A TERRIBLE AFRICAN INSECT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3198, 28 September 1881, Page 4

A TERRIBLE AFRICAN INSECT.

When the work of cutting down the wood for our encampment commenced (says Major Serpa Pinto) I saw a sudden commotion among my blacks, who then took to their heels in every direction. Not understanding the cause of their panic, I immediately proceeded to the spot to make enquiries. On the very place which I had selected for mv camp appeared i . ling fro tithe earth million*-- of Mint terrible ant calle'" 1 by Hie Hih-.-ur.s qui-", nde. and it was !>■<■ !ti?ht of t'*.'*--p formidable ceadires wrd-' . i'.f.-v . ti-v ••••ni. ■>'he i|**i*-*S- de nnt i in--' hi* **c uicst i*e''li)iibl»l'-le wild beasts ■•" the Vfrican continent. The natives say it willl even attack and kill an elephant, by ("•warming into his trunk and ears It is an enemy which from its countle.?--mimbers, it is quite vain to attack. and the only safety is to be found in flight. The length of the quissonde is about the eigth of an inch ; its color is a light chestnut, which L'listens in the sun. The mandibles of this fierce hymenopter are of gipat strength, and utterly disproportioned to the size of the trunk. It bites severely, and little streams of blood issue from the wound? it makes. The chiefs of these terrible warriors lead their compact phalanxes to grer t distances and attack any animal they find upon the way. On more than one occasion during my journey I had to flee from the presence of these dreadful insects. Occasionally upon my road I have seen hundreds of them, apparently crushed beneath the foot, get up and continue their march, at first somewhat slowly, but after a time with their customary speed, so great is their vitality.