
NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN GUESTS OF THE 
TEXAN LEGIONARY ANTS}! 
CHARLES THOMAS BRUES. 
Tue species included in the present paper are all Ecitophiles 
which have been collected in the vicinity of Austin, Texas, by 
Dr. Wm. M. Wheeler, Mr. A. L. Melander, and the author, 
during the past two winters. The three species of Eciton 
(E. schmitti Em. E. opacithorax Em., and E. cecum Latr.) 
which occur here commonly seem to harbor a larger number 
and a greater range of myrmecophiles than any other restricted 
group of ants with which we are acquainted. Their nest mates 
seem also to be more aberrant forms than those living with the 
other ants, —a condition which may possibly be produced by 
two unusual peculiarities of the Ecitons. Their eyes are very 
small (even absent in the worker of E. cacum), and their power 
of vision must be correspondingly poor ; then, too, their nomadic 
life must prevent many myrmecophilous forms from living with 
them, which would otherwise probably occur regularly. Eciton 
schmitti and E. opacithorax change the sites of their nests quite 
frequently and may often be seen marching in columns which 
extend over long distances, and at such times their guests must 
either travel along with them or be left to shift for themselves. 
Eciton cecum is apparently always upon the move, but traveling 
below the surface of the ground and not venturing out, at least 
in the daylight. 
Insects of three different orders are represented, Diptera, 
Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera; the new Diptera which belong 
to the family Phoride being among the most peculiar and remark- 
able of described myrmecophiles. 
1 Contributions from the Zoological Laboratory of the University of Texas, No. 25. 
365 
