752. 

 FORMICA RUFA. 



The red, hill, or horse Ant, or Pismire. 



Order Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. 



Type of the Genus, Formica rufa Linn. 



Formica Linn., 8fC. 



Antenna longer than the thorax in the male (1 ^)'^, filiform, 

 slender,geniculated, 13-jointed,basaljoint very long, 2ndslender 

 at the base, nearly as long as the following, which slightly de- 

 crease in length, apical joint as long as the 3rd ; the tip atte- 

 nuated : rather shorter in the female, slightly clavate, 12-joint- 

 ed : scarcely so long as the thorax in the neuter (1 9), 12- 

 jointed, 2nd joint longer than the 3rd ; the following obovate- 

 truncate, increasing in diameter, but decreasing in length, the 

 apical joint as long as the 2nd, elongate-ovate. 

 Labrum transverse, ciliated, notched and broad in front in the 

 male (2), attenuated, with a large triangular notch in the 

 neuter (2). 



Mandibles rather small in the male and gaping (3), hairy, con- 

 stricted below the middle, dilated above, with a trigonate apex ; 

 forming a beak in the neuter, truncated obliquely and serrated, 

 the apex elongated (3). 



Maxillae short, the apex rounded, slightly hairy . Palpi 6-jointed, 

 hairy, 3 basal joints the stoutest in the male, 1st the shortest, 

 2nd longer clavate, 3rd the longest, remainder slender, nearly 

 as long as the 2nd (4) : stouter in the neuter, the joints nearly 

 of equal length, apical joint slender (4). 



Mentum short : Lip concealed in the male, large and fleshy in the 

 neuter. Palpi inserted on each side, hairy and 4 -jointed, basal 

 joint pyriform, 2nd and 3rd oblong or obovate, 4th a little the 

 • longest in the male, the apex ovate-conic (5). 

 Trophi of the female similar to those of the neuter. Head rather small 

 in the male, ovate-trigonate : ocelli 3 in triangle on the crown : eyes 

 moderate, lateral. Head more quadrate-ovate in the female and 

 neuter : ocelli minute : eyes small. Thorax ovate in the male and 

 female ; narrow, elongated and constricted in the middle in the neu- 

 ter : petiole short, producing a thick vertical scale. Abdomen 

 elongate-ovate in the male, large and globose-ovate in the female and 

 neuter : sexual organs large and exposed in the male : sting not 

 punctorius. Wings ample, superior with 1 marginal, 2 submarginal 

 and a discoidal cell or areolet : neuter apterous. Legs moderate 

 and slender : thighs simple : tibiae with one slender acute spine at 

 the apex of each, dilated in the anterior : tarsi 5 -jointed, basal joint 

 long, curved at the base in the anterior, 4th small, subcordate : claws 

 strong : pulvilli distinct. 



F. RUFA Linn, — Curt. Guide. Gen., 6G1. 3. 



Male piceous-black : scale rather large, thick and orbicular, the apex 

 slightly concave : legs and apex of abdomen bright-ochreous : coxae, base 



* The 5 figures on the right of the plate are dissections of the male, those 

 on the left of the neuter ; the coloured figures represent the male, female 

 and neuter. 



