Chapter XIV: Appendix: Notes

RELATIVE TO THE SPECIES.

The manners and habits of ants are so extremely varied, that it is necessary to know, to what species we must refer each trait of their industry,--each particular of their history.

With the view of distinguishing them more particularly, I have transcribed several descriptions from Latreille; some extracted from his Essay, upon the History of the Ants of France, “_Essai sur l’Histoire des Fourmis de la France_;” others, from his Natural History of Ants, “_Histoire Naturelle des Fourmis_.”

I feel proud in being able to add to this work the observations of my esteemed friend and fellow citizen, Professor Jurine, so well known to Naturalists, by his Memoirs upon Insects, “_Méthode nouvelle de classer les Insectes_,” _&c._ and by his fine collection.

Not relying on my own judgment for a classification of ants, I begged this gentleman would have the kindness to describe several species, hitherto undescribed, concerning which it was necessary, more particularly, to know the characters.

To these descriptions I shall add a few remarks, which my experience has suggested.

DESCRIPTION

OF

THE SEVERAL ANTS

MENTIONED IN THESE RESEARCHES.

+The Herculean Ant.+

(_F. Herculanea_, Linn.)

W.[1]--Black. _Thorax_, base of the _abdomen_, _thighs_ of a
blood-red. _Length_, five to six lines.

F.--Black. Sides of the _thorax_, _scale_, base of the _abdomen_ of
a bay-red. _Superior wings_, entirely of a smoky black.

M.--Very black. _Superior wings_, smoky black. _Scale_, thick,
emarginate. _Tarsi_ and _knees_ ferruginous.

+Latreille+, _Essai sur l’Hist. des
Fourmis de la France_.

[1] The Males, Females, and Workers, are here designated by their initial letters.

+The Ethiopian Ant.+

(_F. Nigra._)

W.--Elongate, very black, shining. _Mandibles_ and _legs_ of a
blackish brown. _Abdomen_ hairy. _Length_, three to five lines.

F.--Very black, shining. _Mandibles_ and _legs_ of a blackish
brown. _Scale_, nearly cordiform. _Abdomen_, short, oval, hairy.
_Wings_ white, a marginal point in the superior.

M.--Very black. _Scale_, truncate, emarginate. _Abdomen_ pubescent.
_Wings_ white, a marginal point in the superior.

+Latreille+, _Essai_, &c.

Obs. _Both these species inhabit hollow trees, where they form shapeless grooves, or furrows; they also make use of the worm-holes in the wood._

+The Fuliginous Ant.+

(_F. Fuliginosa_, Lat.)

W.--Short, very black, shining. _Antennæ_, at their geniculation,
_knees_ and _tarsi_ of a testaceous brown. _Head_, large,
emarginate posteriorly. _Scale_, small. _Abdomen_, globose.
_Length_, one line three-quarters.

F.--Very black, short. _Mandibles_, _antennæ_, and _feet_,
rufescent. _Wings_ and _scale_, as in the male.

M.--In colour like the worker. _Scale_ entire, nearly oval.
_Superior wings_, obscure at their base.

+Latreille+, _ibid._

Obs. _This species constructs admirable labyrinths in trees._

+The Brown Ant+,

(_F. Brunnea_.)

W.--Deeply ferruginous. _Eyes_, summit of the _head_, and _abdomen_
blackish. _Scale_, quadrate, almost bidentate. _Length_, one line
two-fifths.

F.--Brown, blackish. _Mandibles_, _antennæ_, and _feet_,
ferruginous. _Scale_, bidentate. _Abdomen_, large. _Wings_, long,
some obscure nervures upon the base of the superior.

+Latreille.+

M.--Size of the worker, of a blackish colour, passing to brown.
_Wings_ extremely diaphanous; their nervures scarcely visible;
their point slightly yellowish. _Scale_, quadrate, almost bidentate.

+Jurine.+

Obs. _This is the most skilful of the indigenous Mason Ants._

+The Yellow Ant+,

(_F. Flava_, Lat.)

W.--Of a reddish yellow. _Eyes_, black. _Scale_, small, nearly
quadrate, entire. _Body_, slightly pubescent. _Length_, one line
three-fifths.

F.--Testaceous, obscure (deep reddish brown), relucent. _Antennæ_
and _feet_, pallid. _Scale_, emarginate, quadrate, hairy.
_Abdomen_, large; margin of the rings yellowish, more shining.
_Superior wings_, slightly obscure at their base.

