

58 NOTES ON MEXICAN ANTS. 
for while they have no recognized head or guide, they all 
seem to devote themselves to systematic efforts for forward- 
ing the public good. All their energies are given to this, — 
and for this they are ready to sacrifice their lives. ) 
The family of ants, in addition to the males and females, _ 
which are winged and generally short-lived, presents “neue ] 
ters,” or workers, which are wingless and live throughout the a 
year, and perform the labor of the community. The males — 
and females appear in the summer only. After a certain — 
time, when they are allowed to leave the nest, the whole — 
society teems with excitement, and only settles back into its 
usual course when the superfluous members fly off in swarms — 
to seek new homes. Of those which remain, the males soon 
die, while the females tear off their wings, or have them _ 
torn off by the workers. Once established, the female soon : 
lays her eggs, which are minute, but increase in size before 
the larve burst forth. These are footless grubs, which are — 
carefully tended and fed by the workers, with a fluid pre- 
viously elaborated in their stomachs. When fully grown, 
these larvæ assume the dormant or pupa state, some genera 
forming cocoons, and some not, and soon undergo the trans- 
formation into the perfect insect. These larve and pup® 
are watched with jealous care by the workers, and are trans- 
ported by them to different parts of the nest, or more or less 
exposed to the air according to the temperature. Before 
man can foresee the coming storm, the nests are securely 
closed, and ere the skies are fairly cleared, their labors are 
resumed. The bodies of other animals, the juices of plani 
and even the sap secretions of other insects, such as Aphides: 
or Plant-lice, are taken by them for the nourishment of their 
helpless charges. ee 
The workers often present two distinct forms, now call 
the major and minor workers,. in addition to which a t 
set of workers is often found in one nest, which are evide 
of another species, but have been captured when Jarve 
the stronger species, and bred and enslaved for this purpos 
ory 











