Gas ba 
MYRMECOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1917. 21 
Myrmecophilous Notes for 1917. 
By H. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.9. 
This year [ have not much to report from ants’ nests in nature. I 
spent two months in the summer at West Worthing, and it did not 
appear to be a good locality for ants—indeed the only species noticed 
in the Worthing district were Myrmecina graminicola Latr., Myrmica 
laevinodis Nyl., and its var. ruginodo-laevinodis Forel, M. scabrinodis 
Nyl., Acanthomyops (Donisthorpea) niger L., A. (D.) alienus Forst., A. 
(Chthonolasius) flavus F., and Formica fusca L. Myrmecophiles were 
also very scarce, the only species found being, the beetle Drusilla cana- 
liculata Li., the spiders Harpactes hombergi Sep., and Micaria pult- 
caria Sund., and the wood-louse Platyarthrus hoffmanseggi Brat., all 
taken with A. (D.) niger at West Worthing. 
When at Barton Mills, in September, very few ants were seen; A. 
(Dendrolasius) fuliyinosus Latr., was scattered all over the district, its 
nest, however, not being found. A large colony of A. (C.) umbratus 
Nyl., occurred at the roots of a fir stump; the only creature observed 
in company with the ants being a single Micaria pulicaria Sund. A. 
(D.) alienus Forst., was common in rabbits’ burrows, etc., Othius 
myrmecophilus Kies., occurring with it. 
Myrmicin =. 
Myrmecina graminicola Uatr.—This species was not uncommon in 
moss on the Downs at Findon in June; being also found in company 
with Myrmica scabrinodis in the same locality. 
For the third year winged females have been bred in my colony of 
this ant, which I have now kept in an observation nest for over seven 
years [see Brit. Ants, p. 81; Hint. Rec., 28, 1 (1916), 29, 30 (1917)]. 
On April 8th a 2 pupa was present, and by May 18th g, 9, and ¥% 
pupe were in plenty. June 2nd, the first winged ° hatched; June 
13th, 5 winged 2 2 present, and the first g¢ putin an appearance ; 
by June 23rd over 20 of both g g¢ and winged ? 2 present; October 
13th, only 1 winged @ to be seen, and all ¢ g had died off. The 
2 2 removed their wings as before and proceeded to act as % 3, but 
copulation was not noticed this year though it probably took place 
when I was not there to see. The colony had again been well supplied 
with animal food throughout the year. To-day (December 31st) there 
are present avery large number of medium sized larve, and the 
numerous 8 8 and deilated ? 9 are resting on them. Iam unable, 
however, to detect any egg clusters. 
As will presently be seen, I have also bred winged @ ? of Lepto- 
thorax nylandert in my observation nest containing a colony of that 
species. It is perhaps as well again to call attention to the fact that, 
in spite of the numerous myrmecologists who have kept ants in obser- 
vation nests for the last 100 years, winged females have only once been 
bred from eggs laid in captivity (when, in 1880, Lord Avebury had five 
queens developed in one of his F’. fusca nests) until 1915, when such 
females were first produced in my Myrmecina colony. 
Ants do not rear the winged forms until the colony has reached a 
certain strength, and sufficient workers have been produced ; then given 
abundant and suitable food, they will bring up the sexes. Having 
Fesruary 157s, 1918. 
