FOKMICARI^. 179 



The genus MutiUa is a very extensive one, and enjoys a wide 

 o-eographical range. It is througliout stouter than Myrmosa, 

 the head is more cubical, and the thorax and abdomen is 

 shorter, the tip of the latter being somewhat truncated. 



The wingless female closely resembles, both in its form and 

 motions, a Avorker ant. The body is coarsely granulated and 

 either naked or densely hirsute, and of a scarlet, black, or pale 

 red, or brown-black color. The females are found running in 

 hot sandy places, and hide themselves quickly when disturbed, 

 while the males frequent flowers. MutUla 

 occidentalis is a large species. It is of a 

 beautiful scarlet color and is armed with a 

 very powerful sting. According to Profes- 

 sor A. E. Verrill this species was found b}" 

 him, at New Haven, to construct deep 

 holes in a hard beaten path, storing its nest 

 with insects. This species is also said b}^ rig. lOo. 



Kirby to be very active, "taking flies by surprise." (West- 

 wood.) Mr. Verrill noticed that this insect makes a slight 

 creaking noise. The larvoe of M. Eiiwjxea are said to live 

 parasiticall}' in Humble-bees' nests. MutiUa ferriujata Fabr. 

 (Fig. 109) is found frequently in New England. 



FoRMiCARi.E Latreille. The family of ants w-ould seem 

 naturall}' to belong with the trul}^ fossorial H^-menoptera, both 

 from their habits and structure. 



Both males and females are winged, but the males are much 

 smaller than the females, while the wingless workers are smaller 

 than the males. In these wingless forms the segments of the 

 thorax become more or less separated, making the body much 

 longer and slenderer, and less compact than in the winged nor- 

 mal sexual forms, the prothorax being more developed than in 

 the males and females. The workers often consist of two 

 forms : one with a large cubical head, or worker major, some- 

 times called a soldier, and the usual small-headed form, or 

 worker minor. 



The head is generally triangular. The eyes are large in the 

 males, smaller in the workers, and in those of some genera 

 (Ponera, Typhlopone, etc.) they are absent ; while in tlie 



