57. Formica stricta ^HNS. B.M.

Formica stricta, Jerdon ^HNS, Madr. Journ. Lit. & Sc. (1851) 123 [[worker]]; Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd ser. xiii. 105. 37.

Smith, Journ. Proc. Linn. Soc. ii. 53. 3.

Hab. India (Malabar); Borneo (Sarawak).

The insect which I take to be the F. stricta ^HNS has the head square, or rather oblong; the insect is of an obscure blackishgreen and covered with cinereous pile; the eyes are placed high at the sides of the head; the face from the base of the clypeus is obliquely truncated, the truncation being roughly striated; the thorax is narrowed posteriorly, and the metathorax has two little points or tubercles, one on each side; the scale of the peduncle is raised, incrassate, rounded and emarginate above; the legs shining black. The small worker has the head rounder, not truncated in front.

The female has the head truncated in front; the thorax and the abdomen elongate-ovate, the former smooth and shining above; the wings subhyaline, the nervures testaceous, with a narrow fuscous stain running along the course of the nervures; the insect tinged with green, the abdomen covered with glittering cinereous pile.