The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-06-30
TOWN FIGHTING
TERMITES PEST
White Ants From Tropics Threat
en- Destruction to Houses
in Clinton, Ill.
HONEYCOMB CEMENT BLOCKS
Campaign of determination, in Which
State University is Assisting, is
Being Vigorously Pushcd-In-
sects Are Plague in Africa.

WHY anus, hHONu us leIlnlloS, WHOSE
powerful manGibles honeycombing
even cement blocks. threatens destruc
ton to houses in Clinton, are extreme
~ rare in the United States. The in
sects were first noticed in the home OF
c.. L. Sprague. Later they were found
in myriads in the new home of G. f.
Weld, just completed at a cost of $15,-
600 and of the finest in the town.
Other residences are also oyerrun with
the pests and it has become necessary
to organize a campaign of extermina-
ton.
Prof. j. w. Finley of the biological
department of the university of Hi
nois was appealed to and has been en-
gagged in applying various chemicals
which were believed to be fatal and
probably effective in destroying the en-
tire community of unwelcome marau-
ders. A mixture of carbO-soda and
other ingredients was applied to all
sections of the houses affected. Wealth
er-boarding was ripped off, hardwood
floors remove and walls opened in
order to reach the nests of the insects.
Great quantities of %creosote were ap-
piled and this mixture liberaly sprin-
Killed. over the premises, in the cellar
n every other place likely to be the
retreat of the neuroptera, as the ter
mite ant is scientifically known.
Are a Plague in Africa.
The scientists are loath to believe
that these ants ave become numerous
n destructive in this country. They
have been a plague in Africa and other
tropical countries. Various types build
mounds ten to twenty feet in height
which serve as homes, many cham
bered and with winding galleries lead
ing to nurseries and storehouses for
food.
When attacking houses, they soon re
duce the thickest timbers to a mere
shell. In the case of the houses in
Clinton the oak floors were honey
cOmbed as completely as the softest
pine Skeptics who scoffed at the re-
port that the ants We're able to bore
their way through the cement-block
foundation had to admit, after an in
spection, that the reports were true.
1t is presumed that the ants mi
grated from swamp land or timbered
sections adjacent to the city. 1t was
not previously known that the insects
existed in n considerable quantity,
nor was their destructiveness ever re-
ported in the past. They appear to
have moved in one vast army and
take possession of certain houses,
overrunning every portion and forcing
the occupants to seek shelter with
neighbors.
Owing to the fecundity of the pests
it is feared that they will produce
myriads of new colonie unless the
campaign of determination is entirely
successful. For this reaSon every eff
fort is being made to dispatch the last
of the v~isitants, and the application
of the creosote and other destroying
agencies Will MT be spared. In fact,
creosote is being purchased by the
barrel and is being literally applied to
all portions Of the houses affected by
the insect visitors. If this is not en-
tirely effective, sulphurous gas and
chlorine may be utilized.
In Five Glasses.
According to rhe scientists, the ter
mites are divided into five classes
males, females, workers, neuters and
soldiers. The workers. cutters and
soldiers appear to be imperfectly de-
veloped females. The males and per-
feet females nave foul wings which
are long and nearly equal and
which are frequently suddenly cast
off before the termination OF their
life, but the greater part of the conn.,
consists of wingless workers.
The soldiers are larger than the neu-
tiers and have very large mandibles,
they are always ready to use
upon n assault. In tropical cOun-
tries they are said to be useful in
destroying ~decaying animal or vege-
matter. 1t is said that they even
and destroy large animals when
pressed by hunger and when their nat
ural f6od is scarce.
Experts at the university confess
that they have no record of the ter
mites in any considerable number in
the United States until the case Ut
was called to their attention.
The black ant has long beer numerous
in central Illinois, but so far as known
this is the first instance where the
Of the tropics appeared IN
nenacing numbers or have inflicted
such heavy loss.
Batted Ball Turns Up Loot.