San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-14
Dairylng Among Ants.


1t is well known and curious fao, J.,
entomology, of which every one who 10
at all familiar with this science is awara
that the common red ants, everywbers
so numerous in our gardens and fields
are expert and skillful dairymen-dairv'
men in almost every sense of thu
word, except that they pursue this occu.
patton for their own luxury and eniou-
ment, and much to the hindrance y,
every farmer and horticulturist. This
is proof of the trait which, among I'm.
man beings, is known as foresight.
though doubtless they do not deserve
credit for the diligence which indirect.
ly is retardingto the labors of our oar.
deners and farmers. ,,i r,...,. q
Twill now endeavor, so far as am
able, to show up this little creature in
his work of gratifying at least one of
his luxurious tastes. He does not eY.
pertinent in the breeding of his stock.
but such as he rears are cared for with
singular vigilance. The milch cattle Of
the ants are nothing more or less than
aphides, or plant lice, the acquaintance
of which every gardener must acknowl-
edge. Although these insects are to be
found in greater or less abundance on
most plants, yet it is not everywhere we
find the ants in company
with them. Should we, how.
ever, while walking through a
field bordering upon pine-wood, stop
and examine the small, tender shoots Of
some struggling bush, most likely we
would find them together, and with the
aid of an ordinary hand glass, could
bring before us the mysteries of ant
dairying. We have, for example, deli
cate, tender shoot, branching from the
main stem; all along are to be seen
these small light-green insects, with
their suckers sunk into the tender bark,
absorbing its sap, which, after under
going the process of digestion, becomes
a fluid scarcely inferior in delicacy to
honey. When the .proprietors are not
near to receive it, this juice is thrown to
a distance by a jerking motion of the
body, being expelled through two small,
almost invisible tubes, projecting in the
manner of horns from the back of the
insect. Here and there, however, are
to be seen a number of ants carefully
picking their way among the motionless
little insects, apparently fearful of dis
turbing them. Watching the move
ments of one of the ants, we observe
him approach one of his cows, pause a
moment, and then reach up to the ex-
tremity of one of the tubes and suck out
the delicate nectar. 1t is q curious fact
that the ants know how to milk these
little creatures, should the liquid be
difficult to find, patting and tickling the
aphides on the sides of the abdomen with
their extended antenn1, and eagerly
the little drop which is imme-
diately discharged. ,..I .t,.. sr
. Thus the ants enjoy themselves until
the time arrives when their herds are to
prepare for q succeeding generation,
and to pass out of existence. As soon
as the eggs of the aphides are laid, they
are taken possession of by the ants, who
store them carefully away in their holes,
thus making an early claim of proprie-
torship. Early in the spring these eggs
are brought out and exposed to the in
Hucnce Vi inc sun rays untll nalCueu.
In the meantime all are vigilant in
guarding the eggs from injury, re-
moving them in their mouths to place
of safety on the slightest appearance of
danger. Thus these little creatures set
a good example to the careless and neg
ligent herdsman, and well may he profit
by the advice of DIR. johnson, contain
ed in the following lines, which were
written with reference to the words OF
Solomon:
Turn on the prudent ant thy needless eyes;
Observe her labors, sluggard, and be WISE
No stern command, no monitory voice.,
Prescribes her duties, or directs her choice;
Yet timely provident she hastes away,
TO snatch the blessings of a plenteous day.
The ant being direct producer OF
this noxious insect, is of course working
against the interests of man, as before
stated. Whether or not the juice Sc
creted by the aphides is put to any other
use by the ants than to regale them
selves, yet remains to be ascertained.-
Cor. COuntry Gentleman.