Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-02-17
The Ants or Africa.


q very undesirable familiarity with thai
extensive tribe Of insects, the ants, some
species of which are found In all parts o.
the world, but which are greatly multi
piled in the tropical regions Of the globe
Africa, il il believed, can boast Of . great
ter variety than any other land. The!l
name here is legion. They are every
where; ont Of doors and in doors; in YOU
food and in your bed, determined to share
both. They are Of all sizes; some Ok
small that they pass easily between tn
threads Of common muslin, and even In
sinuate themselves into your wstch ~ ]
hangs in your chamber; others measur.
nearly an inch in length. The habits and
food Of the different species differ greatly
Some. as the termites called white anti
(which, however, are not true antA, but
Neuropterous insects), eat vegetable mat
ter exclusively, destroying our houses
niverous; others feed upon sugar or the
sweet juices Of plants Any one Of the
many species, found in so great abun.
dance. would furnish sufficient material
for months of study for the enthusiastic
naturalist.
It is Of one species only that propose
10 speak, the drivers lannoma arcens OF
Westwood), an insect whose life history
is yet very imperfectly known, but OF
whose habits the dweller in the tropical
regions of Africa cannot long remain
ignorant.
The driver ants vary in size from three
quarters Of an inch TO One-thifd OF an
inch in length, the soldiers being the larg-
est. They are of glossy, jet black color,
with large head, armed with exceedingly
sharp, branching forceps, or mandibles,
with which they seize and cut up their
prey. They do not appear TO have any
fixed habitations as d. the termites, but
excavate the earth from between the roots
of trees, and in the cavity thus formed lay
their eggs and rear their young, and from
which they issue In incredible numbers
Literally millions OF millions to go upon
their raids.
The night Is chosen for the foraging ex.
petitions In the midst Of social enjoy.
mcnt the stirring announcement Is made,
"Herc are the drivers!" and instantly, as
by an electric shock, all are on the alert
TO escape personal attack. Lanterns and
bamboo torches are lighted, and search
made about the house to learn the dircc-
ton taken by the assailants; and If in
their usual numbers, the house IL often
left entirely TO them for hours. And still
more unwelcome at the hour OF midnight
is the bleating Of sheep and the cackling
of hens in the enclosure "All hands =
are awakened from their slumber, and the
whole yard lighted the animals are re.
leased from confinement AN left to take
care Of themselves the fowls removed
TO place Of safety, If one Is to be found
but If neglected and left without the
chance Of escape, their destruction is sure.
The driyers are alike the enemies OF
man and beast though there arc times
when their visits are most welcome. On
their approach every kind Of vermin Ii
seized with CONSERVATION, and seeks safety
in fight. Centipedes, cockroaches, scor-
pions, &c, &c, leave their hiding piaces,
and are seen seeking places Of greater 80
curity, only TO fall at last into the clutches
of their relentless foe from whom there 10
no escape.
An invading army could not exhibit
higher state Of discipline than Is seen
in the movements Of these in
sects. They enter house usually at one
point, where strong guard Is stationed
10 defend the pass they then branch on
fight and left, and again divide and sub
divide, till the whole ground IS complete
ly covered not an inch is left unexplored,
and every crack and Granny Is entered,
giving but little hope OF escape TO any
creature that may be found secreted there.
Attacking their prey they plunge they
their forceps into 1t, regardless OF the
size or strength Of their antagonist.
Nothrg will cause them 10 relax their
hold. The animal or insect writhes and
twists tnder the pain, but his case Is
rendered more hopeless every moment by
additions to the number Of his assailants
at length, when completely exhausted by
struggling, he yields tn his fate and Is de-
spatchcd at the victor's leisure.
The attack COOS on simultaneously,
in different parts of the house. Animal
substance being almost exclusively the
food Of the drivers, an immense number
of the smaller vermin that infest our
dwellings are consumed by them, and
some of the larger animals when confined
are also DESTROYED by them. They have
been known To attack human being,
when rendered helpless by disease, and
cause his death in few hours 1t 10 IN
teresting 10 see band Of these midnight
marauders returning home from scene 81
plumber on the approach Of day. Issuing
from the same place they entered, they are
each seen bearing away some trophy viii
them Joint Of cockroach's leg, the
body of a spider, or the Larvae Of some
insect, &C., are the various spoils. As the
laborers pass on with their loads they are
guarded BY large body Of soldiers, which
are stationed along the sides Of their path
or, II they are to pass through q place Of
uncommon exposure, these soldiers form
a covered passage, by standing upon each
others back and hooking their torceps to
gether through this arch, thus formed
the laborers pass in safety.
When they leave house It must bt
from some signal from the leaders, as somt
of them are seen running from one K
another, evidently giving command. Tit
retreat is made in good order; not ont
individual Is ever left behind. They otter
bridge narrow streams Of water wher
these come across their path, by going II
large numbers upon q flexible plant OF
one aide Of . stream, until their weigh
causes II to bend to the othereide. Fo
courage and activity the soldiers have n
equal; they know no fear, and when OF
duty they stand with their shiny blacl
heads erect and forceps open, ready =
soixo IN any nassin0 animal. No horse