224 



ELEMENTARY ZOOLOGY 



hatch in the spring before there are corn-roots for them 

 to feed on, the little brown ants with great solicitude 

 carefully place the plant-lice on the roots of a certain 

 kind of knot-weed which grows in the field and protect 

 them until the corn germinates. Then the ants remove 

 the plant-lice to the roots of the corn, their favorite food- 



FIG. 84. The little black ant, Monomorium mimitum; a, female, b, female 

 with wings, <r, male, </, workers, e, pupa, f. larva, g, egg of worker, 

 all enlarged. (From Marlatt.) 



plant. In the arid lands of New Mexico and Arizona the 

 ants rear scale insects on the roots of cactus. " 



The ants are among the most warlike of insects. 

 Battles between communities of different species are 

 numerous, and the victorious community takes possession 

 of the food-stores of the conquered. Some species of ants 

 live wholly by war and robbery. In the case of the 



