XLIII. An Ant's Nest. 



Prepare an ant's nest (see Comstock's Insect Life, p. 279). 



1. Are all ants' nests alike? In what situations have you found 

 them ? 



2. Describe a nest. 



3. Describe the appearance of the different kinds of ants in a nest. 

 \\'hat is the duty of each kind? 



4. What are the white bodies seen in the nest? 



5. When have you seen winged ants? Try and find an ant ridding 

 itself of its wings. 



6. Make a collection of all kinds of ants you have seen. 



7. What relationship have you noticed between ants and aphids? 



8. \\ hat is the best way of ridding a room of ants ? 



XLIV. The House=FIy. 



1. Why are house-flies more abundant in September than in earl}^ 

 summer? 



2. Watch a fly feed. How does it take its food? As a solid or a 

 liquid? Does it make use of its feet while feeding? How? 



3. Determine the structure of its mouth. By pinching a fly's head 

 gently the mouth parts will protrude. Examine with a lens. Draw. 



4. Draw the house-fly while it is resting on a piece of paper. Name 

 the parts. 



5. Where do house-flies deposit their eggs? Observe the creatures 

 that hatch from the eggs. What are they called ? Find the next stage. 

 Preserve these in a box. \\'hat are these called ? 



6. Catch some of the flies that bite before rain. Are these house- 

 flies? Examine carefully, and look at mouth parts. 



7. Examine a fly's foot and try to account for its clinging to 

 ceiling. 



8. Collect other flies that frequent the house and determine the dif- 

 ference between them and the house-fly. 



XLV. The Currant Saw=FIy, 



1. Collect, draw and examine the leaves of the currant on which 

 are deposited the eggs of saw-fly. 



2. Note the location of the eggs on the leaves. 



3. Collect some of the adult insects and pin them in your collection. 



4. Determine the duration of (1) egg stage, (2) larval stage, (3) 

 pupal stage. 



5. Describe the mode of feeding of the larvae. 



