1903.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 235 



anterior slope to the node; postpetiole relatively shorter and broader 

 than in the worker. 



Type locality: Maryland. 



Additional locality: Austin, Tex. 



The specimens from Austin have the head, thorax and pedicel 

 decidedly paler in color than a type specimen received from Dr. Mayr 

 and three topotypes given me by Mr. Pergande ; the petiole is relatively 

 smaller and there is a clavate hair at the base of each epinotal spine 

 as in Schaumi. This hair is lacking in my t^'pes of fortinodis, possibly 

 because these are much rubbed. 



I have found only a single colony of this form at Austin. This had 

 taken up its abode in an abandoned gall of Holcaspis cinerosus Basset 

 on the live-oak {Quercus virginiana). It contained 143 workers, a 

 single dealated queen and 35 larvae in different stages. The latter 

 were white and not greenish like the larvae of L. obturator which in- 

 habits the same kind of galls. The entrance to the fortinodis nest 

 was a small round hole with much worn edges, evidently the modified 

 exit of some parasite on the Holcaspis. 



.'A. 



7a. Var. melanoticus var. nov. 



Worker. — Length 2-2.5 mm. 



This form is decidedly smaller and much deeper in color than the 

 typical fortinodis. Whole body black, petiole and postpetiole brown- 

 ish behind and below; mandibles, joints of legs, tarsi and funiculus 

 brown. Epinotal spines very short and blunt in some specimens, in 

 others acute and longer, recalling the conditions described by Mayr 

 for a small variety of fortinodis from the District of Columbia. 



Female (dealated). — Length 2.9-3 mm. 



Decidedly smaller than the typical form, head and thorax as well as 

 the pedicel and gaster black ; the ventral surface of the petiole and post- 

 petiole reddish. Legs dark-brown or black ; coxae, knees, tarsi and basal 

 portion of funiculus somewhat paler. 



Type locality: Rockford, 111. 



The workers of this apparently somewhat depauperate form are 

 sometimes seen running on the bark of large prostrate oak logs in the 

 woods. They inhabit small flat chambers only ^ to f inch in diameter 

 excavated in the thick corky bark. Each nest contains a single 

 dealated queen and a comparatively small number of workers (about 

 25 to 40). 



n. Var. gilvus var. nov. 



Worker. — Length 2.25 mm. 



Differs from the typical fortinodis in the color, which is throughout 



