DOMESTIC DEPRAVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1429, 2 May 1912, Page 5

DOMESTIC DEPRAVITY.

HABITS OP A QUEENSLAND ANT. When Solomon counselled the eluggard to take example from the ant, he could not have been thinking of the extraordinary doniestic arrangements of a Queensland ant, described by Mr. G. V. Hudson, F.E.S., at last night's meeting of tho Wellington. Philosophical Society. "Tho prime actor in the proceedings," said Mr. Hudson, "is a species of moth knotfn as Cyelotoma Monocentra, described by Meyrick. This moth deposits great quantities of eggs on twigs in the vicinity of the ants nests. The little caterpillars which emerge from these eggs first live as parasites upon the body of a jassid, a homopterous insect somewhat resembling a cicada. Here they feed for a short time on tho juices of the jassid, but sooa leavo their host, and inclose themselves in a small cocoon, where they are transformed into a woodlouse-looking c. ■ "erpillar, which is the secondary larval .' .ge of cyclotorna. On leaving the cocoon the caterpillar is almost immediately Boized by an ant, and forcibly taken into the depths. of the nest. Here it feeds on the young of the ants, destroying as many as three larvae in a few minutes, but despite this fact the ants not only prevent the caterpillars from leaving their nests, but continually introduce fresh ones. The caterpillars excrete a juicy fluid, which is eagerly consumed by the ants. The caterpillars are also stated to "groom" the ants, but tho benefits thus conferred can hardly compensate them for- the loss of so many of their young. The caterpillar finally leaves the ants' nest to undergo its transformation into a pupa. The whole position is thus clearly summarised by Mr. Meyrick in a supplementary note at the conclusion of Mr. Dodd's paper-.—'The term "antI'rierid" seems scarcely accurate, the moth appearing to have by far the best of the bargain. One is reminded of the crocodile styled "protector of the poor." . The unfortunate ant, blinded by his partiality for liquor, overlooks the fact that it,Ms produced entirely at the ospenso of his own larvae devoured. The moth, on the other hand, is merely getting rid of a by-product of his digestive system, whilst obtaining free quarters, shelter, and protection from enemies, and a permanent food-supply in all seasons. The whole life-history is most curious, and as an instance of double parasitism unique, so far as I know.' '. "The habits thus disclosed," said Mr. Hudson, "are so depraved, so novel, and so foreign to what has always been regarded as characteristic of ants, that I Have veatured to bring it under the notice . of the society." ' Mr. Hudson added that his information was drawn from a paper read by Mr. P. P. Dodd before the Entomological Society of London, and Mr. Dsdd's re"peated observations placed the facts beyond doubt. ■ • ■