If ants are such busy workers, how come they find time to go to all the picnics?

I have an agreement with the ants in my garden. They keep out of my house and I leave them alone after all they do a good job of cleaning up dead insects and aerating the soil as they go about their business. On the whole they help to preserve our ecosystem.

And if by chance they do chance their arm by entering my house I deter them by spraying a solution of vinegar mixed with water around the door entrance and window frames. It works for me and we all live happily.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.

When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for days of need.