No.413.] ABERRANT PHORIDA& FROM TEXAS. 347 
The condition of the abdomen is also remarkable. The seg- 
ments have no doubt been reduced, independently of the 
secondary swollen condition due to the immense eggs. Such 
small abdominal plates fitted together in their normal position 
would form an abdomen so utterly at variance with the size 
required to perform its natural functions that we must consider 
the segments reduced and the abdomen also enlarged, probably 
by post-metamorphic growth. The difference in the size of 
the abdomen in different specimens of Ecitomyia shows that 
a considerable post-metamorphic enlargement occurs in that 
species. The external sexual organs do not depart from those 
of Phora, except that they may be slightly reduced in size. 
The fourth abdominal segment differs from all the others in 
having not a dorsal plate, but a chitinous ring, triangular in 
shape and surrounding a membranous patch which probably 
has a glandular function! 
There can be no doubt that this peculiar insect is a true 
myrmecophile, as the nest in which they were found contained 
numerous individuals, most of which escaped on account of 
their extreme activity. Although we have examined a great 
number of similar Solenopsis nests, we have seen no other 
Specimens, so that, in this locality at least, it is much rarer 
than the genus living with Eciton.? 
ECITOMYIA WHEELERI gez. et sp. nov. 
Female (Figs. 6 and 7) Length 1.20 mm. Abdomen .93 mm. Thorax 
16 mm. Head .14 mm. Wings .14 mm. Head and thorax yellowish 
brown, much darkened above. Abdomen yellowish white, its small dorsal 
plates darker, the first almost piceous. Legs concolorous with the lower 
portions of the thorax. Head, seen from the side, subtrapezoidal, the front 
gradually descending, nearly as long as the dorsum of the thorax. Height 
of antennal cavity about equal to the front, about one-third as deep as high, 
regularly arcuate. The antennz (Fig. 8) arising near the base of the cav- 
Ity, of typical form : first joint small; second, large globose, obtusely pointed 
attip; first joint of arista sm all, distinct; second, longer; third, nearly equal 
! Owing to the limited number of specimens which we have of this species, I 
could not examine its structure. It is no doubt similar to the one described at 
length under Ecitomyia. 
* Since writing the above, I captured another specimen in a nest of the same 
ant (April 6th). ° . 
