1930 ] 
Ant-tree Notes 
109 
notes of October 16, 1927 : “Quebrada Rodriguez, Rio Frio. 
A small tree of Triplaris sp. ( americana ? according to 
Johansen) about 12-15 feet high and 2 inches at 5 feet 
above the ground, was felled and some of the ants col- 
lected. They sting viciously, the poison causing the fingers 
to swell and bringing out red flushes right up to the arm. 
The ant-brood and coccids were found in the branches and 
at the tip. In every case the coccids were found at the 
upper or distal end of the internode, frequently right up 
against the partition, and the ant-brood at the lower or 
proximal end. In several places on the inside of the hol- 
low trunk the wood was deeply pitted but not perforated. 
It was not determined whether the pits were made by the 
ants or were normal depressions. The exit holes of the 
ants are regular in position and undoubtedly are merely 
modifications of some previously existing structures (len- 
ticels?) of the plant.” 
The following insects were found by the junior author 
associated with the narrow-leaved Triplaris (Plate 1., lower 
fig.) : 
1. Pseudomyrma triplarina Weddel subsp. symbiotica 
Forel. Probably the commonest and certainly the most 
vicious ant in the Triplaris. It does not inhabit every tree, 
however, nor does it always take complete possession, for 
it was sometimes found sharing trees with No. 3. Series 
of this ant were also taken by Dr. Salt in Triplaris, pre- 
sumably of the narrow-leaved form, at Rio Frio and Ara- 
cataca. 
2. Azteca theresise Forel. A common species forming 
large colonies. It bites but does not sting and was found 
sharing trees with Nos. 1 and 3. The var. menceps Forel 
of this species is a very common tenant of T . americana in 
Panama, according to the senior author’s observations. 
3. Crematogaster ( Orthocrema ) parabiotica Forel. A 
small, inoffensive ant which often colonizes single branches 
of trees inhabited by one or both of the preceding species. 
Apparently these three ants are all capable of maintain- 
ing their colonies without leaving the home tree. At any 
