178 Chapter IV. 



of Lomechusa strumosa in normal sanguinea-colonies 

 only those larvae escape destruction, which, after hav- 

 ing been imbedded in their little cave, are forgotten 

 by the ants; all the rest are hopelessly doomed; of 

 100 larvae, therefore, at most about 10 reach the stage 

 of imago, sometimes scarcely one. For instance in 

 the observation nest illustrated on p. 23 in May, 1896, 

 about 150 Lomechusa-larvae, the offspring of 10 

 Lomechusas, were reared under the most favorable 

 conditions both of nutrition and temperature ; from 

 these 150 larvae I obtained one single Lomechusa! 



For thousands of years and in thousands of normal 

 colonies F. sanguined year after year repeat the same 

 senseless performance: first, with the greatest 

 devotedness they nurse the Lomechusa-larvae, even 

 allowing their own offspring to be devoured by them ; 

 then, their stupid affection does not allow them to 

 leave the larvae in peace during the time of pupation,, 

 and finally they devour the pupae. They cannot see 

 that during their pupation Lomechusa-larvae are to 

 be treated differently from those of ants; but this is 

 their salvation ; for otherwise their care of the Lome- 

 chusas would long ago have brought about the ruin 

 of their own race. One and the same superior Wis- 

 dom has designed, that on the one hand the increase 

 of the ants be checked by their inconsiderate love for 

 Lomechusa strumosa and for their larvae, and that on 

 the other hand the spread of this beetle be kept within 

 limits by the very same unreasonable affection of the 

 ants. By these means so gentle and yet so effective, 

 Divine Wisdom is able to maintain the equilibrium in 

 nature. In the face of such phenomena, the defenders 



