The Meeker herald., 1910-01-22
TEXAS HUNTS ANTS !.
Federal Scientist Searching for
Species from Argentine


Galveston, Tex.-Dr. Delos Van
Dine Of the bureau Of entomology.
United States department OF ASrtcut
ture. 10 in Galyeston On An anthunt.
ing expedition. Dr.. Van Dine II asee
ciated with the southern neld crop IN.
sect investigation. under the direction
OF w. D, Hunter. in charge OF the
laboratory at Dallas, and IL in charge
of the department Of insects affecting
sugar cane and rice. ~
DIR. Van Dine IL 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 mot
find II. It Ia known that these ants
have got foothold in Louisiana and
other states. even ~ far west as Cali
-forhia. 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.
IL any. from other ants found in this
country. got into this country through
fruit and other shipments imported
from Argentina. 5'
DR.. Van Dine has Just completed a
tour of the susar-cane and rice-grow-
ing sections of Texas and 10 on his
way to the Louisiana fields. Incl
denta1iy 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 a.
The department requests samples
Of all kinds Of ants found In Galveston
sent to the government chronological
bureau at Dallas. Just kill a few ants
and mail them in a small box to this
address, and the experts will examine
them and, ina ohlt IL any Of the Argen.
tine specimens are among them. They
may be found. II 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 thu
legs of tables are set do not detei
these ants. When an army Of Argen
tine ants invades q home and finds
the cupboards and tables surrounded
by vessels containing water the com
mander Of the, ant, army simply de
crees that IA snhhcient number OF in
sects be killed to, form bridge. over
which the living army crosses the
water and tnvades the tables or side
boards.
Now that the ant has invaded this
county and promises e continue ply
laGin6 I'D sasstfifNG aropA uAe3e
am n kdSious To- md, Dm4 ~aj sof
wJptnS ont the entire family. With
u ~ r. view sps p TIE sreatss'
experts ID Nthfs country on anti. il
now experimenting 49, the z diree
ton ~ William Newell. In charge Of
thee cop pest commission in Louis
lana. 1t is said lhe known poisons
that destroy oradrive away the or
dinsry ant have no affect Upon these
tough.skinned Eevolutiopists, from the
South. Americas rept(Ac: and some
Thing mors sKeeeave win hsxe to be
Invented to WIS theh out.