BEHAVIOR OF ANTS AND MYRMECOPHILES 413 



Reichensperger observed for the first time the first stage in 

 the temporary social parasitism of Formica pratensis in the nest 

 of Formica rufibarbis var. fitscorufibarbis. The alien queen was 

 very readily adopted, "treated as though she were the only 

 one/' one beginning to lay eggs after one week. Pratensis 

 queens are not always so successful, as was shown by the find- 

 ing of dead and dismembered individuals in other nests of 

 rufibarbis. 



Reichensperger records the discovery of a microgyne of Plagi- 

 olepis pygmaea. One of these small queens in an artificial nest 

 laid eggs from which normal workers were reared. The micro- 

 gynes were similar to the queen in structure, but in size about 

 as large as the workers, from which they differed in color as 

 well as structure. 



In a postscript Reichensperger states that he may not have 

 been correct in his specific determination. The microgyne may 

 have been a guest species, or an incipient new species derived 

 from P. pygmaea. 



Sadownickowa (37) made a series of 42 stereoscopic photo- 

 graphs of various activities of European ants. Among the lot 

 are pictures of the nests of several species, life histories, forag- 

 ing individuals, parasitic colonies, fighting, and mixed colonies. 

 Photographs No. 40 and 41 show ants of different species, from 

 which the antennae have been removed, living peaceably to- 

 gether. In the lot are workers of Camponotus ligniperdiis, 

 Formica sanguinea, Formica rufa, Formica jusca, Messor bar- 

 barus, a female of Formica sanguinea and a male of Lasius 

 niger, all feeding on honey water. The antennae of the male 

 have not been removed, but it is apparently unable to dis- 

 tinguish between friend and foe. 



Santschi (38) studied the behavior of several species of North 

 African ants in regard to orientation. Certain of these (Acan- 

 tholepis frauenfeldi and Tapinoma nigerrimum) made a scent 

 trail by touching the tip of the abdomen to the ground. Myr- 

 mecocystns bicolor, with the antennae removed, found the nest, 

 at first wavering somewhat but more directly as it neared the 

 nest, evidently familiar with the immediate approach. Here 

 sight seems to be an important factor. Messor barbarus pro- 

 ceeded in the general direction of its nest, though the ground 

 over which it had come had been swept and otherwise disturbed, 



