BATTLE OF ANTS

Evening Star, Issue 18119, 8 November 1922, Page 1

BATTLE OF ANTS

RIVAL COLOfNIES AT AVAIL War, relentless and primitive, liasbroken out at llio London Zoo (states “A.L.IL in the ‘ Daily Chronicle ’). The combatanls arc Iho two colonics of wood ants. One colony Iras ibeooroo over-populated, and it is impossible to equalise tho communities, for neither will associate amicably with the, other. It was decided, il 'll Orel ore, that the rival tribes should) be allowed to light t-ho matter out between themselves. ‘ The British Instructional .Films, Ltd., who, by arrangement with ■the Zoological Society, are producing kincmatograph records of animal life at the Zoo tor public exhibition, seized upon the opportunity to film the remarkable spectacle. Bach colony o; ants had hitherto been separated from 'the other by a moat, and when everything was ready all tha.t was needed to "open hostilities was to bridge the moat with a slice of _ Umber. It is a curious fact that the inmates of the over-populated nest—the Blue Forco—aro much smaller than those of the Rod Force, so that the contest resolved itself into one between quality and quantity. To a,void the Red Force being overwhelmed by numbers at the outset, they were given the “ Stand to” by the keeper, who thrust a stick into their “G.11.Q,” for the purpose. At “zero,” tho bridge' was laid. Immediately .s-kiniiip-hers could bo seen advancing over it, challenging one another in unmistakable manner by means of their antennas, and engaging in single combat. Others could be observed scurrying back for reinforcements, and soon the ground near the bridgehead was swarming with adversaries. The Red Force used marvellous discretion, for, instead of rushing over the bridge and being overwhelmed by tho hordes on the other side, (they stood their ground, and as fast, as the enemy invaded their territory they were seized and taken hack to the baso,, a.s prisoners. Far baeik from the fighting lino prisoners could be seen hauled along to bo lianded over to the guards at the rear.

At midnight the battle was only developing. There were already many casualties. Ants could bo plainly observed 'throwing combatants off the bridge into ithe water, friendly ante coming to tho rescue of the victims, and workers busily engaged in carrying away the dead to the respective cemeteries.