CHAP. VII. 



INSECTS AND PLANTS. 



63 



which serves the ants as food. I he ants, which arc usually small 

 but provided with a virulent sting, swarm out and attack any 

 animal which handles the tree roughly and also the leaf-cutting 

 ants which attempt to strip the leaves. The relation between the 

 ants and these plants seems truly symbiotic although this has 

 been denied. The Oriental plants Mynnecodia, Hydnophytum and 

 Dischidia are well-known examples of plants which provide special 

 accommodation foi ants winch rush out and attack any disturber. 

 The thorns of the large-t horned Babul (Acacia latronum), common 

 in many parts of Madras, often contain nests of small ants 

 (Tapinoma indicum and Cremastogaster sp./. but no observations 

 seem to have been made regarding their exact relations with the 

 plant. Very possibly it will be found to be a case of symbiosis. 



I i' ■■ '■ I • Portii F leaf of Acacia simdra, showing anl attr; i til 



on base el leaf stalk. (< >riginal.) 



sundra, another tree common in Madras, has large gland.-. 

 which attract ants and which are situated on the basal parts of the 

 leaf-stalks. 



A few insects even cultivate plants for their own use and 

 amongst such insects in India we may specify the [pidas (Scoly- 

 tidse), or Shot-ho'e Borers, and some of the Termites. The sponge- 

 like comb made b\ these latter insects is well-known, being 

 frequently revealed during excavations or when a Termites' mound 

 is opened up. It is composed of vegetable matter which has turn 

 passed through the bod it's of the Termites several times until ever) 

 particle of nutritive value has been extracted, when it is built up 

 into combs whose size and structure are often characteristic "I the 

 particular species of builder and which provide a large surface in a 

 small bulk. I f examination be made of one of t he-, combs 

 extracted from a nest, its surface will be seen to be sprinkled ovei 

 with minute snowy-white globules, which are really small fungi 

 cultivated by the termites and eaten when they attain a proper size, 

 not being allowed to develop beyond this; but if the comb be 

 abandoned, this and several other fungi, normally kept within 

 bounds by the termites, will j;row luxuriantly. Other fungi, of 



