1965] 
Haskins and Whelden — Rhytidoponera 
95 
Dates of 
Assay of Pupal and Young Adult S; 
arnples 
Colony No. 
Examination 
Workers 
Males 
! 
7/12/64 
20 
pupae ; 1 fresh-hatched 
callow 
0 
12/15/64 
24 
pupae; 13 fresh-hatched 
callows 
0 
1/23/65 
33 
pupae ; 1 fresh-hatched 
callow 
2 pupae 
2. 
7/12/64 
43 
pupae 
2 pupae 
12/15/64 
44 
pupae; 36 fresh-hatched 
callows 
0 
1/23/65 
46 
pupae 
4 pupae 
3. 
7/12/64 
20 
pupae 
0 
12/15/64 
38 
pupae; 6 fresh-hatched 
callows 
0 
1/23/65 
69 
pupae ; 4 fresh-hatched 
callows 
0 
4. 
7/12/64 
27 
pupae 
0 
12/15/64 
67 
pupae ; 28 fresh-hatched 
callows 
0 
1/23/65 
66 
pupae ; 4 fresh-hatched 
callows 
2 
5. 
12/15/64 
31 
pupae ; 23 fresh-hatched 
callows 
1 
Queensland appears 
to lie near the northern limit of the 
natural 
range of R. me tallica. Ample confirmation that the same situation 
obtains elsewhere in its range, however, was provided by counts made 
from a single colony of the species taken at Sutherland, N. S. W., on 
June 2, 1952, and observed continuously in the artificial nest over a 
ten-year period. This colony contained no typical females when 
collected, though much later in its history some were produced, as 
will be described later. It was kept as a single unit in the standard 
glass modified Lubbock type of nest until July 8, 1956, when it was 
split into three portions, one of which perished rather shortly. The 
second and third were maintained in Lubbock nests until January 1, 
1962, when the second also died out. The third portion survived 
somewhat longer, but eventually perished on July 30, 1962. 
Throughout the ten years of observation, these two colony frag- 
ments were kept in closed foraging arenas, to which no males could 
enter from outside and from which no individuals matured within 
could escape. The ants established and maintained regular kitchen- 
middens within these arenas, outside the nests proper. The ambient 
humidity of the arenas was maintained low, and the contents of the 
middens therefore remained well preserved and readily recognizable 
for considerable periods. Thus periodic removal of the middens and 
examination of their contents could provide a rather accurate picture 
of the quality and type of brood produced. 
Until June 13, 1954 (two years after observation was begun), 
only workers were brought to maturity. A count of cocoon fragments 
accumulated in the middens at intervals during this period thus 
