DRIVER ANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 103, 21 October 1911, Page 9

DRIVER ANTS.

A FASCINATING NATURE WONDER, In his recent book. -'(Sold Coast Palaver," Mr. L. P. Bowler says:—"One of the most fascinating wonders of Nature in the African hush are the mysterious black driver ants, or termites. The workers amongst these creatures are about a quarter of an inch in length, tbe •soldiers half an inch, and the captains or generals nearly seven-eighths of an inch, 1 have continually watched these insects on the march, and on one occasion traced the same procession for over a mile in length. They form up in close formation with marvellous precision and regularity; forming a line about 2in wide the workers or carrier ants march 12 abreast, and at regular intervals a small body of three or four rows of warrior ants ae embodied in the procession. On eithei* Hank, at a distance of Bin apart, are the captains or guards, possessing formidable nippers, held high up from the ground, ready to give fight on the slightest provocation. The procession takes the form of a long straight line, and travels at the run, straight across the country, selecting cover as much as possible. If any obstacles are encountered they climb over them in graceful undulations, but | prior to making a march they send a i pioneer force to spy out and construct a road. This force consists of soldiers j as guards, excavators and tunnel-making ants. Their road-engineering is remarkable. It is marvellous how these tiny creatures surmount the obstacles and . construct tunnels under exposed portions on the road of march. I have seen a continuous tunnel, a length of 32ft and a height and breadth of about lin, with three air-shafts, the earth excavated being carried to its approaches and forming a bank or causeway. This work had all been carried out in one night. In ' places they excavate long, open trenches, here and there leaving a small tunnel or bridge. In the procession now and then are seen half-a-dozen or more ants carrying ■ a piece of bark, caterpillar, or some in- -.. I sect they have encountered in their (' march, often 10 or 12 times their own I size. Others in the procession carry their eggs, children, wounded, sick or de-id comrades. Whenever a point of danger is passed, they post a strong body body of fighting ants. Every animal and reptile makes way for them, and if a disabled snake or rat by any chance gets in their road it is instantly covered, and thousands of sharp, razor-like pincers are at work, tearing away the flesh and attacking the vulnerable parts. The ' long earth-worms commen to the jungle, if encountered, are cut in a few seconds into hundreds of pieces and removed out of the path. If one breaks the line, in a second or two they swarm out in every direction, looking" for the enemy. Their system of communication, both to their leader and to the rear, is simply marvellous. News of the obstruction' is instantly telegraphed along the line, a halt is called, and those in the vicinity I of the breakage halt, marking time, while the principal captains and soldiers hurry up reinforcements. Scouts are sent out in all directions, and on a satisfactory solution of the cause they reform into line and continue as though nothing had happened, leaving a strong outpost at the scene of interruption. These pugnacious creatures will face fire for a time, perishing by the thousand, until they recognise the futility of Jt and reluctantly retreat. The pioneer or scouting work, spying-out and mapping a suitable road, is oftyi done in the daytime; but night is chosen for the heavier work, and the march terminates , as soon as the sun is high up in the heavens and exerts its heat. One marvels at the military organisation of these creatures, their sagacitv and extraordinary discipline and knowledge of their power, based on "unity is strength." Amidst the wondrous and mysterious work of Nature, the ant occupies one of the foremost places in indefatigable industry, forming a subject of intense and absorbing interest to the observant mind.