1100 Marvels of the Universe 
In the course of time the Wood Ants’ hillocks, if undisturbed, grow to a very large size, and as 
a nest can exist for many years (the writer has known one at Weybridge for over twenty), the number 
of its inhabitants often reaches a total of many hundreds of thousands. 
The habit of building hillocks in this ant and its allies shows their descent from a more ancient 
Arctic life, as the heaping up of these mounds better attracts the rays of the sun and also concentrates 
the warmth in the nest. 
These ants are very strong, and can lift enormous weights compared with their size ; and when 
one of their ant-hills has been overthrown, they very quickly build it up again. Under the hillock 
is a large central chamber, which is connected with many other chambers by galleries into the 
ground, and other parts of the hill. 
A colony of the Wood Ant often extends over a very large area, and consists of many nests bound 
together by roads and tracks, and all the ants are on friendly terms with each other. If, however, 
some from a strange nest and 
a different locality are intro- 
duced, they are at once at- 
tacked and killed. 
These ants do no harm—in 
fact, they are of much use, as 
they clear all the trees and 
bushes of caterpillars and 
grubs, besides capturing any 
insects they come across. 
These are dragged back to the 
nest, to be cut up and given 
to the ants’ brood. They partly 
paralyze their prey with acid 
which they eject. When a 
nest is disturbed, the smell of 
the acid squirted out by hun- 
dreds of ants will be found to 
be exceedingly powerful. This 
Photo by] [H. Bastin. acid is very strong, some I 
NEST OF UI WCOD ANNMe had tested containing sixty to 
These nests, which are constructed of twigs, pine-needles and other woodland 
debris, are often conspicuous objects in the pine-woods, as they reach a height of seventy per cent. of pure 
two or three feet, and are connected by roads and tunnels with other nests at a formic acid. 
distance. 
Unlike some ants, these do 
not possess a sting, but rely upon their jaws and acid for their defence. They are exceedingly 
courageous, and will attack anything. They travel long distances in search of food, and climb all 
the trees in the neighbourhood, using regular tracks and runs. 
On a fine day hundreds of workers may be observed leaving the nest, whilst many more are 
returning laden with food of all kinds, three or four ants often helping to carry home the more heavy 
burdens. They also seek out and milk any plant-lice that may occur on the neighbouring trees 
and herbage. Others drag up fresh pine-needles and other objects to enlarge the nest. At night 
the different doors in the hillock are closed by arranging bits of the nest materials over them. 
Sentinels are also always at the various entrances to the nest. 
The females of this species have lost the power to found colonies in the normal way ; that is 
to say, a young female is unable to start a colony alone. In many ants, after the marriage flight, 
the young female removes her wings, seeks a suitable spot under a stone, or in a hole in the ground, 
and digs a cell. There she lays her eggs and brings up her first brood. In the Wood Ant the 
