100 BRTTISH APHIDES. 



to undergo when cared for by the ants. They are 

 repeatedly licked over, and lubricated with a glutinous 

 fluid, and treated as if they were eggs of their own 

 species. 



Huber discovered that disputes often occur amongst 

 ants, as to the quiet possession of their pucerons. He 

 says that when the ants of one nest succeed in entering 

 the habitations of their neighbours, they purloin the 

 insects, which again are sometimes triumphantly 

 recovered by their original proprietors. 



Sir John Lubbock has also made some interesting 

 remarks on this subject of storing Aphis eggs, which 

 bear out in great measure the observations of Huber. 

 He finds that the English Lasius flavus collect their 

 eggs and store them for perhaps six months of winter. 

 In the spring these eggs hatch, and he noticed that 

 whilst some of the Aphides issued of themselves from 

 the ground and searched for their food ; the others were 

 taken by the ants and placed on suitable plants whereon 

 they throve. 



I have been unable to examine these Aphides, or 

 learn their species. They are described as differing 

 from the more common subterranean forms ; and 

 that generally they affect the axils of the common 

 daisy, Bellis per&rmis. " The ants build up a wall 

 of earth round and over them ; " presumably for 

 the same purposes as stated by Huber, viz. for ant- 

 runs. 



It is by no means easy to assign good reasons for 

 this storage of eggs. Inclemency of winter would 

 seem to have little to do with it ; for the eggs, it is 

 well known, will stand extreme cold ; and they are 

 covered by a natural varnish which is impervious to 

 rain. 



This opinion as to their hardihood does not however 

 accord with Sir John Lubbock's explanation, for he 

 Bays, "The eggs do not remain where they are laid, 

 where they would be exposed to the severity of the 

 weather. 





