1972] 
Henry — Ululodes and Ascaloptynx 
1 1 
in fact, the cephalic (cap) pole of each egg is slightly lower than 
its opposite pole and related to the cephalic poles of its neighbors 
in such a way that no larva interferes with another during hatching. 
It is of interest that in Ascaloptynx the whitish outline of the 
developing embryo always appears on the dorsal surface of the egg. 
As in Ululodes , this outline disappears as the egg gradually darkens 
to a muddy brownish-yellow color and acquires a semi-collapsed 
appearance several days before hatching; eelosion occurs a minimum 
of 14 days after oviposition. 
The repagula of Ascaloptynx furciger appear to be miniaturized 
versions of fertile eggs: each is identical to a full-sized egg in color, 
proportion, micropylar structure, and orientatation (figure 5-A). 
Typically, a repagulum in this species measures 1.3 to 1.4 mm by 
0.65 to 0.70 mm; it has no fluid of any kind on its surface. In all 
egg-masses examined, repagula occurred in a small group immediately 
below (and continuous with) the main egg clump, and in a larger 
group about 10 cm further down the twig; frequently, one or two 
additional, smaller masses of repagula would be present, spaced 
varying distances below the largest clump (figure 7, “R 3 ”). Usually 
the masses of repagula surround the twig in the same manner as 
fertile eggs, but occasionally, especially on large stems, the repagula 
are deposited in an obvious spiral pattern. Dissections of Ascaloptynx 
females reveal an arrangement of specialized ovarioles similar to that 
in Ululodes; however, poor preservation prevented reliable con- 
clusions as to numbers of ovarioles present and modified. Field- 
collected egg-masses always exhibit slightly higher numbers of fertile 
eggs than of repagula. 
V. Predation Experiments 
Experimental exposure of the eggs and repagula of both ascalaphid 
species involved three situations: (1) natural predation by Dory- 
myrmex pyramicus, Formica sp. and Pogonomyrmex sp. at the site 
of the Southwestern Research Station (5400 feet); (2) natural 
predation by Pheidole sp., Paratrechina sp., Crematogaster sp., 
Dorymyrmex pyramicus t and Formica sp. at a typical egg-collecting 
site near Crystal Cave in the Chiricahua Mountains (5700 feet); 
and (3) artificially-induced predation by Mononvorium sp. intro- 
duced to the Harvard Biological Laboratories (Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts) from Brazil. 
A. Ululodes mexicana 
In all experimental situations, Ululodes mexicana eggs protected 
