MYBMECOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1908. 281 



other common species noted, of which no record was unfortunately kept. 

 On the pastures Adkmia coprodactyla was observed, and no doubt the 

 country would be well-worth working seriously. Already in Wheeler's 

 Butts, of Stcitzerland several good species are recorded from Einsiedeln, 

 and certainly there is much to be done there. Our collectors who 

 know all there is to know of the lateral branches of the Rhone Valley, 

 and are interested in working new ground, and would like a change, 

 might do much worse than spend a few days on the " bogs " l^etween 

 Wiidenswil and Einsiedeln. 



Myrmecophilous Notes for 1908. 



By H. St. J. K. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



FoKMiciD^. — Foniilca rufa, L. — In September I found a nest of 

 this species at Nethy Bridge, Invernessshire, which contained a large 

 proportion of pseudogynes. This shows that Atemeles pubicollis, 

 Bris., a species of coleoptera new to Britain, is to be found in 

 Scotland. I also found pseudogynes in another nest in quite a difierent 

 part of the forests at Nethy Bridge. This is the first record in Britain 

 of pseudogynes of F. rufa. I shall, if possible, go to Nethy Bridge 

 next spring to hunt for the Atemeles, as in the winter it would be m 

 Myrmica nests. 



Formica samjainea, Ltr. — In May I found pseudogynes in plenty 

 in a nest of this species in the New Forest. This shows that Lo)iie- 

 chusa strumosa is to be found in the New Forest. It was the first time 

 that pseudogynes of this ant had been taken in Britain. 



Formica fusca, Ltr. — On October 25th I observed a specimen of 

 this ant carrying an Aphis to its nest at Luccombe Chine, I. of W. I 

 captured both, the Aphis was in no way hurt. This spot, by the way, 

 is the only one in the I. of Wight where I know F. fusca to occur 

 (though, no doubt it does occur in other parts of the island), F. rufi- 

 barbis var. fusco-ruribarbis being the form I have always found at 

 Sandown and other places. 



Formica rufibarbis, F. — When at Bewdley, in May, I found a 

 fine nest of this species, all the ants being a very bright red. The 

 nest was partly under a stone and partly built up in the bank. Mr. 

 Arnold has taken this form at Ripley. 



FofDiica rufibarbis var. fusco-ritfibarbis, For. — My friend, Mr. 

 Keys, of Plymouth, sent me the contents of some nests of this variety 

 from his district, in which some of the pups were naked, as in 

 Myrmica species. When at Sandown, I. of W., I found a nest of 

 fasco- rufibarbis, which also contained naked pupfe, as well as pupie in 

 cocoons. 



When digging at Luccombe Chine, on October 28th, many deiilated 

 5 s of Lasius, sp. {nii/er or t^arus) were dug up in the little cells they 

 had formed, and Avith eggs, the nucleus, if successful, of future 

 colonies. The $ is nine months without food, bringing up the first 

 batch of ^ s. In one instance a couple of 2 s were found together in the 

 same cell with a batch of eggs, and I pointed them out to my com- 

 panions, Professor Beare and Mr. J. Taylor. On this subject Professor 

 Wheeler writes'-'- — " .... attention has been repeatedly called 



* " On the Founding of Colonies by Queen Ants, " Bull. American Mus. Nat. 

 Hist., vol. xxii., 1906, p. 41. 



