Marvels of the Universe 



221 



one ant does to another when 

 asking for food, and the latter 

 feeds it from its own crop. A 

 near relation of this beetle, 

 which is also a dweller in ants' 

 nests, has gone a step further. 

 It not only uses its feelers 

 when suppUcating its host, but 

 also strokes the ant's cheek wth 

 one of its front feet, which is 

 also the procedure of an ant 

 under these circumstances. The 

 beetle can also feed itself, as 

 when kept in obser\'ation-nests 

 in captivit}' it has been seen 

 to bite at dead ants and suck 

 caterpillars and other creatures 

 given to the ants as food. 



This beetle is not ver\' ant-like in appearance when examined by itself, but when it sits among 

 a lot of its hosts — and it is always to be found where the ants are thickest — it becomes practically 

 invisible. The reason for this appearance is that the light which is reflected from the concave sides 

 ■f the " chest " of the beetle appears to the eye hke the narrow back of an ant, and the rolled-up 

 hind body of the beetle reflects the light in the same way as the rounded hind division of a fat ant. 

 When their hosts change their nest, or move from place to place, these beetles move with them. 

 They can also fly, possessing ample wings wrapped up under their short wing-cases. 



Phnto by} 111. IJonistliorpe, F.Z.S. 



ANT-BEETLE'S GRUB. 



TKis grub is fed by the ants, even with their own youns. It is very voracious, and 

 its presence leads to a great reduction in the number of ants in a nest. 



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Photo hH] 



[ff. Donisffiorpe, F.Z.S. 



ANT FEEDING ANT-NEST BEETLE. 



The beetle is treated as an honoured gueat and fed by the ants. When it wishes to be fed il taps an ant with its feelers 

 aa here shown, and the ant feeds it with food from its own crop. In return it supplies the ants with a sweet secretion from 

 its body. 



