A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 11 



? . Very similar to the $ , and winged. The eyes larger, and 

 ocelli are present. The node of the petiole is generally higher and 

 thinner than in the £ . 



$ . In some species the $ is ergatoid ; in the ordinary winged 

 form the scape is nearly always shorter than the 2nd joint of the 

 flagellum. Mesonotum gibbous, overhanging the pronotum. Pygi- 

 dium generally aculeate. The eyes and ocelli large. Node of 

 petiole similar to that of the £ . 



The following key to the $ $ of the genus is admittedly 

 imperfect, but may be better, I hope, than none at all. Our 

 various species of Ponera are so small and so much alike that 

 it is not easy to pick out differences between them which can be 

 seized at a glance, so that, unreliable as colour differences often 

 are, I have nevertheless preferred to use them here rather than base 

 the key on subtle distinctions requiring a minute inspection with 

 the aid of a high-power lens. As I have not seen a specimen of 

 P. coarctata, race boerorum, Forel, and since that author's descrip- 

 tion is very meagre, it is not possible to include it in the key. 



Key to the £ £ of Ponera. 



(2). 1. Black species Dideroti, Forel. 



(1). 2. Yellowish or reddish species. 



(4). 3. Larger, 3-7 mm. long, colour pale chestnut red, head finely but clearly 



punctured spei, Forel. 



(3). 4. Smaller, not more than 3 mm. long, puncturation of the head less 



obvious. 

 (8). 5. Head, excluding mandibles, clearly at least one-quarter longer than 



wide. 

 (7). 6. Head one and a quarter times as long as wide ; 2nd abdominal segment 



wider than long Gleadowi, Forel. 



(6). 7. Head one and a half times as long as wide ; 2nd abdominal segment 



longer than wide Bagusae, Em., r. Bulawayensis, Forel. 



(5). 8. Head, excluding mandibles, not obviously longer than wide, certainly 



less than one and a quarter times as long as wide. 

 (10). 9. Dorsal surface of the node distinctly thicker in the middle than at the 



sides, or greatest thickness equals one-third of the width. 



ergatandria, Forel, r. cognata, Santschi. 

 (9). 10. Dorsal surface of node very little thicker in the middle than at the sides, 



or greatest thickness equals one-fifth of the width . . . . dulcis, Forel. 



P. spei, Forel. 



Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 423, g , 1910. 



$ . 3 - 7 mm. Head, thorax, and node dark yellowish red, legs 

 dirty yellow, abdomen rusty red, apex paler ; the whole body 



