146 



CIVIC BIOLOGY 



The carpenter ant {Camponotus penmylvanicus) is one of 

 the most satisfactory species to study. The colony lives in 

 wood, and hibernating queens may be obtained under the bark 

 of stumps or logs in the fall or during a winter thaw. 



In general the logs and stumps in which they are found 

 are not badly decayed. Most frequently queens are hiding 

 beneath bark that may without difficulty be removed with the 



FIG. 76. Ants' nest 



This is made of an insect-mounting strip, 5 by 7 inches, -J inch deep, glued, with the 

 two partial partitions, to the bottom glass. The top glass is cut so that one piece 

 covers one, and the other two, of the compartments. A braided cotton twine is 

 glued along the top of the frame and partitions to insure ventilation. The sponge, in 

 the middle compartment, is kept moist ; and the living chamber, to the left, is kept 

 dark when not under observation. Designed and photographed by the author 



fingers. The queen is curled up in a cleared space under the 

 bark and may be alone or accompanied by several eggs, larvae, 



pupae, 



or workers. 



Having secured a queen of Camponotus pennsylvanicus, place 

 her, together with her young, in a nest and carefully observe 

 the beginning of an ant colony. Observations should continue 

 for the remainder of the year and careful notes made to reen- 

 force those taken upon ants in the field. 



Eggs. The queen may not lay for a month or more after 



