1977] 
Brown — New Genus of Myrmicine Ant 
221 
of segments, which are delicately reticulate-striolate, but still shin- 
ing. Mandibles densely and finely punctulate, opaque (teeth in- 
fuscate and shining), lateral surfaces finely longitudinally costulate 
basad. Antennal scapes and legs shining, finely longitudinally rug- 
ulose to smooth; antennal funiculi densely punctulate, pubescent 
and opaque. Antennal scrobes basically smooth and shining, but 
each is crossed by 7-9 vermiculate transverse rugulae. 
Pilosity consisting of long, fine, flexuous erect to decumbent 
hairs distributed widely over dorsal surfaces of body, and on scapes 
and legs, sparser on underside of head and gaster. Mandibles, an- 
tennal funiculi, and flexor surfaces of tibiae and tarsi with fine, 
appressed to decumbent pubescence. 
Color light ferruginous red; antennae and legs more yellowish. 
Queen, male and larva still unknown. 
Type species: Pilotrochus besmerus, new species, described below. 
Distribution as far as known limited to Madagascar. 
Pilotrochus besmerus new species 
Figs. 1, 2. 
Holotype worker: Total length (TL) 2.9, head length (HL) 0.68, 
head width (HW) 0.60, mandibles extend beyond median clypeal 
free margin (ML) 0.11 mm; when head is tilted back a little from 
full-face view, mandibles may extend beyond clypeus as much as 
0.18 mm; trunk length (WL) 0.64, scape L (excluding radicle) 0.32, 
greatest length of eye 0.07 mm. Petiole length (chord of arc) 0.45, 
hind femur length 0.43, hind tibia length 0.34, hind tarsus length 
0.60 mm, of which metatarsus is half. 
Details of form and sculpture are well shown in the figures. As 
seen in dorsal view, eyes hidden in full-face view, barely visible 
when head is tilted back slightly, as in fig. 1. Pronotum slightly 
broader than long (width 0.38 mm), rounded in front, excised be- 
hind; mesonotum subquadratic, about 0.20 mm wide, with feebly 
convex borders on all four sides. Petiolar node 0.17 mm wide, 
postpetiolar node with rounded sides, slightly wider behind (width 
0.21 mm, length 0.20 mm). 
Pronotum smooth and shining, with about 10 costulae running 
longitudinally at different lengths; mesonotum with 5 longitudinal 
costulae on rugulae. About 5 longitudinal rugules each on petiolar 
and postpetiolar nodes, but weaker on the postpetiole, so that its 
disc is primarily smooth and shining like the gaster. 
