DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL ANTS MENTIONED IN THESE RESEARCHES.

The Herculean Ant.

(F. Herculanea, Linn.)

W.⁠[1]⁠—Black. Thorax, base of the abdomen, thighs of a blood-red. Length, five to six lines.

F.—Black. Sides of the thorax, scale, base of the abdomen of a bay-red. Superior wings, entirely of a smoky black.

M.—Very black. Superior wings, smoky black. Scale, thick, emarginate. Tarsi and knees ferruginous.

Latreille, Essai sur l’Hist. des Fourmis de la France.

The Ethiopian Ant.

(F. Nigra.)

W.—Elongate, very black, shining. Mandibles and legs of a blackish brown. Abdomen hairy. Length, three to five lines.

F.—Very black, shining. Mandibles and legs of a blackish brown. Scale, nearly cordiform. Abdomen, short, oval, hairy. Wings white, a marginal point in the superior.

M.—Very black. Scale, truncate, emarginate. Abdomen pubescent. Wings white, a marginal point in the superior.

Latreille, Essai, &c.

Obs. Both these species inhabit hollow trees, where they form shapeless grooves, or furrows; they also make use of the worm-holes in the wood.

The Fuliginous Ant.

(F. Fuliginosa, Lat.)

W.—Short, very black, shining. Antennæ, at their geniculation, knees and tarsi of a testaceous brown. Head, large, emarginate posteriorly. Scale, small. Abdomen, globose. Length, one line three-quarters.

F.—Very black, short. Mandibles, antennæ, and feet, rufescent. Wings and scale, as in the male.

M.—In colour like the worker. Scale entire, nearly oval. Superior wings, obscure at their base.

Latreille, ibid.

Obs. This species constructs admirable labyrinths in trees.

The Brown Ant,

(F. Brunnea.)

W.—Deeply ferruginous. Eyes, summit of the head, and abdomen blackish. Scale, quadrate, almost bidentate. Length, one line two-fifths.

F.—Brown, blackish. Mandibles, antennæ, and feet, ferruginous. Scale, bidentate. Abdomen, large. Wings, long, some obscure nervures upon the base of the superior.

Latreille.

M.—Size of the worker, of a blackish colour, passing to brown. Wings extremely diaphanous; their nervures scarcely visible; their point slightly yellowish. Scale, quadrate, almost bidentate.

Jurine.

Obs. This is the most skilful of the indigenous Mason Ants.

The Yellow Ant,

(F. Flava, Lat.)

W.—Of a reddish yellow. Eyes, black. Scale, small, nearly quadrate, entire. Body, slightly pubescent. Length, one line three-fifths.

F.—Testaceous, obscure (deep reddish brown), relucent. Antennæ and feet, pallid. Scale, emarginate, quadrate, hairy. Abdomen, large; margin of the rings yellowish, more shining. Superior wings, slightly obscure at their base.

M.—Blackish, shining. Antennæ and feet, pallid. Scale, slightly emarginate. Abdomen, feebly tomentose. Wings, transparent.

Latreille.

Obs. This species constructs hillocks of earth.⁠[2]⁠

The Fallow Ant, (black back,)

(F. Rufa, Linn.)

W.—Of a fallow red, smooth. Antennæ, posterior part of the head, back of the thorax, superior margin of the scale, and abdomen, black. Three small ocelli. Scale, nearly oval. Length, three lines.

F.—Colour of the worker. Scale, entire. Abdomen, short, swoln, red at its base. Superior wings, smoky black.

M.—Of an unpolished black. Extremity of the abdomen and feet, fallow. Scale, thick, truncate. Exterior margin of the superior wings, blackish.

Latreille, Essai, &c.

I thought it proper to make of the Fallow Ants two species, as they are distinguished from each other by very remarkable characters, and by a difference in their habitations; some being infinitely larger than others: the former, are situated in forests; the latter, alongside hedges and meadows. To the second species, I shall give the name of the Fallow Ant with the red back, (Fourmi fauve, dos rouge) which dwells by preference in the woods.

The Fallow Ant, (red back,)

(F. Rufa, Linn.)

W.—Of a blood-red. Upper part of the head, eyes, antennæ, abdomen, and feet, blackish. Scale, slightly emarginate.

F.—Of a blood-red. Upper part of the head, eyes, antennæ, superior thoracic plate, and abdomen, blackish. Scale thick, oval, entire. Wings very smoky at their base. The first segments of the abdomen have a slightly reddish tint.

M.—Black. Last segment of the abdomen testaceous. Feet, reddish. Thighs, slightly blackened at their base. Wings, slightly smoky.

