466 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



anterior lobe rather well-developed, rounded on the sides and feebly 

 and narrowly emarginate in the middle. Antennae slender, scapes 

 not compressed, surpassing the posterior corners of the head by about 

 5 their length. Thorax slender, in profile rather low and long, com- 

 pressed posteriorly, the dorsal surface evenly convex, the base of the 

 epinotum nearly twice as long as the declivity into which it passes 

 through a distinct angle. Petiole small and narrow, higher than broad, 

 with convex anterior and flat posterior surface, the border moderately 

 sharp, rounded on the sides, slightly truncated in the middle above or 

 even somewhat conical. Gaster rather small and narrow. Legs 

 slender; tibiae neither compressed nor grooved, the posterior pairs 

 without a series of bristles on their flexor surfaces. 



jSIandibles shining, coarsely and somewhat densely punctate, sub- 

 striate near the base. Head opaque, with only the anterior corners 

 shining, densely punctate, with the sides, posterior corners and the 

 clypeus evenly covered with scattered, shallow piligerous punctures. 

 Thorax and petiole opaque, more finely and densely punctate than the 

 head. Gaster rather shining, finely, transversely shagreened and with 

 sparse piligerous punctures. 



Hairs fulvous, erect, rather long and abundant on the dorsal and 

 gular surfaces of the head, thoracic dorsum, petiolar border, and 

 gaster. On the vertex and sides of the head, epinotum and upper 

 surface of the gaster there are also short, sparse, appressed hairs, 

 representing a very coarse, sparse pubescence. Antennal scapes with 

 denser and finer, subappressed hairs or pubescence. Legs covered 

 with similar but longer and stiffer hairs especially conspicuous on the 

 tibiae. 



Mandibles dark red with black teeth and bases or black through- 

 out; head black, its posterior fifth often rich reddish brown. Thorax 

 and gaster dark brown, the sutures of the former, posterior segmental 

 borders of the latter and the petiole brownish yellow or yellowish 

 brown. Antennal scapes and base of first funicular joint black, 

 remainder of funiculus dull fulvous. Legs brownish yellow, the 

 femora sometimes darker. 



Worker minima. (Fig. 2 b). Length 4.5-5.5 mm. 



Head about ^ longer than broad, a little broader in front than at 

 the level of the eyes, with straight sides and rounder, converging 

 postocular borders. Mandibles with G subequal teeth. Clypeus 

 sharply carinate, the anterior border rounded and entire, its edge 

 indistinctly crenulate. Antennae slender; scapes reaching about 

 half their length beyond the posterior border of the head. Thorax 

 and petiole like those of the maxima. 