M.--Blackish, shining. _Antennæ_ and _feet_, pallid. _Scale_,
slightly emarginate. _Abdomen_, feebly tomentose. _Wings_,
transparent.

+Latreille.+

Obs. _This species constructs hillocks of earth._[2]

[2] I shall here add an observation, which I omitted to insert in the chapter on Architecture, which was communicated to me by the inhabitants of the Alps.

Those little Yellow Ants, that are in possession of the _pucerons_ or _aphides_, serve the purpose of a compass to the Mountaineers, when they are enshrouded in thick fogs, or have lost their way during the night. Their habitations, which are more common, and more elevated in mountains than elsewhere, take an oblong and almost regular shape. They lie in a direction east and west. Their summit, and the greatest slope, always faces the east: but they incline also on the opposite side. I have verified, upon thousands of these ant-hills, this observation of the shepherds. I found a trifling number of exceptions; but only in those instances, where these hillocks had been deranged by men, or other animals. They do not preserve this form in the plains, where they are more exposed to such accidents.--A.

+The Fallow Ant+, (_black back_,)

(_F. Rufa_, Linn.)

W.--Of a fallow red, smooth. _Antennæ_, posterior part of the
_head_, back of the _thorax_, superior margin of the _scale_, and
_abdomen_, black. Three small _ocelli_. _Scale_, nearly oval.
_Length_, three lines.

F.--Colour of the worker. _Scale_, entire. _Abdomen_, short, swoln,
red at its base. _Superior wings_, smoky black.

M.--Of an unpolished black. Extremity of the _abdomen_ and _feet_,
fallow. _Scale_, thick, truncate. Exterior margin of the _superior
wings_, blackish.

+Latreille+, _Essai, &c._

_I thought it proper to make of the Fallow Ants two species, as they are distinguished from each other by very remarkable characters, and by a difference in their habitations; some being infinitely larger than others: the former, are situated in forests; the latter, alongside hedges and meadows. To the second species, I shall give the name of the Fallow Ant with the red back_, (Fourmi fauve, dos rouge) _which dwells by preference in the woods_.

+The Fallow Ant+, (_red back_,)

(_F. Rufa_, Linn.)

W.--Of a blood-red. Upper part of the _head_, _eyes_, _antennæ_,
_abdomen_, and _feet_, blackish. _Scale_, slightly emarginate.

F.--Of a blood-red. Upper part of the _head_, _eyes_, _antennæ_,
superior _thoracic plate_, and _abdomen_, blackish. _Scale_ thick,
oval, entire. _Wings_ very smoky at their base. The first segments
of the _abdomen_ have a slightly reddish tint.

M.--Black. Last segment of the _abdomen_ testaceous. _Feet_,
reddish. _Thighs_, slightly blackened at their base. _Wings_,
slightly smoky.

+Jurine.+

_It appears to me, that M. Latreille has described an individual of this species, or, if you please, variety, in his History of Ants_, “Histoire des Fourmis,” _whilst speaking of the female. A very remarkable difference between them, is, that the rings of the female of this latter species have infinitely more lustre than those of the former. The fallow colour is also more bright. The denominations of_ dos noir _and_ dos rouge _have been given from the colour of the worker_.

+The Red Ant+,

(_Myrmica Rubra_, Lat.)

(_Formica Rubra_, Linn.)

W.--Reddish, slightly shagreened. _Thorax_, armed with two points,
traversing the first knot. Upper part of the _abdomen_, blackish.
_Length_, two lines and a half.

F.--A little larger than, and closely resembling, the worker.
Summit of the _head_, some lines upon the back of the _thorax_,
base of the _superior wings_, upper part of the _abdomen_,
blackish. _Spines_ moderate.

M.--As large as the worker. _Head_ and _thorax_, black, slightly
shagreened. _Mouth_, base of the _antennæ_, _knots_, _abdomen_,
_feet_, for the most part piceous. Rest of the _rings_ and _tarsi_,
obscurely testaceous. _Spines_ of the _thorax_, short. _Wings_,
blackish at their base. _Feet_, hairy.

+Latreille+, _Essai, &c._

_This species constructs its nest in the earth, or in trees. It emits a very pungent odour, and lives by rapine._

+The Turf Ant+,

(_F. Cæspitum_, L.)

W.--Of a blackish brown. _Antennæ_, _thorax_, sometimes _feet_, of
a lighter colour. _Thorax_, entirely shagreened. _Spines_ short.
Two tubercles at the insertion of the _abdomen_: the latter shining.

