piceous, head dai-ker, legs testaceous; 

 head dull, the puncturation exceedingly close; maxillary 

 palpi two-jointed ; thorax and abdomen somewhat shining, 

 abdomen clothed with scattered pale hairs, more abundantly 

 towards the apex, puncturation fine but not very close; 



