Formicide

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

in entomology, a genus of aculeate Hymenoptera, tribe or subtribe Heterogyna. The abortive females are wingless, the basal joint of the antennæ in the females and neuters is long and elbowed; the upper lip lip of the neuters, large, horny, and perpendicular, the first or second joint of the abdomen knotted. In many species the females and neuters have stings. They are generally social insects living in communities, consisting of males, females, and neuters. The chief genera are Formica, Polyergus, Ponera, Myrmica, and Atta. Formica and Myrmica have representatives widely distributed. FORMOSA (Chinese Tai-Wan, or "Terrace Bay"), an island in the Chinese Sea, belonging to Japan; about 80 miles from the Chinese coast, from which it is separated by the Channel of Foh-kien (sometimes called Strait of Formosa), and 170 miles N. of Luzon, the chief of the Philippine Islands; length, N. to S. about 250 miles; breadth, in its center, about 80 miles; area estimated at 13,300 square miles. A chain of mountains runs through the island in its entire length, forming, in general, the barrier between the Chinese on the W., and the independent natives of th unexplored country on the E. side. On many of its peaks snow remains during the most of the summer. It exhibits distinct evidence of former volcanic action, and sulphur, naphtha, and other volcanic products are abundant. Some parts of the coast present bold headlands; but all of the W. shore is flat, and surrounded with rocks and shoals. Its harbors, which were formerly good, have now become nearly useless, owing to the encroachments of the land upon the sea. Ke-lung, at its N. extremity, is the only good port. Soil, highly fertile and productive. All the large plain of the S. resembles a vast cultivated garden. The principal productions are rice, sugar, camphor, tobacco, wheat, maize, millet, truffles, vegetables, and the choicest of Asiatic and European fruits; pepper, aloes, green tea, cotton, hemp, and silk are also important articles of cultivation. The leopard, tiger, wolf, etc., are found in the more impenetrable tracts of the interior; the domestic breeds of animals, game, etc., are abundant. The chief mineral deposits its are salt and sulphur. The trade is mostly in the hands of Chinese and British merchants, who also own all the shipping. The principal article of import is opium. The natives bear no resemblance to the Chinese; but they have an apparent alliance with the Malay or Polynesian race. The Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch have been successively masters of this island. The latter were in 1662 expelled by the Chinese, and the former reoccupied it after the Chinese-Japanese War, in 1895. Pop. about 3,700,000, including resident Japanese citizens and soldiers. Capital, Taiwan City. Pop. 54,000.