The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-11-11
MILITARY ANTS OF THE AMAZON.

The Nineteenth Century has the tol- |
lowing The most ast tonishing insects, !
if not the most astonishing animals. IN
the world. are the so-called "fOragIng," I
or. a. they might more appropriately De
called. the military ants of the Amazon.
They belong to several species oi the
same genus. and have been carefully
watched by Bates, Belt, and other nat
uralists. The following facts must
therefore be regarded as fully establish
ed.
Ei-iton legiOnis moves in enormous
armies. and everything that these IN
sects do is done with the most perfect
instinct of military organization. Ihe
army marches in the form o. a rather
broad and regular column. hundreds OF
wards in length. The object OF Ihe
march Is TO capture and plumber other
insects. etc. for food and as the well
organized host advances, its devastating
l,gions set all other terrestrial life AT
defiance. From the main column there
arr sent out smaller lateral columns, the
COMPOSING individuals Of which play the
part of uts-brauching of IN various
directions. and searching about with the
utmost activity for insects, grubS, etc.
over every log and under every fallen
leaf. If prey is found in sufficiently
small quantities for them 10 manage
alone. il is Immediately seized end car
ried to the main column but If the
amount is too large for The scouts them
selves to deal with, messengers are sent
back to the main column, whence there
is Immediately diSpa ched detachment
large enough 10 cope with the require
ments Insects or other prey which,
when killed, are too large for single ants
-
pieces conveyed back to the main army
by different individuals. Many insects
in irving to escape run UP bushes and
shrubs, where they are pursued from
twig TO twig by the ir remorseleSs enc
mics. till arriving at some terminal
TamiticatIOn they must either submit 10
immediate capture by their purSueTS. or
( drOU down amid The murderOuS hosts
/ below.
| As already stated, all the spoils which
( are taken by the scouts, or 10y the de-
/ tachments sent out in answer tC their
I demands for assistance. are Immediate
| ly taken back to the main army or col
uuin by two smaller columns of carriers
/ which are constantly running IN two
/ double rows Tone OF each being laden
/ and the other not on either side of the
main column. On either side of the
d
ming up and down a few individuals Of
/ smaller size. lighter color, and having
! larger heads han he other ants. These
appear to perform the duty of officers,
/ for they never leave their stations, and
while actively running up and down the
/ outside OF the column, they seem intent
/ only on maintaining order In the march,
stopping every now and then 10 touch
( some member of 5he rank and file with
their autenhH. as if giving directions.
When the scouts discover wasp 3
nest in Il tree, a 81 rOng force Is sent out
from the main army. the nest Is pulled
to pieces, and all the larvae in the nest
are carried by the carrier columns to
the rear Of the army. while ,he wasps
fly aTOnud dpfenseless against the invad-
ing multitudes. Or, if the nest of any
other species OF ant is found a similar
~ strong force is sent Oul. CT even he
whole army may be deiirctvd toward 1t,
when with the utmost energy the inuu-
mrrdbie insects set to work to sink
shafts and dig mines TIL The whole nest
is ritled of its contents. In these min
ing operations the EcitOns work Will
an extraordinary display of organization
/ cooperation tor those low down III the
shafts do not lose time by carrying uL
The earth which they eXcavate but pass
Oh he pellets TO those above, and the
ants on the surface. when they receive
the pellets. carry them only just fan
enough to insure that they shall uot roll
back again into the shaft. aud. after
having deposited tEem at a safe dis
tauce. immpdjar civ hurry hack for more
Tue EcitOuS have nu fixed nest them
selves tout live. as il were Ou prTprt
/ Ual campaign. \ night. however They
call % halt aud pitch camp For thi,
purpose .hry usually select piece o'
broken ground iu -hr m'rr-r ices o
hicu lnry lemprrbriy ~-urr he'll
rud-E.