44 
Psyche 
[June 
granules of all these areas are sparse, causing a general 
shininess of the regions despite their heavy sculpture. 
The surfaces of the petiole and the gaster are very shining 
and thus different from the dull aspect of these parts in 
kemneri. 
In color, ceylonica does not appear to differ significantly 
from kemneri. The head and thorax are rich reddish 
brown, the petiole and gaster a bit lighter brown, and the 
mandibles, antennae, and legs yellowish to yellowish brown. 
Hairs pale yellow. 
Holotype: worker (in the collection of the Museum of 
Comparative Zoology). 
Paratypes: two workers (one in the M.C.Z. and one in 
the author’s collection). 
Type locality: Udawaddatekele Sanctuary, Kandy, Cey- 
lon; elevation 2000 feet; collected by E. 0. Wilson, July 
13, 1955, No. 1245. 
Dr. Wilson has been able to supply a few natural history 
notes concerning Myrmoteras ceylonica. The workers were 
observed in second growth tropical evergreen forest, and 
were found to be foraging during daylight hours on the 
ground and over low herbaceous vegetation. They were 
said to be in the company of individuals of Tetramorium 
and Trig ono gaster, and moved with about the pace of a 
Tetramorium caespitum. When they were disturbed, their 
mandibles were thrown open and seemingly “locked” at 
approximately 200°. 
In a previous paper (1954), I discussed the known limits 
of distribution of the genus Myrmoteras, and included a 
tentative map showing the supposed range of these ants. 
The present specimens and the new species which they 
represent, extend the distribution beyond the boundaries 
of the Indo-Malayan region to the Island of Ceylon. Such 
a pattern suggests that the genus may be represented in 
India, but until actual records showing this have been 
obtained, it is impossible to make such a claim. The 
northern-most localities for these ants at present are 
Tenasserim, Burma, and the Island of Hainan off the 
southeast coast of China. 
