152 Annals of the South African Museum. 



Genus TAPINOMA, Forster. 

 Hymen. Stud., vol, 1, p. 43, 1850. 



Characters. 



£ . Anterior margin of clypeus entire or excised, in some species 

 with a deep median longitudinal groove. Mandibles multidentate. 

 Petiole depressed, without a distinct scale ; basal segment of 

 abdomen overhangs and more or less hides the petiole. Anal orifice 

 usually inferior. 



? . Usually much larger than the $ ; anterior wirjgs with only 

 1 closed cubital and 1 discoidal cell. 



$ . As a rule smaller than the £ . Mandibles generally well 

 developed. Antennae filiform, scape long, usually as long as the 

 first 3 joints of the flagellum taken together, 1st joint not much 

 shorter than the 2nd. Pronotum not hidden by the mesonotum 

 when seen from above. Petiole nodiform. Genital armature large. 

 Wings as in the $ . 



Key to the $ $ of Tapinoma. 



(2). 1. Clypeus with a deep and abrupt median excision of the anterior margin, as 



deep as half the length of the clypeus 



Voeltzkowi, Forel, var. Rhodesiae, Forel. 

 (1). 2. Clypeus with anterior margin shallowly emarginate. 



(4). 3. Dorsal profile of thorax almost horizontal gracilis, Forel. 



(3). 4. Dorsal profile of thorax distinctly convex. 



(6). 5. All the joints of the flagellum longer than wide, yellow species, 27-3 mm. 



luteiim, Emery. 

 (5). 6. Second to 9th joints of the flagellum wider than long, brownish species, 



1"6 mm Amoldi, Forel. 



T. luteum, Emery. 

 Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. 63, p. 43, g , 1895. 

 " $ . 2 mm. Pale flavous, dull, with very fine and pale pubescence, 

 erect hairs only on the clypeus and mandibles. Head a little longer 

 than wide ; clypeus widely emarginate in the middle. The scape 

 extends beyond the occipital margin by about one-quarter of its own 

 length ; declivity of epinotum more than twice as long as the 

 dorsum. Makapan (Simon)." 



Pace Emeryi, Forel. 



Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 477, $ $ , 1910. 



£ . 27-3 mm. Flavous, posterior region of the head and posterior 



segments of the abdomen more or less brownish yellow. Sub-opaque, 



the sides of the thorax slightly shining, microscopically rugulose. 



