THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF A.\TS. 159 



great interest will surely be brought to light, when h\ menopterists 

 devote as much attention to these insects as the coleopterists have 

 bestowed on hypogseic beetles. Many of the species (Eciton caecum, 

 Stiginatoinnia, etc.) feed on larvae and subterranean arthropods in 

 general; others, like some of the small species of Solenopsis, Acro- 

 inynna, Erebomyrma, etc., live in cleptobiosis with other ants or 

 termites and feed on their brood ; still others, like our yellow species 

 of Lashis s. str. and all the species of the subgenus Acanthomyops, 

 pasture droves of aphids and coccids on the roots and subterranean 

 stems of plants. 



In conclusion it should be noted that the habitat of a particular 

 species, subspecies or variety is selected in the first instance by the 

 fertile female ant when she establishes her colony. If the physical 

 and living environment is congenial and moderately stable, the colony, 

 in the great majority of cases, remains stationary, but if the condi- 

 tions become unfavorable, it migrates to another site. In such cases 

 the workers not only select the new habitat, but also determine and 

 bring about the change of dwelling. 



