86 Psyche [Sept.-Dee. 
cilis on color alone, has been recognized early. Emery (1890) 
after studying a large series came to the conclusion that P. gra- 
cilis (Fabr.), P. bicolor (Guerin), and the variety dimidiata 
Roger were identical. Emery proposed P. bicolor as the type of 
the species. Forel later made P. termitaria Sm. a synonym of 
the type. It differs from the type by its smaller stature, but falls 
without question into the size range of the type series. 
But even if other characters had been chosen to separate the 
forms of gracilis , its classification would still be very difficult. 
We have attempted to do this in our key, but have not been very 
successful. For instance P. maculata Smith (now subsp. macu- 
lata) is said to differ from the type by its shorter peduncle. We 
have studied a large series of specimens covering the whole area 
from Texas to Southern Brazil and Peru; all we can say is that 
the South American forms usually have longer and more slender 
pedicels, but even the type series includes forms with long and 
short peduncles, and intermediate forms are very common. 
Every other character which might be chosen to effect a sep- 
aration shows similar gradations. The elevation of the meso- 
notal disc, used by some writers shows all grades of develop- 
ment not only in the type series but in the series of mexicana , 
agilis and sericea as well. 
The only reason we retain most of the names and even add 
to them is that the names sometimes are associated with the 
extreme development of some given character, and that certain 
color and structure patterns are characteristic of given regions. 
Pseudomyrma gracilis var. peruviana var. nov. 
Worker. 
Length 8.5-9 mm. Identical with the variety longinoda from 
the same general locality. It differs from the latter by colora- 
tion, having the mandibles, clypeus, pedicel and gaster pale yel- 
low; funiculi, coxae and femora reddish brown to brownish yel- 
low; rest of the legs and the scapes testaceous; head and thorax 
black. We have seen a similar color pattern in some specimens 
of the subsp. agilis , from which the new variety differs by the 
very pronounced shoulders. From the variety longinoda , its 
closest relative, it differs by its very abundant, long erect hairs 
on the occiput and thorax, and the opaque gaster (shiny in 
longinoda). 
Type locality: Lima, Peru. 
