THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 44

THE NATURALIST.

THE SPIDER FLY.— A HONEY COLLECTING ANT. In a recent number of the Witness I noticed a contribution from Mr Richard Norman on the subject of the spider fly, in which reference was made by a Tahitian friend of Mr Norman's to an article on the same subject by " Fossicker," which appeared in the Witness about February 1889. A short story, as told to me by " Fossicker " in connection with the above, may not be out of place in this column. The editor of the Otago Witness wrote to requesting him if possible to procure some specimens of the fly, larvre, and spiders. This " Fossicker " did, securing them in matchboxes, which were placed inside a mustard tin, the whole then encased in calico and sewn up in the usual neat and careful style of the male sex. On presentation at the local post office the representative thereof positively declined to accept the package unless it was opened for his inspection, and declared that the rules of the department forbade him taking delivery of it unless shown its contents. Persuasion of all kinds proving useless, " Fossicker " reluc tantly agreed to destroy his neat stitches and open the package, but added that he would not be responsible for what might happen. The postmaster had already been told that tho contents were simply natural history specimens, but zeal would not allow him to accept this statement. " Fossioker's " last remark, however, led him to make further inquiries into the nature of the specimens, when he was informed that the canister was full of spider flies of whose stinging powers he was probably aware. " Fossicker " forthwith made ready to open the package, but was assured by the postmaster that it was entirely unnecessary to do so as the rules of the department (previously so strict) allowed him to use his discretion in such matters, and that he was quite willing to take " Fossicker's " word that the contents were as stated. So great was the postmaster's anxieby to keep that package closed, that had " Fossicker " persisted in opening it there is little doubt but that ho would have been left in sole possession of the post office, but his point was gained, and the package was handed over for transmission. The specimens, I need hardly add, were not live ones. In a January number of the Witness " Entomologist " mentions a honey-collecting ant said to have been discovered by a priest in Central America. I have lost the notes upon the subject, but if I remembei aright "Entomologist" states that no specimens were procurable. Perhaps the following may prove of interest. In Western Australia, about 330 miles inland from the Indian Ocean, and in latitude 27, which would make the locality in the neighbourhood of the recently-discovered Murchison goldfield, a ■ similar ant is found, but so far as I know (in this I may be mistaken) it is entirely unknown to naturalists. I hope soon to procure some specimens, and to have opportunities of observing the insect closely, but at present the information I have gathered regarding it amounts to the following: — The habitat of this ant is in sandy, scrubcovered country in the colony before-men-tioned. A cell or cave is formed in the sand (of what material I have not been able to ascertain), and in this cell are stationed several ants, presumably females and corresponding to the queens amongst bees. To each of these females an egg-shaped receptacle, perhaps half or three-quarters of an inch long, is attached. This is the storehouse for the honey, which is collected by £he working ants of the cell from neighbouring flowers, aud by them transferred not to the bag direct, but to the female attached to it, who in turn transfers it to the bag. The female is tho custodian of the bag, and does not. move from the cell, but leaves the task of collecting honey entirely to the workers as in the case of bees, the only difference being that with the ants several females or queens live and work amicably together, but how many are usually found in a colony I have rot yet ascertained. My information has been difficult to gather, and maybe very stale to those well up in natural history, but to me and perhaps many others the subject is entirely new, and at a later date, when I have personally studied the habits of these interesting insects, I shall, if desired by your readers, endeavour to give a full account of my observations, and to forward to the editor any specimens procurable (postmasters permitting). I£ " Entomologist" is a collector oE specimens, I shall be pleased (if he will plies himself in communication with me through the editor) to procure him specimens of the honey anb or anything else (in reason) that he may desire from that comparatively unknown country in which the honey ant is found. Muioa.