Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1898 — Ants that Have Slaves of Their Own. [ARTICLE]

Ants that Have Slaves of Their Own.

Many specimens of ants are incapable of managing their own nests or of rearing their young, and these, in consequence, impress into their service the workers of other species of ants, and leave all the rough work to their captives, says the St. Louis Globe-Demo-crat. Periodically 'the master ants set off on a slave-hunting expedition. They find out the nest of a special ant, whose aid they need; they raid it, and, overcoming its defenders, enter, and bear off triumphantly the pupae. These are carried to the masters’ nest, where they are speedily hatched, and toil industriously for their masters. So lazy and dependent upon their willing slaves do the master ants become, that, at length, they are unable to feed themselves. Food has been placed before these lords of the ant creation, and they would not even take the trouble to eat. Then slave ants were introduced; theV tidied up the place and fed their masters. The ants have some method of knowing members of their own tribe; if an ant is put into a strange colony, it is instantly killed as an intruder; while if one is taken from its home and restored to it after a long lapse of time, it is immediately welcomed and recognized. Sir John Lubbock took twelve ants, six from each of two different colonies, and ma'de them drunk; then they were all put back into ope of the colonies. The ants carried away their companions, and took care of them until they recovered, while the foreigners were dropped into the water.