The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-28
Deadly Enemy of the Cotton
 Pest is Discovered
WILL EVEN KILL CENTIPEDES.
Vera Cruz Insect Will Be Brought to Texas and Turned Loose on the Unsuspectne Boil
 Weevl. G

Washington May 27.-The department of agriculture today announced that an ant has been found in Guatemala that is an effective enemy of the boil weevil It will be immediately introduced into the cotton states. The greatest signif- canoe is attached to the discovery, which was made by o. F. Cook, the botanist in charge of tropical agricultural investiga- tions of the bureau of plant industry. Cabled instructions have been sent to him to report immediately to the department what assistance he needs in the way of men or money During a trip through Central Asia last year MT Cook discover ed cotton grown by Indians which gave indications of being immune from the boil weevl. and on orders from the de- partment he later began an investigation in certain points in Guatemala and Mexico.
 WeevIs Kept in Check.
 MT. Cooks investigations have been in more or less accessible regions in tho province of Alta Vera Paz Guatemala The weevils are present there, but the in- vestigations show that they are unques-
  an active enemy in the shape of a large reddish brown ant which is attracted to the cotton by the food which it se- cures from the sets of floral neetaries.
 MT. Cooks investigations show that these ants spread themselves over the field of cotton, four or five to q plant. and that they are constantly engaged in the destruction of the boil weevils. MT. Cook reports that the adroit and business like way in which the weevil is disposed of seems to prove beyond question that the ant Is by structure and instint es- peeialy equipped for the work of destruc- ton, and Is, in short, the true explana- ton of the fact that the cotton IS sue. cessfully cultivated by. the, lndiens of 1 Alta Vera Paz In spite of the preseiics of the boil weevil.
 Special Bulletin Issued.
 After a conference with Dr. E. T. Gallo | way, chief of the bureau of plant indus l try pr. l.. O. Howard, chief of the en- 1 tomological division and other experts, 1 Secretary Wilson today had a special bull letin on the subject printed Among other things this bulletin says:
 "'rhe ants. like the Indians. probably 1 came from the dry. open interior plateau i region where the center of the aboriginal i cotton industry of Guatemala is still To- l cated To establish the fact of such an ] origin for this useful insect would greatly l increase the probability of it's successful l introduction into the United States. The l acclimatization of thoroughly tropical animal requiring continuous heat and hu- l midty, could scarcely be hoped for. If, l however, the cotton ant can survive a l long dry season, and perhaps cola weather in the table lands of Guatemala, it might easily learn to hibernate In l Texas as has the boil weevil.
 '.The ant Is much better able to protect l itself against frost. since 1t excavates a Lest three or II ore feet into the ground. l Several have survived confinement for twelve days without food, and seem now l to be thriving on diet of cane juice. TO 1 take worker ants to Texas will be, evil l dently a very easy matter, but to se- 1 cure queens and the establishment of per- 1 manent colonies may require considerable time and experiment. and thorough study of all the habits of the species
 Destroys Other Insects.
 Although the cotton seems to be es- peeially adapted to attract the ant by means of its numerous necessaries, the in sect is not, like some of the members or it's class, confined to a single plant or to A single kind of prey. It attacks andl destroys insects of every order. including the hemlptrae, and even eentipedes. On the other hand 1t does not do the least injury to the cotton, or to any other plant, so far as has been ascertained, and 1t can be handled with impunity, having none of the waspish ill-temper of so many of the stinging and biting ants of the tropics.
 Since where once established it exists in large numbers and seeks it's prey ac- tivaIy for if is much more efficient destroyer of noxious insects than the spider or the toad. It seems in spirit not unlikely to become a valued assist ant in the agriculture of the tropical and sub-tropical countries, If not in tenn perate regions. The farmer has a new and practical reason to consider the ant "