176 
Psyche 
[September 
took the temperature down 4 degrees, the males stood still or re- 
treated. In between gusts they climbed again but no more flew until 
11:25. During this time workers were gathered at all five central 
mounds, trying to keep males down. In spite of delays caused by 
the wind, flying accelerated until between 12:18 and 12:41 p.m. 
299 males flew (average of 12.5 a minute). During this time tem- 
perature ranged from 81 0 to 88° and light from 7200 to 7400 ft. c. 
Several females had appeared at intervals, either on the ground or 
climbing up and down brambles. At about 12:40 another activity, 
not seen in the earlier, sparse flights, became evident. Although 
some males continued to fly off, more and more began flying from 
plant to plant over the nest area. Females continued to climb up 
and down plants and whenever a male lit near one he moved toward 
her and they mated. Thus, there was a shifting from flight to 
swarm activity. 
Gradually males ceased flying away and spread so that they were 
flying over the entire grassy strip and females also spread by walking 
on the ground or by flying from plant to plant. The activity became 
a typical, but small ground swarm. Transition between flight and 
swarm was blurred but by 1 :23 all the males were flying among 
the grasses and matings were taking place. The colony produced 
very few females and only five were seen to mate and 10 to fly 
away (evidently mated). Females which were ready to mate ap- 
peared to attract males from a distance of two or three inches. 
When a female stretched forward and extended her antennae any 
males near by converged on her. If two or three reached her the 
extra males tried to hang on to the mating male. Once a female 
mated twice in a short time. A mated female, ready to fly, did 
not seem to attract males. The last mating was seen at 1 :50 and 
by 2 :00 p.m. only four males were flying over the grasses. By this 
time the nest area had come into light shade from the woods behind 
it. 
The next day (6th flight) males came out and flew readily, in 
spite of low temperature (82° to 74°) and overcast sky (3400 to 
1400 ft. c.). At 12:43, when 141 males had been seen to fly, the 
sky darkened to 1000 ft. c. stopping the flight. Rain began five 
minutes later. During the last ten minutes of flight one female 
was seen and males began swarming activity, but all was cut short 
by the rain. 
The urge to fly was extremely strong the next day (7th flight). 
Flying started very early because the morning warmed quickly, but 
the whole flight was hindered by frequent little gusts of wind of 
