316 



Margaret Holliday, 



in color, but tlie microgyne is a lig-lit yellow. These ants possess 

 the large lieads and liuge mandibles typical of maiiy species of 



Pheiclole possessing similar liabits. 

 The flgiires show tlie relative 

 sizes and differences in the struc- 

 ture of the four forms (Fig. L). 



The qneen possesses almost a 

 typical thoracic structnre. with 

 the exception that the deniarcation 

 between the pro- and meso-notum 

 is slight, the epimerite and epi- 

 sternite have fiised; the demar- 

 cation between the parts of the 

 metathorax seeni to be disappear- 

 ing. The second node is large and 

 very broad, in fact it is nearly 

 as broad as the abdomen. Three 

 ocelli are present and also the 

 stumps of the wings. 



The microgyne also exhibits a 

 difference in the thoracic structnre 

 as well as in coloring and sculptnring; a reduction or simplification 

 having taken place. The scutellnm is not so distinct as in the 

 qneen; the epimerite and episternite of the mesotliorax have fused 

 and the demarcation between the meta- and epinotum is slight. The 

 microgyne, like the queen, possesses three small ocelli, the large, 

 broad second node and the wing stumps. Altliough the thorax of 

 the microgyne is much broader than that of the soldier, the soldier 

 is really the larger. 



In the soldiers a still fnrther reduction of thoracic structnre 

 occurs; dorsally the pro-, meso-, meta- and e])i-notum and scutellum 

 are present. bnt their position is denoted not by sutures but by the 

 difference in sculptnring; laterally the meso- and metanotum are 

 slightly indicated; the three thoracic segnients are distinct but the 

 parts of these have fused, with the exception of the sternite of the 

 mesothorax. 



The worker sliows the three thoi-acic segments but all the parts 

 have fused on the lateral aspect; dorsally the pro-, meso- and meta- 

 notum have fused, the epinotum is distinct. The different parts liere 



Fig-. L. 



PJieidole ceres Wheeler, 



a Queen, b Soldier. c AVorker, 

 (l Microgyne. 



