MANX: ANTS OF TIIK HHITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS. 287 



convex, flattened anteriorly, the border evenly rounded. Mandibles stout, 

 dentate similar to those of worker. Antenna) scape e.xtending two thirds the 

 distance to occipital corners. First flagellar joint one fifth the length of the 

 second, which is as long as the scape; joints 3-12 gradually shorter than the 

 preceding; terminal joint slighth' longer than penultimate. Thorax robast; 



Fig. 5. — Rhytidoponera (Rhytidoponera) araneoides froggatti ForeL Worker. 



scutellum prominent, convex, a little broader than long. Declivity of epino- 

 tum longer than the base and flattened. Petiole more than twice as long as 

 high, convex above at middle, from above, longer than broad, sides slightly 

 convex. Genitaha not prominent. 



Shining, head and thorax irregularlj', rugosely sculptured. Epinotum and 

 petiole transversely strigose. First segment of gaster very densely and finely 

 arcuatety striate; striae of second segment similar, but more concentric. 

 Mandibles longitudinally strigose. 



Head and body with moderately abundant fine, erect hairs. 



Color fuscous throughout; mandibles, antennae, and tarsi paler. Pilosity 

 black. 



Wings (length 5.7 mm.) infuscated. 



Ysabel: Fulakora. San Cristoval: Pamua, ^Yainoni Bay. Ugi: 

 Pawa. Florida: Tulagi, ]Maliali. ISIalaita: Auki, near Fourafi, in 

 the interior. Rendova. 



There appear to be no local varieties of this species which ranges 

 throughout the group. Probably it is confined to the British Solo- 

 mons, for it is very common where it occurs and would have been 

 recorded from further east if found there. I did not find any other 

 species of this genus, which is well developed in New Guinea. 



R. froggatii lives generally in or beneath hollow logs lying on the 

 ground, sometimes in colonies numbering several hundred but more 

 frequently with less. It is a timid species, hustling its dark brown 

 pupae and the larvae into the nearest shelter and huddUng there when 



