Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-15

The most astonishing Insects, If not the
most astonishing animals, in the world,
are the sO-called 'foraging," or, as they
might more appropriately be called. the
| military ants OF the Amazon. They belong
to several species Of the same genus, and
have been carefully watched by Bates,
Belt, and other naturalists. EcitoOn tegi-
Oilfs moves In enormous armies, and every
thing that these insecLs do is done with the
most perfect instinct of military organiza-
tiOn. The army marches in the form of q
rather broad and regular column, hundreds
of yards in length. The object of the
march Is 10 capture and plumber other IN
sects, etc., for food, and as the well
organized host advances, It's devastating
| legions set all other terrestrial life ut de
| tiance. From the main column there are
sent out smaller lateral columns, the com.
posing individuals of which play the parts
Of scouts-branchng off in various direc-
tons, and searching about with the utmost
activity for insects, grubs, etc, over every
fallen leaf. If prey is found in sufficient
| ly small quantities for them TO manage
alone, 1t is immediately seized and carried
TO the main column but if the amount is
too large for the scouts themselves 10 deal
with, messengers are sent back to the
main column, whence there is Immediately
dispatched detachment large enough TO
cope with the requirements. Insects or
other prey which, when killed, are too
large for single ants 10 carry, are torn in
pieces, and the pieces conveyed back TO
the main army by different individuals.
Many insects in trying TO escape run up
bushes and shrubs, where they are pursued
from twig To twig by their remorseless
enemies, till on arriving at some terminal
ramifcation they must either submit TO inn
mediate capture by their pursuers, or drop
down amid the murderous hosts below.
AS already stated, all the spoIls which
are taken 10y the scouts, or by the detach-
ments sent out in answer TO their demands
for assistance, are Immediately taken back
TO the main army or column by two smaller
columns of carriers, which are constantly
running il two double rows(one of each be-
ing laden and the other not. On either side
of the main column there are constantly
running up and down few individuals of
smaller size, lighter color, and having
larger heads than the other ants. These
appear TO perform The duty of officers, for
they Dever leave their stations, and while
actively running up and down the out
sides of the column, they seem intent only
on maintaining order in the march, stop
ping every now and then 10 touch some
member of the rank and file with tneir en-
tenne, as if giving directions. When the
scouts discover wasps' nest in tree,
strong force is sent out from the main
army, the nest is pulled to pieces, and all
the larva in the nest are carried by the
carrier columns 10 the rear of the army,
while the wasps fly around defenseless
against the invading multitudes. Or, If
the nest of any other species of ant is
found, similarly strong force is sent out, or
even the whole army may be detected to-
ward II, when with the utmost energy the
inuumerable insects set TO work TO silk
shafts and dig mines till the whole nest is
rihed of its contents. In these mining op-
erations the Ecitons work with an extra
ordinary display of organized cooperation;
for those low down in the shafts do not
lose time by carrying up the earth which
they excavate, but pass on the pellets 10
those above, and the ants on the surface,
when they receive the pellets, carry them
only Just far enough TO insure that they
shall not roll back again into the shaft, and,
after having deposited them at safe
distance, Immediately hurry back for
more.
The Ecitons have no fixed nest them
selves, but live, as 1t were, on a perpetual
campaign. At night, however, they call
a halt, and pitch a camp. For this pur-
pose they usually select piece of broken
ground, in the interstices Of which they
temporarily store their plunder.