The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-08-31
By Guy E. Mitchell

A genuine note of alarm has been
sounded by the bureau of entomology
on the Argentine ant. One of the
smallest of insects, this ant invades
localities in such countless millions
and shows such diabolical intelli-
eence as well as savage persistence
in prosecuting its terrific depreda-
tions that it may well be questioned
whether it shall not eventually be
named the 'conqueror." Certainly
if the testimony of the scientists who
have patiently and exhaustively stud
led its habits for years is to be accept
ed man will need to match his high
est intelligence against this ants act
uaIly superhuman instinct. Fortu-
nately the Argentine ant is at the
present time confined in this country
to a few southern states and Califor-
mia. and more fortunately its annual
rate of progress in spreading over the
country is slow; once established,
however, it is there forever. Ento-
mologists believe that colonies can
not survive zero weather, so that it
is probable that invasion of this mi
mite ant will not reach much north OF
the Mason and Dixon line. But all
of the country south of this line is
destined to be overrun by this great
est OF pests.
The errors of the ways of the Ar
gentine ants are manifold. They in
wade the poultry yard and kill newly
Matched chicks, and they kill and
drove off beneficial bugs and foster
harmful ones. In orange groves and
orchards, nurseries, sugar cane and
corn fields and among market gar
den crops these ants attend and pro-
test against all corners countless mil
lions of scale insects, plant lice and
other destructive bugs, the sweet ex-
cretions of which furnish the choic-
est delicacies with which the ants re-
gale themselves and their young. In
order to guard these insects from
storms and enemies the ants build
protective coverings and shields over
Uu6m anu dCICHd anu SlOOhi IHSi
constantly.
Thrives on Poison.
AS a house pest the Argentine ant
is certainly the limit. Nothing is to
be compared with it as an ineradica-
bic and dangerous nuisance. 1t eats
whatever man eats, ranging from
meat to sugar, and it can spread tu-
berculosis and other diseases. 1t pen
etrates ice boxes, tightly wrapped pa
per parcels, bread boxes and even
glass jars, if the housewife neglects
to put on the rubber band before
screwing down the top. In houses
infested with it there is no sleep I'M
less the legs of the bed are wound
with tape saturated with corrosive
sublimate. If the corner of the sheet
touches the floor the ants climb up
and swarm over the sleeper. Let the
baby's pillow touch the wall and in a
few minutes the infant, screaming
from the bites of the pest, must be
plunged into water to make sure that
all the vicious little insects are re-
moved. Dishes of arsenical poison
must be placed throughout the house
to kill and repel the ants and poison
tape must be wound around the legs
of the dining room and Kitchen Ia
bles. At such deadly poisons as cy-
anide of potassium and hydrocyanic
gas this ant apparently laughs, and
let there be a moment of relaxation of
the few repellant measures possible
and the ants swarm to the attack,
and the feast, whatever it may be.
Does Its Work in the Dark.
Yet with all this the Argentine ant
is totally blind. 1t does it's work in
the dark, but does it unremittingly,
night and day. 1t is moreover a true
predatory socialist Every ant is a
scout, and when it finds its way to
the sugar or the butter or the meat
or lard or bread or corn meal or any
thing edible, raw or cooked, it i'm
mediately hits the back trail and in
few minutes thousands of ants are on
the job. Communities have declared
war on this ant and have systemati-
cally killed millions, but it has been
the case of the old woman sweeping
back the sea with her little broom.
There are no known natural enemies