TAPINOMA ERRATICA. 1/ 



margine leviter exsecta ; alis hyalinis, nervis et stigmatibus 

 pallide fuscis. 



Operaria. — Nigra, nitida, glabra ; pedibus fuscis, articulis tar- 

 sisque pallidis ; squama sicut in fcemina. 



Mas. — Niger, nitidiusculus ; antennis tborace longioribus ; man- 

 dibulis raultidentatis, apice acutissime, pedum articulis tar- 

 sisque pallide rufescentibus ; squama crassa, oblonga, supra 

 rotundata ; alis fusco-hyalinis ; abdomine oblongo-ovato. 



Formica erratica, Latr. Hist. Nat. Fourm. p. 182 $ . 



Nyl. Form. Fr. et d' Alger, p. 71 . 

 Formica glabrella, Nyl. Addit. Alt. Mon. Form. Bor. p. 38. 

 Tapinoma collina, Foerst. Hym. Stud. Form. p. 43. 



Schenck, Beschr. Nass. Arnei$.\>. 67. 

 Tapinoma erratica, Smith, Brit. Form. p. 111. 1. 

 Tapinoma erraticum, Mayr. Form. Austr. p. 101. 1. 



Female. Length 2-2 j lines. — Black, smooth and shining, with a 

 fine thin cinereous pile, frequently more or less obliterated ; the 

 articulations of the legs and the tarsi pale rufo-testaceous ; the 

 clypeus notched in the middle of its anterior margin ; scale of 

 the petiole decumbent, hidden beneath the basal segment of 

 the abdomen. 



Worker. Length H line. — Black, smooth and shining, with 

 a slight cinereous glittering pile ; mandibles, antenna? and legs 

 dark fuscous, the articulations of the latter and the tarsi pale 

 testaceous ; the extreme base of the scape and the teeth of the 

 mandibles ferruginous ; the thorax compressed slightly behind ; 

 the scale of the petiole decumbent, as in the female. In some 

 individuals the thorax is obscure rufo-testaceous as well as the 

 legs. 



"B 



Male. Length 2 lines. — Black, or obscure fuscous, very slightly 

 pilose ; antennas longer than the head and thorax ; the ocelli 

 prominent and glassy bright ; the articulations of the legs and 

 the tarsi pale ; wings fusco-hyaline, their nervures and stigma 

 fusco-testaceous ; scale of the abdomen incrassate, decumbent, 

 but not concealed, as in the worker. Abdomen elongate-ovate, 

 the margins of the segments very narrowly and obscurely tes- 



o 



taceous. 



This insect was first captured in this country by Mr. Dale, 

 who took specimens at Bournemouth, and also in Scotland ; it 

 is widely distributed, as Mr. Grant found it at Coombe Wood 

 and also at Weybridge. Mr. S. Stevens has met with it near 

 Guildford, Surrey. 



