[^Exiracted from the Linnean Societt's Joubnal — ZooLoar, 

 vol. xiv.J 



Observations on the Habits of Ants, Bees, and "Wasps. — Part VI. 

 Ants. By Sir John Ltjbbock, Bart., M.P., E.E.S., P.L.S., 

 D.C.L., LL.D., Vice- Chancellor of the University of London. 



[Read February 6, 1879.] 



Ants. 



Plant-hairs and Fur preventative against Ants climbing. 



"When T first began keeping ants, I surrounded the nests by 

 moats of water. This acted well ; but the water required conti- 

 nually renewing, especially, of course, in summer, just when the 

 ants were most active. At length, however, in considering the 

 habits of ants and their relations to flowers, another plan sug- 

 gested itself to me. The hairs by which plants are clothed are of 

 various forms, and fulfil various functions. One is, I believe, to 

 prevent ants and other creeping insects from climbing up the 

 plants so as to obtain access to the flowers, and thus rob them of 

 their honey. 



It occurred to me, therefore, that instead of water I might use 

 fur arranged so that the hairs pointed downwards. This I have 

 found to answer perfectly ; and I mention it specially because 

 the same arrangement may be found practically useful in hot 

 climates. It is, of course, very possible that in hot countries the fur 

 might be open to objections which do not occur in England ; and, 

 again, the tropical species might be able to climb up the fur ; but 

 at any rate the experiment would be worth trying. 



Worlcers frequently fertile as well as Queens, hut produce 

 usually Males. 

 It is generally stated that among ants the queens only lay eggs. 

 This, however, is not correct. 



Denny* and Lespesf have shown that the workers also are 

 capable of producing eggs ; but the latter asserted that these 

 eggs never come to maturity. Porel, however, has proved J that 

 this is not the case, but that in some cases, at any rate, the eggs 

 do produce young. Dewitz even maintains § that the workers 



* Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 240. 

 t Ann. des Soi. Nat. 1863. 

 J Fourmis de la Suisse, p. 329. 

 § Zeit. f. wiss. Zool. vol. xiviii. p. 536. 

 LINN. JOtTKN. — ZOOIOGT, TOI. XIT. 46 



