TAPINOMA ERRATICA. 17 



margine leviter exsecta; alls hyalinis, nervis et stigmatibus 

 pallide fuscis. 



per aria. Nigra, nitida, glabra ; pedibus fuscis, articulis tar- 

 sisque pallidis ; squama sicut in foemina. 



Mas. Niger, nitidiusculus ; antennis thorace longioribus ; man- 

 dibulis multidentatis, 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 5 . 



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. 



Schencfc, Beschr. Nass. Ameis. p. 67. 

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

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



Female. Length 2-2| 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, antennae 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. 



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

 pilose ; antennae 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- 

 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, Surrev. 



