A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 9 



descriptions of the species, but it must be admitted that we know 

 very little of the life histories of the Ponerinae, and a considerable 

 amount of work remains to be done before we can claim to have a 

 comprehensive knowledge of their natural history. 



In the following descriptions, the length is given for each species, 

 from the apex of the closed mandibles to the apex of the abdomen. 

 It is also convenient to treat of the short downy hairs as distinct from 

 the longer, thicker, and more rigid ones. The former kind is termed 

 the pubescence, the latter the pilosity. Occasionally the one merges 

 into the other, in which case the whole hairy covering is treated as 

 the pilosity. 



Unless otherwise stated, the density and size of the punctures and 

 other sculptural characters are understood to be visible with a lens 

 magnifying from 20 to 25 diameters, or less. 



The dimensions of the head (length compared to width), and the 

 shape, are given exclusive of the mandibles. 



Key to the Sub-Families of the Formicidae. Workers. 



(8). 1. Petiole one-jointed. 



(3). 2. A more or less distinct constriction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal 



segments ; 5 always with well-developed sting ; pupa always enclosed in 



a cocoon Ponerinae. 



(2). 3. No constriction between 1st and 2nd abdominal segments. 



(7). 4. Anal aperture transverse. 



(6). 5. Eyes entirely absent; clypeus very small; sting present, sometimes 



vestigial ; pupae naked or enclosed in a cocoon Dorylinae. 



(5). 6. Eyes always present ; clypeus not very small ; sting very small and 



atrophied Dolichoderinae . 



{4). 7. Anal aperture circular. Sting absent ; pupae usually enclosed in cocoons. 



Camponotinae . 

 (1). 8. Petiole two-jointed ; sting present ; pupae always naked . . Myrmicinae. 



In some $ Dorylinae the petiole is almost two-jointed, but the 

 absence of eyes, and the small clypeus will distinguish them from 

 the Myrmicinae. 



Sub-Family PONERINAE. 



(Dalla Torre. Cat. Hymen., vol. 7, p. 13). 



Characters. 



Except in some males of the Ponerini, and in the Odontomachini, 

 the 1st abdominal segment is marked off by a more or less distinct 

 constriction from the 2nd segment. 



