436 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



These hooks are of enormous comparative size, each of them, if 

 straightened, being about half as long as the entire body. 



There are many species of Polyrachis, nearly all of which are 

 black. There is, however, an exception in one of the species 

 from Sarawak, which has the thorax and abdomen banded 

 with yellow. 



Kic. 223. — M jTmecocystus Mexicanus. 

 (Reddish brown.) 



Until lately it was thought that the only honey-makers 

 were tlie bees, and no one would have been bold enough to 



say that honey could be ob- 

 tained from any other in- 

 sects. Yet we now know 

 that there are honey-mak- 

 ing wasps, building cells 

 which are as capable of 

 holding the liquid sweets as 

 those of the bee ; and here 

 we have an example of an 

 Ant, which not only makes 

 honey, but stores it in a 

 way which I believe to be 

 unique. The bee and the 

 wasp store the honey in 

 cells composed of materials 

 which will resist its action, but the Ants actually store the 

 honey in their own bodies. This is done in a very remarkable 

 manner. 



Certain of the workers are set aside for this purpose, and are 

 bitten at the end of the abdomen. The bite causes an inflam- 

 mation, the result of which is that the passages of the body are 

 entirely closed. These insects are then perpetually fed with 

 honey, none of which can escape, and the result is that their 

 bodies swell to an enormous extent, assuming the shape which 

 is shown in the illustration. This form is caused by the 

 distension of the membrane between the segments. How great 

 is the distension may be seen by reference to the illustration, 

 the dark portions representing the segments, and the remainder 

 the membrane. 



These Ants are natives of Mexico, where they are very 

 common, being popularly known either as "hormigas raieleras," 



