JOURNAL 



JOfin IJopk ^n^omologitfll ^oriFJ^g. 



Vol. XVII. SEPTEMBER, 1909. No. 3. 



THE CAMP AT LAKEHURST. 



By Wm. T. Davis. 



The subject of a July outing to be centered about the national 

 holiday was several times discussed at the meetings of that society of 

 entomologists which bears a dual name, and meets oft times in New 

 York, Brooklyn and out in the country. It was finally decided that 

 we camp near Lakehurst, N. J., especially as Mr. Charles E. Sleight 

 was willing to loan six tents for the occasion, which when supplied 

 with bed-ticks stuffed with pine-needles, blankets and mosquito netting, 

 were guaranteed to offer the comforts of home. About a large spread- 

 ing chestnut tree that some hopeful person had imported into the 

 pine-barrens years ago, and planted on a little farm now abandoned, 

 we pitched our tents, and while we worked we kept an eye open for 

 the ever-present insects. 



When we were raking pine-needles for beds, we uncovered a 

 Pasimachus, and indeed this is a very good way to discover these 

 beetles, as we have seen several others thus found while raking among 

 the pines of Long Island. When busy with the tents we saw the tag 

 end of a small army of the shining slave-making ant (^Polyergus lucidus) 

 just returning from a raid on some unfortunate colony. It may be of 

 interest to mention that we have known of a nest of these slave makers, 

 resident at Lakehurst under two old railroad ties lying close together, 

 since July, 1907. They only occupy part of the space and have 

 Formica schaufussi slaves. Under the same old ties is a nest of For- 

 mica difficilis. Both colonies are still in a flourishing condition and 

 apparently get along harmoniously. 



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