LIFE HISTORY. 49 



in various localities, but no queens were found with them, and no 

 flight took place that could compare with the one noted at Baton 

 Rouge in 1908. 



At the same time a large number of queen pupae transformed into 

 winged queens in a large Janet style nest in the laboratory at Audu- 

 bon Park, New Orleans, La. About an equal number of males were 

 also present in the same nest, which the junior author watched 

 closely for a flight. Nothing of the kind took place. On two occa- 

 sions all ants were driven out of the nest — workers, males, and queens — 

 to see if they could be induced to fly, but after wandering around for 

 a time they all returned to the nest. The males could be seen actively 

 pursuing the young queens inside of the nest, and although copulation 

 was never actually observed, it must have taken place. In the course 

 of time all the queens lost their wings and commenced to lay an 

 enormous number of eggs. These eggs hatched, antl finally developed 

 into workers, proving that they were fertile. The males all died one 

 by one, the last one disappearing when about two months old. It is 

 therefore evident that the nuptial flight is not a necessity. 



Under natural conditions the tendency toward a general flight may 

 be partially controlled by the comparative numbers of males and 

 young queens in the nests and colonies. The weather conditions 

 about flying time may also exercise a very important influence upon 

 the flying impulse; cool, cloudy, and rainy Aveather tending to 

 restrain the inclination to flight, and warm, clear weather encouraging 

 it. The severity of infestation may also be an important factor, as 

 the ants would be more likely to fly in crowded communities than in 

 localities where they are comparatively scarce. 



The males are much more given to flight than the virgin queens. 

 In the formicarium at Baton Rouge males were often found flying 

 during their season, and seemed to have no preference as to time of 

 flight. They were found flying on cloudy days as well as on clear 

 ones and as frequently at night as in the day. 



THE UEALATED, OK P^ERTILE, QUEEN. 



The dealated queen is illustrated at c, figure 6. The dealated 

 queen measures from 4.5 to 5 mm. in length, and queens measuring 

 6 mm. in length are not uncommon. It should be remarked here that 

 during egg-laying periods the abdomen is much larger and longer 

 than shown in the drawing. Normally the abdomen extends well beyond 

 the tarsi of the hind legs. Unfortunately, a drawing can not show 

 the delicate silky pubescence of the queen's body, and in life she is a 

 far more beautiful creature than one would imagine from the drawing, 

 correct though the latter is in anatomical detail. 

 75508°— Bull. 122—13 4 



