Ants and Live Stock.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 8

Ants and Live Stock.

Nature Notes

By

James Drummond, F.L.S., F.Z.S.

\T ASHBURTON Mr W. W. Smith ob-

served ants that dwell under stones. Roots of shrubby plants grow into the cooler soil under the stones and, later, are found to be infested bv different species of root-eating insects. The ants, after constructing their nests under the stones, carry the insects, place them on the roots, attend to them, and draw honev-sweet nourishment from them with which to-feed the young £nts. In Taranaki forests, Mr SmUh reports, ants, follow the same practice under stones, out in the open, and under logs. On calm and sunshiny days, when the vegetation is dry, he has seen manv species of ants moving over shrubs and young trees in quest of aphids and other ’ food! Others search the forest flocr and the bark, stems and limbs of trees as high as evesight can detect them. “They are endow d with 'a perfect sense of direction," Mr Smith states, “ and return home safely with the food they gather.”