F.--Black, brown, hairy. _Antennæ_ at their geniculation, _feet_,
testaceous, obscure. _Thighs_ and _legs_, a shade deeper. _Spines_,
short. _Wings_, white, marginal point slightly marked. _Abdomen_,
shining.

M.--Black, brown, nearly bare. _Antennæ_ and _feet_, palish yellow.
Head, rounded posteriorly. Back part of the _thorax_, obtuse.
_Wings_, white, without any point. _Abdomen_, shining, _feet_,
elongate.

+Latreille.+

_This ant constructs its nest, sometimes, in the grass, sometimes on the naked ground, sometimes in the sand._

+The Dark Ash-coloured Ant+,

(_F. Fusca_, Linn.)

W.--Of a shining dark ash-colour. Base of the _Antennæ_, and
_feet_, reddish. _Scale_, large, nearly triangular. Three small
_ocelli_.[3]

In shape it resembles the Fallow-Ant. The _body_ is black, of a
slight ash-colour, shining, nearly smooth, and elongate. The first
joints of the _antennæ_, and the two or three following joints, are
of a deep reddish colour. The fore-part of the _head_ is carinated.
The three small _ocelli_ are visible.

The _scale_ is large, between an oval and triangular form. The
middle of the superior margin is slightly elevated, slightly
concave. The _abdomen_ is nearly globular, feebly covered with hair
at the extremity. The feet are of a deep reddish colour, with the
base of the _thighs_, of an obscure brown. _Vide_ Pl. II. fig. 9.

F.--Of a shining black: by reflection slightly bronzed. The first
joint of the _antennæ_ is of a blackish brown, the second black.
The _scale_, large, nearly quadrate, the superior margin straight,
slightly concave. _Feet_, the same as in the worker. _Wings_,
slightly obscure, with the nervures and the marginal point of the
superior, blackish. _Vide_ Pl. II. fig. 8.

M.--Black, very shining, nearly smooth. _Antennæ_, commonly black,
sometimes of an obscure yellow, or half black and half fallow.
_Scale_ thick, nearly quadrate, the superior margin longer, almost
straight, slightly concave. _Anus_ and the _feet_ a palish yellow,
_haunches_ black. _Superior wings_, slightly obscure, with the
nervures deeply yellowish, and the stigma blackish. _Vide_ Pl. II.
fig. 8.

[3] I give a more extended description of the Auxiliary and Amazon Ants, on account of the importance of the subject.--A.

_The male and female are figured of the size represented in the Plate, but larger than Latreille has them. This Author speaks of a variety in which the brown parts are much more fallow than in the above. This he has described in his little work, under the name of the Black Ant._ (Fourmi noire.) _The_ Fourmi noiratre _of his monograph appears to me to be the same_.

_Be this as it may, these three varieties, whose manners and habits are precisely the same, ought to be comprised under the denomination of_ noir-cendrées.

_They build after the same manner. They open the cocoons of their pupæ a few days after they have spun, under the form of larvæ, and are all equally exposed to the invasions of the Amazon Ants._

+Latreille+, _Hist. Nat. des Fourmis_.

+The Mining Ant+,

(_F. Cunicularia_, Lat.)

W.--_Head_ and _abdomen_, black. About the _mouth_, upper part of
the _head_, first joint of the _antennæ_, _thorax_, and _feet_, of
a pale fallow. _Vide_ Pl. II. fig. 12.

It resembles the worker of the Fallow Ant. The _antennæ_ have their
first joint yellow, and the second of a blackish red. The _head_ is
black, with the parts surrounding the _mouth_; the inferior part
reddish. The _forehead_ bears an impressed line. Three apparent
_ocelli_. _Thorax_, of a much paler yellow than in the Fallow Ants,
and no black upon the back (on this account they closely resemble
the Fallow Ants, with the _red back_). The _scale_ is fallow,
nearly oval; having the middle of its superior margin retuse, as if
truncate. The _abdomen_ is of a black ash-colour, pubescent. The
_feet_ are fallow. _Length_, two lines and a half.

F.--_Body_, elongate, about three lines and a half, much resembling
that of the Fallow Ant. _Antennæ_ and _head_, same form and colour
as in the worker. _Thorax_, fallow, with three marks or stains
upon the back. _Scutellum_, and the mark upon each side, under the
wings, black. _Scale_, fallow, cordiform, strongly emarginate.
_Abdomen_ black. _Feet_, fallow. _Wings_, diaphanous, with the
nervures of a yellowish brown, and the stigma deeper in colour.
_Length_, three to four lines, sometimes even four and a half.
_Vide_ Pl. II. fig. 11.

