FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



the species has learned the trick of keeping servants 

 ("slaves"). The pupae of some species are enclosed in 

 cocoons (the "ant's eggs" of commerce); those of others 

 are naked. 



Ants may be kept alive as pets. To do this, be sure that 

 you secure a queen; many workers to take care of things 

 are not required and, in fact, an unattended queen will 

 often rear attendants, especially if she be young and 

 fertile. Things go more smoothly if the workers have 

 eggs, larvae, and pupae to start with. The simplest 

 formicarium is a goblet set in a pan of water; in this case 

 considerable earth is necessary and one can not well see 

 what is going on. Janet used a plaster box much like the 

 one described on p. 16 except that he had several com- 

 municating chambers; three covers are desirable: a glass 

 one having a hole over each chamber (not strictly neces- 

 sary), pieces of glass to cover each of these holes, and an 

 opaque cover to all but one chamber (the feeding one). 

 The Fielde nest is made from two pieces of glass, one for 

 top and one for bottom ; the walls are made from strips of 

 glass (laid flat) or of heavy toweling, the feeding door 

 being a plug of cotton; there should be an opaque cover 

 for top and bottom of all but the feeding chamber; moisture 

 is supplied by wetting a slice of sponge in the feeding 

 chamber. A little soil (or rotten wood) may be put in the 

 Janet nest and should be in the Fielde nest. Feed sugar, 

 bits of meat, fruit, or something of the sort. 



The habits of ants are both interesting and diversified. 

 Of the many books devoted wholly, or in large part, to 

 them, by far the best is Prof. W. M. Wheeler's, published 

 by the Columbia University Press under the title of Ants: 

 Their Structure, Development, and Behavior. The following 

 key to the principal genera of our region refers only to 

 workers and, since it does not include all of the genera, no 

 surprise need be felt if all of your specimens do not fit. I 

 hope they will not fit in the wrong place. Following it 

 are a few notes to serve as starters. The key and notes 

 are largely extracts from Wheeler's chapter in the Hymen- 

 optera of Connecticut. 



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