A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 21 



arcuate, posterior angles rounded. Clypeus smooth and without 

 carinae, sloping inwards, fused posteriorly in the middle with the 

 frontal area ; its posterior margin is raised, and bears on each side 

 just below and external to the frontal carinae, a rounded, prominent 

 tubercle which projects over the mandible when looked at from the 

 side. The frontal carinae are flattened and produced into a rounded 

 lobe in front, they diverge in front and behind and terminate at a 

 point on a level with tbe anterior margins of the eyes. The latter 

 are very large. The ocelli are very small ; the space between them 

 is fuscous. The mandibles are triangular, very convex dorsally, the 

 external margin shallowly concave, tbe masticatory margin edentate. 

 The scape of the antenna is strongly compressed dorso-ventrally, 

 widest at the apex and almost triangular, or twice as long as the 

 apical width ; it just reaches back as far as the anterior margin of 

 the eyes. The flagellum is 10-jointed, the 1st joint is about as long 

 as wide, the 2nd-9th joints much wider than long, the apical joint 

 longer than wide, and half as long again as the preceding. 



The thorax is parallel-sided, its dorsum is flat longitudinally and 

 feebly convex from side to side. The pro-mesonotal suture fairly 

 distinct, the meso-epinotal ill-defined. The pronotum is distinctly 

 margined anteriorly by a dark raised line ; the declivity of the 

 epinotum is similarly margined above and at the sides. The petiole 

 is wider behind than in front and feebly convex above. The anterior 

 face of the node is vertical and slightly concave ; it is margined 

 above by a fine but very distinct and dark raised line, which is con- 

 tinued along the sides inferiorly to the dorsal margin of the posterior 

 face ; the posterior angles are produced backwards, so that the 

 posterior margin is arcuate. The 1st abdominal segment is at least 

 one-third longer than the petiole, and as wide as long; it is separated 

 from the 2nd segment by a wide and deep constriction ; the 3rd and 

 following segments are wider than long. The pygidium is produced 

 at the apex into a bidentate projection. Behind this projection the 

 pygidial area of the 5th segment is flattened, smooth and shining in 

 the centre, rugoso-punctate at the sides and armed on each lateral 

 margin with six short spines or teeth (see figs. 46, 46a, Plate V.). 

 Legs short, posterior metatarsi as long as the tibiae and nearly 

 as wide. 



Three specimens were found by Mr. Marley in hollow stems of 

 the castor-oil plant, Stella Bush, Durban. At first glance this 

 species bears a deceptive resemblance to Sima natalensis, Smith. 

 The type in my collection. 



