The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-01
WILL KILL the BOIL WEEv|l.
Recent Discovery Of Wonderful Int
in Guatemala.
It is an Effective Enemy Of the Cot
Ton Pest, and it is Hoped it
Might Easily Learn to Hi
bernate in Texas as
has the Boil wevil.

Washington, May Zf.-41o depart
ment Of agriculture today announced
that an ant has been found in. Guate-
mala thas is an effective enemy OF the
boil weeyil. It will be Immediately
introduced into. the cotton States.
The greatest significance is attached
TO the discovery, which was made by
o. +. Cook, the botanist in charge Of
tropical agricultural Investigations of
the bureau Of plant industry. Cabled
instruction have been sent to him to
report Immediately to the department
what assistance he needs IN the way OF
men and money.
e During a trip in Central America
last year Mr.. Cook discovered a cot
ton, grown by Indians, which gave
evidence OF being immune from the
attacks OF the boil weevil, and on or
ders from the departments he later
began an Investigation in certain
points in Guatemala and Mexico.
Mr. Cooks Investigations have been
in more or less accessible regions in
the province Of Alta Vera Paz,
Guatemala. The weevils are present
there, but the stigations show
that they are unquestionably kept IN
check by the presence OF an active
enemy il the shape Of large reddish
brown ant, which is attracted to the
cotton by the food which it secures
from sets of floral nectaries.
sMr. Cooks investie cations show that
these ants spread themselves over
fields of cotton four or five to plant,
and that they are, constantly engaged
In the. destruction of the boil weeyil.
Mr.. Cook reports that the adriot
and business like way in which the
weeFiI is disposed of seems to prove
beyond question that the ant is, by
structure and by instinct, especially
equipped for the work Of destruction,
and is, In short, the true explanation
of the fact that cotton is successfully
cultivated BY the Indians of Alta Vera
Paz. in spite of the presence OF the
boil WeeyiL
After conference with DR.. B. T.
Galloway, chief Of the bureau Of
plant industry, DR.. Z. O.. Howard,
chief Of the chronological division,
and other experts, Secretary Wilson
today had special bulletin on the
subject printed. Among ether things
this bulletin says:
The ants, like the Indian proba-
bly, came from the dry, open interior
plateau region, where the centre OF
the aboriginal cotton industry of
Guatemala is still located. To es:ab-
lish the fact Of such an origin for this
useful insect would greatly increase
the probability of its successful in
PRODUCTION into the United States.
The acclimatization of thoroughly
tropical animal, requiring continuous
heat and humidity, could scarcely be
hoped for. Il, however, the cotton
ant can survive a long, dry season,
and perhaps cold weather, in the table
lands of Guatemala, it might easily
learn TO hibernate in Texas, as the
boil weevil. The ant is much better
able to protect itself against frost,
since it excayates nest three feet or
more into the ground. Several have
survived confinement for twelve days
without food, and seem now to be
thriving on diet of cane jnice. To
take worker ants to Texas will be,
evidently, very easy matter. but to
secure queens and establish colonies
may require considerable time and ex-
pertinent and a thorough study Of all
the habits Of the species.
Although the cotton seems to be
especially adapted to attract the ant
by means of its numerous hectares,
the insect is not, like some of the
members of its class, confined to a
single plant or TO a single kind Of
pfey. Il attacks and destroys insects
of every order, including the hemi-
ptera, and even centipedes. On the
other hand, it does not do the least
injury to tie cotton, or to any other
plant, SO far as has been ascertained,
and it can be handled with impunity,
baving none OF the waspish i'll temper
of so many of the stinging and biting
ants of the tropics. Since where once
established it exists in large numbers
and seeks its prey actively it is
much more efficient destroyer of
noxious insects than the spider or the
toad. It seems, in short, not un-
likely 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"
Gro,4 Rn1or