77 



organs after the process of pairing is over, and they are about to lay their eggs. The 

 workers or neuters are somewhat smaller than the males, with antennae resembling those 



Fig. 67, Female Wood Ant {Formica rula.) Fig. 68, A Neuter Leaf-cutting Ant (Eciton drepanophora.) 



of the females, being thickened to the tips, and elbowed ; they are always destitute of 

 wings. They often consist of two forms : one with a large cubical head, or worker major, 

 sometimes called a soldier, and the other the ordinary small-headed form, or worker 



Fig. 69, Worker Major (Ectatomma ferruginea). Fig. 70, Worker Minor (Formica fid vacea). 



minor. The antennae of the male ants possess thirteen joints each, and those of the 

 female and neuter twelve each. The head, including jaws, is more or less triangular in 

 shape, broader behind than the thorax in the neuters, but somewhat narrower in the males 

 and females. The mandibles or large jaws of the females and neuters are larger than 

 those of the males, and are frequently toothed or serrated, sometimes hooked or sickle- 

 shaped. The abdomen of the male consists of seven joints or segments, and that of the 

 female and neuter of six. The external sexual organs of the neuters correspond to those 

 of the females, but the internal reproductive organs are wholly undeveloped. 



During the summer the winged males and females are produced in large numbers, and 

 they soon leave the nest to take their "nuptial flight " in the air, in the course of which 

 the females are impregnated. The function of the male ants having been thus performed, 

 they die ; the females, after impregnation, pull off their wings, and whilst in this some- 

 what helpless condition are conveyed by the neuters to new situations, where they lay their 

 eggs and become the founders of fresh colonies. 



Each fertile female or " queen " is carefully attended by a retinue of neuters, the 

 latter, as we have seen, being simply females, whose sexual organs are undeveloped. The 

 cause of this differentiation of sex, is probably owing to the nature of the food supplied 

 to the ant during its larval state. Being thus exempted from all sexual functions, the 

 duties of the neuters are confined to the performance of all the offices which contribute 

 to, or are connected with, the welfare and labour of the ant community. They accordingly 

 construct the nest or home, and keep it in constant repair ; provide food and sustenance 

 for the whole society ; act the part of nurses in carefully attending to the hatching, nutri- 

 tion and rearing of the young. They are also the defenders of the colony, in that they 

 protect the nest and its inmates from the intrusion or attacks of any foes. In the species 

 which possess two forms of neuters, the worker-majors or soldiers devote themselves 

 especially to the care and protection of the community, and are provided for the purpose 



