Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-06-07

Many Of Their Habits Like Those of Man-They
/ Build habitations on Geometrical Principles
and Fine Roads to Them-They Bury Their
Dead in Cemeteries of Their Own, and with
Funeral Rites-They are SklfuIl Civil Ensi
neers, for Their Size-Destroy Vermin and
Produce Cross Fertilization Of Plants.
| N. Y World
When two ant armies meet, their
engagement becomes series of sepa-
rate duels. When two ants meet in
fight they first throw acid on each
other and then clinch in a death
struggle.
Huber and others who have watched
ant battles record the fact that ants
sometimes hold on to each other for
three days and nights; or until one or
the other succumbs.
The species Myrmecina LatrelH 90
not fight; but, when attacked roll
themselves up into tight ball. Their
bodies in this position are so hard that
their enemies can make no impression
on them. Another species, the Tetra-
naOrium Coespitum, feigns death when
attacked, and thus escapes punish
ment.
Sir John Lubbock records that in
many ant nests are to be found certain
tiny insects, much smaller than the
ants, which seem to bear to the ants
the same relation which domestic pets
do to man.
These little insects run about
among the ants, do no work, and fol-
low their own bent in indulging in
pastimes. The young ants associate
mainly with these insects. They
have been observed at games which
resemble hide.and seek.
The little insect technically called
the Stenamma JVestwooden, wood in
sect, goes into the nest of the red ant,
and becomes a dog of the tribe. 1t is
often seen riding on the backs OF the
red ants, as if in play.
Ant nests are at times very large.
A species in South Africa builds its
mound from twelve to fifteen feet
high. Lubbock mentions that ants
build fine roads leading to these
mounds.
The interiors are followed out in
hexagonal shaped compartments.
Ants seem to be acquainted with
the principal OF the arch; often their
roofs are supported by this architectu-
raj device.
Many ant villages bury the dead in
cemeteries on the outskirts of the
mounds. When an ant dies two or
more ants bear the body, followed by
train of mourners. The deceased is
buried in an excavated grave.
DIR. Gredler, of Botzen, tells how he
watched train of ants extract sugar
from glass on a ledge above the win.
dow.
A string was the only means the
ants had of reaching the glass. After
passing up and down the string with
grains of sugar for several hours the
ants finally deputed four OF their num-
Der to stay in the glass and shovel the
sugar over the rim. This saved many
trips up and down the string. The
ants on the window sill picked up the
grains and made off with them, finally
emptying the glass.
Prof. Leukart tells how he attempt
ed to prevent ants from getting down
out Of tree by surrounding the base
with tobacco water. The ants, with
captured insects in their mouths,
came down the tree and found their
exit cut off. They dropped their bur.
dens in the water, and when a por.
toon had been made, crossed over dry.
shod.
Tar was next placed around the
tree. The ants resorted to the same
device and escaped; but did not re.
turn to that tree.
| The forming of the pontoon bridges
here narrated is similar to the instance
spoken of by Captain Dreyfus in his
diary.
Studies have been made of the
weight-lifting powers of ants. They
have held strings in their nippers on
the ends of which would be weights
from five to ten thousand times their
own weight.
Ii man $50 pounds in weight
could lift as much as an ant in pro.
portion to size, his capacity would be
800, 900 pounds.
| There are more than 1000 species
of ants known. Darwin proves that
they have been the principal agents in
bringing about cross fertilization in
flowers by running from plant to
plant and carrying the pollen, or frnc-
tifying element.
Ants are great insect destroyers
Prof. Florel found that ants brought
into single nest % insects per min
ute, or about 1000 insects per day
This was small nest of not more
than 5000 ants.
In tropic countries ants keep
houses free from rats in certain dis
tricts. The formidable Driver ant OF
West Africa drives out vermin and
very often the inhabitants Of certain
+. houses. These ants have been known
to kill snakes four feet long.