67 
AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF RHYTIDOPONERA MAYR 
tudindly striate in the middle, the striae diverging outward behind. Pronotum 
very hnely and densely striate-reticulate, longitudinally arched, with some 
large, shallow, scattered punctures, shining at bottom. Mesonotum and epi- 
notum very finely and densely striate-reticulate transversely, with large, 
shallow scattered punctures. Node very finely and densely striate, circularly 
on top, more coarsely and transversely striate in front. Postpetiole finely 
stnate, transversely arched. First segment of gaster finely striate longi- 
tudmally. Legs finely striate-reticulate, transverse on femora, longitudinal 
on tibiae. 
Hair yellow, erect, very short and sparse throughout, except on clypeus 
and apex of gaster. No pubescence. 
Head one-fifth longer than broad, sides and occipital border feebly convex, 
Mgles rounded, occipital crest very feeble. Mandibles very finely denticulate. 
Clypeus convex above and in front. Frontal area large, rather deep. Frontal 
carinae as long as broad in front. Scapes extend beyond occipital border by 
fully one-third their length. First and third segments of funiculus equal in 
length, apical as long as the two preceding together. Eyes large and convex, 
placed almost at posterior third of sides. Thorax fully twice as long as 
broad, pro-mesonotal suture strongly impressed. Pronotum one-fourth 
broader than long, rectangular, feebly convex transversely. Mesonotum one- 
fourth broader than long, strongly convex in all directions, epinotum strongly 
convex transversely. In profile convex longitudinally with a distinct break 
at sutures. Pronotum dropping abruptly in front, convex, epinotum more 
flatly convex. Node twice as broad as long, oval. In profile broader at 
base than above, anterior face straight, sloping forward below, posterior 
face straight, sloping backward below, rounded into dorsum, latter flat, 
anterior edge sharp, ventral spine short, slender and sharp. Postpetiole one- 
fourth broader than long, strongly convex in front. First segment of gaster 
fully one-fourth broader than long, strongly convex behind. The constric- 
tion sharp but not deep. Legs long and robust. 
Male. — Length, 7-8 mm. 
Dark chocolate-brown. Mandibles, clypeus, antennae and legs lighter 
brown. Wings yellowish, nervures brown. 
Mandibles very finely striate longitudinally. Clypeus and head rather 
finely punctate-rugose, interstices finely reticulate. Pronotum transversely 
rugose, with some large, shallow, scattered punctures, interstices densely 
reticulate. Mesonotum punctate-rugose, the punctures smaller, shallow and 
more scattered in front, all punctures shining at bottom, interstices densely 
reticulate. Scutellum punctate-rugose as on mesonotum. Epinotum coarsely 
rugose transversely, with numerous large shallow punctures near middle. 
Node and gaster shining, very finely and superficially striate transversely. 
Legs very finely and densely reticulate. 
Hair yellow, short and erect on clypeus, long and erect on apex of gaster, 
sparse elsewhere on body, very short and suberect on antennae and legs. 
Head one-fourth longer than broad, strongly convex behind the eyes. 
Mandibles with numerous small denticles. Clypeus broadly convex in front 
and above. Frontal area small and shallow. Frontal carinae as long as 
broad in front, broadest behind. Second segment of funiculus as long as 
scape, four times longer than first. Eyes occupy fully one-third of the sides. 
Ocelli small and convex. Thorax twice as long as broad. Pronotum project- 
ing well beyond mesonotum in front, strongly convex. Mesonotum broadly 
convex in front and above, feebly convex behind, central groove in front and 
parapsidal furrows sharply impressed, mayrian furrows weakly impressed 
