LIFE HISTORY. 45 



seems to occupy relatively more time than is required for tho worker 

 pupal stage, but the gradual change in color from pure white to 

 brown is about the same. It seems probable that the queen pupal 

 stage extends over three or four weeks, depending upon the prevailing 

 temperature. As many as 35 queen pupae were collected from one 

 colony in Audubon Park, New Orleans, La., on April 29, 1910; hence 

 there is every reason for believing that the virgin queens are reared in 

 large numbers. 



Reasoning from what is known concerning the development of 

 queens in the case of such insects as the honey bee, one would expect 

 to fuid the queen ant developed from the same kind of an egg that 

 produces the worker and that the queen would be developed as a result 

 of special food given to the female larva. It is possible that the diet 

 furnished to our colonies in confinement did not contain the requisite 

 materials out of which the workers could elaborate a food suitable 

 for rearing queens, and this may account for theii' failure ever to appear 

 in the artificial formicaries, no matter how populous the latter were. 



THE CALLOW OR TENERAL STAGE. 



During the last few hours of the pupal stage, in all forms, the legs, 

 mouth parts, and antennae become more prominent and the pupa is 

 assisted in its transformation by the workers, who attempt to 

 sti^aighten out the legs and antennae. We are convinced that there 

 is a very thin transparent membrane or skin surroundmg the pupa, 

 which is shed at time of transformation, but its existence is difficult 

 to establish satisfactorily. 



Immediately after transformation the young ant is colorless, almost 

 transparent, but is otherwise identical in appearance with fully 

 mature specimens. To this stage, following the custom of some 

 authors, we apply the term "callow." The callow is at first very 

 clumsy and walks with uncertain steps and staggering gait, reminding 

 one much of a worker bee just emerged from the brood comb. During 

 this stage the workers seem still to feel a responsibility for the cal- 

 low's welfare, for when the colony is disturljed the callows, like larvae 

 and pupae, are unceremoniously grabbed up by the workers and 

 hustled to a place of safety. 



The body of the callow deepens in color quite raj)idly and m from 

 48 to 72 hours after transformation from the pupa becomes indistin- 

 guishable from that of other adults. 



TIME REQUIRED FOR COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT. 



By adding together the mmimum periods required for the develop- 

 ment of worker eggs, larvae, and pupae, as given in Tables II, III, 

 and IV, we find that at least 33 days are required for development 



