642 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



males are winged, and the queens are much larger than 

 either the workers or males. 



The Honey-ant, Myrmecocystus melliger (Myr-mec-o-cys'- 

 tus mel'li-ger). This ant exhibits a striking peculiarity. 

 One form of the workers has its abdomen 

 enlarged to the size of a currant and filled 

 with honey (Fig. 766). This species lives in 

 high altitudes in the southwestern part of 

 FIG. 7 66. our country, and builds nests in the form 



of little mounds. The honey-bearing individuals are found 

 clinging to the roofs of their chambers, and are merely storing 

 vats for a sort of honey which the other workers collect from 

 galls that grow on oak-trees and feed to them. When the 

 season for obtaining this food is past, these living cells 

 disgorge their supply through their mouths for the use of 

 their hungry fellows. 



Family PoNERID^: (Po-ner'i-dse). 

 The Ponerids (Po-ne'rids). 



The ants of this family resemble those of the preceding 

 family in that the peduncle of tne abdomen consists of a 

 single segment, but differ in having the abdomen con- 

 stricted between the second and third 

 abdominal segments (Fig. 767), and in 

 the possession of a sting by the queens 

 and workers. The pupa state is passed within the cocoon. 

 But few species belonging to this family have been described 

 in this country, and most of them are rare. Their favorite 

 nesting-place is beneath stones. 



Family MYRMICID.E (Myr-mic'i-dae). 

 The Myrmicids (Myr-mi 'cids\ 



The ants of this family are easily recognized by the fact 

 that with them the peduncle of the abdomen consists of two 



