OF WASHINGTON. 89 
larva of the Syrphid fly Cheilosia alaskensis Hunter. This 
larva enters the wound made by the bark-beetle and 
causes the discoloration of the wood known as "black check." 
Mr. Burke showed, also, Hylesinus granulatus L,eConte, which 
causes the primary injury to the lowland fir (Abies grandis), 
and another Syrphid fly, Cheilosia hoodianus Bigot, whose 
larva follows up the work of H. granulatus as does the larva 
of Cheilosia alaskensis that of the hemlock barkbeetle. Mr. 
Burke showed, further, Syrphoctonus maculifrons Cresson, an 
Ichneumonid parasite of both species of Cheilosia, and Eutelus 
flampes Walker, another parasite of Cheilosia alaskensis, belong- 
ing to the family Pteromalidae. In conclusion he exhibited 
specimens of the family Byrrhidae, viz., Amphicyrte simpli- 
cipes Mann., found on resin masses exuding from fir and hem- 
lock injured in the manner described, and Simplocaria nitida 
Mots., found on resin masses on injured hemlock. The exact 
relation of these two beetles to the Cheilosia and Hylesinus 
and their work is still undetermined. 
Mr. Schwarz stated that the Byrrhid beetles live in moss 
and that their presence in resin is only accidental. 
Mr. Cook presented some notes on the habits of the 
kelep, or Guatemalan cotton-boll-weevil ant (Ectatomma 
tuberculatum Ol.). He found, in the case of this ant, that 
new colonies are formed by parties of workers from older 
.communities and by transfer of a queen from the old to the 
new colony. When moving a colony, the workers first trans- 
fer the eggs, then the larvae, then the cocoons. Then the queen 
is seized by her mandibles and carried over. In some ants 
belonging to this family (Poneridae) the queens never have 
wings. In the kelep, however, wings are present, although 
they are probably never used. The keleps have no mating 
flight and the wings of queens are not bitten off regularly or 
promptly as are those of other ants. In view of these marked 
peculiarities of habit Mr. Cook affirmed his agreement with 
Dr. Ashmead that the Poneridae are allied to the Dorylidae 
and Mutillidae rather than to the true ants which have an 
annual mating concourse. 
Dr. Morrill exhibited two specimens of the Mexican 
