AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF RHYTIDOPONERA MAYR 
71 
Hair reddish, long, erect and abundant throughout, rather shorter and 
suberect on antennae and legs. 
Head one-sixth longer than broad behind the eyes, occipital border strongly 
convex to eyes. Mandibles with numerous small sharp teeth. Clypeus 
broadly convex in front and above, with a distinct longitudinal carina. Frontal 
area indistinct. Frontal carinae slightly longer than broad in front, much 
broader behind, with a distinct longitudinal ridge between them. Scapes 
extend to posterior margin of anterior ocellus. Second segment of funiculus 
one-fourth shorter than scapes and five times longer than first. Eyes large 
and convex, occupying fully one-third of the sides. Ocelli large and convex. 
Thorax barely twice as long as broad. Pronotum projecting slightly in front 
of mesonotum, strongly convex. Mesonotum two and one-half times broader 
than long, broadly cone-shaped in front, feebly convex behind, a sharp, deep 
longitudinal groove on anterior fourth, mayrian furrows weakly indicated, 
parapsidal furrows sharply impressed. Scutellum barely one-third broader 
than long, anterior edge straight, sides, posterior border and dorsum strongly 
convex. A deep and wide constriction between pronotum and mesonotum with 
a raised disc-like protruberance at each side. Metanotum small, convex both 
ways. Epinotum convex transversely. In profile pronotum erect, convex, 
a sharp deep impression at suture. Mesonotum strongly convex from apex 
to base. Scutellum dome-shaped, twice as long as high. Metanotum very 
slightly longer than high, rounded above. Epinotum strongly convex from 
base to bottom of declivity. Node almost parallel, feebly convex behind. 
In profile very low and convex, much longer than the stalk in front, the 
ventral spine very slender and sharp, directed slightly backward, four times 
as long as broad at base. Postpetiole one-third broader than long, sides and 
front strongly convex. The constriction between the two segments broad and 
deep. Genitalia retracted. Legs long and slender. 
Habitat. — W estern Australia \ Mundaring (J. Clark) (type locality). 
This species is widely distributed on the Darling Range. 
Rhytidoponera punctigera Crawley. 
(PI. VI, tig. 49.) 
Rhytidoponera punctigera Crawley, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 9, xvi, p. 582, 
1925, ^ 
Worker. — Length, 9 5 mm. 
Head, thorax and node chocolate-brown, gaster lighter brown ; mandibles, 
funiculus and legs reddish. 
Mandibles and scapes finely striate longitudinally and very finely punctate. 
Clypeus punctate-rugose. Head very finely striate, longitudinal in the middle, 
diverging outward behind, somewhat coarser on cheeks, sparsely covered 
with large shallow punctures, shining at bottom. Front of pronotum and of 
epinotum finely striate transversely, mesonotum irregularly striate, all three 
segments coarsely punctate-reticulate. Node transversely striate-reticulate. 
Postpetiole finely transversely arched striate, first segment of gaster more 
finely striate transversely. Both segments with numerous small shallow 
punctures. Legs very finely reticulate-punctate. 
Hair yellow, short and erect on clypeus and apical segments of gaster, 
very short and adpressed on scapes, gaster and legs, not apparent on thorax. 
Pubescence only on funiculus. 
