353 



they probablj suffer severe loss. Under such circumstances, 

 we find them bringing great piles of the brood to the surface, 

 and depositing it just l)eneath the stones or other ol)jects, 

 where it may be easily destroyed by further floods. 



When thus set-to to save their lu'ood, the ants make use of 

 any structure aliove gi-ound ; hence, we find them doing con- 

 siderable damage in un])i"()tected apiaries"'"' (hiring the rainy 

 season. At this time every hive has a thriving colony of ants 

 beneath it, and, as the soil becomes saturated, they try to 

 move inside. They build covered rimways, of soil and bits 

 of trash, connecting their nest with the opening to the hive, 

 and thus effect an entrance without apparent remonstrance on 

 the part of the bees. The ants then begin their attack by 

 catching the bees along the edges of the combs, but with each 

 success their nund)ers increase, until they literally cover every 

 square inch of space within the hive, and the remaining bees 

 are compelled to flee for safety. Wlien the swarm has been 

 thus gotten rid of, the ants devote their attention to the de- 

 struction of the larval ])ees, and often move ])art of their nest 

 into the hive. 



In such an onslaught it is the small workers who rush in 

 from all sides, seizing legs and wings of the prey ; l)ut they 

 are soon assisted by the soldiers, who not only help to hold 

 the struggling insect, but also offer most effective service in 

 dismembering it with their po^verful jaws, and, in l)iting it 

 up into pieces of such size that they can be easily carried by 

 the workers. The soldiers apparently disdain any other duties 

 than these, for they have not been observed either cai-rying 

 food, or assisting in the removal of brood in the suddenly 

 opened nest. In the regular file of workers, struggling under 

 their heavy loads, these big-headed fellows march along empty 

 handed. They have an inquisitive way of rushing up to each 

 worker that they meet and touching antennae for an instant 

 before ])assing. Furthei-more, the workers do all the foraging 

 — a great excess of soldiers being usually found in the nest, 

 MS if waitino- for a "call to arms". As soon as a new food 



* Methods for the protection of bees discussed under control 

 measures. 



