A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 749 



P. viscosa, Smith. (Plate IX, fig. 132). 

 Cat. Hymen. B.M. VI, p. 71, & 1858. 



$, 6-7 mm. Black, dull. Head, thorax and petiole finely 

 reticulate-rugose or rugulose, the rugae emphasised longitudinally, 

 the spaces between them reticulate-punctate. Legs shallowly, the 

 abdomen closely and deeply reticulate-punctate. Pubescence very 

 short and inconspicuous, present only on the legs and antennae ; a 

 few pilose hairs on the anterior margin of the clypeus and the apex 

 of the abdomen, otherwise glabrous. Head oval, one-fifth longer than 

 wide, slightly narrowed in front. Clypeus moderately convex, not 

 carinate, finely and longitudinally striate and also very shallowly 

 punctured with elongate punctures, its anterior margin arcuate, 

 slightly raised, narrowly and angularly excised in the middle. 

 Mandibles strongly striate longitudinally, 5-dentate. Eyes large and 

 flat, placed at the posterior third of the sides. The scapes extend 

 beyond the hind margin by about one-third of their length, and are 

 rather abruptly widened at their apex. Dorsum of thorax fairly 

 convex from side to side and lengthwise, sharply marginate at the 

 sides. The pronotal spines are about one and a half times longer than 

 their basal width, and the sides of the pronotum behind are two and a 

 half times longer than the spines. The pronotum, excluding the part 

 in front of the spines, is one-fourth wider than long, hardly narrower 

 at the suture than just behind the spines. Pro-mesonotal suture 

 deep, nearly straight. Meso-epinotal suture almost obsolete. Meso- 

 notum twice as wide as long in the middle. Dorsum of epinotum 

 quadrangular, nearly twice as wide as long, the posterior corners 

 bearing slightly curved and upwardly directed triangular teeth, 

 which are as long as their basal width. Scale of petiole much wider 

 above than below, one-third wider than long (i.e. thick), both faces 

 very convex ; the inner spines are hardly longer than their basal 

 width and about half as long as the interval between their bases ; 

 the outer spines are directed upwards, outwards, and backwards and 

 vary a little in length, but are at least twice as long as the inner pair, 

 and are as far apart at their base from the inner ones as the latter 

 are from each other. Base of abdomen concave, fitting the posterior 

 convex face of the scale. 



On sandy soil, climbing over grass and low shrubs. 



Cawston Block, Umgusa Eiver and Redbank, S. Rhodesia ; Lonely 

 Mine, S. Rhodesia, (Swale). 



