100 Annals of the South African Museum. 



size and the proportionately longer abdomen. It is also a duller 

 insect, which is due to the denser pilosity, especially on the abdomen 

 which has a short pubescence intermixed with the pilosity. The 

 mesonotum is also larger and longer than in the $ . 



$ . 8-8 - 5 mm. Black ; apex and base of scape pale ferruginous, 

 flagellum ochreous, the last five joints fuscous above ; tarsi reddish 

 yellow, and all the tibiae and femora ferruginous at the base and 

 apex. Head almost impunctate, anteriorly slightly rugulose. Thorax 

 and petiole very finely rugulose, the epinotum reticulate. Abdomen 

 shining and impunctate. A fine grey pubescence on the whole body, 

 longer and sparser on the abdomen, more abundant on the sides of 

 the thorax, very inconspicuous elsewhere. Head, thorax, and sides 

 of petiole dull, disc of metanotum, apex of node and the whole 

 abdomen shining. Head lozenge-shaped, widest behind the eyes, 

 narrow in front and more so behind. Clypeus gibbous in the middle, 

 anterior margin convex. Frontal carinae obsolete. Mandibles con- 

 siderably atrophied, represented by a spatulate yellow appendage, 

 hardly larger than one of the ocelli. Eyes large, oval, situated at 

 about the middle of the sides of the head ; ocelli well developed, not 

 situated on a raised area. Scape short, not extending beyond the 

 posterior margin of the eyes, widest at the apex, twice as long as 

 wide. First joint of flagellum as wide as long, 2nd joint one and a 

 third times as long as the scape, all the joints flattened dorso- 

 ventrally, especially the last five joints which are spirally curved. 

 Pronotum exposed, the anterior free margin reflexed. Pro-meso- 

 notal suture well defined. Mesonotum rounded at the sides, 

 depressed above, separated from the scutellum by a distinct but 

 narrow sulcus ; mesonotum including the scutellum, almost three 

 times as long as the pronotum. Epinotum as long as the meso- 

 notum, the dorsum continuous with the declivity in a gradual curve; 

 the declivity transversely striated. Node of petiole as long as wide, 

 thicker above than below, obtusely and obliquely truncate in front 

 and behind, sides convex. The node is less than half as wide as the 

 1st abdominal segment. Abdomen elongate, 1st segment convex in 

 front and at the sides, 2nd segment slightly wider than the 1st, and 

 one-third longer. Pygidium rounded at the apex. Abdominal con- 

 striction distinct. Wings slightly smoky, nervures fuscous, stigma 

 brown. Legs thin and slender. 



I have taken this species on only one occasion. The nest, 

 situated in sandy ground, contained several hundreds of £ $ and 

 $ $ and one ergatoid ? . 



Plumtree, S. Ehodesia. (S.A.M., P.M., G.A. colls.) 



