The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-12
INSECTS THAT ARE FARMERS.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE AGRICULT-
URAL ANTS OF MENICo.

nora. Mex. These are the so-called agri-
cultural ants, which plant fields OF grain
and regularly harvest their crops. Upon
the latter they depend wholly for fooG.
In fact, If the crops should fail. they
would perish of famine. on the other
hand, the cereals which they grow have
been specialized by cultivation. like the
wheat and rice of the human husbandman.
and would quickly disappear If the at
tention of the insects were withdrawn.
The fields of the farmer ants cover
scores of squares miles in Sonora, large
part OF which is quite densely populated
by them. The home OF colony is marked
ordinarily by a circular clearing from five
TO thirty-fve feet in diameter. on which
nothing is permitted TO grow. This serves
as a sort Of parade and exercise ground.
Around the clearing is a ring of luxurian,
grass from three TO twenty feet wide. On
the seeds of this grass the insects sub
sist, planting 1t every spring and gar
nering the crop in the autumn. Across the
rings which surround the formicarics run
turnpikes a few inches wide. connecting
farm with farm for many furlongs.
In the region described there is prac-
tically no Vegetation except the grasses
cultivated by these ants. The ants appear
to keep down and exterminate all other
plants, such as cacti. greasewood and
mesquite. The plants naturally prevail
ing in that part cf the country are en-
tirely absent from the most thickly set
tied farming districts. In short these IN
scots have developed an art of agriculture
peculiar to themselves. have made conquest
or the land for their needs, and have ar
tihcialized certain cereals as thoroughly
as maize and barley have been artificial
zed by man.
Thus" says Prof MCGEE. the rigor-
Gus environment Of the desert has de-
velopcd one of the most remarkable in
telligencies; and. incidentally an animal
ana plant have come to be mutually de-
pendent upon each other for existence"
The agriculture of these ants seems 10
be far more extensive in Sonora than in
IeNas, where their farming operations
have been extensively described by Henry
G. MCCOok. on the fat table lands of
the Lone Star state their farms are plent-
nully scattered. These, like those Of Mex
leo, are mostly aat and circular clearings
from which communication is had by
roads with the surrounding cultivated her
bage. In the center Of each such clearing
is a hole which serves as a gateway
opening into the subterranean formcary
There are several species Of these ants
however. and at least one of them con-
structs conical mound which takes the
place of the clearing. So widely distrib-
uted are the farms that they are found in
the very streets and gardens Of Austin.
~ Nlt tune OF lit harvest one OF more
of the roads leading to the formicary
may be seen on any fine day TO be
thrOnged with workers. marching to and
fro in a double column, one going and
one coming. The pathway is trodden hard
by their feet. Those coming are heavily
laden, each carrying seed. They do not
gather the seeds from the grasstops. but
pick IN those which have ripened and
fallen For these they search on the
ground in the forest of grassstalks, feel
ing for them with their antennae. Having
-aE - aIf srgf.
the burden so to be carried most easily,
and finds her way back to the road along
which she trots homeward. finally disap-
pearing through the gateway.
Within the gate IS vestibule from
which a passageway leads downward at
slant to the rooms beneath Some of
these rooms are nurseries for the rear
ing of the young of the colony, while
others are granaries IN which the seeds
are stored. Usually the rooms are shaped
somewhat like horSeShoes, the walls and
floors being neatly and smoothly finished
with plaster, for which suitable earth
is brought from above and made adhesive
with the saliva Of the insects There Is
apt to be one grand storeroom two inches
or so in height and three or four inches
long, the other apartments being some
what smaller. All of them are formed
with domes.
The seeds. before being stored in the
granaries, are husked. All refuse, in
Guiding husks and imperfect seeds, is car
ried out and thrown outside the limits Of
the formicary. Nothing is permitted to
remain on the clearing. Anything that
falls uDon Il is cut to pieces and taken
away. If a luckless tumblebug rolls its
bah into the forbidden territory, 1t Is
driven away. or. # 1t refuses to retreat,
is promptly killed. The workers possess
very formidable sttngs, which are used
with effect upon too-inquisitive human be-
ings The poison seems to be quite pow
erful, causing good deal of inhamma-
tiOn and sometimes nausea. However,
the insects are quite peaceful unless out
rageously disturbed.
In Texas the farmer ants also gather
/ the seeds of crotonS and of several species
of weeds. After they have harvested their
grain IN the autumn, they carefully cut
away ell the dry stubble, so that their
/ fields may be ready for planting in the
/ spring. Respecting the methods of plant
I ing adopted by the insects no reliable OBJ
| servations have been made up to date. All
! of the labor of whatever description Is
! performed by the workers. who are unde-
veloped females. The males do nothing
/ the sole purpose OF their existence being
to perpetuate species. The developed fe-
males are destined to become the mothers
of future colonies, as will be presently de
scribed.
The developed females and the male.
have wings, while the workers possess
none. The workers constitute the bulk OF
the population, being divided into two
! classes-wOrkers major and workers min
or. The former are chiefly distinguished
from the latter by the fact that they
have bigger heads. The males are big
ger than the workers and smaller than the
eighths of an inch long. The color Of the
farmer ant is dark-brown. The males and
developed females do not go out of doors
at all except for exercise and sun-baths.
These ants always establish their colo
MES in places where there is unobstructed
sunlight-doubtless because shade would
interfere with their farming operations
If a tree grows up near them, they will
| cut off every one of its leaves in early
| spring. They work only in the cool part
/ of the day and when it is cloudy About
the first of December they retire into
their habitations and appear to undergo
a sort OF Information. Doubtless tneil
stores of grain serve to provide them with
| food during this period In early spring
when it is sunny and warm, they come
| out and bunch themselves in balls as big
| as mans fist. When fairly aroused to
| activity by the advancing season. they
| start in busiy to clean up the clearing
/ removing ell refuse and making every.
| thing ready for the planting. The favor
/ tie cultivated plant is the familiar buffalo
! grass.
When the time comes for the annual
marriage flight, the winged males and fe.
| males issue from the fornnicaries in vast
I numbers so that the air is filed witt
them while other armies march over tbs
ground. The mating being accomplished
/ the females fly away. while the males
| almost Immediately die. In a well-popu
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