ARTHROPODS. CLASS INSECTS 129 



to the acquisition of food, which consists of the sweet 

 juices of plants, of other insects, or of leaves and seeds. 

 These may be fed at once, or placed in storehouses until 

 times of need. 



Certain species of ants make carefully planned attacks 

 upon other weaker forms. The young are carried off, at 

 times only after a prolonged and fierce struggle, and all 

 are soon eaten, or a few may be allowed to develop and act 

 as slaves. Some species are unable to exist without serv- 

 ants, which feed them, wash them, and otherwise minister 

 to their comfort. 



In some of their raids numerous plant-lice (delicate, 

 usually green, insects, such as occur on our household 

 plants) are often captured and carried into the nest. These 

 so-called " ant-cows " are carefully tended, and in return 

 yield up a tiny drop of a sugary fluid to the hungry ant 

 that solicits it. 



The eggs laid by the queen develop into white worm- 

 like creatures, which ordinarily spin cocoons when about to 

 become pupae. These are incorrectly called "ant-eggs." 

 Many, probably on account of insufficient nourishment, 

 never develop reproductive organs. They become the neu- 

 ters or workers. The winged royalty fly away from the 

 colony, pair and found homes of their own, and become 

 surrounded by a numerous progeny. 



126. The bees. Among the bees we find a considerable 

 number which lead solitary lives, excavating tunnels in 

 earth or wood, as in the case of many of the wasps, but, 

 unlike them, supplying the young with honey or pollen. 

 Others may constitute a band of worthless insects which 

 steal their food from their more industrious relations, in 

 whose nests they also secretly deposit their eggs, leaving the 

 young to be nourished with food rightly belonging to others. 



But it is with the social bees we are most familiar the 

 bumble- and honey-bees. The former usually build in the 

 ground, and form colonies consisting of the queen and from 



