18<3L] 



found in Southern India. 



115 



21. Myrmica Fodicus, N. S. 



Worker, length 4- 12th of an inch ; head rounded, triangular stri- 

 ated; eyes large, posterior; jaws somewhat linear, four toothed; 

 thorax raised in front, depressed posteriorly with two small spines 

 on each side in front, and two tubercles above these, and two 

 large nearly horizontal spines at the posterior extremity of thorax ; 

 first abdominal pedicle long, narrow, raised behind, second raised, 

 rounded ; abdomen somewhat triangular ; head, thorax, legs and 

 abdominal pedicles marroon colour, abdomen shining brown. 

 Female, head rather smaller proportionally, finely striated ; eyes 

 larger, three ocelli ; jaws blunt without teeth ; antennae scarcely 

 longer than the head ; thoracic spines less developed : abdomen 

 larger. 



This is one of the most common and abundant Ants in Malabar- 

 I do not remember to have seen it in the Carnatic. It seldom 

 enters houses, but otherwise appears to take the place of Formica 

 Indefessa, which is not found in Malabar. It feeds chiefly on ho- 

 ney and other vegetable secretions, but also will take dead animal 



matter. It also occasionally feeds on the secretions of the. 



and is also found in the train of Caterpillars feeding on leaves. It 

 makes large excavations under ground, generally having the entrance 

 round the trunk of a tree, and it forms considerable heaps of fine 

 earth round the mouth of the nest. It runs, unlike the last species, 

 with its abdomen turned downwards under the abdominal pedicles. 

 It appears to form the type of a very distinct group from the last. 



22. Myrmica ? Tarda, N. S. 



Worker, length l-6th of an inch ; head somewhat triangular, 

 square behind, of same width as thorax ; eyes rather small, quite 

 lateral, somewhat posterior ; antennse short, thick, inserted near 

 the mouth ; thorax short, square, ending in two spines on each 

 side ; it and the head rough and shagreened ; abdominal pedicles 

 much raised, long, narrow ; abdomen triangular, also shagreened ; 

 head, thorax, legs, abdominal pedicles brick red ; abdomen dusky, 

 dark blue. This is a very curious looking Ant. It lives in holes 

 in the ground In small societies, and feeds on vegetable secretions. 

 It moves very slowly. It is found both in the Carnatic and Malabar. 



