Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-11
The Ants OF Africa.

a very undesirable familiarity with that
extensive tribe of insects the ants some
species Of which are found in all parts OF
the world, but which are greatly multi.
piled In the tropical regions of the globe,
Africa, IL is believed, can boast of q great
ter variety than any other land. Their
name here is legion. They are every
where; out of doors and in doors; in your
food and in your bed, determined to share
both. They are of all sizes; some so
small that they pass easily between the
threads of common muslin, and even in.
sinuSte themselves into your watch as II
hangs in your chamber; others measure
nearly an inch in length. The habits and
food of the different species differ greatly.
Some, as the termites called white ants
(which, however, are not true ants, but
Neuropterous insects), eat vegetable mat
ter exclusively, destroying our houses,
| furniture and clothing; others arc car
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.
1t is of one species only that propose
to speak, the drivers (annoma arcens of
| Westwood), an insect whose life history
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 ons-third 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 rs do the termites, but
eNcavate 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
| Qiterally millions OF millions) to go upon
their raids.
The night is chosen for the foraging ex-
petitions. In the midst of social enjoy
ment the stirring announcement is made,
"Here are the drivers !" and instantly, as
by an electric shock, all are on the alert
to escape a personal attack Lanterns and
bamboo torches are lighted, and search
made about the house to learn the direc-
tion taken by the assailants and If in
their usual numbers, the house is 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 y
are awakened from their slumber, and the
whole yard lighted; the animals are re
leased from confinement AMI 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 drivers are alike the enemies OF
man and beast, though there are times
when their visits are most welcome. On
their approach every kind OF vermin is
seized with CONSERVATION, and seeks safety
in flight. Centipedes, cockroaches, scor-
pions, &c, &c, leave their hiding-places,
and are seen seeking places Of greater Sc
curty, only to fall at last into the clutches
of their relentless foe from whom there IL
no escape.
An invading army could not exhibit 6
higher state Of discipline than is seer
in the movements of these in
sects. They enter house usually at one
point where strong guard is stationed
to defend the pass they then branch of
fight and left, and again divide and sub
divide, till the whole ground is complete
ly covered not an inch is left un0xplored,
and every crack and Granny is entered,
giving but little hope of escape to any
creature that may be found secretsd there.
Attacking their prey they plunge they
their forceps into it, regardless of the
size or strength of their antagonist
Nothing will cause them to relax their
hold. The animal or insect writhes and
twists under the pain, but his case is
rendered more hopeless every moment by
additions to the number of his assailants
ut length, when completely exhausted by
struggling, he yields to his fate and is de-
| anatpha1 ot tho uiOtOrio leiaIIrQ
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 intest our
dwellings are consumed by them, and
some of the larger animals when confined
are also destroyedsby them. They have
been known to attack human being,
when rendered helpless by disease, and
cause his death in few hours. 1t is In
teresting to see a hand of these midnight
marauders returning home from scene Oi
plunder on the approach of day. Issuing
from the same place they entered, they are
each seen bearing away some trophy with
them a Joint Of q cockroach's leg, the
body of 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, if they are 10 pass through a place o.
uncommon exposure, these soldiers form
a,covered passage, by standing upon each
others back and hooking their forcepS to
gether through this arch, thus formed
the laborers pass in safety.
tWhen they leave house it must b'
from some signal from the leaders, as som'
of them are seen running from one U
+ another, evidently giving command. Th'
retreat is made in good order; not ont
: individual is ever left behind. They otter
+ bridge narrow streams of water wheI
these come across their path, by going II
, large numbers upon a flexible plant OF
one side of stream, until their weigh
causes it to bend to the otherside. Fo
I courage and activity the soldiers have NJ
equal they know no fear, and when ol
duty they stand with their shiny blacl
heads erect and foreeps open, ready Il
seize on any passing animal. No horse
| donkey or dog can be induced TO eros
their path, seeming to have an instinctiy
dread of them; and woe be to the indi
vidual, man or beast, who gets amonl
p them at night Ifatwig is drawn through
their ranks they instantly close their Tor
ceps upon it and others in turn clos
| upon lnSll DONiCo hho iNBoi
them is seen at the end of the stick, look
ing like bunch of curled hair.
These insects have no eyes, but thel
8 sense of smell is very acute, for If tn
+ breath be blown on them from the distanc
F; of some feet, they are instantly in motion
r running to and fro with the creates
a speed, evidently aware of the approach Q
g some human being. When a live coal
dropped in their way they imLnediatel
y attack it, though hundreds may perish Il
= doing so. They are very sensitive TO tn
i light of the sun, which is fatal 10 then
d They seldom move during the day, an
n then only when cloudy, choosing. then tn
r, dark woods or thick grass. Their rate
progression is about two yards in a mil
d ute and, in their journeys frem place
place. they go from four TO eight abreas
Q have seen stream of drivers crossin
an open patch at six o'clock in the morI
a ing, and at six o'clock at night their nun
Der was unfinished. How long they ha