ANT COMMUNITIES 



Another case of this sort of consociation is that es- 

 tablished between the occidental ant of Colorado and 

 a small species of Dorymyrmex (D. pyramicus Roger 

 var. flavus McCook). There was scarcely a formicary 

 of Occidentals that did not have upon its surrounding 

 clearing one or more species. Usually there were two 

 or three nests, sometimes four, located upon different 

 parts of the pavement. These were small moundlets of 

 fine soil, surrounding a central opening that led into an 

 irregular series of galleries and chambers. [McC. 5 ; 

 p. loo.] The insects are small, active, irritable, intense- 

 ly pugnacious, and courageous. The manner in which 

 these little fellows bullied and badgered their Occident 

 hosts was amusing and, indeed, amazing. Examples of 

 this belligerency are given and illustrated in Chapter 

 X " Warrior Ants and Their Equipment for War." 



Of the nests of six species of true ants found parasitic 

 upon the nest of Occidentalis, I found colonies of the 

 Sanguine slave-maker on three separate pavements. 

 The gates were on the clearings not far from the central 

 mound, and on exploring one Occident nest the formican 

 galleries and rooms occupied a goodly part of the in- 

 terior space. The number of ants and slaves in these 

 compound nests was quite large, judging from those in 

 sight, yet there was seen no antagonism to these guests 

 on the part of the Occident hosts. The species were not 

 greatly unequal in size, but the disparity in numbers 

 and in belligerent efficiency was such that the Occidents 

 could have exterminated the Sanguines and their kid- 

 napped retainers. The auxiliaries of sanguined were 

 Formica Schaufussi and a small black ant which 

 Wheeler thinks was one of the Western varieties of 



F. fusca, 



258 



