Eusphinctus (Nothosphinctus) brunnicornis

Clark, J., 1930, New Formicidae, with notes on some little-known species., Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 43, pp. 2-25 : 2-3

Eusphinctus (Nothosphinctus) brunnicornis , n. sp. (Text-fig. 1, No. 1.)

Worker.-Length, 3-5-4-5 mm.

Yellow. Mandibles and funiculus, except the apical segment, brown.

Shining. Finely and densely punctate throughout.

Hair yellow, short and suberect, longer and more numerous on the apical segments of the gaster. Pubescence very fine, short, particularly on the antennae and legs.

Head one fourth longer than broad, as broad in front as behind, the occipital border concave, the sides feebly convex. Frontal carinae erect, truncate behind. Clypeus very short, with a blunt translucent tooth-like projection at the middle in front. Cheeks not, or very feebly, carinate. No trace of eyes or ocelli. Antennae short and robust, scapes not extending beyond the middle of the head; segments one to ten of the funiculus broad er than long, the apical as long as the four preceding together. Mandibles large and triangular, furnished with twelve to fourteen teeth. Thorax one and three-quarter times longer than broad, without traces of sutures, feebly constricted in the mesonotal region, posterior border of the epinotum feebly margined. Epinotal declivity abrupt, concave below, submarginate on the sides above; there is a blunt, tooth-like projection at each side below. Node as broad as long, slightly broader behind than in front, the anterior border straight, the sides and posterior border feebly convex; in profile as high as long, almost dome shaped; there is a broad, blunt, tooth-like projection on the ventral surface in front. Postpetiole almost one and a half times broader than long, broader behind than in front, the sides feebly convex. There is a deep and wide constriction between each of the segments of the gaster, all the segments broader than long. Pygidium truncate, flattened above, with a row of short, sharp spines on each side. Legs short and stout.

Habitat.-Western Australia: Collie (J. Clark).

Near E. (N.) silaceus Clark , from which it is readily distinguished by the somewhat shorter thorax, longer node and broader postpetiole, as well as by the colour of the mandibles and antennae.