Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-08
OUR GREAT ANTS.



of the Insect Pests?
While the foothold obtained by the cot
tony cushion or white scale upon the trees
and shrubbery of Sacramento demands the
utmost effort on the part of every property
owner and householder for its extermina-
ton. by application of every method and
remedy that promises success or relief, it is
at TIE same time desirable to seek for ma
lures method of maintaining an equilib-
rum in the insect world. For there is
nothing more certain than that when one
variety in the insect kingdom becomes so
prolific as to be apparently over riding all
others, and causing alarm by its fecundity
and ravages, it is multiplying itself to be-
come the food of some other insect
or parasite which hiss Heretofore re-
manned obscure for the want of this or
some other suitable insect food upon
which to subsist. The food having been
abundantly provided, the environment is
complete tor the parasite TO thrive, and it
Immediately commences to do so to the ex-
termination of the food it preys upon.
Every noxious insect IS the food, or in time
becomes the " meat of some other. Thus
Swift in his Rhaps dy puts it
So, nsturalists observe a flea
las smaller meas IlaI on MIN prey,
And these have smaller still to bite 'em,
And so proceed dd infiGit1tm.
The facts and suggestions set forth in an
article in the REcoRD-UNIoN on last Satur-
day, in which part, as shown by our in
yestigetions, is evidently being played by
the large black ants, has excited much III
terest, and brought forward other facts in
support of this theory.
Thus, at the residence of T. W. Sheehan,
at Twenty-first and U streets, one of his
! orange trees some months since became
sickly in appearance, and upon examining
IL the tree was found to be very badly in
tested with large black scale. Shortly after
wards it was observed that the black ants
were active upon the tree, but nothing was
thought at the time of connecting them
with operations against the scale. The
further fact was observed, however, thai
| there were no ants upon the other orange
trees in the yard, which were in a thirty
ing condition. After the publication in
Saturdays RECORD of the discovery
| made at w. A. Curtis place, the orange
tree which was some time since SO badly
| infested was found to be entirely free from
scale; the ants had all disappeared, and the
tree was again taking on healthful and
vigorous appearance. The other orange
| trees in the yard were then examined
was upon all of them. Not only this, but
| the ants were also found upon every tree
running up and down the trunks and on
the limbs, evidently living upon and ex-
| terminating the scale, as they had done
upon the tree which they had already
cleaned and abandoned for want OF an
enemy to conquer.
Another instance was yesterday given Of
the predatory and warlike operations OF the
| aut upon another class of insect pests. The
gentleman who gave the Information
has long been a Superintendent in gold
mining operations, and relates that in early
days the miners cabins frequently became
infested with chinch or bed bugs and ants
were used to get rid of them. The first ht
remembered Of the employment of ants fol
| this purpose, the cabin of an adjoining
company became very thickly inhabited
| with the undesirable chinch, so that thS
owners preferred to occupy the outside
| rather than the inside of the primitive
castle. An old pioneer, who had associ
ated much with the Indians in early times
said he could eliminate the pests from the
cabin in short order. So saying he locked
about and finding an old stump that wa:
| filled with ants he carried il into the cabir
and set it in the center of the floor anC
went out, saying they would "do the bust
|
enough, as they scattered from the stump
they commenced a destructive raid upor
the enemy, and within day or two not
single chinch could be found anywher.
| about the place. This. the gentleman re
marked became the common method 0
disposing ot this class of pests in most min
ing camp n early times.
Another gentleman Endorsed the state
ment of the customs of early California ex
isencies, and said it was also well known
fact, and which was frequently resorted t
in those days, that vermin infested gar
ments spread upon the ground in clos,
proximity to an ants nest, would b
promptly and reliably ceansed of all un
desirable occupants, and were rendered
again perfectly safe for personal wear.
These instances and facts all tend Il
demonstrate that the discovery made of tn
depredations of ants upon scale pests ma,
be of the very utmost importance, and tina
the heretofore obnoxious ant bids fair t
become general fayorite and ally of man
kind
In this connection, all persons who have
knowledge of facts which would tend t,
show that ants or other parasitic insect
are the natural enemies and feed upon an,
of the fruit or foliage pests, are requested t.
furnish the same to this office, that th
value Of these insects for such purpose
may be determined