182 



Crtptocekhs. INSECTS- 



-ECITON. 



other disagreeable guests. Having accomplished their 

 work, which it seems they disperse to do, they again 

 form themselves into a long train, and move onwards. 

 Tschudi, who had ample means of observation, speaks 

 of the united forces of these creatures as being vast, 

 and he says there is no approach to the fabulous when 

 he mentions, that not only snakes, but rather large 

 mammalia, such as Agoutis, &c., on being surprised by 

 them, are soon killed. 



Antg of various species and of various genera 

 abound in tlie forests of Borneo. Jlr. Adams* calls one 

 the Bomhardkr, from its habit. When irritated, this 

 fellow turns up the end of his body like a Staphylinus, 

 and " forthwith emits a continuous stream of dense 

 white acid vapour." This ant is about half an inch long, 

 and has a large head and enormous mandibles ; it is of 

 a shining black. The naturalist of U.M.S. Samarang 

 mentionsanother ingenious species indigenous to Borneo, 

 which constructs its nest out of a large leaf, " bending 

 the two halves by the weight of united millions, till the 

 opposite margins meet at the under surface of the mid- 

 rib, where they are secured by a gummy matter." 

 Into this aerial habitation the stores and grubs are 

 conveyed by regular beaten tracks along the trunk and 

 branches of the tree. Mr. Adams noticed on the 

 l)anks of the Linga, that the trees were covered with 

 black-coloured nests, built by a large red ant. These 

 nests were formed of prepared vegetable matter, mixed 

 with a tenacious secretion. The ants stung most tor- 

 nientingly. In Borneo, too, Mr. Adams noticed a 

 small shining black ant, which kept to its subterranean 

 galleries during the day ; but on the approach of night 

 it covered the ground, especially in moist places, with 

 its myriad hordes. 



a. Cryptoccriis striattis. h. Meianopliis singuLiris. 



c Foraiica solitaria. 



These three figures are copied from figures bj' l\Ir. 

 Smith, and show (fig. 54, a.) Crijptocerus striatus (fig. 

 54, h) Meranoplus singtilaris, with its strange collar, 

 remarkable triangular head, and curious basal joint of 

 theantenufe. Fig. 54, c, shov^a the Formica solitaria, 

 with its immense eyes and ocelli, so that this fine species 

 must be endowed with very considerable powers of 

 sight. What a subject of research are exotic ants alone ! 



CuyrxoCERUS. — This is a remarkable genus of ants 

 of very varied form, but all having the antennjE, at 

 • Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, vol. i. p. 409. 



least the base of these organs, concealed under the pro- 

 jections of the head. Hence the name Cryptocerus — 

 see fig. 55. 



Outlines of two species of Cry^itoccrus (from Smith). 



The species are generally wood-borers, usually per- 

 forating the dead trunks of trees. The species have 

 been observed chiefly on low trees and bushes in dry 

 open places, or running on branches of newly-felled 

 trees. They also visit flowers abundantly. Both 

 males and females have wings; the latter only retain 

 them for a time. The common species, Cryptocerus 

 atratus, constructs its nests in the dead suspended 

 branches of woody climbers. Outside, the observer 

 notices a number of neatly-drilled holes ; but inside he 

 finds that the solid wood is perforated with galleries, 

 communicating with each other. The insects are omni- 

 vorous, and seem to be attracted by the excrement of 

 birds. In the pupa state they are not inclosed in 

 cocoons. Each community seems to consist of a single 

 female, and two kinds of workers. In some species 

 these latter are totally unlike each other, difieriiig in 

 tlie form of the head and in the armature of the thorax 

 and nodes of the peduncle. 



Of the genus Ecitoii, only the workers are known, 

 and in these the eyes are extremely minute. The 

 insects of this genus are very numerous in Brazil, but 

 neither male nor female are known. Their societies 

 are so numerous, and their sting so severe, that an 

 attack upon one of their colonies is not to be rashlj' 

 undertaken. About twenty species of the genus are 

 known. " The processions of these insects are of 

 common occurrence, and the different colours of the 

 species are very observable when the lines are seen 

 upon the march, some appearing like a liquid stream 

 of metal. These ants are regidar clearers of all animal 

 matter, living or dead. When on a foraging expedition 

 thej' spread out their columns, climbing over every 

 leaf, plant, shrub, and tree, putting the whole animal, 

 as well as insect world into commotion and alarm 

 shoidd any decaying mass of vegetable matter fall in 

 their way, it is instantly covered with a living crowd ; 

 every chink and cranny are carefully searched, after 

 which the army resumes its march. All apterous 

 insects, particularly IS/atlce and spiders (the former 

 being exceedingly numerous under fallen leaves, espe- 

 cially in their larva state), are preyed npon ; the larvre 

 of Lepidoptera and Diptera fall an easy prey, as well 

 as the species of Formicida?,. At other times a com- 

 munity of Ecitons engage in a regular attack upon 



