OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XIV, 1912. 71 



Solenopsis up. 



A very tiny species of ant has been taken quite frequently 

 nesting in dead pecan twigs and under bark. 



Pheidole dentata Mayr. 



Colonies of this ant are very large and when disturbed 

 they swarm out in large numbers, seeking the intruder and 

 making it interesting for anyone desiring to make close ob- 

 servations. In defending their nests they are only surpassed 

 by the giants Neoponera villosa. They build in dead wood, 

 in the ground under logs, chunks, and stones, and occasionally 

 among the roots of vegetation. In April, 1897, the senior 

 writer observed a colony in high water floating down the 

 Guadelupe River. They were on a chunk of dead wood, which 

 was almost submerged. The ants were collected on- the upper 

 part in two clusters, with a string of workers connecting them. 

 One bunch protected the queen, the other the immature 

 stages. They fought savagely to protect both queen and 

 young. On February 16, 1909, a colony was taken from a 

 rotting log in the river bottoms. Other colonies were found 

 in similar places March 20 and April 14. On May 22, 1909, 

 a large colony was found in a pecan log. Many pupse were 

 in the act of molting to adults. When the nest was dis- 

 turbed the workers and soldiers did not show their usual 

 aggressiveness, but gave their attention to the unfortunate 

 immature adults, caring for them as they would for larvae or 

 pupa? (Mitchell). 



Pheidole spp. 



Other species of Pheidole occur in the county, but have not 

 been determined. 



Cremastogaster lineolata Say. 



A worker was collected in the cell of a beetle larva in a 

 root of Chenopodinm, February 20, 1909. A colony was 

 collected in a live-oak twig gall of Ainphibolips May 18, 1909. 

 Workers were collected on mistletoe January 16, 1911 



(Mitchell). 



Cremastogaster lineolata (Say) Ia3viuscula (Mayr) clara Mayr. 



On March 4 and 7, 1910, colonies of this form were found 

 nesting under bark of live and dead willow trees (Mitchell). 



Cremastogaster ashmeadi Mayr. 



Specimens were collected April 8, 1907 (Mitchell). 

 Aphaenogaster fulva (Roger) aquia (Buckley) texana Emery. 



A large colony of this species was found in a decaying log. 

 They were very fierce (Mitchell). 



