1 897.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 127 



hol. This species is collected by the ants early in September, 

 and can be found with them until the latter part of April, but 

 not so late if the season is advanced, for they are then taken out 

 and placed upon their food-plant. I have not observed this spe- 

 cies feeding upon any of the roots entering the ants' nests, but 

 they are found placed in small clusters or herds attached to the 

 stone covering the ants' formicary. They seem to be in as good 

 condition in Spring as in the Fall of the year. Sometimes in the 

 Spring they may be found detached from the covering of the 

 nests and placed upon the surface of it, a small space being digged 

 out for them. In such cases I have always found them thickly 

 covered with a dark bluish cottony down. The size of the herds 

 is variable ; some may contain but five individuals, while others 

 may contain a hundred or more. It is also found in small num- 

 bers mixed with other species of coccids, and at times with aphids, 

 and will be farther noticed as we progress with the life-history ot 

 these insects. 



The ants cause the aphids and coccids to excrete the desired 

 nourishment by walking over and about them. The ant's an- 

 tennae are in constant motion. Their mandibles wide open, and 

 can be easily seen feeding upon the excretions from the coccids, 

 passing from one to the other. Should the weather be pleasant 

 and warm when a nest of ants is disturbed which contains either 

 aphids or coccids, the ants will collect them as speedily as possi- 

 ble and hastily take them into their retreats, which extend but a 

 short distance below the surface of the nest. Sometimes we may 

 find a few coccids and aphids hibernating with the ants under the 

 surface, while some of the ants remain with the coccids on the 

 surface of the nest all Winter as before stated. I have not as yet 

 found the food-plant of Ripersia kingii. 



Riper sia lassii Ckll. is of a somewhat smaller form, and is a 

 clear white species when put into alcohol, but when alive seems 

 to have a faint shade of flesh color and is sparingly covered with 

 white down. I have not found it feeding in the nests of ants. 

 The general habits of the ants caring for this species will also 

 apply to that of R. kingii in many respects. It has not been 

 found entirely covered with cottony down, and occurs in nests of 

 Lasius Jiavus L. and Lasius americanus Em., the food-plant 

 being unknown. The same habits will apply to Ripersia flaveola 

 Ckll. The latter is of a light yellow color, sparingly covered 



