Dorymyrmex pyramicus, Roger

Forel, A., 1893, Formicides de l'Antille St. Vincent. Récoltées par Mons. H. H. Smith., Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1893, pp. 333-418 : 352

Dorymyrmex pyramicus, Roger

(No. 52 a a 52 e). [[ worker ]] et [[ male ]].

(52). Pretty common on the windward side, and near the southern end of the island; above the seashore, or on slopes near it. Rarely on the leeward side. The formicarium is generally in sandy soil, where the sand is supported by roots of grass, & c. It is without shelter, opening on the surface of the ground ' by a small perpendicular tunnel; about this there is generally a small mound of loose sand, & c, not over an inch high, and four inches in diameter. The nest proper is about a foot below the surface, and probably goes deeper, as I have not yet obtained the female; it appears to consist of a few passages, not more than half an inch in diameter, horizontal, or nearly so, and without larger chambers. In these passages I have found larvae and males with the workers. The communities apparently are small, having, one or two hundred workers; but several tunnels are generally found near each other, and these may belong to a common, larger, and deeper nest. The workers and males are active; the latter do not fly when the nest is opened, so far as I have observed. Workers are sometimes found on bushes near the seashore.

(52 a). Near Brighton Estate (southern end of the island). Nov. 17 th. Dry hill-sides, below 300 ft., overlooking flats by the sea; in roads, scrubby growth, rather hard ground; at the mouths of perpendicular tunnels..

(52 b). Not noted; apparently an immature specimen of this species.

(52 c). Leeward; seashore thickets at Wallibou. Oct. 8 th. Beaten from bushes.

(52 d). Windward; seashore, at back of the open sands; Grand Sable Estate. Jan. 3 rd. From two nests in sandy ground, supported by roots.

(52 e). Sandy, open valley of the Dry River; windward, near the sea. Jan. 2 nd. From several nests, as described above.