1974 ] 
Haskins Haskins — Myrmecia vindex 
261 
cation that larvae were only marginally suitable for this work. 
Treated larvae were sometimes returned to the nest, as though larval 
odor, even when overlaid by that of oleic acid, still dominated 
behavior. With cocoons, however, worker reactions were more 
consistent. 
At 5:30 p.m. two piles of 10 larvae and 10 cocoons each were 
placed on top of the Lubbock nest. The larvae were quickly restored 
to the nest. By 6:15 p.m., 5 cocoons of the untreated group had been 
transported to the nest, together with 3 from the fraction treated 
with oleic acid. By 6:38 p.m. all cocoons from the untreated pile had 
been transported to the nest, while no further oleic-acid-treated 
cocoons had been removed. By 8:55 the following morning, how- 
ever, 4 of the oleic-acid-treated cocoons had been deposited in refuse 
middens in the arena, 2 being deposited 45" from the nest entrance 
and 2, 10" away. Three were still in original position on the card- 
board, but had been well covered with earth. Earth grains obtained 
from inside the nest had also been deposited on spots of oleic acid 
which had drained from the cocoons to the cardboard. 
The experiment was then repeated more precisely in the pattern 
of the work reported with P. badius. Ten squares of paper, y 2 n X 
yy* , were soaked with ole’c acid and scattered at random over the 
surface of the nest, together with 10 identical but untreated squares, 
appropriately identified. Two larvae, likewise treated with oleic 
acid, were included. The trial was begun at 9:10 a.m. 
Workers coming into contact with the treated objects immediately 
executed marked cleaning movements and a rubbing of the gular 
surface of the head against the substrate. At 9 :20, 1 larva was picked 
up by a worker after much hesitation and held in the mandibles 
for 4 minutes, when it was grasped by a second, and then deposited 
by both at the nest entrance, but not taken inside. The impression 
of a conflict of drives was strong. One minute later this larva was 
again picked up, carried about 3" from the nest entrance, and 
dropped. By 9:53, it had been brought into the nest, while the 
second larva was held within y^' of the nest entrance. Two minutes 
later it also was brought into the nest. 
At 10:00 a.m. a worker was beginning to deposit earth grains on 
the oleic-acid-treated papers, and by 10:53, 4 papers carried earth 
grains. By 1 :oo p.m., one of the treated larvae had again been 
brought out of the nest, and a worker was preparing to drop it on 
the midden located 45" from the entrance. By 5 :0O p.m. both 
treated larvae were on this midden. Burying of the oleic acid squares 
continued but they were not moved toward the middens. 
