142 MR. BOLD ON THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTEHA 



Oeder. HYMENOPTERA, Linn. 



Tribe I. HETEEOGYNA, Latr. 



Division II. HYMENOPTEEA ACULEATA, Latr. 



Family I. FORMICID^, Leach/'' 



Genus I. FORMICA, Linn (In part). 



1. F. rufa, Linn. The Wood Ant. Linn., Faun. Suec, No. 



1721 ; Smith, Monog., 4, 1. 



Not abundant in the vicinity of Newcastle ; more plentiful in 

 the woods at Gibside, Dilston, and Shotley Bridge, and in im- 

 mense numbers by the side of the Devil's Water, above Dilston. 

 I have occasionally taken a few examples on the sea coast, near 

 Whitley, and noticed it in plentj^ in Bothal Woods. In the latter 

 place, on one of the Club's field days, the Ants were seen stream- 

 ing across the footpath, up one side of a large tree, and down 

 the other. Those coming down were each laden with a small 

 green caterpillar. 



2. F. fusca, Linn. Linn., Faun. Suec, 226, No. 1722. 



Smith, Monog., 9, 5. 



Exceedingly abundant everjrwhere ; nesting in dry banks, 

 walls, beneath stones, in posts, decaying wood, &c. On the 

 strong clay lands, north-east of Newcastle, it frequently takes 

 possession of the gate posts, which it excavates from end to 

 end, with its intricate galleries. I have often seen Phatysma 

 niger near the nests of the Ants, I think for the purpose of de- 

 vouring them or their progeny. 



3. F. fuliginosa, Latr. The Jet Ant. Latr., Hist. Nat. 



Fourm, 140; Smith, Monog., 10, 6. 



This Ant is not common with us, and I have only taken it at 



*This family is composed of insects living in communities, which consist of males, fe- 

 males, and workers. They are hence called Social Ants, and their economy is exceedinglj' 

 curious and interesting. 



