The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-23
On the Habits OF Ants.


1T VIZ. =. ohRPEsTKR, N. D., p r. s., ?. @. s., &c.
The species of ant most common IN this
country is known as the yellotc am; and TO
this our description will apply when no
mention is made of any other. As among
the ternites, each community consists OF
four orders; namely, perfect males. and per-
feet females, soldiers, and workers. The
two latter are nsSteTs, Ike the workers
among the bees; they approach the females
in general conformation, and undergo sreg-
ulsr metamorphosis; but they never possess
wings, and their reproductive organs re-
main undeveloped. The soldiers are twice
as large as the workers, and their heads
are Of greater proportional size; among the
red ants the disparity is still greater.
The hillOeks of the yellow ants are ap-
Parently made in 8 much less elaborate
manner than the dwellings of the temites;
but there is really as much art employed
in their construction. They are composed
Of bits Of stubble, fragments Of leaves,
small stones. splinters OF wood, &c, which
are collected by the ants, and laid las il
might sfpear) promiscuously together; but
although apparently careless heap, the
hllock is really most admirable device
for evading the effects Of wind and the at
lacks Of enemies, and yet more especially
for receiving and outstanding the heat Of
the sun. Its exterior always presents the
appearance OF dome; and from its sum
INIT number Of avenues, carefully exca-
waited like tunnels, lead downwards into the
interior; the number of them depending
upon the population and extent of the nest.
Their external spertures are OF varied size;
there is sometimes principal one at the
top; but there are usually several, of une.
qusl size, which are surrounded by pas
sages arranged with great regularity. II
the surface of an ant-hill be carefully
watched during the afternoon, its appear
ance will be found TO undergo an hourly
change. The spertures Just mentioned,
which are spacious in the middle OF the
day, are gradually diminished in size To-.
wards the evening, and at night they can
no longer be seen; the dome being then
closed in every part, and all the ants being
concealed within. In order TO accomplish
this, the ants draw little bits Of wood into
the openings, placing them across the en-
trance, and sinking their ends in the cover
ing of the hills; they then fetch others, lay.
ing them across the first and SO continue
selecting other pieces. smaller and smaller
rs the work advances towards its accom-.
plishment, finally closing the opening with
bits Of dried leaves and similar materials,
which they draw in after them. -
In the morning, few ants may be seen
wandering about the exterior of the nest;
their numbers gradually increase, as others
emerge from the interior under the little
roofs formed at the entrance of each avenue;
and all set co work vigorously to clear away
the barricsdes. This employment con-
tinues for hours, until at length the aper-
lures are sufficiently extended, the materials
used in closing them being distributed over
the exterior OF the nest-if, however, the
morning De rainy, or the sky be overcast, it
Is not performed; and il rain comes on du-
mig the day, the ants hasten to close the
sperlures, as at night la the habtations
OF other species Of ants, the dome il closed
on nearly every side; no aperture being left
Of sufficient size to allow the entrance of
enemies OF me passage OF Tain-water, ex-
ospt at the base Of the hillock on one side;
and this is not unirequently continued
into sZserPendne gallery many feet in
length. -'1aa-i 81 y Z - --
The dome contains q number of spacious
chambers, communicating with each other
BY galleries these chambers. are low. irreg-
ulsr in figure, and look as if csrelessly con.
structed, but they, are convenient for the
purpose 10 which they are spplied--thst Of
containing the larye and pnpe at certain
houn Of the day. The care OF these, which
10 taken by the workers, is one of the most
curious features in the economy of the
communities whose operations we are sur.
veying. The eggs, when deposited by the
fsmale, or queen ant (who drops them al
random IN her progress through the nest.
ere taken charge OF by the workers; who
Immediately seize them and carry them in
their mouths. in small parcels, laying them
10 heaps in separate apartments. Thew
constantly tend them until they are Matched. |
necessarily turning them backwards and
forwards with their tongues. for the purpose
oil moistening them, without which thew
would come 70 nothing; and il must be 10 Ii
ne moisture thus impaired to them, that
me great enlargement Of the eggs is due,
Which has bsen constantly noticed preyi 4
'asiy TO sae Matching of the Larvae. The |,
workers frequently remove the eees from, q
'ns quarter Of fhs nest to another, as these q
s9rlse warmer OF cooler, meister or ID
anss' ssmopbsri and a intsrysls fhsyI