LIBRARY

HYMENOPTERA 676
the members of each are about the same size. Head with the frontal carinre
close together or separated and in the latter case partially covering the insertions
of the antennre. Mandibles sometimes greatly enlarged, sharp, and curved.
Fore wings with cells rand m closed. Abdomen with single-segmented petiole
and a constriction between segments I and II of the gaster. Sting well developed.
Male genitalia partly retractile. Carnivorous adults feed the larvre with
Eaiton. ham.atum (FnbJ
FIG. 234. Soldiers of the driver or legionary ant, Eciton hamatum (Fab.). This remarkable
and ferocious ant is indigenous to the tropical forests of North and South America.
masticated insect remains. Pupre enclosed in cocoons. The nests are subterranean
and small, consisting of only 20 or 30 individuals.
The family is a small one and widely distributed but reaches its highest development
in the tropics and especially in Australia, which has 30 genera and
137 species (Tillyard 1925). The important genera are Cerapachys F. Smith
(tropical American), Myrmecia Emery (Au.stralian), Odontomachus Latr. (tropical
American), Ponera Latr. (cosmopolitan), and Proc:eratium Roger (tropical
American). .
The red bulldog ant, Myrmecia gulosa (Fab.), of Austtalia, a large red, yellow,
and black species in which the workers are 20 rom. and the queens 25 mm. long,