44 
AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF RHYTIDOPONERA MAYR 
Clypeus longitudinally striate-rugose, head coarsely striate-rugose, transverse 
behind the eyes, longitudinal between frontal carinae, curving sharply outward 
then downward, longitudinal on cheeks, encircling the antennal fovea. Thorax 
coarsely striate-rugose, more irregular on the posterior half of pronotum. 
Node circularly striate, much finer than on thorax. Postpetiole finely trans- 
versely arched striate, gaster transversely striate. Coxae strongly reticulate. 
Hair yellow, rather long on clypeus and apex of gaster. Short and erect 
on head and body, shorter and adpressed on anntennae and legs. Pubescence 
only on funiculus. 
Head one-fifth longer than broad, much broader in front than behind, sides 
convex in front almost straight behind, occipital border straight or very 
feebly convex with a strong ridge in front interrupted at the middle, angles 
blunt. Mandibles finely denticulate with some irregular larger teeth. Clypeus 
rather flatly convex above, slightly depressed behind at frontal area, strongly 
convex in front. Frontal area large and deep. Frontal carinae as long as 
broad in front, twice as broad in front as behind. Scapes extend beyond 
occipital border by fully one-third their length. First and third segments of 
funiculus equal in length, very slightly shorter than second, apical shorter 
than the two preceding together. Eyes placed at the posterior third of sides. 
Thorax fully twice as long as broad, sutures well defined. Pronotum one-fifth 
broader than long, sides almost parallel, feebly compressed at middle, dorsum 
feebly convex transversely. Mesonotum one-fifth broader than long, convex 
in all directions. Epinotum strongly convex transversely. In profile the 
pronotum sloping downward in front, rather flat at middle. Mesonotum 
evenly convex, raised slightly higher than epinotum, the latter feebly convex, 
rounded into declivity without traces of a boundary, declivity shorter than 
dorsum. Node one-third broader than long, oval. In profile twice as high 
as long, anterior and posterior faces straight, parallel, dorsum feebly convex, 
anterior edge feebly rounded, posterior edge strongly rounded; the ventral 
spine long, slender and sharp, directed slightly forward. Postpetiole one-third 
broader than long, almost hemispherical. First segment of gaster one-fourth 
broader than long, sides strongly convex ; the excision between the two seg- 
ments sharply defined but not deep. Legs long and slender. 
“Male. — Length, 11 mm. (after Wheeler). 
“Head, including the eyes, about as long as broad, rounded behind, without 
any traces of the posterior angles or postocular crest. Mandibles well- 
developed, similar to those of the worker. Antennae long and slender, scapes 
fully two-thirds as long as the second funicular joint, first funicular joint as 
long as broad; joints 2-12 elongate, gradually diminishing in length distally. 
Pronotum with prominent in ferolateral spines like the worker. Mesonotum 
and scutellum convex ; epinotum flattened as in the worker. Petiole about 
two and one-half times as long as broad, but little narrower in front than 
behind, with prominent ventral spine and anterosuperior angles and a low, 
rounded node. Gaster more slender than that of worker. Legs long and 
slender. 
Opaque ; mandibles finely and densely striated. Head and clypeus reticu- 
late-rugulose throughout, the former foveolate posteriorly. Pronotal sculpture 
like that of the worker. Remainder of thorax more coarsely reticulate-rugose 
than the head, rugae on base of epinotum longitudinal. Petiole and gaster 
somewhat shining, shagreened. 
“Pilosity and colour as in the worker, posterior gastric segments broadly 
yellow at the base. Wings infuscated, with black stigma.” 
Habitat. — New South Wales : Darling River ; Broken Hill. 
