24 Insect Life : Its Why and Wherefore 
ducts. This drop is instantly seized upon 
and consumed by the ant, and in this way 
the process of a kind of milking goes on 
until the ant has been satisfied. The 
aphides themselves seem quite contented 
with the process, and surrender voluntarily. 
It has, however, been stated that ants 
retain certain aphides within their nests, 
and use them there for this milking 
purpose, much as we keep cows or goats. 
It may be remarked that ants keep com- 
pany with other insects which could not 
possibly be used in this way. For instance, 
woodlice are found in their nests not 
infrequently, and in other countries other 
species of ants are found entertaining other 
equally curious guests. The presence of 
aphides in an ants’ nest has been accounted 
for in other ways, one being that as many 
fall and are blown from the leaves on which 
they are feeding they, in their sluggish 
manner, creep along the ground, and some 
of them eventually find their way in at the 
door of a hospitably inclined ant colony. 
Another theory is that they go there 
to hibernate, as some living through the 
winter require a suitable temperature, and 
