Pheidole Silenus

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 176

14. Pheidole Silenus . B.M.

Worker. Length 2 1/2- 4 lines. - Obscure fusco-ferruginous, with the antennae, articulations of the legs and the tarsi, pale rufo-tes- taceous. Head very large, nearly quadrate, with the hinder an- gles rounded, the posterior margin deeply emarginate, the face longitudinally striated, the hinder portion of the vertex trans- versely so, with a rugose space between these striatons; the head beneath has a much finer longitudinal striation; the cly- peus and mandibles shining, the latter punctured, with their base striated. Thorax rugose, with the scutellum elevated, forming an obtuse rounded tubercle; the anterior margin of the protho- rax with a short obtuse tooth at its lateral angles, and the meta- thorax armed with two upright stout acute spines. Abdomen ovate and shining, the base delicately and closely striated, the nodes of the peduncle roughened.

Hab. Singapore.

This is probably one of those species which should fall into the genus Solenopsis , which has only two joints in the labial and maxillary palpi, and two joints in the club of the antennae.