A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 209 



narrow, nearly two and a quarter times as long as wide across the 

 tegulae. Mesonotum one-third longer than wide, convex, and nar- 

 rowed in front, flattened above. Epinotum deeply excavated, the 

 excavation starting from the extreme base, and extending over the 

 brow of the declivity, the margins raised and enclosing a A-shaped 

 concavity. First node of petiole more squamiform than in the ^ > 

 slanting forwards and with the posterior face more dorsal in position 

 than in the ^ . Abdomen elongate ovate, all the segments wider than 

 long. Dealated. 



$ (hitherto undescribed) . 7 mm. Black; all the joints of the 

 tarsi, except the apical, pale flavous, tibiae brownish yellow, articula- 

 tions of the legs flavous. Pilosity very long and fairly abundant 

 except on the legs and basal halves of the abdominal segments. Legs 

 and antennae with a short and oblique pubescence. Dull, except the 

 basal two-thirds of the 2nd and the following abdominal segments, 

 which are shining and alutaceous as in the $ . Sculpture of the head 

 as in the $ but less regular. Mesonotum and scutellum closely 

 reticulate-punctate, with a few irregular and feeble rugae super- 

 imposed, not longitudinally striate as in the ? . The dorsum of 

 the epinotum is on a much lower level than the scutellum (not 

 much lower in the ? ), and is sparsely and transversely rugose over 

 the basal half, not excavated, sloping downwards from its base to 

 apex, and merging into the vertical declivity by a gentle curve ; the 

 lateral angles or tubercles fairly distinct. The nodes of the petiole 

 wider and shorter than in the $ . The 1st node is deeply emarginate 

 in the middle of the dorsal edge, so as to appear almost bituberculate ; 

 the 2nd node is one-third wider than the 1st, two-thirds wider than 

 long, convex at the sides, fairly flat above, narrowed posteriorly, and 

 with an obtuse tubercle on each side above. Wings hyaline, the 

 nervures very faint. 



Springvale, Bulawayo, and Matopo Hills, S. Rhodesia ; Pretoria. 

 (Lounsbury.) The entrance to the nest is surrounded by a large and 

 low mound of earth. The species is exceedingly pugnacious and 

 stings freely. Some of the nests in the Matopo Hills were very 

 populous, containing probably not less than 1000 workers. 



(S.A.M., R.M., G.A. colls.) 



M. bicolor, Emery, var. nitidiventeis, Emery. 



(Type), Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, vol. 9, p. 368, £ , 1877. (Var.), Ann. 

 Soc. Ent. France, p. 256, $, 1893. Mayr, Ann. K.KN.H. 

 Mus. Wien, vol. 16, p. 7, ? , 1901 (type?)- Karaweiew, Rev. 

 Russ. Ent,, vol. 2, p. 5, ? , <$ , 1911. 



