Rhytidoponera reticulatum, For.

Crawley, W. C., 1921, New and little-known species of ants from various localities., Annals and Magazine of Natural History 7, pp. 87-97 : 88-89

Rhytidoponera reticulatum, For.   Edit

[[male]] (hitherto undescribed). Length 7.0 mm.

Bright castaneous, shining; antennae and teeth of mandibles darker.

A short and fine pilosity scattered over whole body; 1 gs with exserted hairs, underside of scape with a row of similar hairs, funiculi hairy, with both exserted hairs and pubescence.

Mandibles broad, with numerous small teeth. Clypeus arched, the anterior border convex. Head narrowed behind eyes, which are large and prominent, occupying more than three-quarters of sides of head. Scape two-thirds as long as second joint of funiculus, which is the longest joint. First joint as brond as long; third, fourth, and fifth subequal, thence diminishing gradually to the apical, which is half as long again as the penultimate.

Promesonotum arched, metanotum very prominent. Epinotum feebly curved. Node from above long and narrow; the anterior quarter is divided from the rest by a transverse ridge beyond which the node narrows and widens again to the base. In profile it is low, rising to its highest point behind, the projecting ends of the above-mentioned ridge forming a break at the anterior quarter. Gaster deeply constricted between the first and second segments.

Mandibles finely striate. Clypeus and rest of head coarsely and irregularly longitudinally rugose. Promesonotum and metanotum with coarse, shining, reticulate punctures, which tend to become longitudinal in direction on the latter part of mesonotum and on the metanotum. Sides of thorax and the epinotum irregularly longitudinally rugose, the node slightly roughened, gaster smooth. Coxae and femora faintly reticulate.

Northern Territory (Hill, no. 671).

Type in the British Museum.

The [[worker]] [[worker]] taken with the [[male]] answer perfectly to Forel's description.