810 



Sixteen workers from Ellery Creek in the MacDonnell 

 Ranges. The typical longiceps is also taken in Central Aus-^ 

 tralia (Tennant Creek). 



12. Crematogaster xerophila, n. sp. 



Worker. — Length, 2"5-2"8 mm. 



Head subrectangular, very little broader than long, witli 

 straight, parallel sides and posterior border. Eyes rather 

 convex, behind the median transverse diameter of the head. 

 Mandibles narrow^, apparently 4-toothed. Clypeus very con- 

 vex, with straight, entire anterior margin. Frontal carinae^ 

 extremely small; frontal area distinct, triangular; frontal 

 groove short and rather indistinct. Antennae 11 -jointed ; 

 scapes reaching a little beyond the posterior border of the- 

 head : funiculus with a 2 -jointed club : joints 3-8 as broad as 

 long. Thorax rather small and narrow ; promesonotal suture 

 indistinct or obsolete ; jDronotum and mesonotum bluntly 

 margined on the sides, together as broad as long, with broadly- 

 rounded humeri, rapidly narrowing behind to the mesoepinotal 

 constriction, which is pronounced. In profile the dorsal sur- 

 face is flattened and the mesonotum without a carina, falling 

 rather abruptly behind to the mesoepinotal suture. Epinotum 

 with a very short base and a large, concave declivity between 

 the spines, which are broad at the base, rapidly tapering and 

 acute, as long as the base of the epinotum, laterally compressed 

 and directed outward, upward, and backward. Petiole dis- 

 tinctly longer than broad, as broad behind as in front, with 

 straight parallel sides, much rounded anterior and slightly 

 rounded posterior corners. In profile it is wedge-shaped, 

 narrow in front, with straight ventral and dorsal surfaces. 

 Postpetiole globose, as broad as the petiole, without a trace of 

 a longitudinal furrow or posterior emargination. Gaster 

 acutely pointed, with straight anterior border. 



Shining ; mandibles and clypeus longitudinally rugulose ; 

 cheeks and sides of front finely striated, remainder of head 

 glabrous, wdth fine, scattered, piligerous punctures. Thorax 

 more opaque, its sides finely and densely punctate-rugulose, 

 upper-surface of pronotum and mesonotum very coarsely and 

 reticulately rugose. Concavity of epinotum shining, super- 

 ficially and finely punctate. Petiole, postpetiole, and gaster 

 smooth and shining. Hairs yellowish, sparse, slender, and 

 tapering, erect on the body, short and appressed on the 

 appendages. Anterior surfaces of the antennal scapes with a 

 few erect hairs. Pubescence absent on the body. Chestnut- 

 brown ; head and gaster blackish ; femora and tibiae darker 

 than the thorax. In one specimen the thorax is as dark as the 

 head. Described from five workers taken at Moorilyanna. 



