152 



HYMENOPTERA 



the European species, makes slaves of Formica schaufussi, itself 

 does no work, and partakes of food only when fed by its servi- 

 tors. He did not, however, actually witness the process of feed- 

 ing. AVhen a migration takes place the servitors deport both 

 the males and females of J\ lucidus. M'Cook adds that the 

 servitors appear to be really mistresses of the situation, tliough 

 they avail themselves of their power only by working for the 

 advantage of the other species. 



The honey-ant of the United States and Mexico has been in- 

 vestigated by M'Cook and others ; the chief peculiarity of the 

 species is that certain individuals are 

 charged with a sort of honey till they 

 become enormously distended, and in fact 

 serve as leather bottles for the storage 



of the Huid. The species Myrmecocystus 

 liortideorum and M. incUigcr, are mode- 

 rate-sized Insects of subterranean habits, 

 the entrance to the nest oi M. Iiortideonini 

 being placed in a small raised mound. 

 The honey is the product of a small gall 

 found on oak leaves, and is obtained by 

 7\G.Q-2.— Myrmecocystus mexi- the workcr-ants during nocturnal expedi- 

 canus. Honey -pot ant, ^^JQjjg f^.^j^^ which they return much dis- 



(lorsal view. •> ■> r. 



tended ; they feed such workers left at 

 home as may be hungry, and then apparently communicate the 

 remainder of the sweet stuff they have brought back to already 

 partly charged " honey -bearers " left in the nest. The details 

 of the process have not been observed, but the result is that the 

 abdomens of the bearers become dis- 

 tended to an enormous extent (Figs. 

 62, 63), and the creatures move but 

 little, and remain suspended to the 

 roof of a special chamber. It is 

 considered by M'Cook that these 

 living honey-tubs preserve the food 

 till a time when it is required for 

 the purposes of feeding the com- 

 munity. The distension is pro- 

 duced entirely by the overcharging 

 of the honey-crop, the other contents of the abdomen being 



Fig. 63.- 



Myrmecocystns mexicanus. 

 Lateral view. 



