A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 558 



iucrassate, without a distinct club. Clypeus slightly prolonged 

 arcuately between the frontal carinae, short, feebly projecting in 

 front ; no distinct frontal area. Eyes oval, placed noticeably distant 

 from the frontal carinae, the latter far apart ; ocelli distinct. 

 Mandibles of the usual shape. Thorax of the Placjiolepis type, the 

 postscutellum (metathorax) forming a transverse torus. 



" Scale of petiole thin. Pilose hairs thin and aculeate, not branched 

 at the apex. 



" 9 . Head longer, otherwise formed as in the £ . Antennae 8- or 

 10-jointed. Thorax narrow, elongate. Scale of petiole thick and 

 low. Neuration of the wings as in Plagiolepis. 



" $ . Much smaller than the 9 • Antennae 10-jointed as in the 

 $ (in the only species in which the $ is known), the scape longer 

 than half the flagellum. Mandibles dentate. Frontal carinae nearer 

 together. Scale of petiole about the same as in the 9 • Genital 

 armature well developed, stipes forming a falciform plate, the 

 volsella slender and longer than the lacinia, which is distinct." 



Distrihution. — Cameroons and Natal. Also Borneo if A. Andrei 

 Em., is correctly ascribed to this genus. 



A. mukalti, Forel. 

 Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 54, p. 499, $ , 1910. 



" £ . 2 - 4 mm. Closely allied to A. afer but smaller. Head more 

 convex in front, the sides also more convex. Pro-mesonotal suture 

 deeper ; dorsum of epinotum more convex. Entirely smooth and 

 shining, without pubescence and impunctate. Pilosity and colour as 

 in afer. 



" Natal (Dr. L. v. Muralt). It is perhaps only a race of afer, from 

 which it differs chiefly by the absence of puncturation and pubescence 

 and also by its smaller size." 



The above diagnosis needs amplification by reference to A. afer, the 

 description of which is as follows : 



" £ . Black ; antennae, trochanters, base of tibiae, and tarsi rusty 

 red, the scape paler ; very shining and smooth on the sides of the 

 head, thorax and abdomen, less shining and finely punctulate on the 

 vertex and also on the dorsum of thorax and abdomen ; the latter are 

 covered with a fine greyish pubescence, arising from the punctures. 

 There are also some pilose hairs on the whole body, including the 

 scapes and legs. Head subcpuadrate, a little narrower in front, the 

 posterior angles rounded, the eyes placed in the middle of the sides, 

 the ocelli forming a large triangle. Clypeus convex, its anterior 



