276 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



seen at ng, B and D, the ant in the latter figure greedily 

 swallowing what the Aphis offers. Linnaeus, in con- 

 sequence, called the latter insect the cow of the ant 

 (" Aphis formicarum vacca "), and Darwin and Sir John 

 Lubbock, amongst others, have shown that the ants 

 almost literally milk the Aphides, which seem to 

 attempt to retain the secretion until the ants are 

 ready to receive it, of which they give indication as 

 just now noted. The demand, unfortunately, is in no 

 way equal to the supply, and so this aphide honey is 

 thrown out, to fall on to the upper surface of the leaves, 

 where it is gathered by bees, especially after rain, which 

 renders it sufficiently liquid to permit of its ready 

 removal ; but its taste is mawkish, its odour not pleasant, 

 and its colour often as dark as treacle, and of a dirty 

 hue. That gathered from the sycamore and oak is ex- 

 tremely black, and ought not, in my opinion, to be 

 regarded as fit for human consumption. 



All are interested in reducing the numbers of this 

 obnoxious insect, whose fecundity is so prodigious ; 

 but, after all the schemes that have been propounded 

 for its destruction, it seems evident that we must look 

 to Nature's own checks, aided by any encouragement 

 or protection that we may be able to give to Aphis- 

 devouring creatures. Foremost amongst these come 

 the numerous species of Coccinella (Ladybird), the 

 food of which consists almost exclusively of Aphides. 

 Their marvellous voracity is shown equally in their 

 larval and winged condition. In the former stage, 

 the colour is slaty grey or brown, while the body is 

 covered with tufted tubercles, and provided with 

 mandibles, efficient both for holding and sucking out 



