. Annual report. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects. Fig. 8. Atta barbara, worker, har- vesting ant of Europe. (From Lubbock.) which the stores consist of the seeds of a species of millet; -and in the south of Europe,, several species of the same genus, particularly Atta barbara, (See- Fig. 8,) and Atta structor, lay up large stores of grain and Not only so, but the seeds stored up by them, seem, in some way not yet known, to be deprived of the power of germination. The history of the agricultural ants of Texas, given by the Rev. Dr. McCook in his book, is most won
. Annual report. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects. Fig. 8. Atta barbara, worker, har- vesting ant of Europe. (From Lubbock.) which the stores consist of the seeds of a species of millet; -and in the south of Europe,, several species of the same genus, particularly Atta barbara, (See- Fig. 8,) and Atta structor, lay up large stores of grain and Not only so, but the seeds stored up by them, seem, in some way not yet known, to be deprived of the power of germination. The history of the agricultural ants of Texas, given by the Rev. Dr. McCook in his book, is most wonderful. This species is repre- sented in Fig. 9, and is known as Myrmica barbata. They make- flat circular clearings from two or three to twelve feet in diameter, with roads diverging into the surrounding herbage, often of great length, and. during working hours these roads are thronged by ants going and returning. In the middle of the day they take a siesta for two or three hours. The seeds, principally of rubiaceous plants and grasses, are gathered off the ground, and carried into the granaries, where they are shelled and the husks brought out and deposited in heaps. It seems even possible that they sow the seeds of a grass called Aristida stricta for themselves, though- the author does not vouch for this. The supposition is not incred- ible, when we consider the intelligence displayed by these ants in* regard to other things. Ants are extremely fond of sugar, in fact, saccharine substances are the principal food of many species. The love of ants for the Honeydew exuded by the Aphides or Plant lice is a well ascertained fact, and with this some of their most extraordinary instincts are connected. They climb the plants on which the aphides are found, that they may obtain this food, and have been seen to wait beside them for new drops, even touching them with their antenna;, in order to cause the drops to flow, patting the abdomen of the aphis on either side alternately and rap
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1872
