1955] 
Wilson and Broivn — Formica 
121 
were based have been greatly exaggerated by both the 
original describers and subsequent reviewers. 
Rubicunda is probably the most often used of the names 
considered herein as junior synonyms. Several characters 
have been advanced at different times and by different 
authors in an attempt to separate this form. The merits 
of each are discussed below. 
(1) Rubicunda is said to have a darker body color; 
the gaster is piceous and the rest of the body “blood red”, 
while in subintegra (the type series included) the gaster 
is medium brown and the remainder of the body yellowish 
red. Even in his original description, Emery made note 
of a series intermediate in color to subintegra. Fresh 
series in the Museum of Comparative Zoology grade 
through in this character; also, it has been our impression 
in the field that color is not reliable. 
(2) The head has been considered more trapezoidal in 
rubicunda. We find that head shape shows great varia- 
tion both intranidally, through allometry, and internidally, 
through different grades of allometry. We have been un- 
able to separate two forms in any given size class on the 
basis of this character. 
(3) Rubicunda has been considered to be distinguished 
by an emarginate dorsal petiolar border, opposed to an 
non-emarginate condition in subintegra. A glance at a 
small number of series is sufficient to show that this 
character grades through completely. 
A syntype of pergandei in the Museum of Comparative 
Zoology appears in every aspect to be only a small but 
otherwise normal worker of subintegra. In full face view, 
a small space is left between the eye and the margin of 
the head, contrary to the key character presented by 
Creighton. But even if the eye extended to or beyond the 
margin, this would still not exceed the range of variation 
of subintegra, which is highly variable in head shape (see 
under curio s a) . 
Puberula, according to the diagnoses of both Wheeler 
and Creighton, is marked by the presence of raised pube- 
