FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



of its parasitic origin. The nests resemble those of Integra 

 but are smaller. 



The subspecies, schaufussi (Plate LXXXIX), of F. 

 pallide-fulva, is yellowish or reddish-brown, gaster but little 

 darker; it has erect hairs on the lower surface of the head 

 and on the petiolar border. It is one of the commonest 

 species of Formica and nests in rather small colonies under 

 stones or in small, obscure mound-nests in sunny, grassy 

 fields. Its food consists largely of dead insects and the 

 excrement of aphids. See Polyergus lucidus. 



Formica fusca var. subsericea is extremely common. 

 Its habits are much like those of schaufussi and, like it, 

 subsericea is very timid. As the preceding notes show, it 

 is a very convenient creature for its relatives. 



Polyergus lucidus (Plate LXXXIX) is called the "shin- 

 ing slave-maker" or "shining amazon." Its slaves are 

 bred from pupae of Formica schaufussi, which are taken 

 from their maternal nests by the warlike lucidus workers. 

 The latter are quite unable to feed themselves, excavate 

 their nests, or care for their own brood, but have to depend 

 for these important activities on the schaufussi workers. 

 Hence the ants of this species are quite unable to live an 

 independent' life and may be regarded as permanently 

 parasitic on fragments of schaufussi colonies which they 

 bring together with great skill. 



The commonest Camponotus is herculeanus pennsylvani- 

 cus (Plate LXXXIX). It is the big, black Carpenter 

 Ant, which usually nests in shady woods in old logs and 

 stumps, whence it may migrate into old farm-houses and 

 suburban residences. In such an event, it becomes 

 a pest, both by riddling the wood-work with its large 

 galleries and by hunting for sweets. 



CHRYSIDOIDEA 



The scientific name refers to the golden color of certain 

 (European) species and "Ruby Wasps" to the color of 

 others, but most American species are metallic green or 

 blue. "Cuckoo-wasps" is a name which describes their 

 habits, since they lay their eggs in the nests of other 

 Hymenoptera and their larvas deprive the rightful owner 

 of food, if they do not actually eat the owner first. The 



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