1906.] Wheeler, Founding of Colonics by Queen Ants. 65 



Experiment 15. July 2, 2 p.m., a mature dealated female nepticula was 

 placed in each of two incerta nests containing only workers and their cocoons. 

 The presence of the nepticula greatly excited the incerta. They seized and pulled 

 her about and sprayed her with formic acid. Their whole behavior was de- 

 cidedly more vehement than on the introduction of consocians females. In 

 both nests the females were found dead at 4 p.m. Essentially the same results 

 were obtained by placing nepticula females in nests with workers of the typical 

 schaufussi. 



Experiment 16. July 5 a dealated female nepticula was placed in a nest with 

 a number of subsericea workers. She was at once seized and in a few moments 

 terribly mutilated. One of her antennae was extirpated, one mandible was 

 completely torn from its socket, the funiculus of the other antenna was cut off 

 and some of her legs were cut in two, so that she died in a few moments. 



Of the following three experiments with F. neogagates one termi- 

 nated with the adoption of a female nepticula : 



Experiment ly. July 7, 8 a.m., four dealated nepticula females (Nos. i, 2, 

 3, and 4) were placed in a nest with 12 small neogagates workers and a nimiber of 

 nude pupae. These workers had been taken from a young wild colony consisting 

 of not more than 50 small workers and their queen. The nepticula were vehe- 

 mently attacked. Female No. i was killed during the afternoon; two others 

 (Nos. 2 and 3) wandered about the nest, ate the sugar in the manger and fed 

 each other, but gave no heed to the neogagates workers which had collected their 

 pupae and were occupying a corner of the nest. The fourth female, however, 

 remained with the neogagates workers and was seen to adopt the same con- 

 ciliatory tactics towards them as are shown by the consocians females towards 

 the incerta. The callows were beginning to hatch from the nude pupae. July 

 8, 8 A.M., a worker tried to drag No. 3 and then No. 4 away from the pupas 

 but soon desisted, whereupon the females again returned. At 11.30 a.m., an- 

 other female (No. 2) was found dead. July 9, females Nos. 3 and 4 showed no 

 desire to mingle with the neogagates but wandered about the dark chamber 

 partook of the sugar from time to time and fed each other. Although No. 3 

 had lost an antenna she persisted in foisting herself on the neogagates. By 

 noon No. 4 had also lost an antennal funiculus. Both females were being pulled 

 about by the workers. July 11, No. 3 was dead. The pulling continued. 

 July 12. At 6 P.M. two more females (Nos. 5 and 6) were introduced. They 

 had escaped from the parental nest and had been flying about the room. A 

 few minutes later female No. 5 settled near the pupae and was being licked 

 from head to foot by a neogagates worker. Then she was pulled a little by the 

 antenna. Female No. 6 was also licked and pulled. Female No. 4 (with the 

 injured antenna) kept returning and seeking adoption. Some of the callows 

 which had hatched since she was placed in the nest licked her, but the older 

 workers dragged her about. Whenever she was approached by a neogagates 

 worker she crouched with flexed legs and antennae. July 13, female No. 4 

 wandered about the light chamber all day, while females 5 and 6 kept lurking 

 near the neogagates and their brood. At 3 p.m. female No. 5 was seen to go up 

 to a worker and beg for food, which she received without signs of hostility. 

 July 14, 6.30 A. M. female No. 4 was found dead. Females 5 and 6 still hung 

 about the workers. No. 5 was seen licking a nude pupa. No. 6 was pulled 

 [May, igo6.] 



