INSECT SOCIOLOGY 207 



ing extraordinary symbiotic relation between the red- 

 brown ant, Myrmica brevinodes, and the smaller Lepto- 

 thorax emersoni. The little Leptothorax ants live in the 

 Myrmica nests, building one or more chambers with en- 

 trances from the Myrmica galleries, so narrow that the 

 large Myrmicas cannot get through them. When need- 

 ing food the Leptothorax workers come into the Myr- 

 mica galleries and chambers and, climbing on the backs 

 of the Myrmica workers, proceed to lick the face and 

 the back of the head of each host. A Myrmica thus 

 treated, says Wheeler, 



paused, as if spellbound by this shampooing and occasionally folded 

 its antennae as if in sensuous enjoyment. The Lfptothorax after 

 licking the Myrmica s pate, moved its head round to the side and 

 began to lick the cheeks, mandibles, and labium of the Myrmica. 

 Such ardent osculation was not bestowed in vain, for a minute drop 

 of liquid evidently some of the recently imbibed sugar-water 

 appeared on the Myrmica s lower lip and was promptly lapped up 

 by the Leptothorax. The latter then dismounted, ran to another 

 Myrmica, climbed on its back, and repeated the very same perform- 

 ance. Again it took toll and passed on to still another Myrmica. 

 On looking about in the nest I observed that nearly all the Lepto- 

 thorax workers were similarly employed. 



Wheeler believes that the Leptothorax get food only in 

 this way. They feed their queen and larvae by regurgi- 

 tation. The Myrmicas seem not to resent at all the 

 presence of their Leptothorax guests, and indeed may 

 derive some benefit from the constant cleansing licking 

 of their bodies by the shampooers. But the Lfpto- 

 thorax workers are careful to keep their queen and young 

 in a separate chamber, not accessible to their hosts. 

 This is probably the part of wisdom, as the thoughtless 



