1886] Ants Nests and their Inhabitants. 681 
is one species that gets in and remains in undisturbed. It is the 
larva of a common “ lady bird,” Brachyacantha ursina. Unlike ' 
the larvae of Coccinellids that prey on arboreal species, this is 
not brightly colored but sordid whitish-yellow. It is of the 
usual form of these larve, but secretes a waxy substance that 
exudes in long strings and gives the insect the appearance of 
being covered with cotton or hoar frost. This secretion seems 
to be much more palatable to the ants than that of the Pemphi- 
gus, and they unconcernedly see the Coccinelid feasting upon the 
former, apparently concluding that the flavor is improved by pass- 
ing through the latter. Another larger homopterous species is 
also found in nests of Formica integra, but whether this is used in 
the same way as the Pemphigus is not known. 
Sometimes it happens that a desired species will not live under 
ground, and this compels the ants to adopt another method, 
mentioned by Patton some years since. They construct roads to 
the trees inhabited by the Aphids, and build galleries around the 
plant-lice, effectually protecting and domesticating them. 
In this category should come those species of ants which are | 
enslaved by the owners of the nest. The history of that species 
which captures ants of other species, reduces them to slavery and 
comes so absolutely dependent upon its slaves that it perishes 
from hunger if they are taken away, is well known, and offers 
one of the most interesting phases of insect economy. It is only 
mentioned here to complete the category, aos 
The second group, containing those insects found in the nests 
only in the larval state, is a peculiar one, containing insects of 
several orders. One of our earliest beetles, Cetonia hirtipes, lives — 
exclusively in ants’ nests in its larval state; But as imago flies : 
about and feeds on the sweet sap of trees, or in fall upon ripe 
— In Europe allied species of Cetonia have similar habits. 
_ the other Chrysomelids and are found on leaves. 
ae It is worthy of remark, perhaps, that all these Chrysomelid 
larvae thus far found with ants belong to that group which con- 
nies hard cases of excrementitious matter for their protection. — 
~“ Would seem that the difference in habit between the e: do 
