A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 351 



above, appear almost dentiform. Head about as long as wide across 

 the eyes. The latter large, occupying the anterior half of the head, 

 but not touching the base of the mandibles. The scapes extend back 

 almost as far as the anterior ocellus, a little shorter than the 2nd joint 

 of the flagellum. Anterior half of meson otum very convex trans- 

 versely and lengthwise ; Mayrian furrows fairly deep in front. 

 Dorsum of epinotum oblique, at least twice as long as the declivity, 

 merging gradually into the latter. Peduncle of the petiole with a 

 blunt prominence below, at the extreme base ; the node depressed and 

 narrow, its anterior and posterior faces forming an obtuse angle when 

 seen in profile. Second node campaniform, narrowed in front, about 

 as long as it is wide behind. Legs thin. Wings as in the $ • 



Nesting in sandy soil, and forming fairly populous communities ; a 

 very slow and timid insect. 



Redbank, Nyamandhlovu, and Hillside, Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia ; 

 Hartley, S. Rhodesia (H. B. Maufe). The latter are much darker, 

 almost brownish -black, but otherwise similar. (S.A.M., R.M., Gr.A. 

 colls.) 



Var. ultob, Forel. 

 Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 217, $ , 1913. 



^ . 2 , 7-3 , l mm. Very similar to the type of the species but 

 smaller. The 2nd node is narrower, as long as wide. The colour is 

 darker, and the puncturation much more scanty and finer. The 1st 

 node is not so high as in the type species, and the epinotal teeth are 

 shorter, not longer than their basal width. 



Shiloh, S. Rhodesia. Nesting near and in the nests of Paltothyreus 

 tarsatus. (R.M., Gr.A. colls.) 



Genus RHOPTROMYRMEX, Mayr. 

 Ann. K.K.N.H. Mus. Wien., vol. 16, p. 18, 1901. 



haracters. 



^ . Antennae 12-jointed ; maxillary palpi 3-jointed, labial palpi 

 2 jointed. Head wider behind than in front, the sides convex. 

 Frontal carinae short ; scrobes entirely absent. Thorax short and 

 stout ; epinotum armed or unarmed (unarmed in all our species) . 

 First segment of petiole usually strongly compressed transversely, at 

 least in the anterior half, deeper than wide, the peduncle generally 

 indistinct. Second node globose or much wider than long, and 

 much wider than the 1st. Femora not swollen. 



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