The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-12
Some ants receive their fond -, 49,

Some ants receive their food from the
aphides which suck the juices of the
common plantain, and these at first
take their station near the flower of the
plant; as soon as the flowers w;tber
these insect-cows take shelter under the
radicle leaves; whereupon the ants that
before had climbed up to them now sur
rounded them with mud wall. and.
making covered gallery by wav OF
communication between their nest and
the paddock" extract food from them
at their convenience and pleasure.
During autumn, winter and spring
many species of ants keep aphides. In
deed, in winter they would be exposed
to the danger of famine did they not
rely for food on their cattle; for though
they become torpid when exposed to in
tense cold, yet, for the most part, the
depth of their nests preserves a temper
allure for them sufficiently high to pre-
vent this contingency. Their mich COWS
are then kept on the roots of the plants
which penetrate the interior of the nest.
and furnish an abundant supply of
liquid, in which their keepers delight.
And not only is the full-grown animal
kept, but its eggs are watched and
guarded with that care which warrant
US in supposing that the ant knows their
full value. 1t is of real consequences to
the ants that the Matching of the eggs of
the aphides should take place as early
in the spring as possible, in order to in
sure an early supply of food for their
colony; and with the view of fastening
this event they deposit them in the
warmest part of their dwelling, and in
fine weather bring them to the surface
of the nest to give them the advantage
of the sun.
Plant lice, or aphides, differ much in
form, color, clothing, and in the length
OF the honey tubes. Some have these
tubes quite long, as the rose louise
(Arhis roS@), which is green, and has a
little conical projection, or stylet as it is
called, at the extremity of the body be-
tween the two honey tubes. These in
sects seem to love society, and often
herd together in dense masses, each one
remaining fixed to the plant by means
OF its long tubular beak; and they
rarely change their places till
they have exhausted the first part
attacked. The attitudes and manners
of these little creatures are extremely
amusing. When disturbed, like FESTIVE
horses, they begin to kick and sprawl
in the most ludicrous manner. They
may be seen, at times, suspended by
their beaks alone, and throwing up their
legs as if in high frolic, but too much
engaged in sucking to withdraw their
bcaks. As they take in great quantities
of sap they would soon become gorged
if they did not get rid of it through the
little tubes at the extremity of their
bodies. When one of them gets run
ning-over full it seems to communicate
its uneasy sensations by kind of animal
magnetism, to the whole flock, upon
which they all, with one accord, jerk
upward their bodies and eject shower
of the honeyed fluid. The leaves and
bark of plants much infested by these
insects are often completely sprinkled
over with drops of this sticky fluid, and
which on drying become dark colored,
and greatly disfgure the foliage. This
appearance has been styled "honey-
dew" but should not be COMPOUNDED
with another similar production observ-
able on plants after very dry weather,
which has received the same name, and
which consists of an extravasation or
oozing of the sap from the leaves
Scientific american.