Jeanette Wheeler

A preliminary list of the ants of Florida

A list is given of ants known to occur in Florida. Except for widespread species the known distribution by counties is recorded. Species which require further study are listed in an appendix. This list is preliminary to a book which will treat fully the ant fauna of the state.

The Larva of Leptanilla Japonica, With Notes on the Genus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptanillinae)

We have previously described (1965) the larvae of three species of Leptanilla: revelierei Emery, swani Wheeler and esheri (Kutter). Now, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Keiichi Masuko, we are able to describe the fourth. We do not ordinarily describe and illustrate fully the larva of more than one species of a genus, but Leptanilla larvae are so extraordinary that we consider it advisable to describe as many species as possible. Perhaps by so doing we can convince skeptics (including us) that such creatures actually exist. Dr. Masuko has not only provided us with specimens but also with his manuscripts, from which we quote briefly (with his permission). Dr. Masuko is the only myrmecologist who has seen living Leptanilla larvae. Furthermore, his observations necessitate changes in our previous descriptions. Hence we will begin with a complete revision of our generic characterization, which is also a characterization of the subfamily.

The ant larvae of the subfamily Formicinae. Part II.

Sausage-shaped; slightly curved ventrally; terete; diameter nearly uniform, greatest at the fourth abdominal somite, diminishing slightly toward either end. Head on the anterior end.; no neck. Anus posteroventral. Segmentation indistinct. Integumentary spinules coarse and isolated or in short rows. Body hairs very few, minute, simple, acute. Cranium subtrapezoidal in anterior view, slightly narrowed ventrally, dorsal corners broadly rounded. Antennae minute. Head hairs few, very short, simple, acute. Labrum small, bilobed, with only two hairs on the anterior surface. Mandibles very small and feebly sclerotized; basal three-fifths broad and subtrapezoidal in anterior view; apical two-fifths forming a long straight slender sharp-pointed conical tooth; ridges few. Maxillae broad and apparently adnate; integument granular; palp a very small skewed peg; galea a very small knob. Labium a small frustrum; palp a very small irregular projection; opening of sericteries narrow and salient.

A Checklist of the Ants of Montana

The history of myrmecology in Montana probably began in 1913 with Wheeler’s description of Formica subpolita from Helena and 1914 when he described a new species, Manica hunterifrom Gallatin County. A considerable hiatus ensued until 1932 when Cole recorded Pogonomyrmex occidentalis from Custer County. In 1973 Borchert and Anderson published a thorough ecological analysis of the ants of the Bearpaw Mountains, one of the small ranges, which is mostly in Hill County. Thirty-three species were reported. In 1984 Youngs and Campbell published the results of a study of ants preying upon the western spruce budworm near the western border. They reported 4 species of Camponotus and 7 species of Formica from 3 localities in Missoula County and one in Sanders County, but they failed to indicate which species was taken in which locality. These records are indicated by YC. Six other authors have contributed a few records each. From Wing we got four records as spots on maps. D. R. Smith contributed three species for the whole state. Five records are represented by gifts of specimens from Creighton. Finally we are greatly indebted to Roy R. Snelling for sending us 63 additional records based on specimens in the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. During the summers of 1956, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1965, while we were still at the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks), we made seven field trips into Montana to observe and collect ants in 32 of the 56 counties. These expeditions yielded a total of 151 records in 64 species. (A record is a species in a locality.) From all these records we extracted a list of 76 species of ants for the state of Montana.

Supplementary studies on ant larvae: Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Genus LASIUS Mayr Lasius sitkaensis Pergande Akre and Hill 1973. The pselaphid beetle Adranes taylori Wickham possesses trichomes (tufts of golden hairs) on the abdomen, tips of elytra and venter. These trichomes are highly attractive to half-grown or smaller ant larvae, less so to larger larvae and workers. The beetles are fed by the larvae through trophallaxis and obtain other nutrients by feeding on dead larvae and workers. Beetles are often seen walking about with larvae actively holding on to the trichomes with their mouthparts; Fig. 4 (p. 53 1) shows a larva so attached.

Young Larvae of Veromessor Pergandei(Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Time was when it seemed every myrmecologist wanted to work on Veromessor pergandei, but we can find no mention of it in the last eight years of Zoological Record. When we lived with it in Death Valley and southern Nevada it became one of our favorite ants.

The Larva of Acanthognathus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

In 1953 Brown divided the tribe Dacetini into four subtribes: Dacetiti, Orectognathi, Epopostrumiti and Strumigenitio. After studying the larvae of eight dacetine genera (Daceton, Orectognathus, Epopostruma, Mesostruma, Alistruma, Clarkistruma, Strumigenys and Smithistruma) representing all four subtribes, we concluded (1954) that the larval similarities and differences confirmed the grouping of the adults. But now, alas, our study of the larva of Acanthognathus forces us to revise our conclusion.