1974] 
Haskins £sf Haskins — Myrmecia vindex 
267 
decided attractant. In P. badius on the contrary, the reaction to 
triethanolamine was reported to be virtually neutral. 
In this connection it is interesting to note that, in the populations 
studied, M. vindex commonly piles discarded cocoons and pupal 
exuviae on the crater of the nest, near the entrance, where they 
characteristically accumulate in some numbers, rather than trans- 
porting them far afield. Similar behavior has been described for 
P. badius (Wilson, Furlach, and Roth, 1958), though in the latter 
case, removal of the discards is quickly accomplished by other foraging 
ants. The situation with M. vindex, however, appears more specific. 
Indeed established colonies in the artificial nest may collect discarded 
cocoons and pupal exuviae scattered about the foraging area to form 
a crater about the entrance. It may be that subtle behavioral balances 
are involved, depending on the nature and “mix” of the included 
decomposition products, as suggested by the reversal of behavior, 
apparently in response to vapor concentration, released by trietha- 
nolamine. 
References 
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