A monograph of the Formicidae of. South Africa 589 



the sides. Ocelli not large. The scapes extend beyond the occipital 

 margin by three-fifths of their length, they are slightly arcuated at 

 their apical third and feebly incrassate from that point to the apex. 

 Flagellum 11-jointed, all the joints longer than wide. Mandibles 

 elongate triangular, closely striated- and punctate, slightly shining, 

 armed with 8 or 9 teeth, the apical tooth long and acute. Thorax 

 similar to that of the Q, but proportionately narrower, the mesonotum 

 not wider than long. The metanotum is more prominent, subangular 

 in the middle. Abdomen elongate-ovate, about two-thirds longer than 

 wide. Genital armature exserted, the sagittae brownish yellow. 

 Legs long and slender. Wings as in the Q. 



This is probably the commonest and most plentiful species of the 

 Camponotine ants in South Africa, and is widely distributed over the 

 whole region. It nests in the ground, forming very populous com- 

 munities. The nest entrances are rarely surrounded by excavated 

 material, the excavated earth being usually spread out in a very thin 

 layer for a good distance all round the entrances ; crateriform mounds 

 are never formed. It is an exceedingly pugnacious species, preying 

 chiefly on other insects, but its beneficent labour in this direction is 

 probably more than counterbalanced by the harm it does in the 

 dispersion and cultivation of scale-insects and Aphides. It is there- 

 fore to be regarded as a pest, especially in rose-gardens and citrus 

 orchards. It may be kept in check to some extent by pouring a 

 weak solution of potassium cyanide down the nests. From the nar- 

 rower point of view of the myrmecologist, it may also be considered 

 a nuisance, since it is such a dominant and pugnacious species that 

 in many localities it occupies large areas of ground to the exclusion 

 of other and more interesting kinds of ants. 



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



Race fallax, Mayr. 



(as species) Reise der Novara, Zool., p. 54, Q. 1865. 

 Jahrb. Hamburg "Wissen. Anst., vol. 10, p. 5, 1893. 

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



Mayr, in the second reference cited, reduces this form from specific 

 rank, remarking that "it cannot be maintained as a species distinct 

 from custodiens on account of the exserted pilosity, .... it is however, 

 possible that in fallax the distinctly weaker constriction of the thorax 

 between the meso- and epinotum and the less inclined dorsum of 

 the latter, (similar to the usual condition in small QQ of custodiens) 



