388 
Psyche 
[December 
Discussion 
The morphology of the ventral body region can be related to 
feeding behavior. Thus, in larvae which are reported in the literature 
to be fed only by regurgitation of liquid food from the adult workers, 
the morphology of this region is relatively unspecialized. In this 
category can be placed Crematogaster laeviuscula and Iridomyrmex 
pruinosum, in which the head is so closely appressed to the body, that 
it cannot reach the ventral body region with its mouthparts. Larvae of 
these species bear few or no spinules in this region and the hairs and 
hair pattern are unspecialized. The papillose regions on C. laevius¬ 
cula may be vestiges of the rows of spinules found in other ants. 
Wheeler and Wheeler (1976) state: “... the immobility of a body with 
a dolichoderoid or crematogastroid shape precludes self-feeding. 
Hence these larvae must be fed by regurgitation”. 
The remaining larvae described in this study are reported in the 
literature to be fed solid food by adult workers. 
Figs. 36-38. Fig. 36. Lateral view of Iridomyrmex pruinosum. Head (h). Fig. 
37. Anteroventral body region of /. pruinosum. Note short, simple hairs (arrow). 
Praesaepium (arrow). Fig. 38. Ventral, metathoracic spinules of I. pruinosum. 
