WARRIOR ANTS, AND THEIR EQUIPMENT 



The above forms substantially what is the piercing 

 mechanism of the harvesting ant's sting. 1 But the 

 ant warrior does not depend upon the simple thrust of 

 its lance to place its antagonist out of action. The 

 poisoned arrows and the chemical projectiles of human 

 warriors have also their representatives in the equip- 

 ment of emmet soldiers. Situated above the stinging 

 mechanism, and communicating therewith by a conduit, 

 is the poison sac with its included gland. Herein is 

 secreted a virulent acid which, being forced by muscular 

 pressure into the hollow prickles, is carried down and 

 into the incision made by the point, perhaps through 

 an orifice in the barbs. 



Associated with this is the accessory organ or oil sac, 

 located also just above the sting-bow. Its duct, through 

 which issues an oilv secretion, enters the throat of the 



/ 



sting-case close beside the opening of the conduit of the 

 poison sac. Both ducts pass for some distance into 

 the case, separated only by a delicate chitinous fold, 

 finally to terminate together. The oily secretion, min- 

 gling with the acid poison, probably tends to distribute 

 it over a larger surface, with corresponding ability to 

 injure; and may add to its power to adhere to and pene- 

 trate the attacked surface. Perhaps, also, it serves as a 

 lubricant to the sting. 



In a large number of ant genera, including many with 

 which we are most familiar, as Formica, Lasius, and 

 Camponotus, the stinging organs are rudimentary; that 

 is, they are without the sting proper. They have no 

 lance or arrow to thrust into their foes. Their stinging 



1 A more detailed description would be out of place here, but 

 special students will find a complete histological description in 

 the author's Agricultural Ant of Texas, pp. 171-102 and plates. 



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