16 
AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF RHYTIDOPONERA MAYR 
with two closed cubital cells. Petiole long and splender, more or less node- 
like behind, not well defined, a long slender, spine on the ventral surface in 
front. Postpetiole cone or bell-shaped, constricted behind. Anterior tarsi 
each with one broad pectinate spur. Middle and posterior tarsi each with 
one long slender bristle-like spur. Claws bifid. 
Genotype Rhytidoponera araneoides Le Guill. 
Key to the Workers. 
1. Occipital border with sharp projecting angles 5 
6. Occipital border with rounded projecting angles 8 
9. Occipital border with or without feeble projections 12 
13. Head truncate behind 63 
14. Occipital border concave in middle, crest prominent 33 
15. Angles bluntly rounded, sculpture coarse 27 
28. Angles sharply rounded, sculpture fine 33 
34. Occipital border short and straight, angles broadly rounded. 
Crest feeble or absent. Eyes at posterior third of head. 
Sculpture fine 42 
43. Occipital border concave, sculpture coarse 48 
49. Occipital border convex, no crest, sculpture coarse 51 
52. Occipital border straight or feebly concave in middle, crest 
feeble. Sculpture coarse 58 
59. Occipital border convex, crest small 63 
64. Head elongate, neck-like behind 65 
1. Occipital border with sharp projecting angles 5 
2. Angles as long as broad at base, produced backward. Node 
bluntly pointed above, anterior face strongly convex. Post- 
petiole and gaster transversely striate. Black. 10-11 mm. 
cerastes Craw. 
3. Angles not as long as broad at base, produced backward and 
laterally. Node sharply pointed, anterior face concave, 
posterior face convex. Postpetiole and gaster longitudinally 
striate. Blackish, gaster brownish, 10-11 mm taunts For. 
4. Angles short, produced backward and strongly laterally and 
forward. Node sharp pointed, anterior face straight. 
Posterior face strongly convex. Gaster transversely striate. 
Head, thorax and node red, gaster black. 1 1 mm. cornuta Em. 
5. Angles strongly produced laterally and forward, hardly back- 
ward. Node cubic, posterior face convex. Gaster longi- 
tudinally striate. Reddish brown throughout. 9 mm. 
aurata Rog. 
6. Occipital border with rounded projecting angles 8 
7. Angles bluntly pointed, projecting strongly behind and later- 
ally. Node higher than long, faces almost parallel. Gaster 
longitudinally striate. Black. 10-11 mm. . . quadriceps sp. nov. 
8. Angles broadly rounded, produced strongly backward, and 
feebly laterally and forward. Node longer than high. 
Gaster transversely striate. Black. 13 mm. mirabilis sp. nov. 
