5 



GENERAL BIOLOGY 



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

 when hatched, to feed openly (fig. 3711) 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 



