192 Psyche [October-December 



The queen of Bremiis affinis is colored differently than the 

 workers and males, and for a time it seemed doubtful whether 

 the two groups belonged together (cf. FrankHn 1912/13, 1, p. 280). 

 My observations confirm the conclusions of Bridwell and Frank- 

 lin. 



In the vicinity of Boston, the queens of Bremus affinis leave 

 their winter quarters toward the end of April, and most colonies 

 are probably started in May. The workers begin to appear 

 toward the end of May, and the young queens and males are 

 largely produced in August and September. The more pros- 

 perous nests do not break up until October. 



Bremus affinis is gentle as compared with such species as 

 Bremus fervidus and Bremus impatiens. When one disturbs 

 their nest, the foraging workers, as a rule, immediately fly away 

 as soon as they notice the intruder. 



II. Bremus occidentalis Greene. 



There seems to be no record (cf. Frankhn 1912/13, I, p. 273) 

 that a nest of Bremus occidentalis has ever been taken. I acci- 

 dentally discovered 2 nests of this species at Berkeley, Calif, 

 during the summer of 1920, both of which were subterranean. 

 One of these was about 2 ft. below the surface of the ground, and 

 contained (July 12th) 5 young queens and over 80 workers. 

 This colony was transferred to an observation box, but soon after- 

 wards was destroyed by Argentine ants {Iridomyrmex humilis 

 Mayr).. The other colony was not dug up. 



Bremus occidentalis is similar in disposition to Bremus affinis. 



III. Bremus terricola Kirby. 



Practically nothing is known concerning the nesting habits of 

 this species. Coville (1890) probably took a colony near Ithaca, 

 N. Y. during the summer of 1885, but he only briefly refers to its 

 egg-laying habits. 



I took a nest of this species near the Arnold Arboretum on 

 July 3, 1922, and about two weeks later another nest was taken 

 by Dr. E. S. Anderson, at Washington, Me. The nest which I 

 took was situated 9 inches below the surface of the ground with 



