30. Atta clypeata. B.M. Female. Length 3 lines.-Rufo-ferruginous, shining, and pubescent. Head subquadrate, emarginate behind, and having a deep central longitudinal channel; the ocelli large and promi- nent; the clypeus concave, its anterior angles produced, forming two acute points; the mandibles dark ferruginous, coarsely striated, and armed with three acute teeth at their apex. Thorax ovate, very smooth and shining on the disk. Abdomen ovate, truncate at the base; the nodes of the petiole transverse, the first produced into a point in the middle of its upper margin. The male is about the same size as the female, the thorax rufo-testaceous, the legs and antennae pale testaceous, the head and abdomen dark fuscous, the mandibles and palpi pale testa- ceous. The clypeus prominent, the ocelli very large; wings hyaline, with the nervures pale testaceous; the nodes of the peduncle compressed and transverse; the upper margin of the first node emarginate. Hab. Mexico. Of three examples received, not two agree in colouring: the specimen described I take to be the usual appearance of the insect; the second has the head anteriorly, the tibiae and tarsi ferruginous, the rest of the body black; the third variety is black, with only a faint tinge of red on the face and mandibles.

Published as part of Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London :British Museum on pages 168-170