Jurine.

It appears to me, that M. Latreille has described an individual of this species, or, if you please, variety, in his History of Ants, “Histoire des Fourmis,” whilst speaking of the female. A very remarkable difference between them, is, that the rings of the female of this latter species have infinitely more lustre than those of the former. The fallow colour is also more bright. The denominations of dos noir and dos rouge have been given from the colour of the worker.

The Red Ant,

(Myrmica Rubra, Lat.)

(Formica Rubra, Linn.)

W.—Reddish, slightly shagreened. Thorax, armed with two points, traversing the first knot. Upper part of the abdomen, blackish. Length, two lines and a half.

F.—A little larger than, and closely resembling, the worker. Summit of the head, some lines upon the back of the thorax, base of the superior wings, upper part of the abdomen, blackish. Spines moderate.

M.—As large as the worker. Head and thorax, black, slightly shagreened. Mouth, base of the antennæ, knots, abdomen, feet, for the most part piceous. Rest of the rings and tarsi, obscurely testaceous. Spines of the thorax, short. Wings, blackish at their base. Feet, hairy.

Latreille, Essai, &c.

This species constructs its nest in the earth, or in trees. It emits a very pungent odour, and lives by rapine.

The Turf Ant,

(F. Cæspitum, L.)

W.—Of a blackish brown. Antennæ, thorax, sometimes feet, of a lighter colour. Thorax, entirely shagreened. Spines short. Two tubercles at the insertion of the abdomen: the latter shining.

F.—Black, brown, hairy. Antennæ at their geniculation, feet, testaceous, obscure. Thighs and legs, a shade deeper. Spines, short. Wings, white, marginal point slightly marked. Abdomen, shining.

M.—Black, brown, nearly bare. Antennæ and feet, palish yellow. Head, rounded posteriorly. Back part of the thorax, obtuse. Wings, white, without any point. Abdomen, shining, feet, elongate.

Latreille.

This ant constructs its nest, sometimes, in the grass, sometimes on the naked ground, sometimes in the sand.

The Dark Ash-coloured Ant,

(F. Fusca, Linn.)

W.—Of a shining dark ash-colour. Base of the Antennæ, and feet, reddish. Scale, large, nearly triangular. Three small ocelli.⁠[3]⁠

In shape it resembles the Fallow-Ant. The body is black, of a slight ash-colour, shining, nearly smooth, and elongate. The first joints of the antennæ, and the two or three following joints, are of a deep reddish colour. The fore-part of the head is carinated. The three small ocelli are visible.

The scale is large, between an oval and triangular form. The middle of the superior margin is slightly elevated, slightly concave. The abdomen is nearly globular, feebly covered with hair at the extremity. The feet are of a deep reddish colour, with the base of the thighs, of an obscure brown. Vide Pl. II. fig. 9.

F.—Of a shining black: by reflection slightly bronzed. The first joint of the antennæ is of a blackish brown, the second black. The scale, large, nearly quadrate, the superior margin straight, slightly concave. Feet, the same as in the worker. Wings, slightly obscure, with the nervures and the marginal point of the superior, blackish. Vide Pl. II. fig. 8.

M.—Black, very shining, nearly smooth. Antennæ, commonly black, sometimes of an obscure yellow, or half black and half fallow. Scale thick, nearly quadrate, the superior margin longer, almost straight, slightly concave. Anus and the feet a palish yellow, haunches black. Superior wings, slightly obscure, with the nervures deeply yellowish, and the stigma blackish. Vide Pl. II. fig. 8.

The male and female are figured of the size represented in the Plate, but larger than Latreille has them. This Author speaks of a variety in which the brown parts are much more fallow than in the above. This he has described in his little work, under the name of the Black Ant. (Fourmi noire.) The Fourmi noiratre of his monograph appears to me to be the same.

Be this as it may, these three varieties, whose manners and habits are precisely the same, ought to be comprised under the denomination of noir-cendrées.

They build after the same manner. They open the cocoons of their pupæ a few days after they have spun, under the form of larvæ, and are all equally exposed to the invasions of the Amazon Ants.

Latreille, Hist. Nat. des Fourmis.

The Mining Ant,

(F. Cunicularia, Lat.)

W.—Head and abdomen, black. About the mouth, upper part of the head, first joint of the antennæ, thorax, and feet, of a pale fallow. Vide Pl. II. fig. 12.

