28 
Psyche 
[March 
the cephalic sculpture, together with the weakness of the 
interrugal sculpture which leaves the whole surface very 
shining, (3) the clypeal notch which is very well-developed, 
and (4) the color which is yellowish red in large part as 
compared to the reddish brown to brown color of the other 
species. 
Dr. Creighton has also supplied pertinent field notes 
concerning the new species which give interesting informa- 
tion about the biology of this ant. The nests are populous 
and are surrounded by large amounts of chaff. Both 
workers and majors forage for food and move in files. 
The ants are not only granivorous but carnivorous as well, 
for the blood and tissues of purposely shot ground squirrels, 
placed nearby, were accepted as food. About eighteen 
colonies were seen altogether, and it is said that the nests 
are frequently excavated near those of Veromessor andrei. 
Males and females of creightoni emerge in small numbers 
(approximately two dozen) each day about one hour before 
sunset. The worker ants remain in the nest most of the 
day, but they become active in the late afternoon before 
the flight takes place. The marriage flights which were 
observed lasted from September 15 to September 21. 
Literature Cited 
Creighton, W. S. 
1950. The ants of North America. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoo!., 104: 163. 
