The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-06-15
BOIL WEEVIL'S ENEMY
Functions of Guatemala Ant
That Kills Cotton Parasite.

Discovery by Agricultural Depart
ment Agent Considered of Great
Importance-Insect Enemy of the
weevfI and other Pests VIII Be
Imported Into Texas-kS77g -
Gu2temala broYa ants haays been
matched for fight 10 a finish against
the Texas boil weevil, says a Washing
ton special despatch to the Chicago
Record Herald. Secretary Wilson has
had experts of the agricultural depart
ment exploring the four corners of the
earth in search of an insect to destroy
the boil weevil and one of his bota-
nists, DR.. 0. +. Cook, has discovered
it in the Guatemala ant.
The Indians of Mexico and the Cen
trail Americas states are able to pro-
duce crops of cotton upon land infested
with the boil weevil In searching for
an explanation DR.. Cook discovered
large brown ants, which, in colonies OF
a half dozen or more, make their homes
near each cotton plant, feeding upon
vegetation of the cotton field, without
injury to the cotton plant. These ants
kill the cotton pest rapidly, prevent it
from reaching the pod and in their
home are a complete protection for the
plant. The ants will be brought to
Texas and liberated.
After q conference with DR.. B. I.
Galloway, chief Of the bureau of plant
industry, and other experts, Secretary
Wilson had a special bulletin on the
subject printed. Among other things
this bulletin says:
1.-THE ants, like the Indians, probably
came from the dry, open interior
plateau region, where the center of the
aboriginal cotton industry of Guate-
mala is still located. To establish the
fact of such an origin for this useful
insect would greatly increase the prob
ability of its successful introduction
into the United States. The acclimi-
tization Of q thoroughly tropical ami
NAL requiring continuous heat and
humidity could scarcely be hoped FOR.
If, however, the cotton ant can survive
a long dry season, and perhaps cold
weather, III TIC ClUlCAuhA0 Va
mala, 1t might easily learn to hibernate
In Texas as has the boil weevil.
1.-THE ant is much better able to pro-
tect itself against frost, since it exca-
Yates a nest three or more feet into
the ground. Several have survived
confinement for twelve days without
food. and seem now to be thriving on
diet Of cane juice.
although the cotton seems to be es-
pecially adapted to attract the ant by
means Of it's numerous hectares, the
insect is not, like some of the members
of its class, confined to single plant
or to a single kind Of prey. 1t attacks
and destroys insects of every order,
including the hemiptera, and even cen
tipeds. On the other hand, 1t does not
do the least injury to the cotton or to
any ether 1,uEt, so far as has been as
certained. and it can be handled with
impunity, having none of the Wasp1sh
i'll temper of so many of the singing
and biting ants Of the tropics. Since
where once established it exists in
large numbers and seeks its prey ac-
lively. it is much more efficient de-
strover of noxious insects than the spi-
der or the toad. 1t seems, in short, not
unlikely to become a valued assistant
in the agriculture of tropical and sub
tropical countries, if not in temperate
regions. The farmer has a new and
practical reason to consider the ant.