It resembles the worker of the Fallow Ant. The antennæ have their first joint yellow, and the second of a blackish red. The head is black, with the parts surrounding the mouth; the inferior part reddish. The forehead bears an impressed line. Three apparent ocelli. Thorax, of a much paler yellow than in the Fallow Ants, and no black upon the back (on this account they closely resemble the Fallow Ants, with the red back). The scale is fallow, nearly oval; having the middle of its superior margin retuse, as if truncate. The abdomen is of a black ash-colour, pubescent. The feet are fallow. Length, two lines and a half.

F.—Body, elongate, about three lines and a half, much resembling that of the Fallow Ant. Antennæ and head, same form and colour as in the worker. Thorax, fallow, with three marks or stains upon the back. Scutellum, and the mark upon each side, under the wings, black. Scale, fallow, cordiform, strongly emarginate. Abdomen black. Feet, fallow. Wings, diaphanous, with the nervures of a yellowish brown, and the stigma deeper in colour. Length, three to four lines, sometimes even four and a half. Vide Pl. II. fig. 11.

There is a variety of this female, in which the fore-part of the abdomen is fallow; the back is black, with two red rays. Length, three lines.

M.—About three lines in length. It has the carriage of the male of the Fallow Ant. The body is black, more shining, slightly sericeous on the abdomen. The scale is strongly emarginate. Anus, of an obscure reddish brown. Feet, blackish. Wings slightly obscure; the nervures of the superior of a yellowish brown; the stigma black. Vide Pl. II. fig. 13.

M. Latreille brings under the denomination of mineuse, the effacée of his monograph, which is only a variety. These ants, like the Ash-coloured Ants, tear the cocoons spun by the larvæ, as soon as the latter have undergone their transformation.

The Rufescent Ant,

(F. Rufescens, Lat.)

Fourth family. Fourmi ambigue: thus called, because it holds an intermediate rank between two other families.

W.—Of a pale red. Mandibles, slender, arcuate, scarcely denticulate. Ocelli, three, small. Thorax, elevated posteriorly. Length, three lines.

The body is elongate, of a pale red, nearly smooth, having only a few hairs upon the head, scale, and abdomen. The antennæ are inserted near the mouth, the part between them is not elevated, as in the ants of the former families (like the preceding.) The head is rather large, nearly quadrate, rounded posteriorly. The mandibles are arched, slender, scarcely denticulate, terminating in a point, much resembling those of the Tiphiæ. This character is unique in the indigenous ants. The middle of the forehead bears a small impressed line. The eyes are small and black. The three small ocelli are very apparent. The thorax is narrow, gibbous, and rounded anteriorly, sinking in the middle of the back, and afterwards terminating in a rounded elevation. The scale is large, very thick, rounded at the superior margin, shaped like the segment of a circle, whose extremity is truncated, serving as the base. The abdomen is small, globose, conical. The sting very evident. The tarsi are slightly hairy.

F.—It closely resembles the worker. The thorax is nearly cylindric, elevated, and rounded at its posterior extremity, which is separated from the rest of the back, by a transverse furrow. The scale is of the same form as in the worker. The abdomen a little larger.

The wings were wanting in the individual our author possessed. This excellent description agrees, in every respect, with our Legionary Ants. M. Jurine describes the individuals I presented him, as follows.

W.—Reddish. Last segment of the abdomen more pale. Eyes, black. Vide Pl. II. fig. 2.

F.—Larger than the worker, of a deeper red. Thorax extremely round posteriorly, and projecting. Scale, large, thick, and rounded. Abdomen, oval, shortened. Wings, slightly smoky. Vide fig. 1.

M.—Size of the worker; black. Abdomen oval, elongate. Sexual parts, testaceous. Thighs, black; whitish at their base and extremity. Legs and tarsi, pale. Scale, moderately thick, emarginate. Wings, extremely diaphanous. Vide fig. 3.

Apterous female. Blood-red. Anterior part of the thorax, reddish brown. Scutellum, projecting, rounded. Scale, thick, oval entire, much resembling the female of the Rufescent Ant, (F. Roussâtre) and equally large. Vide fig. 4.

The Sanguine Ant,

(F. Sanguinea, Lat.)

F.—Blood-red. Eyes and abdomen, black. Upper part of the head, slightly tinged with black. Scale, oval, less emarginate than in the worker. Wings, strongly smoky towards their base. Vide fig. 5.

M.—Black. Feet, reddish. Wings, smoky black towards their base. Scale, emarginate. Vide fig. 7.

W.—Like the female, but the head of a deeper red; and the thorax more contracted. Vide fig. 6.

Jurine.

M. Latreille only describes the worker, and in the following terms. Of a blood-red. Eyes and abdomen, black; very small ocelli. Scale oval, slightly emarginate.

FINIS.

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