302 ZOOLOGY 



Animals cated animals and pets of various kinds, so the ants 

 with ants have associated with them a miscellaneous fauna, 

 known collectively as myrmecophiles (Greek for "ant 

 lovers "). A very common ant in temperate regions, 

 known as Lasius, nests under rocks. In the spring 

 and early summer, if we lift the rocks or stones scattered 

 on a hillside, we shall probably find the nests, and be 

 able to examine the more superficial galleries. We 

 shall see, not only the ants, but frequently numerous 

 small mealy bugs (Coccida) and plant lice (Apkidida), 

 which feed upon the roots of plants. The ants evi- 

 dently regard them as their property, for they seize 

 them with their jaws and hasten to carry them off to 

 passages underground. The fact is that these insects 

 secrete a sugary substance on which the ants feed ; 

 it is the same substance which, when produced by plant 

 lice living on trees, falls on the leaves and is recognized 

 as honey dew. The ants not only keep certain kinds 

 of coccids and aphids in their nests, but make excur- 

 sions to visit others which live on various plants above 

 ground. In tropical countries the best way to find 

 mealy bugs and scale insects (coccids) is to watch where 

 the ants are going. If these animals are thus useful 

 to the ants, how do the latter reciprocate ? Just as 

 man does in the case of his animals, they give pro- 

 tection. Many wasps and other insects feed upon 

 aphids and coccids, but should they enter an ants' 

 nest they would at once be attacked. The protection 

 above ground is not so complete, but collectors of 

 coccids know to their cost that they are likely to have 

 their hands attacked by stinging ants, while ants have 

 been seen to drive away wasps which were seeking to 

 provision their nests with aphids. 



Other creatures in the nests are scavengers, still 



