HEAD — 
WING STUBS 
THORAX 
SCUTELLUM 
& PINOTUM 
EPINOTAL SPINES 
PETIOLE << 
ABDOMEN — 
wast 
GASTER < 
petiole—One of the small segments between the thorax 
and gaster. (If an ant specimen dies with the gaster 
elevated, the petiole and its structures may be diffi- 
cult to see, in which case the specimen should be 
relaxed and the gaster depressed until the entire 
body is about level.) 
cape—The first segment of the antenna. (When mea- 
suring this structure, one should not count the small 
socketlike end piece that actually articulates with 
the head.) 
clerite—Any area of the body set off by ridges, grooves, 
or membranes. 
crobe—A long, hollowed-out area on the head above 
the insertion of the antenna into which the antenna 
folds when in repose. 
triae—Minute, ridgelike ornamentations of the surface. 
uture—Any division between two sclerites. 
enter—The underneath side. 
entral—Pertaining to the underneath side. 
IAGNOSIS OF ANTS AND TERMITES 
Ants are members of the insect order Hymenoptera, 
hich includes the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Ants 
semble some of the wasps, especially those having 
ingless forms that may resemble worker ants very 
osely in general appearance. 
Ants may be differentiated from wasps by the ants 
aving one or two segments forming a distinct petiole 
*tween the thorax and the gaster, each segment of 
is petiole produced dorsally into an enlargement or 
ode (Fig. 1 and 2). Some of the wasps have a petiole, 
it none of them has one bearing a dorsal node. 
Ants are also confused with termites, often called 
hite ants, because termites also live in large colonies. 
nts and termites may be differentiated as follows: 
\FRONT WING 
Fig. 3.—Winged female ant of the 
genus A phaenogaster, dorsal view, show- 
ing terms used for diagnostic parts. 
HIND WING 
TARSAL CLAWS 
Winged or dark-bodied forms having the abdomen at- 
tached to the thorax by a narrow waist or petiole 
(Fig. 1); whitish, soft-bodied forms (larvae and 
pupae) found in the nest are grublike, nonambula- 
tory, and often without legs .............. ants 
Winged and dark-bodied forms having the abdomen 
joined broadly to the thorax; pale forms found in 
the nest all have well-developed legs and are ambu- 
1aOCyaLCE 19 ae gee Oe ie eee termites 
Termites constitute the insect order Isoptera, close 
relatives of cockroaches. Even the youngest stages have 
legs and are active. If a nest is disturbed, the older 
individuals do not carry the younger ones to a hiding 
place. Termites are not discussed further in this synopsis. 
If an ant nest is disturbed, the worker ants carry 
the inactive larvae and pupae to a hiding place. 
KEY TO ANT CASTES 
The castes of ants may be identified by the following 
key. In this key the soldiers, nutcrackers, and both 
major and minor workers are keyed out together under 
“workers.” 
1. Tip of abdomen with a set of clasping structures that 
may be partially or completely retracted (Fig. 
16P) ; wingless or with wings, but never with 
WIA Guests edn ta sco ee One ae ame ce males 
Tip of abdomen without clasping structures, some- 
times with a sharp sting (Fig. 7E and ores 
small cone having a ring of minute hairs (Fig. 
6D) ; wingless or having wings or wing stubs . .2 
2. Having either wings (Fig. 3) or wing stubs that 
are visible on the sides of the thorax where the 
wings have been broken off; dorsum of thorax 
having several transverse or curved sutures be- 
tween bases of wings or wing stubs, these sutures 
