-7- 



ANTS. 



-elves transported to place- far removed from the original home of their 

 immediate ancestor-." A I oggridge also observed that not only Fheidole 

 pallid ula hut also Ph. megacephala, an Old \\'orld ant which now over- 

 runs the warm portions of both hemispheres, are harvesting ants. 



The more recent investigations of Forel (18940), Ern. Andre 

 (i88if), Emery iiS<;<H.'), Lameere (1902), Escherich (1906), and 

 others have continued Moggridge's observations. Forel and Lameere 

 have studied the habits of M. barbarus and arcnariits in the deserts of 

 \orth Africa. According to Forel, the latter species, which is the 

 most powerful insect of that region, excavates enormous nests over an 

 area 7-10 m. in diameter and to a depth of 2 m., with several openings. 



Fir,. 154. Crater of Mcssor pergaiulci in the Arizona desert, showing ring of 

 herbaceous plants that have sprung up from discarded seeds in the chaff circle. 

 (See Figs. 152 and 153.) (Original.) 



each surmounted by a crescentic crater sometimes 50 cm. broad and 

 made of coarse sand pellets. The granaries are flat chambers about 15 

 cm. in diameter and 1.5 cm. high, connected by galleries with one 

 another and with the surface. Lameere believes that the area occupied 

 by single colonies of this ant is even greater than that given by Forel. 

 He also describes the harvesting habits of another Mcssor ( M. cai'i 



