30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD. 



11, however, shows some apparently escaping where one of the cerci 



has been partially separated. All x about 26. 

 Fig. 7. — First instar. 



Figs. 8, 9, 10.— Fifth instar. Probably ? ? ? . 

 Fig. 11.— Fifth instar. Male. 

 Fig. 12. — Sixth Instar. Male, In these two, a points to the iwocesses found in 



male larvje at these stages. 



Myrmecophilous Notes for 1916. 



By H. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



FoRMICID,E. 



Myrmicin.e : Mj/rmecina f/raiiiinicola Latr. The interesting colony 

 of this species, which I have now had under observation in captivity 

 for over six years [see Brit. Ants, p. 81 ; EiU. Bee. 28, 1 (1916)] con- 

 tinues to flourish. For the second year a number of winged females 

 and some males have been produced, and to-day (January 25th, 1917) 

 very many larvse are present ; and one packet of eggs, laid as I believe 

 hj the original queen. 



On April 27th, the first imago to appear was a cripple $ , with bent 

 antennae and deformed wings. Her wings were removed by the old 

 ^ ^ and dealated $ ? ; she was frequently dragged about, and died 

 on May 3rd. 



On May 7th, a perfect winged 5 emerged, and by the 12th over a 

 dozen were present, and others continued to a.ppear up to the end of 

 June — quite 60 winged females being produced. Sooner or later they 

 all removed their wings, the last female with wings being observed on 

 November 20th. 



On May 20th, three g $ had appeared, and by June 4th some 

 eight were present, about fifteen in all being reared. One is tempted 

 to think tlaat the males were produced from eggs laid by the 1915 

 virgin J J , as at one time a number of small egg-masses were present 

 among the larvse. The larvffi are always spread out over the floor of 

 the second dark chamber of the nest, and the ^ ^ and dealated $ 5 

 rest upon them, the old queen's eggs being in the centre. 



Copulation took place between the $ $ and 2 ? in the nest. This 

 was first noticed on June 28rd, when a $ was observed in cop. with a 

 dealated 2 ; they were firmly fixed together (the S- sometniies resting 

 on the back of the 2 > and sometimes being dragged along on the 

 ground behind), and remained in this condition for some hours. A 

 single ^ appeared to be in attendance on them. On June 24th 

 another male was in cop. with a winged 2 > this pair separated more 

 quickly, and other S c? were observed in cop. on June 30th, July 8th, 

 and July 21st, all with winged 2 2 • 



On June 25th a male was dead, and by August 80th nearly all the 

 3 S were dead, and most of the 2 2 were dealated. At times the 

 males were very lively, hurrying and partly flying about the nest. 

 The 2 ? both before and after they have removed their wings, behave 

 exactly as do the ordinary workers ; they help to move, feed, and clean 

 the larvfe, kill and cut up small insects given to them, etc. The colony 

 was supplied with plenty of animal food, insects (chiefly flies), larvfe, etc. 



Professor Emery has published some interesting notes on Poly- 

 morphism in Myrmecina r/raminicola [Acad. Sci. 1st. Boloijna, 1916, 

 56-9, Tf. 2-1-5] . He has found that macrergates occur, and that a 



