A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 595 



narrower and much less gibbous in front. The scutellum, excluding 

 its sloping sides, more pointed behind. The metanotum less promi- 

 nent in the middle. The scale of the petiole is much thinner and 

 much more shallowly emarginate above. The abdomen is wider and 

 less convex from side to side. Genital armature brownish yellow, 

 the apical half of the stipes narrower than in custodiens and less 

 obtuse at the apex. Otherwise like the cf of custodiens. Willow- 

 more. Cape Prov., (Dr. H. Brauns). Taken emerging from the nests 

 of P. custodiens, and almost certainly living parasitically with that 

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



P. (sub-gen. Anoplolepis) Trimeni, Forel. 



Ann. Soc, Ent. Belg. vol. 39, p. 429, § (replete) 1895. 

 Deutsch. Ent. Zeitschr. Beiheft, p. 223, £ 1913. 



^. 2-5-3-2 mm. Pale ochreous (straw-yellow) with the flagellum 

 gradually infuscate towards the apex, the scale of the petiole, apex 

 of the abdomen, and a patch on each side of all the abdominal 

 segments brownish; or yellowish brown, with only the scapes, tarsi 

 and basal two-thirds of the 1st and 2nd, and basal half of the 3rd 

 abdominal segments ochreous. The colour varies between these 

 extremes. Clypeus slightly shining, the rest of the body including 

 the legs and antennae dull, and clothed with a fine, whitish yellow 

 and adjacent pubescence. A few erect yellowish hairs on the clypeus, 

 apex of abdomen and margins of the abdominal segments. 



Microscopically reticulate-rugulose all over. Head quadrate, the 

 corners narrowly rounded, the posterior margin feebly convex, hardly 

 narrower in front than behind. In the smaller Q §, especially in the 

 more darkly coloured forms, the head is slightly longer than wide 

 (one-tenth). Eyes large, occupying nearly one-third of the sides 

 and placed a little behind the middle. Three very minute ocelli 

 present. Mandibles shining, sparsely striate- and punctured, the 

 punctures large, 5-dentate. Clypeus sparsely and finely punctured, 

 the anterior margin almost straight. Frontal area triangular, wider 

 than long. The scapes barely extend beyond the occipital margin ; 

 2nd joint of the flagellum hardly more than half the length of the 

 1st joint. Pro-mesonotal suture well defined. Meso-epinotal suture 

 not deep. There is no distinct metanotum, the anterior margin of 

 which is barely indicated by a shallow impression just in front 

 of the stigmata. Mesonotum wider than long, not very convex 

 transversely, almost straight longitudinally, and barely depressed 

 behind. Dorsum of epinotum short, straight in profile, not higher 



38 



