. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS BANKS. 77 willow blossoms, will furnish many valuable species, which are not seen again during the rest of the season. Myrmeeopliilous and Termitopldlous species.—The early spring is also the best time for collecting the Myrmecophilous and Termitoph- ilous Coleoptera. Termitophilous species have in North America hitherto been found only in connection with the white ants (Termes flavipes), and the inquilinous beetles are found running among the white ants in the colonies under stones, loose bark of trees, and
. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS BANKS. 77 willow blossoms, will furnish many valuable species, which are not seen again during the rest of the season. Myrmeeopliilous and Termitopldlous species.—The early spring is also the best time for collecting the Myrmecophilous and Termitoph- ilous Coleoptera. Termitophilous species have in North America hitherto been found only in connection with the white ants (Termes flavipes), and the inquilinous beetles are found running among the white ants in the colonies under stones, loose bark of trees, and more numerously in the interior of old infested trees. Myrmecophilous Coleoptera are by far more numerous in species than the Termitoph- ilous species and are found among many species of ants which have their nests either under stones or loose bark of trees, in stumps or logs, or which construct larger or smaller hills. Upon uncovering a colony of ants under a stone, the underside of the latter as well as the gal- leries of the ants in the ground should be carefully examined for inquilines, which from their greater or slighter resemblance to the ants are liable to be overlooked by an inexperienced collector. If such colony of ants harbors a rare beetle the subterranean part of the colony itself should be dug out and sifted, but since from the stony nature of the ground this is not always practi- cable it is to be recommended to carefully replace the stone under which the colony has been found. Upon revisiting the spot again the next day or even a few hours after the first visit additional specimens of the inquilines are usually to be obtained on the stone or in the FlG- 120-~A l°ngicorn bee- ;;..... „, . ,.. TLE, Saperda cretata. superficial galleries or the ants. Ant colonies in hollow trees and in rotten logs should be sifted and there is no par- ticular difliculty connected with this operation. Owing to the pug- nacious character of the hill-constructing ants it would
Size: 1537px × 1625px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorun, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectscience
