BEHAVIOR OF ANTS AND MYRMECOPHILES 441 



Leonard (22) observed workers of Messor andrei after a heavy- 

 rain carrying out members of the colony which were covered 

 with mud and quite lethargic. After these had remained in the 

 warm sunshine for a time they returned into the nest. Leonard 

 assumes that they had suffered from the wetting and the nest- 

 mates had carried them out where they might revive. 



Lucas (23) notes that in a colony composed of about twenty 

 workers, without a queen, of Formica fusca in an artificial nest, 

 eggs were deposited paithogenetically. These were either eaten 

 or neglected by the ants, so none developed. 



Malloch (25) in a monographic revision of the dipterous 

 family Phoridae lists sixteen North Ameiican species that are 

 known to be associated with ants. Most of these are parasitic, 

 though one species, Metopina pachycondylae, is known to live 

 as a commensal with Pachycondyla harpax in Texas. 



Mann (26) observed the Proctutrypid Mimopria ecitono- 

 phila, with Eciton hamatum, the host ant. The parasite runs 

 along with the army of workers in an ant-like manner, and is 

 sometimes picked up and carried by the ecitons. 



Mann (27) found in Brazil a Ponerine ant, Odontomachus 

 affinus subsp. mayi, living in company with Dolichoderus debilis 

 var. rufescens, in an arboreal earthy nest constructed by the 

 latter species. Odontomachus generally nests in damp places 

 such as beneath stones or logs. In the earthy nest of Dolicho- 

 derus this variety finds a suitable arboreal environment, and 

 being a powerful, stinging ant, is very probably useful to the 

 Dolichodeius in defending the nest. 



Newcomer (28) in California studied the caterpillars of Lycaena 

 fulla and L. pseudargiolus var. piasus in their relation to ants. 

 The latter species in the third and fourth instars is very gen- 

 erally attended by Tapinoma sessile and Prenolepis imparls 

 and occasionally by Crematogaster and Camponotus. An ant, 

 on discovering a larva, proceeds to stroke its posterior segments 

 with the antennae, and to feel about with its palpi. If the ant 

 touches the evaginable organs of the eleventh segment it imme- 

 diately becomes greatly excited and runs about as though irri- 

 tated. The sharp projections on the setae of these organs 

 evidently irritate the sensitive antennae, and thus act as a 

 repellant when the caterpillar is not able to exude the liquid 

 which the ant desires. A caterpillar may be disturbed several 