_There is a variety of this female, in which the fore-part of the
abdomen is fallow; the back is black, with two red rays. Length,
three lines._

M.--About three lines in length. It has the carriage of the male
of the Fallow Ant. The _body_ is black, more shining, slightly
sericeous on the _abdomen_. The _scale_ is strongly emarginate.
_Anus_, of an obscure reddish brown. _Feet_, blackish. _Wings_
slightly obscure; the nervures of the superior of a yellowish
brown; the stigma black. _Vide_ Pl. II. fig. 13.

_M. Latreille brings under the denomination of_ mineuse, _the_ effacée _of his monograph, which is only a variety. These ants, like the Ash-coloured Ants, tear the cocoons spun by the larvæ, as soon as the latter have undergone their transformation._

+The Rufescent Ant+,

(_F. Rufescens_, Lat.)

_Fourth family._ Fourmi ambigue: _thus called, because it holds an intermediate rank between two other families_.

W.--Of a pale red. _Mandibles_, slender, arcuate, scarcely
denticulate. _Ocelli_, three, small. _Thorax_, elevated
posteriorly. _Length_, three lines.

The _body_ is elongate, of a pale red, nearly smooth, having only
a few hairs upon the _head_, _scale_, and _abdomen_. The _antennæ_
are inserted near the mouth, the part between them is not elevated,
as in the ants of the former families (like the preceding.) The
_head_ is rather large, nearly quadrate, rounded posteriorly. The
_mandibles_ are arched, slender, scarcely denticulate, terminating
in a point, much resembling those of the +Tiphiæ+. This character
is unique in the indigenous ants. The middle of the _forehead_
bears a small impressed line. The _eyes_ are small and black. The
three small _ocelli_ are very apparent. The _thorax_ is narrow,
gibbous, and rounded anteriorly, sinking in the middle of the back,
and afterwards terminating in a rounded elevation. The _scale_ is
large, very thick, rounded at the superior margin, shaped like the
segment of a circle, whose extremity is truncated, serving as the
base. The _abdomen_ is small, globose, conical. The _sting_ very
evident. The _tarsi_ are slightly hairy.

F.--It closely resembles the worker. The _thorax_ is nearly
cylindric, elevated, and rounded at its posterior extremity, which
is separated from the rest of the back, by a transverse furrow.
The _scale_ is of the same form as in the worker. The _abdomen_ a
little larger.

_The wings were wanting in the individual our author possessed.
This excellent description agrees, in every respect, with our
Legionary Ants. M. Jurine describes the individuals I presented
him, as follows._

W.--Reddish. Last segment of the _abdomen_ more pale. _Eyes_,
black. _Vide_ Pl. II. fig. 2.

F.--Larger than the worker, of a deeper red. _Thorax_ extremely
round posteriorly, and projecting. _Scale_, large, thick, and
rounded. _Abdomen_, oval, shortened. _Wings_, slightly smoky.
_Vide_ fig. 1.

M.--Size of the worker; black. _Abdomen_ oval, elongate. _Sexual
parts_, testaceous. _Thighs_, black; whitish at their base and
extremity. _Legs_ and _tarsi_, pale. _Scale_, moderately thick,
emarginate. _Wings_, extremely diaphanous. _Vide_ fig. 3.

_Apterous female._ Blood-red. Anterior part of the _thorax_,
reddish brown. _Scutellum_, projecting, rounded. _Scale_, thick,
oval entire, much resembling the female of the Rufescent Ant, (_F.
Roussâtre_) and equally large. _Vide_ fig. 4.

+The Sanguine Ant+,

(_F. Sanguinea_, Lat.)

F.--Blood-red. _Eyes_ and _abdomen_, black. Upper part of the
_head_, slightly tinged with black. _Scale_, oval, less emarginate
than in the worker. _Wings_, strongly smoky towards their base.
_Vide_ fig. 5.

M.--Black. _Feet_, reddish. _Wings_, smoky black towards their
base. _Scale_, emarginate. _Vide_ fig. 7.

W.--Like the female, but the _head_ of a deeper red; and the
_thorax_ more contracted. _Vide_ fig. 6.

+Jurine.+

_M. Latreille only describes the worker, and in the following
terms._ Of a blood-red. _Eyes_ and _abdomen_, black; very small
_ocelli_. _Scale_ oval, slightly emarginate.

FINIS.

Printed by A. and R. Spottiswoode,
Printers-Street, London.

Transcriber’s Notes

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