so 



GENERAL BIOLOGY 



the parasite, to remain where placed, and the fly larva, 

 when hatched, to feed openly (fig. T^jh) upon the aphids. 

 That their guardianship is often eluded may be seen on close 

 inspection of almost any aphid flock. 



3. The domestication of the aphids by ants. — This covers 

 at least two distinct sorts of activities on the part of the ants : 

 i) the building of shelters and enclosures about the aphid 



Fig. 38. Aphis shed on twig of dogwood ; photo of a specimen in the Cornell 

 University collection. 



flocks, and 2) the safeguarding of the development of individ- 

 ual aphids and the establishment of aphid colonies. 

 These are two well recognized functions of all animal hus- 

 bandry. 



Ant sheds are built usually near or on the ground about 

 compact colonies of aphids (or other honey dew secreting 



