304 



thick ; abdomen longer than in the $ , somewhat narrower, with 

 the base of the 1st segment not gibbous. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Antennae lonpr, the scape extending beyond [p. 304. 



the top of the head T. melanocephalum, 



b. Antennae short, the scape not extending beyond 



the top of the head T. indicum, p. 304. 



345. Tapinoma melanocephalum, Fubr. (Formica), Ent. Syst. ii 



(1793), p. 35:5 ; lord, Jour. Komb. A. H. Sue. ix (1895), p. 472, $ . 

 Formica nnna, Jerd. Madr. Jour. L. S. xvii (1851), p. 125, . 

 Myrmica pellucida. Smith, Cat. \\ (1858), p. 124, $. 



g . Head, sometimes the thorax also, fuscous, dark brownish 

 red or black ; thorax and abdomen, or abdomen alone, pale brownish 

 or yellowish white. Head, thorax and abdomen somewhat 

 smooth, with a few scattered erect, hnirs ; pubescence in fresh or 

 living specimens very sparse, whitish in colour, but distinctly seen 

 when viewed in certain lights. Head longer than broad, oval, 

 not emarginate, rounded posteriorly ; mandibles triangular, broad, 

 with the masticatory margin equal to the outer margin and armed 

 with numerous minute teeth ; clvpeus evenly but hghtly convex, 

 broader than high, its anterior margin transverse or slightly 

 arched ; antennae somewhat thick, the scape long, the joints of the 

 flage'lum longer than broad ; eyes comparatively large, placed 

 rather forward. Thorax Aiewed from the side not emarginate, the 

 pro-meso-and meso-metanotal sutures, however, distinct, the thorax 

 slightly constricted at the latter suture; the basal portion of the 

 metanotum very short, passing into the much longer obliquely- 

 sloping portion by an obtuse angle ; legs moderately stout. Pedicel 

 short ; abdomen elongate, oval. 



Lenr/th, $ 1-5 to barely 2 mm. 



Hab. Throughout our limits and spread through the tropics of 

 both hemispheres. I have seen specimens imported into the Kew 

 Gardens with plants. 



346. Tapinoma indicum, Ford, Jour. Bomb. N. H. Soc. ix (1895). 



p. 472, $. 



g . Resembles T. melanocephalum, Fabr. : differs in being sub- 

 opaque, not shining, of a reddish or brownish yellow all oxer; the 

 mandibles, antenna? and leg* pale yellow ; pilosity apparently 

 entirely wanting : pubescence tdin, silky white, visible only in 

 certain l ; glits. Head broader posteriorly and shorter than in 

 T. melawotephahtm. Mandibles and clypens similar, the posterior 

 margin of the latter, however, clearly deHned ; antennae shorter, 

 joints 3-8 of tie flagellum not lorger than broad. Thorax pro- 

 portionately much broader in front, and posteriorly Literally 

 compressed ; seen in profile not emarginate, but the sutures as 



