1928] 
The Larva of Leptanilla 
87 
Head (Fig. 1C) minute, naked, its outline pyriform when 
viewed from in front, twice as long as its greatest breadth (which 
is one-fourth of its length from the occipital border), narrowed 
at the base of the mouth-parts, with the occipital border broadly 
rounded. Antennal rudiments situated one-third of the length 
of the head from occipital border; long, narrow and apparently 
adnate to the head. Tentorium (?) conspicuous, in the form of 
a long, narrow, median bar, which is abruptly widened at the 
posterior end and furcate anteriorly, each division leading to- 
ward the base of a mandible. 
Labrum semicircular, the margin finely undate, the basal 
angles produced outside the mandibles into stubby flaps which 
are toothed on their anterior and distal borders (Fig. IB). 
Mandibles long, slender, slightly curved, acute, simple, feebly 
chitinized and directed downward and somewhat backwards 
along the sides of the labium. Maxillae lobiform, each with three 
sensillae. Labium narrowed at the base, broader at the distal 
border, which is smooth and slightly curved; with lobiform 
sense-organs at the anterior corners, each with three sensillae; 
opening of sericteries not evident. Trophorhinium wanting. 
This description is based on three larvae, which have been 
cleared in potassium hydroxide (10%), stained with acid fuchsin, 
and mounted in balsam on slides. They are labeled “Sardegna: 
Golfo Aranci. I. 1909 A. Dodero.” 
I am indebted to Dr. Rafaelo Gestro of the Museo Civico di 
Storia Naturale of Genoa, thru the kindness of Dr. W. M. 
Wheeler, for this material. 
The genus Leptanilla has always been more or less incertoe 
sedis. Emery, when he established it in 1870, placed it in the 
“Dorylidae” near Typhlopone. Mayr, however, in a letter to 
Emery (date not given — see Emery 1904) dissented, maintaining 
that it belonged with the Myrmicinae. Emery was evidently 
convinced, for in 1875 he removed it to the “Mirmicidei” in the 
neighborhood Stenamma and Liomyrmex. In 1877 he moved it 
to the vicinity of Monomorium and Leptothorax in the “Myrmici- 
dei genuini” but marked it with a query to signify uncertain 
position. In 1881 Ern. Andre had it in the first tribe, “Myrmi- 
