Oecodoma

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 182-183

2. OECODOMA LAEVIGATA, Pl. X. fig. 24. B.M.

Worker major. Length 5 1/2 lines. - Chestnut-red, nearly des- titute of pubescence: the thorax, the two nodes, and the apical segments of the abdomen with a few scattered erect hairs; the legs slightly pubescent, the hairs very fine and short; the head and first segment of the abdomen glassy smooth and shining. The head very large, more deeply impressed than in cephalotes , more swollen and rounded laterally, and armed behind with two acute spines. The thorax with two long spines anteriorly, two posteriorly, and with two minute ones placed a little before the middle towards the anterior pair; there are also two acute bent spines at the sides just above the anterior coxae.

Worker minor. - Of an opake reddish-brown: head large, twice the width of the thorax, deeply notched above; the vertex transversely quadrate, the anterior angles acute, the posterior ones with a short curved acute spine; the antennae slender, and quite as long as the body. The prothorax with two stout acute spines, curved forwards, behind each of which is a minute acute straight spine; a short acute spine on the sides above the anterior coxa?; the metathorax with two long, acute, nearly upright spines which are slightly curved inwards. The nodes of the abdomen subquadrate, the second about twice the width of the first, both with a sharp carina on their lateral margins, those on the second node terminating in a small tubercle; the abdomen globose.

Worker minima. - Very like the worker minor, but is little more than half the size.

These workers are placed together on the authority of Mr. H. W. Hates, who captured them at Santarem; whether they can possibly be mere varieties of the common cephalotes , it is impossible to determine without actual observation; the differ- ently formed head, perfectly smooth and naked, as well as the smooth abdomen, appear to characterize a very distinct species.