xxxiii, '22] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 173 



dated with the brown garden ant (I.asius ni</cr Linn. var. 

 americouns Emery) wliich had mined tunnels along all of the 

 roots on which the mealy bugs were feeding. December 13 

 was the last fall date when any were found on the roots, and 

 not until early in March did they again appear on the roots. 

 By the last of March they were easily found within an inch 

 of the surface and during the first week in May they began to 

 produce young, which within a few hours' time deserted the 

 subterranean life to pass the first larval stage, and in some 

 cases the second larval stage, on the stems and leaves. Con- 

 tinual search throughout the winter revealed the fact that all 

 of the adults had been collected by the ants and placed in spe- 

 cially constructed chambers from 10 inches to 12 inches below 

 the surface. As spring approached the ants replaced them on 

 the roots, bringing them nearer the surface as the weather be- 

 came warmer. Not only did the ants extend their numerous 

 tunnels along the roots of clover but sometimes included in 

 their tunnel system the roots of dandelion, plantain and blue 

 grass, on all of which the mealy bugs were found feeding. 

 Mr. P. R. Lowery informs me he found this same species on 

 sunflower roots. 



In order to more closely observe the relationship existing 

 between the ants and the mealy bugs three ant colonies, whose 

 nests were about the roots of clover, were transferred to the 

 insectary. The plants in two of the nests were then killed by 

 keeping them very closely clipped. In both instances the ants 

 tunneled to the living roots of surrounding clover plants, which 

 were not less than eight inches away, and transferred their 

 mealy bugs to the living roots. At the same time ten mealy 

 bugs were placed on the roots of a living clover plant, which 

 was then kept closely clipped. Although this dying plant was 

 entirely surrounded by living plants not over eight inches away, 

 all of the mealy bugs died with the dying plant. \ repetition 

 of this gave the same result and in both tests nothing but loose 

 earth was between the living and dying rooN. The mealy bui^ 

 have never been found unattended by ants and it seems they 

 have ceased foraging for themselves. ( )n the other hand, the 

 ants depend on the profuse honey dew as one of their chief 

 foods. 



