West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-15
BOIL WEEvIL'S ENEMY
Functions of Guatemala Ant
That Kills Cotton Parasite.
QUITE HARMLESS TO PLANT LHR

Discovery by Agricultural Depart-
msnt AGENT Considered OF Great
importanos-Inssot Enemy OF the
WeeNn and other Pests WIN NE
Imported Into rexas-Anothss Ans
That Destroys Cotton Pest.
Guatemala brown ants have been
matched for fight to n finish against
the Texas boil wsovil, says n Washing.
ton special despatch to the Chicago
Record Herald. Secretary Wilson has
had experts OF tho agricultural depart
ment exploring tho four corners OF ths
earth In search OF an insect 10 destroy
the boil wecvll, and ono OF his bota-
nists, DR.. O. t. Cook. has discovered
IL I'm the Guatemala ant ~.
The Indians OF Mexico and tho Cen
trail American states arc able to pro-
duce crops OF cotton upon land infested
with the boil wcevll. In searching for
an explanation DR. Cook discovered
large brown ants, which. I'm colonies OF
a half dozen or moro. make thoir homes
near each cotton plant, feeding upon
vegetation OF the cotton field, without
injury To tho cotton plant. These ants
Kill the cotton pest rapidly, prevent IL
from reaching the pod and I'm their
home are complete protection for the
plant The ants will bo brought 20
Texas and liberated.
After conference with DIR. B. II.
Galloway, chief of the bureau OF plant
industry, and other experts, Secretary
Wilson had Il special bulletin on the
subject printed. Among other things
this bulletin says:
THE ants, like the Indians, probably
came from tho dry, open interior
plateau region, where the center OF the
aboriginal cotton industry OF Guate-
mala is still located. To establish tho
fact OF such an origin for this useful
insect would greatly increase the prob
ability OF its successful Introduction
Into the United States. The accllml-
tlzatlon OF thoroughly tropical ami
NAL requiring continuous heat and
humidity could scarcely be hoped for.
If. however, the cotton ant can survive
n long dry season, and perhaps cold
weather, I'm the tablclands OF Guate-
mala, II might easily learn to hibernate
In TexRs as has the boil weevil
"The ant In much better able 90 pro-
tect itself against frost, since 1t exca-
Yates n 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-
peclally adapted to attract the ant by
means OF It's numerous nectaries, tho
insect ls not, like some OF the members
OF its class, confined 10 single plant
or TO n single kind OF prey. IL attacks
and destroys insects OF every order,
including the hemiptern, and even cen
tipeds. On the other hand, it does not
do the least injury to the cotton or TO
any other plant, so far as has been ns-
certained, and IL can be handled with
impunity, having none OF the waspish
I'll temper OF so many of the stinging
and biting ants OF the tropics Since
where once established II exists In
large numbers and seeks it's prey ac-
lively, II Is much more efficient de-
stroyer Of noxious insects than tho spi-
der or the toad. IL seems, I'm short, not
unlikely TO become valued assistant
I'm the agriculture of tropical and sub
tropical countries, II not I'm temperate
regions. The farmer has n new and
practical reason 20 consider the ant"