1932 ] 
A Gynergate of Myrmecia 
51 
The appearance of this gynergate offers some additional 
evidence in favor of the germinal hypothesis of caste de- 
termination. Wheeler 4 in discussing the significance of 
the dinergatandromorph (soldier-male) and the ergatan- 
dromorph (worker-male) stated that although the workers 
and soldiers are “abortive females they behave in com- 
bination with the male like entities quite as distinct and 
independent as the female. This suggests that the worker 
and soldier are not products of nutrition but are germinally 
predetermined.” Santschi 5 stated that this hypothesis 
(germinal) would be definitely determined by the discovery 
of a form presenting female and worker characteristics. 
From the finding of this ant, therefore, it would appear 
that the trophic hypothesis of caste determination may 
have to be discarded in favor of the blastogenetic hy- 
pothesis. 
Brathinus varicornis Lec. 
An examination of the available lists shows that the 
above beetle is recorded but once,— in the N. Y. List from 
Utica, which is apparently the type locality., On May 22, 
1930, I literally unearthed a specimen while sifting wet 
leaves and more or less mud, taken from the edge of a small 
pool in a small swampy area in park land near the center 
of the Town of Framingham. By further sifting, and 
treading about in the mud and water, I secured three more 
specimens and on May 23 and June 2, I found six more; 
other visits were not productive. The time was shortly 
before sunset and when it had become somewhat dark in 
the shadows of the young trees and alders. Mr. P. J. 
Darlington gave me a specimen which he had taken at 
Exeter, N. H., by “swamp treading,” June 7, 1925. 
Perhaps they are nocturnal prowlers and it pleases my 
fancy to endow these peculiar ant-like creatures with 
strange and unusual habits. 
C. A. Frost, 
Framingham, Mass. 
4 Psyche (1919) vol. 26, pp. 7-8. 
e ibid. 
