52 
AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF RHYTIDOPONERA MAYR 
Thorax twice as long as broad, pro-mesonotal suture strongly impressed. 
Pronotum slightly broader than long, sides feebly convex, almost straight, 
dorsum feebly convex transversely. Mesonotum and epinotum strongly con- 
vex transversely. In profile convex longitudinally, a feeble excision at 
pro-mesonotal suture and a feeble depression at meso-epinotal junction. Pro- 
notum sloping downward in front, rather flatly convex. Mesonotum evenly 
convex. Epinotum convex from base to bottom of declivity. Node fully one 
and one-half times broader than long, strongly convex in all directions. In 
profile twice as high as long, top portion very slightly longer than high, 
parallel, anterior and posterior faces straight and vertical, dorsum straight, as 
long as posterior face, anterior edge sharp, posterior edge rounded; the 
ventral spine twice as long as broad at base, slender and sharp. Postpetiole 
almost one-third broader than long, sides feebly convex. First segment of 
gaster one-third broader than long, strongly convex behind. The constriction 
between the segments deep and narrow. Legs long and robust. 
Male. — Length, 11 mm. 
Head and thorax chocolate-brown. Node and gaster brown. Mandibles, 
antennae and legs reddish-brown. Wings yellow, nervures brown. 
Mandibles very finely and densely striate longitudinally. Head very finely 
and densely reticulate, with very few large, shallow scattered punctures. 
Pronotum reticulate and with large punctures as on head. Mesonotum and 
scutellum coarsely punctate-rugose, the punctures deep and wide, densely 
reticidate in interstices. Epinotum finely and densely reticulate, striate- 
rugose transversely, with some large shallow scattered punctures. Node and 
gaster very finely reticulate-punctate. 
Hair yellow, long and erect on head and apex of gaster, short and sparse 
elsewhere. 
Head fully one-fifth longer than broad, strongly convex behind eyes. 
Mandibles with numerous small sharp teeth. Clypeus broadly convex in 
front, rather flatly convex above with a distinct, but small, longitudinal carina. 
Frontal area large and triangular, shallow. Frontal carinae as long as broad 
in front, slightly broader behind, a feeble longitudinal carina in middle. 
Second segment of funiculus very slightly longer than scape, and four times 
longer than first. Eyes occupy fully one-third of sides. Ocelli large and 
convex. Thorax twice as long as broad. Pronotum projecting slightly at 
sides and front of mesonotum, strongly convex. Mesonotum as long as broad, 
cone-shaped in front, feebly convex behind, mayrian furrows very feebly 
indicated, parapsidal furrows strongly impressed, central furrow on anterior 
third strongly impressed. Scutellum one-third broader than long, feebly 
convex in front, strongly convex behind and on sides, dorsum convex both 
ways. Metanotum five times broader than long, strongly convex. Epinotum 
strongly convex transversely. In profile sutures sharply but not deeply 
impressed. Pronotum straight, or very feebly convex, sloping downward 
and forward at an obtuse angle. Mesonotum strongly convex in front, 
straight on posterior third. Scutellum dome-shaped, twice as long as high. 
Metanotum higher than long, bluntly pointed. Epinotum strongly convex 
from base to bottom of declivity. Node very slightly broadest behind, hardly 
defined. In profile low and broadly convex, the ventral spine slender and 
sharp, twice as long as broad at base. Postpetiole fully one-third broader than 
long, cone-shaped, sides feebly convex. First segment of gaster one-fourth 
broader than long, sides convex, slightly broader behind than in front. Geni- 
talia retracted. Legs long and slender. 
Habitat. — New South Wales: Sydney (W. W. Froggatt). 
