THE FOUNDING OF COLONIES BY ATTA SEXDENS. 367 



into a condition of brooding, and abandoned at last even the attention 

 to her oAvn eggs. 



SuniTnary. — The most important points of the foregoing investiga- 

 tions may be summarized as follows : 



First. The fertile female of Atta sexdens has the capacity, without 

 any outside aid or supply of nourishment, to found a colony in an 

 underground cavity excavated by herself. 



Second. The length of time for the development of this colou}^ up 

 to the first appearance of the workers, comprises, under favorable 

 circumstances, in the vicinit}^ of Para, a period of forty daj^s. The 

 first larva^ appear after fourteen days, the first pupie at the end of a 

 month. After the arrival of the first workers at least a week elapses, 

 and in nature j^erhaps a longer period (transitional period) before 

 any communication with the outer Avorld is made and the work of 

 leaf cutting begins. 



Third. The fungus is at the outset manured with excreta from the 

 mother ant, and during the transitional period from the young 

 workers also. 



Fourth. The mother ant is at first nourished with her own eggs, 

 only an inconsiderable percentage of which are reserved for the 

 process of hatching. Furthermore, although she licks the growing 

 fungus, she never feeds upon it. After the first workers make their 

 appearance the mother ant is probably fed with the fungus. 



Fifth. The larvae are at first fed with eggs by the mother ant, and 

 during the transitional period l)v the young workers. 



Sixth. The young workers from the very start feed upon kohlrabi. 



Para, May i, 1905. 



