PRENOLEPIS. 327 



emarginate at the mesonotum ; metanotum rounded, the hasal 

 portion passing into the apical portion with a gentle curve ; legs 

 remarkably long and slender. Node of the pedicel not so broad as 

 high, rounded above ; abdomen anteriorly gibbous, oval, massive. 



$ . Proportionately very much larger than the $ , similar in 

 colour but slightly darker, the apical margins of the abdominal 

 segments markedly pale ; head, thorax and abdomen entirely 

 devoid of the erect hairs so conspicuous in the g , but covered with 

 a fairly abundant silky pale pubescence. Head subtriangular, 

 very convex, broader posteriorly than in front. Ocelli present and 

 distinct. Thorax: the pronotum vertical, forming no part of the 

 dorsum ; mesonotum broad and convex ; scutellum slightly com- 

 pressed, medially longitudinally furrowed. Node of the pedicel 

 low and inconspicuous, completely overhung by the very large 

 massive abdomen. 



c? . Similar to the $ , but much paler in colour, with the same 

 erect rather coarse pilosity. Head oval, eyes and ocelli very large 

 and prominent ; mandibles narrow and feeble ; clypeus as in the . 

 Thorax and abdomen moderately massive, the latter elongate, oval, 

 convex above ; the external genitalia large and prominent. 



Length, 2-5-3 ; $ 5'5 ; 3 3 mm. 



Hob. Throughout our limits, and introduced and spread over all 

 tropical countries. This ant is not uncommon in hot-houses and 

 large conservatories even in Europe. 



372. Prenolepis melanogaster, Emery, Ann. Mm. Civ. Gen. xxxiv 



(1894), p. 476, 5. 



$ . Head, thorax, legs and node of pedicel bright orange-brown, 

 abdomen jet-black ; the whole insect covered with abundant long, 

 erect, yellow hairs ; head and thorax feebly punctured, subopaque ; 

 abdomen polished and shining. Head without the mandibles 



Fig. 98. Prenolepis mclanogastcr, $ . a. Head. 



broader than long, viewed from the front almost circular, the 

 cheeks strongly convex ; mandibles large, subtriangular, the 

 masticatory margin broad, very oblique, strongly dentate, the 

 apical tooth very long and curved ; clypeus convex, broader than 

 high its anterior margin almost straight, only slightly rounded and 



