. Annual report - Entomological Society of Ontario. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects. Fig. 67, Female Wood Ant {Formica rula.) Fig. 68, A Neuter Leaf-cutting Ant (Eciton drepanophora.) of the females, being thickened to the tips, and elbowed ; they are always destitute of wings. They often consist of two forms : one with a large cubical head, or worker major, sometimes called a soldier, and the other the ordinary small-headed form, or worker. Fig. 69, Worker Major (Ectatomma ferruginea). Fig. 70, Worker Minor (Formica fid vacea). minor. The antennae of the male ants poss
. Annual report - Entomological Society of Ontario. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects. Fig. 67, Female Wood Ant {Formica rula.) Fig. 68, A Neuter Leaf-cutting Ant (Eciton drepanophora.) of the females, being thickened to the tips, and elbowed ; they are always destitute of wings. They often consist of two forms : one with a large cubical head, or worker major, sometimes called a soldier, and the other the ordinary small-headed form, or worker. Fig. 69, Worker Major (Ectatomma ferruginea). Fig. 70, Worker Minor (Formica fid vacea). minor. The antennae of the male ants possess thirteen joints each, and those of the female and neuter twelve each. The head, including jaws, is more or less triangular in shape, broader behind than the thorax in the neuters, but somewhat narrower in the males and females. The mandibles or large jaws of the females and neuters are larger than those of the males, and are frequently toothed or serrated, sometimes hooked or sickle- shaped. The abdomen of the male consists of seven joints or segments, and that of the female and neuter of six. The external sexual organs of the neuters correspond to those of the females, but the internal reproductive organs are wholly undeveloped. During the summer the winged males and females are produced in large numbers, and they soon leave the nest to take their "nuptial flight " in the air, in the course of which the females are impregnated. The function of the male ants having been thus performed, they die; the females, after impregnation, pull off their wings, and whilst in this some- what helpless condition are conveyed by the neuters to new situations, where they lay their eggs and become the founders of fresh colonies. Each fertile female or " queen " is carefully attended by a retinue of neuters, the latter, as we have seen, being simply females, whose sexual organs are undeveloped. The cause of this differentiation of sex, is probably owing to the nature of th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1872
