290 SOME NOXIOUS INSECTS. 



The Honey Ant makes its store vessels from the 

 bodies of the workers. 



First, it bites the end of the abdomen, thereby setting 

 up an inflammation, which closes the apertures of the 

 body. Then it feeds the maimed creature with honey, 

 pouring it into the mouth of the living honey-pot just as 

 the bee pours honey into its crop. This process is con- 

 tinually repeated until the body of the store ant is dis- 



tended to an astonishing size with honey, the skin being 

 stretched to such an extent that it is sufficiently trans- 

 parent to show the honey within. 



It cannot escape, for its body is so heavy that the 

 limbs are insufficient to carry it, and so it remains in 

 the nest until the honey is wanted. In Mexico these 

 ants are so plentiful that they form regular articles of 

 commerce, being sold by measure in the markets, and 



