The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-10-14
TEXAS HUNTS ANTS
Federal Scientist Searching for
Species from Argentine
Pests Are Pronounced Vicious ane
Are Proof Against Means Gener-
ally Used to Destroy Insects
Multiply Very Rapidly.

Galveston, Tex.-Dr Delos Van
Dine of the bureau of entomology,
United States department of agricul
ture, is in Galveston on an ant-hunt.
ing expedition. Dr. Van Dine Is asso
ciated with the southern field crop in
secr investigation, under the direction
Of w. d. Hunter. in charge of the
laboratory at Dallas. and is ia charge
of the department of insects affecting
sugar cane and rice.
DR.. Van Dine is searching for a
special kind of ant, said to be very de-
structive, and which has been import
ed into the country from Argentina
and hoping and praying he might not
find it 1t is known that these ants
have got a foothold in Louisiana and
other states, even as far west as Cali
fornia, and the government is anxious
to eradicate them as quickly as pos.
sible
1t Is believed these ants, which in
general appearance differ very little,
if any, from other ants found in this
country, got into this country through
fruit and other shipments imported
from Argentina.
DR.. Van Dine has just completed a
tour of the sugar-cane and rice-grow-
ing sections Of Texas and is on his
way to the Louisiana fields. Incl
dentally he is searching for this new
ant, but so far has not discovered any
in Texas, even though they are in
large numbers in the sugar cane Sec
ton of Louisiana and in New Orleans
are doing considerable damage.
The department requests samples
of all kinds of ants found in Galveston
sent to the government chronological
bureau at Dallas. Just kill few ants
and mail them in a small box to this
address, and the experts will examine
them and find out if any of the Argen
tine specimens are among them. They
may be found, If here, in the restau
rants, hotels and homes.
This ant drives out all other ants
some of which are beneficial insects
1t also forms alliances with the mealy
bug and plant lice and protects these
most destructive insects, which de
stroy sugar cane, rice and other crops
These Argentine ants are vicious
things, which destroy the good in
sects and protect and encourage the
others. These insects multiply rapid
ly and are wonders in the ant family
1t is said that insect powder, germi
cides and other insect destroyers have
no terror for these Argentine ants
and that they can bridge many OBJ
stacles heretofore said to be impreg.
nable against ant invasions. For in
stance, the water vessels in which the
| legs of tables are set do not deter
; these ants When an army of Argen,
| tine ants invades home and finds
the cupboards and tables surrounded
| by vessels containing water the com
mander of the ant army simply de.
crees that a sufficient number of in.
sects be killed to form a bridge. over
which the living army crosses the
water and invades the tables or side
boards.
Now that the ant has invaded this
country and promises to continue pill
Laying and destroying crops, Uncle
Sam is anxious to find some way OF
! wiping out the entire family. With
this end in view, one of the greatest
experts in this country on ants is
now experimenting under the direc
ton of William Newell, in charge OF
the crop pest commission in Louis
lana. 1t is said the known poisons
that destroy or drive away the or
|
tough-skinned revolutionists from the
South American republic, and some
thing more effective will have to bt
invented to wipe them out.