52 



Fig. 8. 



Atta barbara, worker, har- 

 vesting ant of Europe. . 

 (From Lubbock.) 



which the stores consist of the seeds of a species of millet ; -and in the south of Europe,, 

 several species of the same genus, particularly Atta barbara, (See- 

 Fig. 8,) and Atta structor, lay up large stores of grain and seeds.. 

 Not only so, but the seeds stored up by them, seem, in some way 

 not yet known, to be deprived of the power of germination. The 

 history of the agricultural ants of Texas, given by the Rev. Dr. 

 McCook in his book, is most wonderful. This species is repre- 

 sented in Fig. 9, and is known as Myrmica barbata. They make- 

 flat circular clearings from two or three to twelve feet in diameter, 

 with roads diverging into the surrounding herbage, often of great 

 length, and. during working hours these roads are thronged by 

 ants going and returning. In the middle of the day they take a 

 siesta for two or three hours. The seeds, principally of rubiaceous 

 plants and grasses, are gathered off the ground, and carried into 

 the granaries, where they are shelled and the husks brought out 

 and deposited in heaps. It seems even possible that they sow 

 the seeds of a grass called Aristida stricta for themselves, though- 

 the author does not vouch for this. The supposition is not incred- 

 ible, when we consider the intelligence displayed by these ants in* 

 regard to other things. 

 Ants are extremely fond of sugar, in fact, saccharine substances are the principal 

 food of many species. The love of ants for the Honeydew exuded by the Aphides or 

 Plant lice is a well ascertained fact, and with this some of their most extraordinary 

 instincts are connected. They climb the plants on which the aphides are found, that 

 they may obtain this food, and have been seen to wait beside them for new drops, even 

 touching them with their antenna;, in order to cause the drops to flow, patting the 

 abdomen of the aphis on either side alternately and rapidly ; the ant, after the drop has 

 been obtained, passing on to another aphis. 

 The whole process litis been likened to the 

 milking of cattle. Even more wonderful 

 things are asserted on this subject, as that 

 particular ants seem to regard particular 

 aphides as their own property, and are ready 

 to fight in defence of their right, that, 

 to secure them for themselves, they convey 

 them from one place to another, — and that 

 the Aphis radicum, which derives its nutri- 

 ment from the roots of grass and other 

 plants, is actually kept in large numbers in 

 the nest of the Yellow Ant, (Formica Jiava,) 

 in order that they may have always at hand 

 a copious supply of food, these aphides and 

 their eggs sharing the solicitude of the ants 

 equally with their own eggs and young. 

 These statements, though apparently incred- 

 ible, are yet the conclusions arrived at by 

 careful and scientific observers. 



In addition to aphides, ants often have as fellow-lodgers, certain species of small 

 beetles, and even other insects. 



It is not certainly known why the ants harbour and care for them, as ants are 

 genrrally hostile to other insects, but the facts are well authenticated. No doubt the 

 owners of the nests derive some benefit from their presence, or they would not be allowed 

 to remain. In the Entomological Annual for 1857, Mr. Edward W. Jansen has an article 

 on the ants-nest beetles of Britain, giving the names of thirty-six species which have been 

 found in the nests of five different species of ants. About fifty species of beetles have 

 been ascertained by continental entomologists to pass at least a portion of their lives in 

 the nests of various species, not as mere intruders, but as cherished friends, over whom. 



: ^^^?rfe 



Myrmica barbata, agricultural Ant of Texas, carry- 

 ing seeds to granary. (Rev. J. G. Wood.) 



