The log cabin Democrat., 1909-10-29
TEXAS HUNTS ANTS
Fedora! Scientist Searching for
 Species from Argentine
Pests Are Pronounced Vicious and - 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 sect Investigation, under the direction of w. D. Hunter, in charge of the laboratory at Dallas, and is in charge of the department Of insects affecting sugar cane and rice.
 Dr. Van Dine is searching for 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. It 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.
 It 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 ricegrow 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 sugarcane sec tion 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. It 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.
 It is said that insect powder, germi- cides and other insect destroyers have no terror for these Argentine ants, and that they can bridge many ob stacles heretofore said to be impi eg- 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 laging and destroying crops, Uncle Sam is anxious to find some way of wipng 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- tion of William Newell, in charge of the crop pest commission in Louis jana. It is said the known poisons that destroy or drive away the or dinary ant have no effect upon these tough-skinned revolutionsts from the South American republic, and some thing more effective will have to be invented to wipe them out.