Crematogaster

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 134-135

Genus 4. CREMATOGASTER .

Formica , pt., Oliv. Encycl. Meth. vi. 497 (1791).

Myrmica , pt., Latr. Hist. Nat. Fourm, 261 (1804).

Crematogaster , Lund, Ann. Sc. Nat. xxvii. (1831).

Acrocoelia, Mayr. Ein. neue Ameis. 143 (1852).

Maxillary palpi 5-jointed, labial palpi 3-jointed. Antennae 11-jointed, the club 3-jointed. Anterior wings with one marginal cell, incomplete; one complete submarginal, and one discoidal cell. Abdomen cordate, the petiole attached to the upper surface of its base.

The insects belonging to this genus of Ants construct their nests on the branches of trees, suspending them in the same way as Wasps, to the nests of which they have a close resemblance; on removing the outer covering, however, they exhibit a very different construction, being composed of multitudinous, curved, intricate ramifications, all leading to the interior chambers and galleries. From the close resemblance which the nests have to a wig, they have probably acquired the popular name of the Negro-head, by which they are generally known in the Brazils. The insects are readily known in consequence of the abdomen being usually heart-shaped, and the peduncle by which it is attached to the thorax being inserted at the top of the basal segment, instead of beneath, as it is in all the other genera of Ants. These insects are described by observers as having a remarkable appearance when running about, as at such times they curve the abdomen upwards, so that it partly overhangs the thorax behind.