Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-10-10
Tiny Warriors.

Z
Ecitons, which have no permanent
homes, but spend nearly all their time
in warlke expeditions. An army Of
these Ecitons, as it moves forward,
clears the ground of all animal matter
dead or alive. Every living creature
that can get out of the way does SO.
1t is especially the various tribes of
wingless insects that have cause to fear,
such as other kinds of ants, heavy
spiders, grubs, caterpillars, etc. If
alman making his way through the
tropical forest happens to eucountera
column of these ants, he is instantly
attacked. Numbers of the ferocious IN
sects swarm up his legs, and wherever
they find bare spot they attack it,
each one driving his pincer-like jaws
into the skin, and stinging with its tail
with all its might. The Eciton sting9
like bee, as well as bites. There is
nothing for a man to do but run, and
when he gets to place of safety he
proceeds to pluck off the insects one
by one. Usually, in the operation,
they are pulled in twain, their heads
and jaws stickingin the wounds. These
military ants never let go when once
they have seized anything.
Some species of the Ecitons are
found in Texas and elsewhere in the
United States, but they are most nu-
inerous in Brazil. Their armies often
number millions, and move in serried
columns. Nothing living can success
fully oppose them, and the largest and
fercest creatures ofthe forest fly before
them to escape being devOured.
Wherever they move, the whole
animal world is set in commotion and
put to precipitate rout.
As it moves forward in steady, discl-
plined march, the main body of the
army is<made up of worker ants, So
called, though they are fighters as well
as toilers. For every thousand workers
there are perhaps fifty Soldier ants,
which are of same breed but specially
built for fighting purposes, having
enormous heads and powerful jaws.
These soldiers never carry anything
or attend to any other business ap-
parently, but trot along on the TANKS
Of the column, being distributed at
regular intervals like Gubaltern officers.
Their shining white heads make them
very CONSPICUOUS, bobbing up and
down as the regiments pass over
INEQUALITIES in the road. While an
army progresses in compact order,
skirmishers are thrown out, and here
and there small column leaves the
main body to forage. If some very
rich place be found anywhere near the
line Of march-as a mass of decayed
wood abounding in insect grubs-a halt
is ordered, and a strong force is con-
centrated upon it. The ants search
every Granny and tear in pieces all the
grubs they drag to light.
While on the march, the Ecitons
not only clear the ground of every
thing that lives, but climb to the sum-
mts of the highest trees, searching
every leaf. If they find wasp's nest
they gnaw away the papery covering
to get at the young grubs, cutting
everything to tatters regardless Of the
infuriated owners who are flying about.
There is species of ant known as
Dorymyrmex which, though extremely
minute, does not hesitate to attack
the largest ants, fastening itself upon
the enemy and biting off its legs and
antennae. A field Of battle on which
these little terrofs have fought against
an army Of wood ants is covered with
fragmentsry remains. Sometimes
they attack the harvesting ants, de-
gtroyiDg colony and carrying of all
the stored provisions. These harvest
ing ants are very numerous in Texas,
and are famous for their curious skill
as agriculturists. They are said to
plant real fields Of grain, cultivatiDg
various species Of grasses which serve
them as food. When the seeds Of the
grasses ripen and fall to the ground,
the ants carry them to their store
houses and put them away.
The military ants have kingdoms
which can boast populations as numer-
GUS as any Of the nations Of men. AS
many as 1000 huge nests have been
found together, constituting single
empire. Such a kingdom probably
has from 2OO,OOo,OOO to 4OO,OOO.OOO
inhabitants, all forming one communi-
ty and living together in active and
friendly intercourse, while they are
on hostile terms with all other nations
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