Eciton vagans

Smith, Frederick, 1855, Descriptions of some species of Brazilian ants belonging to the genera Pseudomyrma, Eciton and Myrmica (with observations on their economy by Mr. H. W. Bates), Transactions of the Entomological Society of London (2) 3, pp. 156-169 : 162

Sp. 2. Eciton vagans .

Formica vagans, Oliv . Ency. Meth., vi. 501.

Worker.-Length 4-5 lines. Entirely opaque, reddish brown ; some individuals have the head and thorax blackish brown ; the mandibles as in E. hamata ; the head has, on each side behind, a short bent tooth, and a central impressed line running from the insertion of the antennae and nearly extending to the vertex ; the eyes larger than in E. hamata , the thorax of the same form as in that species : the first node of the abdomen has a short acute spine beneath, curving backwards, the second has also a minute spine pointing forwards; the abdomen concolorous with the head and thorax ; but sometimes fulvous.

Worker (minor).-3 lines. Has the head of a different form to the larger worker, being oblong and rounded at the angles ; the spines behind very small; the mandibles small, curved, and very broad at their apex, the inner edge very finely serrated ; the thorax similarly formed to that of the larger worker; the articulations of the legs pale, the tarsi palest. Abdomen pale reddish yellow, the nodes having sharp spines beneath, as in the large worker.

This species appears to be equally abundant as the former, but has been Hitherto confounded with it.