OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XIV. 1912. 67 



THE ANTS OF VICTORIA COUNTY, TEXAS. 



BY J. D. MITCHELL AND W. DWIGIIT PIERCI:, 

 Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



The present paper is presented in pursuance of a plan to list 

 the insects of Victoria County, which presents so many types of 

 fauna and flora. The first paper of the series, entitled "The 

 Weevils of Victoria County, Texas," published in volume 

 xni, pages 45 to 62, of these Proceedings, gives a discussion 

 of the peculiarities of the county, and it is therefore un- 

 necessary to mention them again. The ants listed and dis- 

 cussed below have almost entirely been determined by Dr. 

 W. M. Wheeler, to whom we express our appreciation for his 

 many kindnesses. Forty-six forms of ants are herewith 

 listed, which gives the county one-third of the entire number 

 of forms (140) listed for Texas by Dr. Wheeler in his recent 

 volume on "Ants; Their Structure, Development, and Be- 

 havior." We would call especial attention to the notes on 

 the dispersion of several species by floods. 



PONERID^. 



Pachycondyla harpax Fabricius. 



This large black species nests on the ground under logs, 

 between the bark and log, or in badly decayed logs. It IKIS 

 been found in this county only in the moist sections, such as 

 river bottoms and near the margin of lakes. The colonies 

 are comparatively small, none having been found with more 

 than 150 adults. A colony consisting of only 1 queen, 3 

 males, and 16 workers was found. Colonies found in February 

 are generally hibernating, all of the ants being closely huddled 

 and quiet. Winged ants have been found February 2, but 

 the first immature stages were found early in March. The 

 pupa? are protected by a cocoon. Workers have been taken 

 foraging under cow chips (Alitchell). 



Ponera trigona (Mayr) opacior Ford. 



Several w r orkers were found in the roots of Chenopodium 

 on March 29, 1909 (Mitchell). Two colonies have been taken 

 in February on (larcitas ('reek in cavities in the ground 

 under sticks. One colony consisted of !,'> workers and the 

 other of 20 workers. 



Leptogenys (Lobopelta) elongata Buckley. 



This elongate brown species has been frequently taken in 

 this county between February '! and March l(i, and invari- 



