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The Life of the Ant Queen.

How long may an ant que-en live? In their natural habitat some queens doubtlcs have short lives, but by reason of the protection afforded them and tho seclusion enforced by the workers they probably live much longer than ether members of tho community. Within artificial surroundings they attain a comparatively long life. The oldest emmet que"n kno-swi to wence Mas one preserved under the care of Sir John Lubbock, later "Lord A\<-bnry. A number of years ago, dming a vioit to this distinguished naturalist at his. country seat, High Elms, Kent, tbo writer for the fh-.t time raw this vonetalile &o\e. - pign, living in tho ingenious artificial formicary which had boon p.-epar-^d for her. She was then in f hc punt-} of life-, as it afterwaid appeared, b°ing seven ye?ri old In the 'iimnici 1 of 18S7 Sir John was asain visited, this time at his town houee in London. Aftor gKjeting", be was asked about h;s loyal pet. "I havo sad news to tell you," he answer eel. ''What? Is Hv qiicen dond " "SHe vlicd only yr,- L crdw. I have not ho 'l the heart to t-r 11 tho iicm s as yet even to my 'A if"." Ha^ii! ; offered my hoai'y condolence., I risked tc c co tho d~acl qr.ccn. Sir John led tho way to tho ro^.m where bis artificial iic^t"* wero k.-pt. The glaes ea-.e> which c<v>t.iinc\i t!io sj > 'i \ i<- ••jnirr.y in -*.\\ <-\ the old ant h-'d l ; v d was opened up. Lying in ono ol tiv larq-ev op^n tpacc-^ Oi rooms was th© dead quoen She was surlound^d by a cri/wd cf wj-kci'" 1 , who nero tcadcrly licking her, touchiiig her with their pnto-nnce, and mi'-iing otiicr drmo'.vtranor.s. as if "soliciting h"r attrition or dc sirmg lo wake- he 1 ' out of sleep Poor, dumb, lcving, fuitMul rcaturcs ! There was uo

response. Their queen mother lay motionless beneath their demonstrations. "They do not appear to have» discovered that she is really dead," remarked Sir John. Afterward he wrote me of another queen which died at the age. of fourteen. The ants dragged her body about with them vi hen they moved until it- fell to pieces. — ■ Harper's Magazine.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19040113.2.130

Bibliographic details

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 64

Word Count
371

The Life of the Ant Queen. Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 64

The Life of the Ant Queen. Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 64

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