The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-03
TIE GUATEMALAN ANT.

TIE GUATEMALAN ANT.
Government Will Nurse the Expert
ments Closely.
There is a great demand for the
Guatemalan ants from the cotton
planters of Texas, says Houston let
ter; but the government entomologists
are to ke p the imported colonies
carefully during the remainder OF the
season and through the winter to see
what their habits are.
The ants are in the government
laboratory at Victoria under the dl-
rect charge Of DR.. Hunter, in charge
Of that brach Of the government werk
in Texas; Entomolcgist Cook, who
brought the insects from Guatemala,
aand Prof. Lowton, curator Of the civic
museum Of Philadelphia, who is at
present engaged in the government
work in Texas.
The ants were brought into Texas
10 bottles, the heart It the nest with
the queen cell having been carefully
encased and Guatemalan dirt placed
In the Jar. TIE colonies have multi
piled greatly since the ants were put
in the tott!es, and Entomologist Cook
arrived with about 5000 healthy
pecimens, divided into eighty-nine
colon:eS.
Several facts have already been de-
tie, mined in the experiments which
are being conducted. 1t has been
found that the ants will not seek the
weevil, but that when they run across
a moving iDsec they will at once at
tack. The weeyil plays possum, and
so long as it stays perfectly still the
ants crawl over and around it without
any attempt at molestation. When q
weevil moves it is seized at once and
an effort made to force back it's head
that the ant may get its sting on the
exposed flesh Of the mack, tie armor
Of the weevil protecting its body else
where. II one ant Is not sufficiently
strong for this work 1t is assisted by a
] fellow, there appearing to be perfect
harmony between them and an under
standing as to how to work together.
So far no weevil has been found to
escape when once attacked.
There being fear that perhaps the
imported ant would not be able to
hold it's own against the native red
ants, which are generally considered
as beirg vicious, a number OF them
were procured and paced in nest Ct
the Guatemalans. The result was
ascertained within very few seconds,
1.-The Texans being wiped out and put In
fstorage as food inasmuch as the Texas
ants are generally regarded as a
nuisance by the farmer, the Guate-
malans may prove a relief from them
as we'll as from the Weeyils.
1t has been further ascertained chat
the ants frequent the cotton plants
for the nectar thereof. They appear
to be very fond Of this secretion, and
so are the boil weevils. The ants
swarm over the cotton plant and at
tack the Weevil as quickly as found,
seeming to prefer the INSECT food to
the nectar.
It is proposed to establish colonies
Of the ants on tie farm near Victoria
controlled by the government for ex-
perimental purposes. The plan is to
inclose a place about IL feet square
and to establish a colony at each corn
er thereof. The nests now contained
in the bottles will be taken therefrom
and set In the ground, it being the
hope that the ants will at once resume
their normal habits and 60 to house
keeping without loss Of time. Thick
stakes and sheets Of tin will be sunk
into the ground to such depth as will
make it as certain as may be that the
ants cannot burroW beneath them,
and the tin will be extended upward
to prevent them crawling over the
top of the stockade. Here they will
be fed on cotton plants within the In
closure, so that the ants may be at
liberty to attach them with out hav-
ing the task forced upon them. The
study Of the habits Of the insects will
be maintained at all times and an
accurate log kept. They will be
observed at night as well as by day to
determine as to their nocturnal
habits.
1t is expected that they will hibar-
nate during the winter, as do the ma
tive varieties, but the latter have
some bad habits which will be looked
for in the visitors. Arrangements will
be made to so construct at least one
of the colonies that a portion Of its in
terror may be observed from time to
time.
There will be nothing further done
about the Injunction asked by Ross
Clark. DR.. Hunter has given his per-
sonal pledge that there shall te no
liberation Of the ants until it has been
definitely determined that there is no
danger Of their becoming pest, and
as that was the sole point in Mr..
Clark's contention he rests satisfied.
A large number of applications are
already on file from cotton planters
asking for colonies Of the ants and
agreeing to take them on any condi.
tions that may be imposed by the
government.