534 



that drips upon the leaves and branches of infested plants. This 

 honeydew is devoured by bees, wasps, and ants. It is commonly 

 believed that ants destroy plant lice, but the contrary is the fact. 

 Ants treat and regard plant lice as milch cows. Ants have been 

 observed to approach a plant louse, place its antennae on its back,. 



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Plant louse in act of feeding. 

 (After Lugger.) 



stroking it gently, when the louse will give forth its honeydew,. 

 which the ant will immediately drink up. The ants take good care 

 of the lice, and will transport them to new pastures when old ones 

 fail, thus aiding greatly in their distribution. 



Plant lice obtain their sustenance by sucking the juices of 

 plants, by inserting their proboscis in woody plants, in the tender 

 terminal growths, peduncles of roses, etc., and in the succulent parts 

 of plants and roots. While the amount taken by an individual is 

 almost infinitesimal, their immense numbers often cause most serious 

 injury to the plant they infest, and sometimes its destruction. 



