120 



A Catalogue of the Species of Ants 



[No. 39, 



Warrior, 6- 10th of an inch long ; differs from the ordinary Worker 

 in the head being proportionally much larger, and the jaws having 

 blunt teeth. 



Male, length 4-10th of an inch; has a small triangular head, 

 lateral eyes, three ocelli, the thorax raised in front, and the abdominal 

 pedicle broader ; wings do not reach to end of abdomen. 



Female 5-8th of an inch long; very similar to the male, has the 

 jaws strongly toothed, somewhat oblong ; and the abdomen pro- 

 portionally large. 



This species well known in India, as the black Ant is found 

 throughout every part of this country which I have traversed, ex- 

 cept the Western Coast where I have never seen it. It appears to 

 me that it is most probably the species described by Fabricius whose 

 name I have accordingly adopted. 



It lives in very numerous societies in the ground, the entrance to 

 the nest being often round the trunk of a tree, or close to some 

 building. The Warriors are very numerous. Their food is chiefly 

 vegetable secretions, sugar, Sec, and Colonel Sykes has given an 

 interesting account of the devastations committed by them on pre- 

 serves, sugar, &c, which I regret that I cannot transcribe having 

 mislaid the volume of the transactions of the Entomological Journal 

 in which it appeared. They bite rather severely, but the pain is 

 quite momentary. At certain times great numbers of the winged 

 males and females are seen at the mouth of the nest, and they 

 remain there for several days. When they take wing, they do so 

 in vast numbers, and always at night. 



33. Formica Angusticollis, N. S. 



Worker § an inch long ; head long, oblong, ending posteriorly 

 in a narrow neck ; eyes posterior, of moderate size ; jaws triangular, 

 strongly toothed ; antennae long ; thorax low, narrow, uniform • 

 abdominal pedicle conical, high, narrow ; abdomen oval ; colour 

 dull black, with antenna and legs rufous. 



Warrior, 8-12th of an inch long ; head very large, notched 

 posteriorly ; eyes^ much smaller ; otherwise similar. 



