1933 ] 
Mermis Parasitism in Ants 
23 
C. ( T .) consobrinus Erichson (1841). Type locality : Tas- 
mania ( =dimidiatus Roger, 1858). Common in New 
South Wales and Queensland. 
var. obniger Forel (1902). New South Wales. 
var. perthianus Forel (1915). Western Australia. 
Subsp. lividipes Emery (1887). New South Wales. 
( = pro stans Forel, 1907). 
Subsp. nigriceps F. Smith (1858). Southeastern, South 
and Western Australia. 
var. pallidiceps Emery (1887). New South Wales. 
(= var. clarior Forel, 1902) . Western Australia. 
I have taken all of the six valid forms of consobrinus in 
various localities. They nest in open places in the soil under 
large flat stones, often in rather populous colonies. The 
largest workers are not very aggressive. Like many of the 
other Australian Camponoti they are often common in re- 
stricted areas and, like many other species of Tansemyrmex, 
seem all to be nocturnal foragers. 
In four colonies of the typical C. consobrinus ( dimidiatus ) 
among about 20 which I examined on December 14 and 15, 
1931 at the Creel, (alt. 3000 ft.) at the base of Mt. Kos- 
ciusko, N. S. W., eight mermithergates were taken. Each 
of two colonies contained only one, one colony contained two 
and another four of the parasitized individuals. Owing to 
their large size and swollen gasters they were conspicuous 
among their normal sisters in the superficial galleries of the 
nests and were quite as alert in escaping when the stones 
were overturned. The colonies also contained considerable 
brood, a few males and immature winged females. Dr. P. 
J. Darlington has recently brought me a ninth mermither- 
gate of consobrinus, which he took March 16, 1932, with a 
portion of the colony in the McPherson Range, below the 
National Park in Queensland. 
The following are the average measurements (total 
length and length of gaster) of alcoholic material of the 
three normal worker forms of consobrinus : 
Maxima: Length 13-14 mm.; gaster 4-5 mm. 
Media: Length 10-11 mm.; gaster 3-3.5 mm. 
Minima: Length 8-9 mm.; gaster 2.5-3 mm. 
