THE GUESTS OP ANTS AND TERMITES. 73 



former protects its owners from the attacks of Insectivora on accomit 

 of their resemblance to warrior ants, and is also to be found in other 

 species besides the true guests, ejf., Clems fonnicanus and the large 

 tropical Cicindelidae of the genera Trycondijla, Myrmecoptera, &c. As 

 a rule this kind of mimicry is only found in animals that live in the 

 neighbourhood of ants' nests — species of bugs of the genera Srjstello- 

 nottis, Alydtis, Xabis, Mijrmecoris, &c., are examples. These latter are, 

 in many cases, ant-robbers, and draw a twofold advantage from their 

 dwelling-place, i.e., of protecting themselves from their enemies, and 

 of having easy access to their prey. A third kind of mimicry exists, 

 the purpose of which is to deceive the ants themselves, ant mimicry, in 

 fact, in the true sense of the word. This kind of mimicry is only 

 found in the true ant guests, and is consequently a trustworthy 

 character by which to recognise them. This third kind of mimicry varies 

 in connection with the host's powers of sight, whether they have well- 

 developed eyes or are nearly blind. In the case of well-developed sight 

 in the hosts, the mimicry, being intended principally to deceive the ■ 

 host's eyes, begins with a similarity of colour and reaches perfection 

 in the imitation of the structure of the host's body. This rests more 

 on deceptive reflections of light than on any real similarity of form, 

 which is explained by the fact that the eyes of the ants are not strong 

 enough to perceive shapes and forms. Louiechiisa strmnosa (pL, fig. 2), 

 occurring with the blood-red robber-ant {Fonnica sauf/mnea), gives us 

 one of the most beautiful examples of this kind of mimicry. A less 

 perfect example is seen in the glossy-black Mynnedonia funesta and 

 laticollh that live with the glossy-black ant, Lasius fnlUiinosm. It is 

 certainly not by chance that the most like this ant in colour of the six 

 species living with it is the one most often found. These examples 

 show that mimicry calculated to deceive the ant is found both in the 

 true guests (LoniecJiiisa) and in the hostile lodgers (MyrDicdonia). In 

 the former case it furthers the friendly intercourse between guest and 

 host, and in the latter it hides from the hostile watchfulness of the 

 host the rascal, whose size would otherwise make him noticeable, and 

 Avho now appears as a Avolf in sheep's clothing. This difference in the 

 mimicry of Lomechusa strumosa und Mynnedonia fanesta is explained by 

 the totally different intercourse between the two species and their 

 hosts. The similarity is more perfect in the Myrmedonia, because it 

 hides itself like a murderer in the nest, and only creeps up to isolated 

 ants, whereas the Loinechma is accustomed to live amongst the ants as 

 their spoilt pet. An isolated Lomechma has hardly any resemblance to 

 an ant, being much broader and plumper, but when it sits in the midst 

 of ants its resemblance is so illusive that it can hardly be found. The 

 light which is reflected from the concave sides of the thorax appears to 

 the eye like the narroAv back of the ant, and the rolled-up abdomen of 

 the beetle reflects the light in the same way as the rounded abdomen 

 of a fat ant. Such reflections of light would be useless in Mynnedonia 

 fimesta, as it is not in the habit of sitting in the midst of the ants. Its 

 mimicry limits itself to such items as are of advantage to an 

 isolated beetle, i.e., the glossy-black colour, narrow shape, and rolled- 

 up abdomen. This mimicry is intended to deceive the ants alone, as 

 when the Mynnedonia finds itself confronted by a stronger enemy it 

 protects itself in quite a different manner by rolling itself up and pre- 

 tending to be dead. It then looks like a small lump of earth. 



