Prenolepis steinheili var. minuta, Forel, A., 1893

Forel, A., 1893, Formicides de l'Antille St. Vincent. Récoltées par Mons. H. H. Smith., Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1893, pp. 333-418 : 343-345

Var. minuta , n. var. (Nos. 19 a a 19 p).

[[ worker ]]. L. 1,8 a 2,1 mill. Tous les caracteres sont moins accentues, la couleur plus melee, ce qui le rend parfois difficile a distinguer do la guatemalensis v. antillana . Du resto comme la forme typique, mais moins pubescente, plus brunatre, avec les hanches, anneaux, femoraux, etc., d'un jaunatre plus fonce.

[[ queen ]] (v. minuta ). L. 3, 2 a, 4, 4 mill. Comme l'ouvriere. Ailes mediocrement enfumees de brun noitatre. Mesonotum pubescent ainsi que le pronotum et une partie des cotes du thorax. Plus foncee que l'ouvriere.

[[ male ]] (v. minuta ). L. 1, 6 a 2, 2 mill. Tout le corps court, trapu, surtout le thorax. Le metanotum est bien plus voute que chez le [[ male ]] des deux formes precedentes. Soies dressees sensiblement plus grossieres que chez la fulva et la guatemalensis (chez le [[ male ]] de ces dernieres especes, les soies sont beaucoup plus fines et plus pointues que chez l'ouvriere), d'un brun fonce. Couleur de l'ouvriere; hanches et anneaux femoraux tres-pales, thorax seulement un peu plus clair que la tete et l'abdomen (beaucoup plus clair chez la guatemalensis ). Les valvules genitales sont comme chez la guatemalensis r. antillana , mais les valvules exterieures sont beaucoup plus obtuses a l'extremite, plus courtes, on triangle a cotes tres inegaux (l'un des cotes a une convexite) et colorees en brun fonce.

St. Vincent.

(19). A common species in open places below 500 ft. The formicarium is of moderate size, under a stone or log, or in a rotten stump. The passages are irregular, about 1 / 3 in. in diameter, and several inches long; they are formed of bits of sand or rubbish loosely cemented together to form an arcade on the lower side of the stone or log. If the nest is in a stump, these galleries are on the inner surface of the bark, and they may communicate with other passages in the rotten wood. Where the wood furnishes a sufficient wall, there is no artificial one. Sometimes the arcade widens to an inch or more, forming a covered chamber. These passages somewhat resemble those made by termites, but are not so strong. The ants ar « rather active, moving about fussily when disturbed.

(19 a). Richmond Estate (leeward). Open valley near sea-level. Oct. 31 st. The specimens are from two nests under logs. A single female was found in one nest, several males in another.

(19 b). Southern end of the island; thicket near the sea. A small nest under a block of coral. Oct. 14 th.

(19 c). Cumberland Valley (leeward); open hill-side, 500 ft. Small nest among dead leaves under a stone. Oct. 10 th.

(19 d). Open dry hill-side near Kingstown, 250 ft. above sea. Nest under a log (only workers seen). Oct. 15 th.

(19 e). Cumberland Valley. ' Small nest under a stone; open place near the river, not far from the sea. Oct. 10 th.

(19 f). Golden Grove Estate (leeward). Open place, 300 ft. above sea. Formicarium under a stone (only workers seen).

(19 g). Fitz-Hugh Valley (leeward), 500 ft. Nov. 3 rd. Second growth, under bark of a rotten log. The colony contained about 200 individuals, with many larvae, but no female was found. Two chambers were excavated under the bark, each about 1 1 / 2 x 3 / 4 in.

(19 h). Fitz-Hugh Valley, 500 ft.; second growth. Nov. 3 rd. A rather small colony at the roots of grass on a rock. No walled passages were observed in this nest, but only tunnels in the sod.

(19 i). Wallilobo Valley (leeward), 500 ft.; forest. A rather small colony in rotten wood. Two chambers were uncovered, each about 1 1 / 2 x 3 / 4 in. Nov. 8 th.

(19 j). Villa Estate; southern end of the island; thickets near sea-shore. A small nest under a stone.

(19 k). Camden Park Estate, leeward side north of Kingstown. Nov. 20 th. Seashore under a log. Three females, referred to this species, found without workers.

(19 l). Petit Bordelle Valley, 1200 ft. Shady place near stream, in rotten wood. Nov. 13 th. The formicarium consisted apparently of a single. chamber, about 2 in. long, 3 / 4 in. wide, and 1 / 2 in. high, with a short entrance passage. The females (winged) are more active than the workers, running quickly to shelter when disturbed; the males are also active.

(19 m). Old Botanical Garden, near Kingstown, 500 ft. Oct. 22 nd. On foliage, morning. Males doubtfully referred to this species.

(19 n). Windward side, near the Dry River; bank by seashore. Nest under a stone, excavated to a depth of 3 in., with two small chambers. Jan. 3 rd. Community of about 300.

(19 o). Windward; open land near seashore at Robocca. Jan 2 nd. From two nests, under stones.

(19 p). Windward, seashore thicket, Grand Sable. Jan, 3 rd. Community of about 250, under sod on a rock.