
No. 425.] THE TEXAN LEGIONARY ANTS. 371 
of second and third segments, and an oval spot on the third segment, dark. 
Eyes but little convex, finely hairy. Ocelli almost equidistant, small, and 
rather close together. Basal half of antenna lighter than body, almost yel- 
low. Thorax convex above, somewhat darker than the head. Abdomen 
smooth, without striæ or grooves, convex above and rather sharply convex 
below, so that the median line is quite sharply defined. Ovipositor black. 
Described from one female specimen, collected in a nest of 
Eciton cecum Latr., at Austin, Texas, during February, 1901. 
While searching for the myrmecophilous Phoridz in the nests 
of the large blind driver ant I chanced upon this small insect, 
which, from its actions and color, simulated one of the very 
smallest of the Eciton workers. Had it not been for its exceed- 
ingly small size and more robust build it would undoubtedly have 
passed unobserved 
among the ants. On 
examination with a 
lens, however, it was 
easily recognized as a 
proctotrupid. I have 
been unable to refer 
it to any described 
genus, although its 
place in the Ceraphro- 
nidze is quite certain. It seems most closely related to Lagynodes 
Först., from which it differs by the ten-jointed antenne, shorter 
scape, distinct ocelli, absence of groove on mesonotum, absence 
of scutellum, and shorter legs. The dark spot upon the third 
abdominal segment when strongly magnified is seen to consist of 
a network of raised black lines, which are coarser and more 
distinct posteriorly. This structure is interesting, as we know 
that at the same relative position on the abdomen of other Eciton 
myrmecophiles (Phoridz) we also find a spot where the integu- 
ment is peculiarly modified. This suggests some possible way 
that these blind ants may have of recognizing their habitual nest 
mates by means of markings which they can perceive by touch. 

g 
Fic. 3. — Ecitonetes subapterus Q sp. nov. 
