clxxiv On the Specific Differences 



on the two species are the results of examinations of numerous broods 

 of both species, taken at different periods of the year, but principally 

 towards the end of September, when the nests contain the males and 

 females in addition to the workers. 



The error into which I was formerly led, is to be attributed entirely 

 to the variable character of the male of V. vulgaris ; I now indicate 

 five variations from that which appears to be the type. Var. 5 closely 

 approaches the male of V. Germanica, and is not uncommon. I shall 

 show that although the two species appear to intermingle through their 

 close approximation in colouring to each other in the male sex, still 

 that good specific characters are to be found ; and that, in one sex, 

 the female, their distinctness is obvious at a glance, this sex, in both 

 species, being subject to very slight variation, and never assuming a 

 similar distribution of colouring. 



There are very few distinctive differences in the relative sizes of the 

 two species ; in the females I can observe very little. V. Germanica 

 is a more robust insect, the largest examples exceeding any of those 

 of V. vulgaris which I have met with ; the workers are usually rather 

 larger. I have found large workers, or small females as Huber 

 has called them, exceeding, by a line and a half, any of those of V. 

 vulgaris. 



In the male sex the relative sizes are equal. 



In the proportion of parts, little difference is to be found ; in the 

 male sex of V. Germanica, the antennae are rather thicker and longer. 



As a general distinctive difference I would point out the pubescence ; 

 this, in all the sexes, is more dense and longer in V. vulgaris, particu- 

 larly in the males. 



The females may always be separated by the markings on the basal 

 segment of the abdomen; the black band being always entire in V. 

 vulgaris, but never in V. Germanica. 



The distinctions which exist between the workers of the two species 

 are perhaps the least constant. In upwards of seven hundred indivi- 

 duals from the same nest of V. vulgaris, I found only twenty-eight 

 which had not the halberd-shaped spot on the clypeus, but in these a 

 straight line running half way down, and a minute spot on each side 

 of its extremity, more or less distinct, replaced it ; therefore the hal- 

 berd-shaped mark may be considered a good general distinctive cha- 

 racter ; since, in V. Germanica, it is quite as rare to meet with it, that 

 species having only a black line halfway down. The character upon 

 which I most rely is the form of the yellow crown-shaped spot above 

 the clypeus ; the differences are shown in the annexed figures. 



