Daily Honolulu press., 1885-12-28
THE HONEY-ANTS.
PECULIAR HABITS OF THESE cuRl.
GUS NOCTURNAL INSECTS.
Laying Up Sweets for Rainy Day -selec-
ticn II Living Storage Bottles
ing Care Of the Honey
Bearers.
youths COMPANION ]

l1outh's Companionl
The honey. ants are found from southern
Mexico as far north as Colorado, and are
easily recognized by the tall mounG-like
structures or nests that they erect
They are like the owl, almost entirely
nocturnal carryiIs on their outdoor work
at night although their domestic duties
underground are probably not neglected
during the day. AS soon as the darkness
comes on, they sally out of their sub
terranean cities, and wander about, climb
ing bushes and trees In search of the food
Of their choice. which, curiously enough.
Is honey.
This will occur to yW as an excep-
tional case among ants, as they gener-
ally, perhaps, as q rule, feed upon mate
rial that can be stored up; but here where
the food is liquid you would assume that
II could not be laid by for rainy day, so
to speak. for the simple reason that the
ants have no tanks, asks or bottles tn
hold the supply, nor the ingenuity TO
make them. Let us not say, however,
that they have not sufficient intelligence
to find a substitute as they certainly
have. XII
PECULIAR FORMATION.
II we examine one Of these ants, we
shall find that the abdomen, OF rear
larger portion, is protected by ten plates
or bands that are movable, and as they
are connected or underlaid by very deli
cate membrane almost like rubber, they
can be stretched apart TO wonderful de-
gree, allowing the abdomen to assume the
appearance Of a tiny balloon four or five
times its normal size The ants also have
a crop that Is capab of great distention,
and governed by sets of powerful muscles;
in other respects they resemble ordinary
ants.
Now by some arrangement, whether by
agreement taking their turn. or by force.
Is not known, certa n ants are selected by
the others as living bottles; In other
words. they are Obliged to receive the
supply brought in by the rest, and retain
1t When the foraging ants return, they
have their CROPS filed with honey, and
proceed directly to the bottles
Placing their mouths In contact with
that Of the unfortunate living receptacle. by
contraction Of the muscles mentioned, the
contents of the crop are forced out and
into the bottle. Ant after ant unloads in
this way. until the elasticity of the recip-
lent is tested to the utmost and 1t can re-
ceive or hold no more
The ifONbl- BEARERS.
The insect is then absolutely helpless
The crop and abdomen have expanded
until II resembles an amber-hued sac as
we have seen. the size of currant the
head and limbs having almost disap-
peared, hanging upon the side like a
stem. while the other organs within the
little creature are so pressed out of shape
that 1t is with the greatest difficulty they
are traced.
Loaded down in this way. aud surfeited
with sweets. the bottles are naturally
powerless, and that this is appreciated
by the others Is evident from an examina-
tion Of their nests, when 1t will be
found that the honey. bearers are
given separate room and there
tended with the greatest care.
They are, perhaps. placed there before
being filled. or carried in later but in
any case they are found together In sep
arate apartment, hanging from the roof
to which they cling with their limbs. and
appearing liRe ripe fruit suspended from
invisible vines.
This. then, is the pantry, or store
room, of the honey ants. and here is kept
what corresponds. to the winter store oi
other animals. When the other ants are
hungry they proceed to this room and
lick off the drops of honey that by muscu-
lar contraction are forced out by the
patient and never hungry living bottle.
The nests of the honey-ant are eagerly
sought after by the native Mexicans, and
the store.houses pillaged of the bottles
that are served as delicacies by them.