Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 299, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1918 — ANT NURSES OF BUTTERFLIES [ARTICLE]

ANT NURSES OF BUTTERFLIES

Peculiar Relationship Which Naturalists Have Observed Between Creatures Which are Enemies. ./ ■ .1 ■■■■■- Ants and butterflies are not ordinarily on friendly terms, for ants have a ruthless custom of seizing and devouring their winged acquaintances, is, however, one species of butterfly the larvae of which are protected by the large black ants found in Indian gardens. % The secret of thlf care lies in the fact that the larval give out a sweet liquid of which the Jaunts are very fond, and which they obtain by gently stroking the little creatures with their antennae. At the foot 6f a bush on wtych the larvae feed, the ants construct a temporary nest and are then reauy to act as attentive nurses. About the middle of June the ants ’are busy running about on this bush in search of the larvae, and driving them downward toward their own nest./When the prisoners teach their plates, they at once fall Into pupae. During this period, if the loose earth at the foot of the bush be scraped mvay, hundreds of larvae and pupae (may be seen arranged in a broad even Mod about itstrunk. in about a week the butterfly iefi ready to cbme forth apd Is tenderly assisted to/leave lt»-sheIL If It is strong antl healthy, it Is allowed to sbre&L its wings and fly away, but shpwOt prove delicate the ants exertljfe utmost care in assisting it to the tree, and holding it there tn safety. It is a curious sight to watch these fragile creatures going about in perfect confidence among the fierce ants, t which have, however, by no means adopted the profession of nursing for the love of it, for when the larvae of another species are thrown among them they immediately set upon them and tear them in pieces.