Crematogaster limatus

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 139

13. Crematogaster limatus . B.M.

Worker. Length 1 1/4 line.-Rufo-testaceous: the abdomen very dark blackish-brown, except at the base, which is paler; the tarsi and articulations of the legs very pale testaceous, nearly white. The body entirely smooth and shining; the thorax deeply strangulated in the middle, the metathorax with two slender acute spines; the nodes of the peduncle clavate, the basal one longest; the abdomen heart-shaped.

Female. Length 2 3/4 lines.-Of the same colour as the worker, but with the legs and the mandibles entirely pale. This sex differs from the worker in having the eyes larger and more prominent; the thorax ovate, and the spines on the metathorax short; in having wings, which are colourless, with the nervures pale testaceous: the nodes of the abdomen differ in form from those of the worker; the first node is clavate, with the upper apical margin emarginate, the lateral angles subdentate, the second node globose; abdomen as in the worker.

Male. Length 1 1/2 line.-Body entirely testaceous, with the antennae and legs very pale; wings colourless and beautifully iridescent, the nervures pale testaceous; the form of the thorax and abdomen very similar to that of the female, but the head is much smaller and narrowed behind, with the eyes very prominent.

Hab. Brazil (Ega).

Mr. Bates says of this species, " The formicarium is in perforated glandular swellings in suspended air-roots of a parasitic plant. I have never found Coleopterous parasites in the nests of any species of this genus."