158 



fields, where its nests may be recognized by the Httle pyramids of fine 

 grains of soil which surround the entrances. These ants are not uncom- 

 mon on ri])e ears in fall, about the exposed tips and under the hvisks. 

 xNo appreciable damage by them has been notcnl, however, except to 

 soft and imi)erfectly developed kernels, which they sometimes gnaw and 

 hollow out. 



Mykmica scabrinodis LonicoRNis Nyl. 



In the discussion of the subterranean corn insects, this common, 

 medium-sized, rough-bodied red ant (Fig. 14()) was treated as injurious 

 to the planted seed and as an attendant ant of the corn root-aphis.* 

 Il is mentioned here b(H'ause of its occasional slight injury to corn grains 

 in the ear in fall. In most cases, however, the kernels in which these 

 ants have becMi foiuid at work have apjmrently been ])rcviously injured 

 by other insects or by birds. The species also attends the corn leaf- 

 louse. It is distributed around the world in the northern hemisphere. 



Kk;. 146. Mi/rmica scabrinodis lobi- 

 tornis, worker. Length, about three six- 

 teeiitlis incli. 



l*"ic.. 147. I'renolepis intparis, worker. 

 I>en<rtli ;il)out one eighth inch. 



Prenolki'is iMi'Aius Say. 



(Prcnolcpis nilcns, in America.) 



This small, shining, yellow and 2:)itch-brown ant (Fig. 147) was found 

 near Urbana, by Mr. John Marten, attending the corn leaf-louse Septem- 

 ber 25, and injuring corn grains at the tip of the ear in September and 

 October. In Ww latter cases the grains had evidently been previously 

 injured, one by an ear-worm which was still present in the e;ir. Web- 



♦Eighteenth Rep. State Eiit. ill., pp. 11, 00. 



