THE '^OUNG 



NATUEALIST. 



207 



BRITISH ANTS— By G. G. BIONELL. 



(Continued from pagt igi j 

 as seen in the L. umbratus. 



Habitat. — Common everywhere. Males 

 and females appear about the last week in 

 August, 



Genus TAPINOMA. 



This genus differs from either of the 

 preceeding, by the scale of the petiole being 

 decumbent and forming an oblong node. 



1. Tapinoma erratica, Latr. 



Male. — Black - brown ; eyes situated 

 about midway between the base of the head 

 and the apex of the m.andibles ; vertex 

 square, clypeus deeply emarginate; antennae 

 very long (longer than the head and thorax) ; 

 cx:elli prominent and glassy bright ; thorax 

 rounded in front, disk flat ; wings hyaline, 

 nervures pale ; abdomen with a few scattered 

 bristly hairs above, all the segments with a 

 fringe of hairs beneath ; tibiae and tarsi pale, 

 the former clouded in the middle. Length, 

 5-G mill. 



Female. — Brown-black, smooth and shin- 

 ing, with a fine thin cinereous pile, fre- 

 quently more or less obliterated ; the scale 

 of the petiole decumbent, hidden beneath 

 the basal segment of the abdomen. Length 

 5-G mill. 



Worker.— Black, smooth and shining, 

 with a slight cinereous glittering pile; the 

 extreme base of the tibiae and tarsi pale 

 testaceous ; clypeus deeply emarginate ; 

 mandibles with long hairs on their surface ; 

 the scale as in the female ; the surface of 

 the body above without upright hairs ; 

 abdomen beneath with long fine hairs on 

 iiach segment. Length 3-5 mill. 



Habitat. — Comnlon only in certain local- 

 ities, and appears to be confined to sandy 

 ;ind dry heathy country. It has been taken 

 at Bovey, Devon, Bournemouth, Chobham, 

 Sec, Male and females appear during the 

 first week in June. 



2. Tapinoma nitens, Mayr. 



The worker only is known. 



Worker. — Rufo-testaceous, smooth and 

 shining ; head elongate, with a few scattered 

 long hairs and slightly emarginate behind ; 

 the scape as long as the head ; the flagellum 

 about the same length, the two apical joints 

 slightly thickened ; thorax narrow behind, 

 and slightly strangulated between the meso 

 and metathorax, the latter emarginate be- 

 hind, with the lateral angles rounded ; the 

 scale decumbent, rounded above ; abdomen 

 ovate, sprinkled with a few long hairs. 



Habitat. — Wales; one specimen— J. C. 

 Dale, Esq. 



3. Tapinoma gracilescens. 



This species is an importation and is a 

 native of Madeira, but, unfortunately, it has 

 established itself in too many places to be 

 any longer considered a stranger, it having 

 taken up its residence in London, Kew, 

 Sydenham, St. Leonards-on-Sea, &c., in 

 kitchens and hot-houses. The Rev. W. F. 

 White says, "It is many years ago since I 

 first observed this ant in my brother's house 

 (London). I noticed it in large numbers in 

 the rectory kitchen in 1876." The workers 

 are very small and of a blackish colour, 

 with very long thin legs and antennae. 



Genus PONERA, Latr. 

 This genus is easily recognised by the 

 thick, large, single scale or node and short 

 clavate antennae. 



1. Ponera contracta, Latr. 



Male. — Brown, somewhat shining ; head 

 dull, strongly punctured ; mandibles testa- 

 ceous-red ; thorax shining, rather remotely 

 punctured ; abdomen covered with some- 

 j what decumbent pale hairs ; apex of the 

 abdomen paler, with a strong reflexed spine ; 

 legs testaceous. 



Female. — Paler in colour, but with the 

 same strong punctuation ; the maxillary 

 palpi of two joints, the second ending in a 

 hair ; abdomen covered ^vith pale hairs ; 

 wings with one radical cell, two submar- 

 ( Continued on page 223.^ 



