6 



BRITISH ANTS. 



or tongue, and the labial palpi which may consist of from one to 

 four joints. The tongue is covered with fine transverse ridges ; it 

 can be protruded, and with it the ant rasps and licks up its food, 

 and cleans itself and its companions. 



The opening of the salivary duct is situated at the base of the 

 tongue. The hypopharynx covers the mentum and paraglossae, 

 and possesses two rows of bristles directed backwards, which are 



Tongue 



Hypopharynx 



Labial 

 palpi 



Salivary 

 duct 



Para- Salivary 

 glossa duct 



Mentum 



Submentum 



Fig. 5. Labium of Formica pratensis $. 



used for firmly holding the food. The roof of the mouth is formed 

 by the labrum, which is bilobed, and is concealed by the clypeus. 



The antennae, which are elbowed, are inserted on either side of the 

 frontal carinae ; the first joint is the scape, which is usually long, 

 except in the males of a few species, and the remaining joints 

 form the funiculus, which is sometimes clubbed. The number of 

 joints in the antennae of ants varies from four to thirteen the 

 male usually possessing one more joint than the female or worker. 

 No British ant has less than ten joints to its antennae. 



Table showing the number of joints to the antennae of the male, 

 female and worker in British genera. 



Ponera 



Myrmecina 



Formicoxenus 



Anergates 



Monomorium 



Solenopsis 



Myrmica 



Stenamma 



Leptothorax 



Tetramorium 



Tapinoma 



Donisthorpea 



Formica . 



