FOUMICAKI^E. 179 



The genus Muttlla is a very extensive one, and enjoys a wide 

 geographical range. It is throughout stouter than Mynnosa, 

 the head is more cubical, and the thorax and abdomen is 

 shorter, the tip of the latter being somewhat truncated. 



The wingless female closely resembles, both in its form and 

 motions, a worker ant. The body is coarsely granulated and 

 either naked or densely hirsute, and of a scarlet, black, or pale 

 red, or brown-black color. The females are found running in 

 hot sandy places, and hide themselves quickly when disturbed, 

 while the males frequent flowers. Mntilla 

 occidentalis is a large species. It is of a 

 beautiful scarlet color and is armed Avith a 

 very powerful sting. According to Profes- 

 sor A. E. Verrill this species was found by 

 him. at New Haven, to construct deei) 



with insects. This species is also said by Fig. 109. 



Kirby to be very active, "taking flies by surprise." (West- 

 wood.) Mr. Verrill noticed that this insect makes a slight 



' ~ 



creaking noise. The larva* of J/. Enroptua are said to live 

 parasitic-ally in Humble-bees' nests. MtitiUa ferrugata Fabr. 

 (Fig. 10'J) is found frequently in New England. 



Latreille. The family of ants would seem 

 naturally to belong with the truly fossorial Hymenoptera, both 

 from their habits and structure. 



Both males and females are winged, but the males are much 

 smaller than the females, while the wingless workers are smaller 

 than the males. In these wingless forms the segments of the 

 thorax become more or less separated, making the body much 

 longer and slenderer, and less compact than in the winged nor- 

 mal sexual forms, the prothorax being more developed than in 

 the males and females. The workers often consist of two 

 forms : one with a large cubical head, or worker major, some- 

 times called a soldier, and the usual small-headed form, or 

 worker minor. 



The head is generally triangular. The eyes are large in the 

 males, smaller in the workers, and in those of some genera 

 (Ponera, Typhlopone, etc.) they are absent ; while in the 



