NOTES ON HYMENOPTERA. 59 



the large flat stones that lay about just at that point ; but 

 ^vhat is most worthy of notice is the fact that about the 

 middle of August, the time I visited the spot, none of the 

 larvae of this ant had enclosed themselves in cocoons, a similar 

 circumstance I never observed in the London district. I 

 have before found the pupae naked in the Isle of Wight, 

 in which instance the nest was also under a stone. At 

 Water's Meet this was the case in every instance. 



This cii'cumstance would appear to indicate the habit of a 

 species distinct from the universally distributed Foi'mica 

 fusca; it was, however, undoubtedly the latter insect, w^ell 

 known as one that usually encloses itself in a silken cocoon, 

 when the larva becomes full grown and about to change into 

 the nymph state. I am therefore led to ask the question, 

 were the larvae, reared under stones, destitute of the fluid 

 necessary for spinning the cocoons? or, being protected by 

 the flat stones from vicissitudes of the weather, therefore the 

 cocoon became unnecessary, and they desisted from spinning 

 one? now, if so, would it be necessary that these larvae 

 should discharge this fluid before changing to the nymph 

 state? Larvae and pupae were mixed together in every 

 stage of development. These nests of F. fusca swarmed 

 with the Myrmecophilous beetle, Atemeles emarginatus ; 

 they were also equally abundant in nests of Myrmica rur/i' 

 nodis and 31. Icevinodis. 



The presence of these parasitic Coleoptera in ant's nests 

 still requires investigation ; what is their mission ? Many 

 species found in such situations are undoubtedly intruders, 

 the situation either furnishing some kind of sustenance or a 

 comfortable habitat in which to take up their abode ; but 

 there are others, such as Lomechusa, Myrmedoniay Dinarda, 

 Atemeles and Claviger, that must in some way contribute to 

 the economic uses of the ants j all these are carried by them 



