ANTS VS. ALETIA. 
91 
Haiti., and L. mrhhcimeri ITald. are found very abundantly in the cot- 
ton fields, and presumably feed upon the worms. 
While we have repeatedly seen 
this species attacking worms that 
were upon the ground, we have 
but once, at Macon Station, Ala., 
witnessed it feeding on a young 
worm on the plant ; but so many 
correspondents have witnessed 
the good work of ants that there 
can be no question as to the gen- 
eral correctness of the above con- 
clusions, though it is doubtful 
whether a worm is ever attacked 
by ants except when, from the 
causes mentioned, it is excep- 
tionally helpless. Again, some 
Species of ants are more ferocious 
than others, and they will act 
differently in different localities ; 
hence there is a difference of, 1 " ; - "' - s ' ; " koto: a. neuter, dorsal view; 
ucuud mcit is <i uiiRunce OI b< ,„.,„,,. si) , ( . V|(U h( . ii(| 1 , 1 -„,. uter> front view . d | 
opinion among planters as to " ■ "' ,! ' N ' Alu '' ' "' k -' 
their influence. We have therefore endeavored to get more reliable 
and extended experience on the subject, and have especially charged 
our assistants to make careful observations on the subject. Some of 
these may here be quoted. .Air. Hubbard reports as follows his obser- 
vations in Florida: 
••.hits-.— Apparently only two species are commonly found in the 
cotton fields, both of which are more or less predatory on Aletia. I 
am, however, of the opinion that the value of the services of ants in 
destroying the worms lias been much overestimated. It is true that in 
the hottest weather worms which from some mischance fall upon the 
heated ground are soon exhausted, and often become an easy prey to ants 
if a colony happens to be near at hand. At such times, also, I have re- 
marked that the stings of the latter seem to possess a greater virulence, 
and have a powerfully paralyzing effect upon the worms. Numerous 
experiments made by dropping grown worms into the midst of excited 
swarms of ants showed that at midday 50 per cent, and during the 
cooler hours SO per cent escaped from their persecutors and found their 
way again on to the plants, whither they were rarely followed. I have 
never seen a worm attacked with any persistence when feeding on the 
plants ; on the other hand, I have a number of times seen an ant, which 
had incautiously approached too near, violently flung to a distance by 
a blow from a worm, which, in such a case, uses the anterior half of its 
body as a club. 
"Not once, but many times, will a caterpillar free itself by a flip of 
its body when seized upon the ground, while upon the plants, unless 
