Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-10-14
The Argentine Ant,
Imported Pest That
Is Becoming A Pest

The Argentine ant is one of the
most serious of household pests in
portions of several of the southern
states, according to the entomologists
of the department. In new depart
ment bulletin by Ernest R. Barber,
No. 377, The Argentine Ant: Distri-
button and Control in the United
States, it is stated that if the activi-
ties of the ant were confined to the
household alone he problem of con-
trolling it would be sufficiently diff
cult, but the fact that, like some other
ants, it protects and attends mealy
bugs and aphids, which infest cotton,
corn and suger cane fields, and thus
becomes a pest to crops, and the
further fact that it is steadily spread
ing in all directions throughout the
southern states make the problem of
control still more difficult.
1t is practically certain, states the
bulletin, that the Argentine ant was
introduced into this country at New
Orleans in ships from Brazilian ports.
It was first observed in that city in
1891, and at present it is distributed
throughout portions of nine southern
states. There are three forms of the
Argentine ant, the worker, the male
or drone, and the queen, all of dark
brown color. The worker is about
one-tenth inch in length, the male is
somewhat larger and has wings, while
the queen is nearly three times as
larger as the worker.
Because of it's small size and in
conspicuous color, the worker is able
to made nearly every part of ordinary
buildings. Any exposed food or food
refuse attracts the worker, and the
bulletin states that residents and
keepers of grocery stores, meat mar
kets, confectioneries, ETC., must either
suffer considerably or almost con-
stantly use poison or barriers of va
rious kinds. The farmer, nursery
man, and truck grower find scale in
sects and aphids more troublesome
because of the protection the ant
gives to insects depositing honeydew.
Three methods of controlling the
insect are discussed in the bulletin
the use of barriers, poison and traps.
Ant barriers.-In grossly infested
houses much relief may be secured by
isolating tables, refrigerators, safes,
beds, ETC., with bichlorid of mercury
tape, but extreme care should be
taken in using this poison. Placing
the legs of articles of furniture in
saucers filled with moth balls or coal
oil is simple and efficient barrier.
Trees, beehive stands, and other out
door objects may be isolated with the
sticky substance used on fly paper but
made thinner than usual. If 5 per
cent. of carbolized oil be added, the
durability of the bands will be con-
siderably increased.
Ant poisons.-Strong anthony or
arsenical sirups, number of which
are sold by druggists in infested ter
ritory are, used to keep the ants from
buildings. They give quick relief for
short periods, but are not a factor in
the reduction of the infestation. The
only effective poisons yet known for
permanent control are poisoned
sirups. An arsenical strip is recon-
mended in the bulletin which will not
spoil and which is superior to any
other formula yet tested on account
of it's stability at high temperatures,
freedom from Capitalization, and con-
tinued attractiveness.
Trapping ants.-Ants may be
trapped by providing boxes of de-
caying vegetation in the winter. The
colonies will move into these boxes
and the ants may then be killed with
carbon bisulphid.