642 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



males are winged, and the queens are much larger than 

 either the workers or males. 



The Honey-ant, Myrmecocystus melliger (Myr-mec-o-cys'- 

 tus mel'li-ger). This ant exhibits a striking peculiarity. 

 One form of the workers has its abdomen 

 enlarged to the size of a currant and filled 

 with honey (Fig. 766). This species lives in 

 high altitudes in the southwestern part of 

 FIG. 7 66. our countr>, and builds nests in the form 



of little mounds. The ho^'ey-bearing individuals are found 

 clinging to the roofs of th-Hr chambers, and are merely storing 

 vats for a sort of honey '/hich the other workers collect from 

 galls that grow on oaV-trees and feed to them. When the 

 season for obtaining this food is past, these living cells 

 disgorge their supj iy through their mouths for the use of 

 their hungry felloes. 



Family PONERID^E (Po-ner'i-dae). 

 The Ponerids (Po-ne 1 rids). 



The ants bf this family resemble those of the preceding 

 family in th at the peduncle of the abdomen consists of a 

 single segment, but differ in having the abdomen con- 

 stricted between the second and third 

 abdominal segments (Fig. 767), and in 

 the posse sion of a sting by the queens FW.^.-A Ponerid. 

 and work i'rs. The pupa state is passed within the cocoon. 

 But few < pecies belonging to this family have been described 

 in this country, and most of them are rare. Their favorite 

 nesting-p lace is beneath stones. 



Family MYRMICID^; (Myr-mic'i-dae). 

 The Myrmicids (Myr-mi 'cids). 



The ants of this family are easily recognized by the fact 

 that with them the peduncle of the abdomen consists of two 



