The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-04-29
TIE MITES MIMIC MEN.
THEY LIVE IN COMMUNITIES
WITH THEIR QUEEN.
An Austraii N Pest That Eats Throu:"
Wood aud Metal and Has an In
teresting IIome--Thslr
Curious Habits.

tie fellows dashed at the flame and
frizzled to death"
j. Fletcher Watson, the distin-
guished English 4water-color artist
was telling the San Francisco Exam
liner man how he began to study these
insects.
"These queer chaps live in we'll
regulated c, mmunities, with nests oil
terra-cotta made by themselves. II
is masterpiece, this-palc chocolate
in color and perfect mazc of passages
and coils. The ants masticate GER
tain clay into a fine paste and then
beat the mouthful to the walls of the
nest, repeating the operation with
characteristic industry until the work
is finished. Then you hayo a piece
of soft-hued pottery that no potter
could reproduce. Now take a look
inside this cone-shaped thing. 1t all
centcrs round the royal chamber,
gallery after gallery, hall after hall;
for it is in reality palace for their
queen. In the very center is the
queens chamber, the size OF 3 duck
egg. built for her majesty, who is
carefully inclosed on all sides, with
minute pcrforations through the shell
to admit air, food and communication
from without.
When the community is settled in
its fantastic village a certain number
of soldier ants are assigned to the
Office OF courticrs and defenders Of
the queen. The devotion of these
soldier ants to their queen is aston
ishing. The least noise will put
them on their guard, and they
all gather round the royal chamber
with a determination to die or save
her. They seem to have an instinc-
tive antipathy to fire.
II was out sketching in Australia
and happened to let burning taper
fall upon nest.
suddenly there was a great COM
motion within. Some communication
among them must have been held, or
IN alarm that they knew meant
danger to tleir queen was given. for
instantly the brave little soldiers
made charge upon the match, dash
ing themselves to death. Their
bravery had qualities OF iierceness
and picturesqueness in it. Fear was
not known. for If any one soldier de-
serted or acted cowardly the others
would hold ~ court-martial and kill
him. They tugged and bit at that
match, rushed into tho fame and
fought it while they actually were
boing frizzled alive. Several Of them
were burned to death in their gallant
effort to remove the apparent danger
1t all took place in q twinkllng and
the survivors were gone again to the
royal chamber.
"Millions OF these ants live within
o single nest, but they have only one
queen, who cannot be approached by
the myriads of the working ants.
The laborers are outside all day long,
returning at night, but the soldiers
have duty, so they must remain at
home and protect her majesty. The
nests vary from eighteen inches to
five feet in length and have an aver
age circumference OF two feet six
inches.
when cut in halves with fire
saw the sections present marvellous
series Of chambers and passages, di-
vided by delicate walls of terra Gotta,
one outside and the other in concen-
trio rings.
Architects have discovered that
Oregon pine is the only wood that
these ants will not destroy The
ants are one OF the three pests of
rabbits and snakes being
the other two. In paper read be-
fore the institute of architects at
Sydney 1t was stated that the white
ant went through corrugated iron,
and this has been proved incontesta-
bly,. Sheet lead they go through with
ease. Nature evidently
intended them for mischief, for / can
not see what use on earth they are.
They will attack q new house and
ruin it in few months have seen
them under the microscope and can
how they manage to de-
stroy furniture and timber
1.-The ant Is about three-eighths OF
On inch in length and built for bust
ness. He borcs into the wainscoting
near the floor and works upward.
and you know nothing abou. his
presence until you see wood dust
trickling down from minute holes to
the carpet. It's diffioult to doteot him.
rs his color is usually Hike that OF
the wood In which he works.
"Hc has scraper with circular
head or SCOOP" Mr.. Watson explained.
(which extends from his head. and
with this he clears away the borings
When he wants to bore he drives a
sharp spear Nike a brad-awl from
his mouth and works it about in the
wood. Meanwhile, the scoop. which
Is on a joint or hinge, is hanging
downward. The boring finished he
brings up the scoop, or scraper and
cleans away the debris, like any
miner. Another very remarkable
thing about the white ant Is sheath
for Governing his eyes to keep out the