wheeler: ants of the genus formica. 525 



Body but slightly more shining than in cinerca. 



Pilosity and pubescence more abundant than in the var. altipetens 

 but less abundant than in the typical cinerea, the erect hairs lacking 

 on the sides of the head, pleurae, and extensor surfaces of the le'gs 

 as in the former. Pubescence long and dense, but less silvery than in 

 the European form. 



Body dark brownish, with the top of the head, the gaster and some- 

 times the thoracic dorsum darker and more blackish. Antennal 

 scapes scarcely infuscated at their tips. 



Female. Length 8-10 mm. 



Closely resembling the worker in color, sculpture, and pilosity, but 

 sides of head and thorax with sparse erect hairs as in the female of the 

 typical cinerca. Mesonotum with three large fuscous blotches which 

 are confluent behind, the mesopleurae, scutellum, metanotum, and 

 base and sides of epinotum also fuscous. The red color of the anterior 

 part of the head often extending back onto the front. Wings color- 

 less, with pale brown veins and darker stigma. 



Male. Length 7-8 mm . 



Closely resembling the male of the var, altipetens but the erect 

 hairs on the head and thorax are more abundant and the genital 

 appendages are less infuscated. The antennal scapes, bases of funi- 

 culi, and in most specimens also the mandibles are sordid yellow. 

 Wings as in the female. 



Type locality. — Illinois: Rockford (Wheeler). 



Illinois: New Bedford (G. E. Sanders). 



Indiana: Wilders (W. S. Blatchley). 



South Dakota: Harding County (S. S. Visher). 



Colorado: Breckenridge (P. J. Schmitt); Colorado Springs 

 (Wheeler). 



California: San Jose (H. Heath); Palo Alto, Santa Cruz Mountains 

 (W. M. Mann); Mesa Grande, Russian R. (J. C. Bradley). 



In color this variety approaches very closely the redder form of 

 cinerea which Forel has called cinereo-rufibarbis. Like the variety 

 altipetens it nests in meadows and bogs, but its nests, though equally 

 populous, are usually much flatter mounds. This ant is fond of nest- 

 ing in the natural "hummocks," which are so prominent a feature of 

 the bogs and meadows of Illinois and the neighboring states. 



109. F. CINEREA CINEREA var. RUTiLANS, var. nov. 



Worker. Length 4-5 mm. 



Head large and broad, thorax shaped like that oifusca, petiole much 

 compressed anteroposteriorly, with very feebly convex anterior and 



