A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 571 



rounded. Clypeus very convex and raised in the middle, but not 

 distinctly carinate. Mandibles smooth and sliming, sparsely and 

 very finely punctured. Eyes not very convex, placed a little behind 

 the middle, occupying about a third of the sides. Ocelli placed far 

 back, close to the occipital margin. The scape extends beyond the 

 back of the head by about one-fourth of its length, all the joints of 

 the flagellum longer than wide. Thorax about one-third wider than 

 the head. The pronotum is slightly exposed in the middle above. 

 Mesonotum one-third wider than long, the scutellum half as long as 

 the mesonotum and sloping downwards gradually behind. Dorsum 

 and declivity of epinotum not distinctly delimited, forming a single 

 vertical plane which is feebly convex above. Scale of petiole as wide 

 as high, its dorsal edge almost linear. Abdomen one-third longer 

 than wide, oval, all the segments much wider than long. Wings 

 dirty ochreous, the nervures brown, the stigma pale yellowish- 

 brown. 



d . 2 - 7 mm. Black, femora, tibiae and scapes brown, tarsi and 

 flagellum pale ochreous. Smooth and shining. Pubescence very fine, 

 fairly abundant, longer and less decumbent than in the $ , intermixed 

 on the mesonotum with a short, dense and bristly pile of a blackish 

 colour. Apex of abdomen, the epinotum and back of the head with 

 some longer and brownish pilose hairs. Head, including the mandibles, 

 having the shape of an isosceles triangle, much narrower in front of 

 the eyes than behind them. Clypeus with an elongate median tubercle. 

 Eyes convex, occupying about one-third of the sides of the head. 

 Scapes extending beyond the posterior margin by about one-third of 

 their length ; 2nd-7th joints of the flagellum less than half as long 

 again as wide. Mesonotum very convex in front, one-fourth wider 

 than long. Scutellum longer and narrower posteriorly than in the $ , 

 three-fifths the length of the mesonotum. Scale of petiole widest 

 above, wider than high, the dorsal edge fairly thick, not linear as in 

 the $ . Abdomen ovate, the genital armature large and exserted. 

 Wings brownish, the nervures and stigma dark brown. 



The $ ^ taken with the £ <$ from which the above description is 

 derived differ slightly from those taken with the $ , the dorsum of 

 the epinotum being more convex, but I do not consider that difference 

 sufficient to enable me to regard these $ $ as belonging to anything 

 but the var. validiuscula. 



S. Ehodesia and Cape Province. Generally distributed and very 

 common. Nesting usually under stones ; an industrious attendant on 

 Aphididae and Coccidae. (S.A.M., K.M., Gr.A. colls.) 



