80 
AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF RHYTIDOPONERA MAYR 
Dorsum of epinotum very short, rounded into declivity, the latter three times 
as long as dorsum. Node one-fourth broader than long, oval, convex above. 
In profile twice as high as long, anterior face vertical, slightly convex above, 
concave below. Posterior face vertical, straight above, concave below. Dorsum 
flat, very slightly longer than posterior face, both edges bluntly rounded. The 
ventral spine thorn-like, short, rather thick and sharp. Postpetiole one-third 
broader than long, broadly cone-shaped in front, sides convex. First segment 
of gaster barely one-third broader than long, strongly convex behind. The 
constriction between the two segments sharp but not deep. Legs long and 
rather slender. 
Male. — Unknown. 
Habitat. — Northern Territory: Birdum (C. Barrett, 1933); Johnston’s 
Lagoon (A. H. Wether ly, 1935). 
Rhytidoponem pilosula sp. nov. 
(PI. VI, fig. 58.) 
Worker. — Length, 7-7 '5 mm. 
Black. Mandibles, scapes and legs dark brown, funiculi and tarsi reddish- 
brown. 
Mandibles finely striate-rugose longitudinally, the striae obsolete near 
base, almost smooth, Avith numerous small piligerous punctures. Scapes and 
tibiae more sharply and densely striate longitudinally, with numerous pili- 
gerous punctures. Clypeus coarsely punctate- rugose longitudinally. Head 
coarsely punctate-rugose, the punctures large and deep, shining at bottom, 
the rugae longitudinal between frontal carinae. Thorax very coarsely punc- 
tate-rugose, punctures large and deep, shining at bottom, a few fine irregularly 
transverse rugae on anterior fourth of pronotum, epinotal declivity coarsely 
rugose transversely. Node coarsely rugose-striate, circularly on top, trans- 
verse on anterior and posterior faces. Postpetiole finely striate, transversely 
arched, with numerous fine, shallow, piligerous punctures. First segment of 
gaster similar but the striae obsolete and the fine punctures more numerous. 
Femora finely reticulate, with very numerous small piligerous punctures. 
Hair yellow, long and erect, very abundant throughout, shorter on antennae 
and legs. 
Head fully one-sixth longer than broad, sides evenly convex, occipital 
border convex, with a concave depression in middle, angles very broadly 
rounded, a feeble crest following contour of border, interrupted in middle. 
Mandibles strongly denticulate. Clypeus broadly convex above and in front. 
Frontal area large, triangular, shallow. Frontal carinae as long as broad in 
front, one-fourth broader in front than behind. Scapes extend beyond occipi- 
tal border by fully one-third their length. Second and third segments of 
funiculus equal in length, one-sixth longer than first, apical shorter than the 
two preceding together. Eyes placed just behind the middle of sides. Thorax 
one and three-quarters times longer than broad, sutures sharply impressed. 
Pronotum one-fourth broader than long, much broader in front than behind, 
sides and posterior border strongly convex, anterior border feebly convex 
and bluntly pointed, dorsum and also dorsum of epinotum strongly convex 
transversely. In profile sutures sharply impressed. Pronotum very strongly 
and evenly convex, slightly higher than mesonotum, the latter very feebly 
convex, almost flat, higher than epinotum. Dorsum of epinotum very short, 
rounded into declivity, the latter straight, three times longer than dorsum. 
