OF NATURAL HISTORY. 737 



and radial, and the second and third cubitals, forming a broken 

 or slightly dislocated line, the former almost entering the third 

 cubital : metathorax without lineations on the posterior declivity, 

 the spines distinct : abdomen polished, without lines ; petiolar seg- 

 ments or nodes very distinct, subequal, the posterior one rather 

 larger and spherical : feet more obviously tinged with piceous at 

 base. 



Length less than one-fifth of an inch. 



The connexion between the radial and second cubital is very 

 slightly petiolated, and the separating nervure between the first 

 and second cubitals, is almost or quite angulated, and is less dis- 

 tinct towards its junction with the discoidal cellule. 



5. M. DIMIDIATA. — Body pale yellowish : thorax somewhat 

 tinged with piceous : wings with a very slight tinge of yellowish ; 

 discoidal cellule in length nearly twice its breadth ; feet filiform ; 

 separating nervure between the first and second cubital cellules 

 abruptly ending at the middle of the usual length, being entirely 

 wanting on the basal half. 



Length over one-fifth of an inch. 



6. M. MOLESTA. — 9 Body pale honey-yellow, immaculate : an- 

 tenna with the two ultimate joints much larger [294 ] than the 

 others ; the terminal one as large again as the penultimate one : 

 wings whitish; smaller cubital cellule none; discoidal cellule 

 very small, less than half as large as the first cubital ; first cubital 

 receiving the recurrent nervure near its base; nervure of the ra- 

 dial cellule terminating abruptly before the tip : the two other 

 apical nervures feebly traced towards the tip and not reaching 

 the tip; metathorax unarmed. 



Length less than three-twentieths of an inch. 



This is called the " little yellow ant," and is frequently found 

 in houses in great numbers. They sometimes eat vegetable food, 

 and some of my garden seeds have severely suffered from their 

 attacks. They also devour grease, olive oil, &c. Their sting is 

 like the puncture of a very fine needle. I placed a piece of 

 meat on a window board frequented by these little depredators ; 

 it was soon absolutely covered by them, and thus enabled me to 

 destroy thousands, every few hours that I returned to examine 

 1835.] -iT 



