INSECTS. 139 



former consist of many facets differing in different spe- 

 cies. They live in communities of often 500,000. Both 

 males and females are winged, while a third and wing- 

 less kind are called workers. These have the care of 

 the young, and are builders. In some ants the neuters 

 or workers have powerful jaws and are called soldiers, 

 defending the family. During the summer the males 

 and females leave the nest and fly away, soon losing 

 their wings. The females are taken by workers to form 

 new nests and become queens. They live seven or eight 

 years. 



Foraging" Ants. In South America the Ecitons are 

 greatly dreaded. They march against other ants, and car- 

 ry away their larvae (Fig. 174) and pupae to bring them up 

 as slaves. In the CEcodoma the nest is of enormous dimen- 

 sions, extending one hundred feet or more beneath the 

 ground. They cut leaves from trees to thatch their nests. 

 The leaves are also used to encourage the growth of fungi 



FIG. 175. Living bottles honey-ants expanded with honey. 



upon which the young are fed. They tunnel under rivers, 

 as the broad Paraiba of Brazil, a fact proved by forcing 

 smoke through the tunnel. 



Agricultural Ants. The agricultural ants of Texas 



