74 Annals of the South African Museum. 



the body impunctate. Head and thorax shining, the abdomen 

 more so, especially the pale apical margins of the segments. 



Head square, not so wide as the prothorax, rounded posteriorly 

 and feebly convex at the sides. Eyes rather prominent, occupying 

 a little less than half the sides of the head. Clypeus rounded, the 

 anterior margin depressed. Frontal carinae very short. Antennae 

 filiform, reaching back as far as the petiole ; scape two and one-third 

 times as long as the 1st joint, and a little shorter than the 2nd joint 

 of the flagellum. 



Pronotum moderately exposed. Mesonotum with well-developed 

 Mayrian furrows, and short, narrow, parapsidal sutures ; separated 

 from the very gibbous scutellum by a deep crenate impression. 

 Epinotum as wide as the mesonotum behind the tegulae, sloping in 

 a continuous curve from base to apex, so that there is no distinct 

 dorsum. Petiole squamiform, very thin above, vertically truncate in 

 front and behind, and seen from the front, apparently circular ; seen 

 under a high magnification, it is in reality of an angular outline and 

 has a slight dorsal emargination. Ventral lamella produced into a 

 large tooth, pointing backwards. Abdomen pyriform, in its widest 

 part wider than the thorax. All the segments much wider than long. 

 Pygidium angular but not spined. Legs slender. Wings hyaline, 

 nervures and stigma pale yellow. 



This is the commonest Ponerine ant around Bulawayo. A 

 crateriform mound of fine earth generally surrounds the entrance 

 to the nest, which is as often situated in the open as it is under 

 stones. The economic value of this little species can hardly be 

 over-estimated, since it is exceedingly plentiful and preys unceasingly 

 on termites. It is, however, omnivorous, since it will eagerly collect 

 bread-crumbs, insects of all sorts, and seeds of grass. Heaps of the 

 latter are often found in the nests. (S.A.M., E.M., G.A. colls.) 



Sub-Genus TEACHYMESOPUS, Emery. 

 Genera Insectorum, Ponerinae, p. 84, 1911. 



Characters. 



£ and J . Anterior margin of clypeus rounded or produced into 

 a blunt and short point. Mandibles sub-triangular, with a distinct 

 angle between the basal and masticatory margins ; the latter usually 

 furnished with only a few teeth. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed. First 

 joint of flagellum distinctly longer and generally thicker than the 

 following joint. Eye close to the anterior margin of the head. 

 Mesonotum depressed, the surrounding suture not very deep. Tarsi 



