Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-06-07
Slavery Among Insects.

The following singular facts are from
&" Newman's History of Insects" "The
most remarkable fact connected with the
history of ants, is the propensity possessed
by certain species to kidnap the workers Of
other species, and compel them to labor for
the benefit of the community, thus using
them completely as slaves; and, as far as
we yet know, the kidnappers are red, or
pale-colored ants, and the slaves, like the
captured natives of Africa, are of a jet black.
The time for taking slaves extends over
period of about ten weeks, and never
commences until the male and female are
about emerging from the pupa state and
thus the ruthless marauders never interfere
with the continuation of the species. This
instinct seems specially provided; for, we're
the slave ants created for no other end than
to fill the station of slavery, to which they
appear to be doomed still, even that office
must fail, were the attacks to be made on
their nest before the winged myriads have
departed or are departing, charged with the
duty of continuing their kind. When the
red ants are about to sally forth on ma
rauding expedition, they send scouts to as
certain the exact position in which colony
of negroes may be found. These scouts
having discovered the object Of their search,
return to the nest and report their success.
Shortly afterwards the army of red ants
march forth, headed by vanguard, which
is perpetually changing; the individuals
which constitute it, when they have ad-
vanced little before the main body halt,
falling into the rear, and being replaced by
others. This vanguard consists of eight
or ten ants only. When they have arrived
near the negro colony they dispense, wan
dering through the heritage and hunting
about, as aware of the propinquity of the OBJ
ject of their search, yet ignorant of its ex-
act position. AT last they discover the set
Element; and the foremost of the invaders
rush impetuously to the attack, are met,
grappled with. and frequently killed by the
negroes on guard The alarm is quickly
communicated to the interior of the nest
the negroes sally forth by thousands; and
the red ants rushing to the rescue, despe-
rate conflict ensues, which, however, always
terminates in the defeat of the negroes, who
retire to the innermost recesses of their hab-
itation. Now follows the scene of pillage.
The red ants, with their powerful mandi-
| Dies, tear open inc siueo vi tue HeSto dh'
hills, and rush into the heart of the citadel.
In few minutes each invader energies,
carrying its mouth the pupa or worker
negro, which it has obtained in spite of the
vigilance and valor of its natural guardians
The red ants return in perfect order to their
nest, bearing with them their living bur.
dens. On reaching their nest, the pupa ap.
pears to be treated precisely as their own
and the workers, when they emerge, per.
form the various duties of the community
with the greatest energy and apparent good
will. They prepare the nest, excavate pas
sages, collect food, feed the Larvae, take the
pupe into the sunshine, and perform every
office which the welfare of the colony seem:
to require. They conduct themselves en-
tirely as if fulfilling their original destina
ton"