Camponotus reticulatus Kirby

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

4. Camponotus reticulatus Kirby .

Paisley Bluff, burrow-nest under stones, many specimens; also Palm Creek and Finke Gorge.

This appears to be a valid species, but Kirby's name having been preoccupied by Roger, 1863 {Berl. Ent. Zeitschr., vii, p. 139), I have substituted the name of the late Sir Baldwin Spencer, leader of the expedition, for the species. The major and minor workers are here more fully described as Camponotus {Tanaemyrmex) spenceri , nom, nov.

Worker Major.-Length, 8.5-9 mm.

Reddish brown. Mandibles red. Funiculus, tarsi and apical margin of the segments of the gaster testaceous.

Subopaque. Mandibles shining, very sparsely punctate. Head, thorax, node and first segment of the gaster finely and densely punctate-reticulate, the rest of the gaster microscopically punctate.

Hair reddish, long and erect, moderately abundant throughout.

Head very slightly longer than broad, much broader behind than in front, the occipital border straight, the sides convex. Frontal carinae diverging slightly behind, one fourth longer than their width at the middle; there is a strong carina between them. Clypeus convex above, strongly projecting at the middle in front, this portion of the clypeus as long as broad, strongly cantiate, the anterior border concave. Eyes convex, placed at the posterior third of the sides. Scapes extending beyond the occipital border by one-fourth of their length; segments one to four of the funiculus almost equal in length, the others subequal. Mandibles large and triangular, armed with six strong sharp teeth. Thorax almost two and a half times longer than broad. Pronotum one-third broader than long, strongly convex in front, on the sides and above. Mesonotum circular, convex above. Epinotum narrow above, fully twice as long as broad. Node scale-like. convex in front, concave behind; in profile inclined forward, the anterior face strongly convex, posterior fiat, bluntly pointed above. Gaster longer than broad. Legs long and slender. Worker Minor.-Length, 6-7-3 mm.

Colour, sculpture and pilosity similar to the worker major. Head longer than broad, as broad in front as behind, the occipital border strongly, the sides feebly, convex. Scapes extending beyond the occipital border by half their length. The rest as in the major, but much more slender.

Habitat.-Paisley Bluff, Palm Creek, Finke Gorge.

Range; Palm Creek; Paisley Bluff. Three species are included under this name. The specimens from Paisley Bluff are correctly placed. This is Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) novae-hollandiae Mayr . The examples from MacDonnell Range are all referred to Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) discors Forel, var. laetus Forel (Rev. Suisse Zool., xviii, p. 70, 1910), subsequently described from the same locality. The specimens from Palm Creek are dè'alated females of the genus Iridomyrmex , not in condition to be described.