Social Insects. 



27 



generally known, however, that the ants do more, and show an 

 exceptional intelligence in carrying- the eggs of the plant-lice in 

 antiiinn into their own formicaries, bringing them together in 

 little heaps and taking every precaution to preserve them through 

 the winter These eggs are carried back in spring to the plant 

 upon which tiie particular Aphidid is nourished. There are, 

 moreover, a number of other insects which the ants foster in 

 their homes and from which they obtain coveted secretions; so 

 that they may be said to utilize various kinds of cattle. 



Early Stages of Ants. — The transformations of ants are 

 similar to those of other social Ilymenoptera where the young 

 are fed and cared for by the workers or nurses. The eggs are, 

 as a rule, deposited by what may be called queens, i. e., by fe- 

 males more highly fed and developed than the rest, and devoted 

 solely to the propagation of the species. It has also been noted 

 that, in an emergency, where the females have perished, eggs 

 may be deposited by the workers, as in the case of the Hive 

 Bee, and also, as in that case, that these unfertilized eggs pro- 

 duce males only. 



I'lG. 6.— Development ok Kokmica riii-a : a, larva, lateral ; (!>,do., veutral view ; 

 pupa ; d, cocoou — enlarged, the outlines showinn; natural size. (After Ualton.) 



The eggs are yellowish-white, ovoid or oblong-ovoid, very del- 

 icate in texture, and require from two to three weeks, or longer, 

 for hatching, according to seasonal conditions. The larvi\3 are soft, 

 white, legless grubs, having no eyes and being perfectly helpless. 

 The small head is curved down on the breast and provided with 

 but rudimentary mandibles. There is at first no apparent dif- 

 ference between the larvfe destined to produce the different kinds 

 of individuals, but the growth of those destined to become wor- 

 kers suddenly ceases, whereas that of those destined to become 

 perfect females, continues. As in the case of the larva} of the 

 bee, the workers are therefore but arrested or undeveloped females, 

 and there is every reason to believe that the ultimate organiza- 



