Bees, Wasps and Hornets. 463 



by Eciton predator, and hamata in Nicaragua and Central 

 America. Birds and opossums flee in terror and frequently fall 

 victims to the determined onslaught. The devotion of ants to a 

 flesh diet and the rapidity with which they will clean the skeleton 

 from a carcase placed by their hills, even in northern latitudes, is 

 a fair index to the predatory habits of the more powerful and 

 poisonous tropical ants. 



The termites (white ant) which are not true ants at all, but 

 neuropterous insects resembling ants, are equally predatory. 



The Velvet Ant (Spherophthalma occidentalis) of Texas has 

 been called the cow-killer ant because of its sting, and has been 

 supposed to be very dangerous to live stock. 



In the case of all these venomous wounds by small animals 

 much depends on the latitude and season, the venom being more 

 abundant and probably more potent in the tropics and in the hot 

 .season ; on the size and vigor of the venomous assailant ; on the 

 numbers of the animals infecting ; and on the question of whether 

 it is the fir.st bite or .sting with much venom, or rapidly succeed- 

 ing ones with le.ss and less poison. A single sting is often com- 

 paratively harmless, when tlie .stings of a whole hive or army 

 would prove fatal. Another important consideration is the ques- 

 tion of the presence, on the perforating organ, of extraneous 

 poisons like those of decomposing flesh, or those of specific disease 

 poi.sons like anthrax, nagana, or surra. Animals that prey on 

 dead carcases and carrion are especially liable to carry poison in 

 this way. 



The treatment of ant-stings is essentially the same as for stings 

 of bees, liornets and wa.sps. 



In the way of prevention they may be destroyed in their hills 

 or nests or even when on the march by boiling water, burning 

 petroleum, by burning shavings, dry grass, etc., or by using 

 .some active insecticide (see Acariasis). 



BEES, WASPS AND HORNETS. 



Females and neuters sting. Venom, trauma, barbed sting ; acquired im- 

 munity. Stings of swarm may kill. Excitement, panting, heart failure, 

 debility, prostration. Treatment: Soda or ammonia bicarbonate, potassi- 

 um permanganate, phenic acid, cold, ice, lead acetate, chloral. Extract 

 stings. Support flagging heart. 



