THE POXEK/XE AXTS. 



2 35 



Alyriopod (Scntigcra). Into these pieces the larvae, some of which 

 were nearly full-grown, had inserted their heads 'and were devouring 

 the softer tissues. This could be distinctly seen with the pocket lens 

 through the glass of the vial to which the larvae had been transferred. 

 In another nest of the same species, uncovered May 16, I observed the 



FIG. 134. \Yorkers of Xeoponera rillosa of Tropical America X 2. 



(Original. ) 



larvae lying on their backs, devouring pieces of some insect which I 

 could not identify. 



The former of these observations made in the field led me to 

 observe the feeding of the larvae in my artificial nests of Lobopelta 

 clonaata. I had frequently wondered at the way in which these ants 

 decapitated termite nymphs or cut off their abdomens and scattered 

 these about among their larvae. It was all quite clear to me now ; 

 examination with the lens showed that the larvae had inserted their 

 long necks through the cut surfaces into the soft parts of the termites 

 and were feeding exactly like the larvae of Pachycondyla. 



During the month of May I had frequent opportunity to see Odon- 

 tomachus darns feeding its larvae in my artificial nests. These larvae 

 are placed by the ants on their broad backs, and their heads and necks 

 are folded over onto the concave ventral surface, which serves as a 

 table or trough on which the food is placed by the workers. The fol- 

 lowing observations are transcribed from my note-book : 



May 13. This evening several house-flies, placed in the lauet nest 



