43 
but in one instance over 50 weevils were killed inside of twenty-four 
hours, and in the course of the experiment the colony disposed of 
between 1,200 and 1,500 weevils. 
The nests of the keleps, though small and simple in comparison 
with those of the termites and true ants, consist of chambers several 
square inches in extent, with level floors and arched roofs, and denote 
a state of architectural advancement much greater than that reported 
by Professor Wheeler in the Texan genera studied by him. 
The nests of the three Ponerinie agree in being of a very primitive structure. 
They consist of a few simple and irregular burrows, or galleries, some of which 
run along the surface of the soil immediately beneath the stone or log, while 
others extend down into the soil obliquely or vertically to a depth of 8 or 10 
inches. These burrows may anastomose, but they are not widened at certain 
points to form chambers, as in the nests of the more specialized ants (Atta, 
Pogonomyrmexr, Camponotus, ete.). Even in artificial nests of the Lubbock 
pattern the Ponerinze dig only anastomosing galleries scarcely more than a centi- 
meter in diameter. 
TEMPORARY BROOD CELLS OF THE KELEP. 
The alliance of the kelep system of organization with that of the 
wasps and bees receives support also from the instinct of inclosing 
the pupating larve in what may be termed temporary brood cells. 
It has been reported of some ants and of some genera of Poneride 
that they bury their larve before pupation. The kelep, instead, 
constructs over them a cell of earth, if no other materials are at hand, 
but prefers pieces of old cocoons if these are obtainable.! 
The bees and wasps avoid the labor of inclosing each wriggling 
larva separately by a system of permanent brood cells in which the 
larvee are reared, and which have merely to be sealed over at pupa- 
tion. Many of the true ants (and also the drivers) have abandoned 
the use of cocoons and of the brood cells in which they can be spun. 
With them the digging of extensive subterranean nests and the care- 
ful handling of the larve have made external protection unneces- 
sary. Nevertheless, the failure to make brood cells deprived the 
a Wheeler, W. M., 1901, Biological Bulletin, 2: 3. 
’ The honeybee also makes use of silk from old cocoons in the construction of 
brood cells. 
“Into the material used in constructing brood combs bees often incorporate 
bits of wax and fiber-like gnawings of cocoons from old combs in which brood 
has been reared, and if given cappings or trimmings of combs they will work 
them all over and utilize most of the material. Also when the bees have abun- 
dant supplies of pollen much of this is incorporated into the material of brood 
combs, thus saving the costlier, substance—wax.”’—Benton, Frank, 1899, The 
Honey Bee, Bul. 1, n. s., Division of Entomology, U. 8S. Department of Agri- 
culture, p. 27, 
