AUSTRALIAN FORMICIDAE 
89 
and densely reticulate, with numerous very small, shallow piligerous punctures. 
Gaster and legs shining, more superficially reticulate and the fine punctures 
more abundant. 
Hair yellow, erect, very short and abundant throughout. A row of very 
long erect yellow hairs on anterior edge of clypeus and a tuft of somewhat 
shorter hairs at apex of gaster. 
Head one-fourth broader than long, broader behind than in front, occipital 
border slightly concave in middle, angles broadly rounded, sides convex. 
Mandibles large and broad, furnished with five or six large sharp teeth. 
Clypeus strongly convex in middle, concave at sides near antennal fovea, 
projecting and convex in front. Frontal area small and triangular. Frontal 
carinae one-third broader than long, rather flat, parallel; antennal insertions 
exposed in front; a shallow median groove extends to anterior ocellus, there 
is a small polished ocellus-like tubercle midway along the groove. Scapes 
extend backwards to the occipital border; first and second segments of 
funiculus equal in length, third to tenth shorter and subequal, apical as long 
as the two preceding combined. Eyes circular, feebly convex, their anterior 
edge at middle of sides. Ocelli very small. Thorax one-third longer than 
broad. Pronotum twice as broad as long, strongly convex in all directions, 
pro-mesonotal suture sharp and deep. Mesonotum slightly broader than 
long, sides and posterior border convex, with a triangular excision at middle 
of posterior border, dorsum weakly convex both ways, a broad blunt tubercle 
at the posterior third on each side; constriction between mesonotum and 
epinotum deep. Epinotum four times broader than long, the posterior angles 
produced as broad blunt tubercles; in profile pronotum convex and dipping 
in front, pro-mesonotal suture sharply defined. Mesonotum convex, higher 
than pronotum, posterior angles raised. Epinotum much lower than mesono- 
tum, declivity straight, at an obtuse angle, fully three times longer than 
dorsum. Node four times broader than long, scale-like, anterior face convex, 
posterior face straight or feebly convex, superior edge blunt, deeply concave 
in middle ; in profile three times higher than long, anterior and posterior faces 
convex, bluntly pointed above. Gaster as broad as long; first segment three 
times broader than long, strongly convex in front. Legs robust. 
Worker media. Length 5 mm. 
Colour, sculpture and pilosity similar to the worker major, from which it 
differs only in being smaller and more slender and the antennae slightly 
longer. Node feebly concave on top. 
Worker minor. Length 3 7 mm. 
Colour and sculpture as in the major, but mandibles not coarsely striate. 
Pilosity coarser and more abundant, very short and erect, bristle-like, shorter 
and suberect on scapes, none on funiculus. 
Head one- fourth broader than long, occipital border straight, angles 
rounded, sides convex. Mandibles, clypeus, frontal area and frontal carinae 
as in major worker. Scapes extend beyond the occipital border by more than 
half their length, all segments of funiculus equal in length but apical slightly 
longer. Ocelli minute. Thorax similar but tubercles on mesonotum and 
epinotum feebly indicated. Node more slender. Gaster longer and narrower. 
Male and female unknown. 
Habitat. — Victoria: Patho (H. A. Potter). 
A very distinct species readily distinguished by the angular 
thorax. This ant was observed, by Mr. Potter, to carry larvae 
and pupae from the nest of Iridomyrmex detectus Smith. 
