80 TROPICAL NATURE, AND OTHER ESSAYS. 



with a sketch of such other groups of insects as from 

 their numbers, variety, habits, or other important features, 

 attract the attention of the traveller from colder 

 climates. We begin then with a group, which owing to 

 their small size and obscure colours would attract little 

 attention, but which nevertheless, by the universality of 

 their presence, their curious habits, and the annoyance 

 they often cause to man, are sure to force themselves ^ 

 upon the attention of every one who visits the tropics. 



Ants, Wasps, and Bees. — The hymenopterous insects 

 of the tropics are, next to the butterflies, those which 

 come most prominently before the traveller, as they love 

 the sunshine, frequent gardens, houses, and roadways as 

 well as the forest shades, never seek concealment, and 

 are many of them remarkable for their size or form, or 

 are adorned with beautiful colours and conspicuous 

 markings. Although ants are, perhaps, on the whole 

 the smallest and the least attractive in appearance of all 

 tropical insects, yet, owing to their being excessively 

 abundant and almost omni]3resent, as well as on account 

 of their curious habits and the necessity of being ever 

 on the watch against their destructive powers, they 

 deserve our first notice. 



Ants are found everywhere. They abound in houses, 

 some living underground, others in the thatched roof on 

 the under surface of which they make their nests, while 

 covered ways of earth are often constructed upon the 

 posts and doors. In the forests they live on the ground, 

 under leaves, on the branches of trees, or under rotten 

 bark ; while others actually dwell in living plants, which 

 seem to be specially modified so as to accommodate them. 

 Some sting severely, others only bite ; some are quite 



