No. 22.] HYMENOPTERA OF CONNECTICUT. 593 



sively subterranean in its habits. It may often be seen visiting 

 the foliage of trees and bushes in search of aphids and small 

 insects. Professor S. A. Forbes has shown that it is of consid- 

 erable economic importance on account of its noxious habit of 

 cultivating the root aphids of maize, or Indian corn (Aphis 

 maidiradicis) . The males and winged females appear in August. 



New Haven, West Haven, Branford (H. L. V.) ; New Haven 

 (W. E. B., B. H. W.) ; Colebrook, Winsted, Norfolk (W. M. W.). 



L. niger Linnaeus, var. neoniger Emery. 



Differs from the preceding variety in having erect hairs on 

 the legs and antennal scapes in the workers and females. 



New Hartford, Stafford (W. E. B.) ; Colebrook, Winsted, 

 Norfolk (W. M. W.). 



L. flavus nearcticus Wheeler. 



The American representative of the European Havus, under 

 which name it is sometimes recorded in the literature. The bodies 

 of the workers have a milky white appearance. The colonies, 

 which are rather small, nest under stones or leaf-mold in damp, 

 shady woods. The males and winged females appear during the 

 first week of August. 



Connecticut (Mayr) ; Colebrook (W. M. W.). 



L. brcvicomis Emery. 



The worker of this species differs from that of the preceding 

 in having the antennal scapes not reaching beyond the posterior 

 comers of the head. The colonies nest under stones on hill slopes 

 and in pastures where the soil is rather dry and sandy. The males 

 and winged females appear about the middle of August. 



Branford (H. W. W.) ; Colebrook (W. M. W.). 



L. umbratus mixtus Nylander, var. aphidicola Walsh. 



Nesting under stones or in old logs and stumps in damp, shady 

 woods. The colonies, which are rather populous, cultivate snow- 

 white root aphids and coccids in great numbers, especially during 

 the winter and early spring. The males and females appear during 

 August and early September. 



Westport (W. E. B.) ; Colebrook, (W. M. W.). 



L. umbratus mixtus var. speculiventris Emery. 



This form, originally described as a distinct species, is scarcely 



38 



