370 Mr. W. C. Crawley on 



Subtribe Solenopsidini, For. 

 Solenopsis geminata (s. str.), F., ^ . 



" In hollow stems of plants, and in houses," 1913 and 1915. 



This is the typical American form (dark). It appears, 

 however, to be becoming cosmopolitan, like the var. rw/a, 

 Jerd., for Sautschi records it from Africa (Gabon, Liberia), 

 and says that in certain districts it is ousting the local 

 species (Ann. 8oc. Ent. Belg, Ivii. 1913). 



S. pylades, For. 



Port Mourant, 1915, and elsewhere. 



** Nest in soil at bottom of susar-canes.^' 



S. corticalis, For., subsp. amazonensls. For., $ . 



" This is one of the commonest ants in British Guiana. 

 It is almost exclusively found in human habitations, and is 

 fond of all food-stuffs, especially sweet oils, sugar, and milk. 

 In the entomological laboratory it is impossible to breed 

 insects unless the benches are kept with the legs standing in 

 kerosene oil, for they speedily discover the presence of living 

 larvge or other forms of insect life in the breeding-cages, and 

 will then enter and destroy them. The formicarium, which 

 is often hard to find, is constructed in crevices in wood-work 

 and is never large, consequently they are difficult to destroy. 

 They do not hesitate to use their sting, which, for the size of 

 the ant, is surprisingly sharp and powerful. I have fre- 

 quently observed small masses of them floating on the 

 surface of water by means of surface-tension ; their object in 

 doing this is not apparent.^' 



Tribe Tetkamoriini, Emery. 

 Tetramorium guineense, F., ^ . 



" A common species, especially in the cane-fields. Formi- 

 cary is usually constructed in the earth at the base of the 

 canes, and varies in size. The larger formicaries form roughly 

 conical mounds about a foot and a half high and a foot in 

 diameter. These mounds are intersected internally with 

 innumerable galleries. The smallest formicaries are only 

 slightly raised above the surface of the ground. Tiie common 

 coccid or ' Mealy Bug ' of the sugar-cane {Eiperst'a sp.) is 

 invariably attended by this ant. Considerable inconvenience 

 is caused at times to the cane-cutters by this species owing 



