FLIES AND WASPS 287 



and coax or squeeze them into parting with some 

 of this larvae thread, to unite the ends of the leaves 

 together. 



In two of the nests I found a few wood aphis, 

 but was not sure if these were accidentally included 

 or were serving as " milch cows " for the ants, 

 who sometimes keep and feed the aphis, stroking 

 and " milking " them to gather the honey they 

 secrete. 



Plentiful in Angola is the tiny ant, which one 

 finds in food-stuffs in so many tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries. It has come to Madeira from 

 South America, and is causing havoc in this island, 

 and with the multiplication of ships and shipping 

 routes the distribution of this little ant promises to 

 become world-wide. The only way to keep food 

 free from them is to place it in the sunlight, which 

 they dread, or in dishes surrounded by water ; 

 and it is advisable in houses or permanent camps 

 to place the legs of dining-tables, food cupboards, 

 and meat safes in small dishes filled with paraffin, 

 for water under such circumstances may breed 

 mosquitoes or evaporate. 



Besides the house fly, which was numerous at 

 the coast towns, and the " Stomoxys," a biting fly 

 which resembles it, there was an old friend met 

 years ago elsewhere in Africa and christened the 

 :c suicide fly," though he really belongs to the bee 

 family. 



Very small and with no active offensive pro- 

 perties, this fly does not bite or sting, and his odour 

 when you crush him is aromatic rather than dis- 

 agreeable, but of all the obstinate little insects, 



