296 A BOOK OF INSECTS 



they bestow upon their own young. Certain species of 

 beetles are never found except in association with ants. 

 Some, such as Claviger testaceus, are totally blind and 

 are incapable of feeding themselves. When deprived of 

 ant-assistance they die, even though surrounded by food. 

 Such cases of symbiosis, or mutual benefit, are well 

 authenticated. On the other hand, many insects which 

 frequent ants' nests must undoubtedly be set down as 

 robbers. They kill and devour the ants' larvae and pupae, 

 and pilfer their food. Sometimes the theft is effected in 

 a most barefaced manner. The French entomologist 

 Janet has described the way in which a species of " silver 

 fish " (Lepismina) takes food from the very mouths of 

 ants which are in the act of feeding one another. When 

 workers, filled with nectar or other juices, return to the 

 nest, they are solicited for food by those that have re- 

 mained at home ; and as a forager and a nurse stand face 

 to face, the former disgorges a small drop of liquid which 

 is seized by the latter. While a pair of ants are thus 

 engaged, the Lepismina rushes in, grabs the drop, and 

 hurries with it to a hiding-place. Needless to add, these 

 interlopers are constantly chased by the ants from one 

 corner of the nest to another. 



The relationships which exist between ants and plant- 

 lice or aphides are very interesting. Reference has already 

 been made to the fact that these insects are habitually 

 visited by ants, which feed upon their secretions : but the 

 matter does not end here. Some ants take great care of 

 the aphides, protecting them from the assaults of enemies, 

 and in certain instances erecting over them sheds of mud, 

 which are reached through covered passages. Further, 

 ants are known to collect the eggs of aphides in the 

 autumn and carefully preserve them in their nests through- 

 out the winter ; while in the case of the small yellow ant 



