The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-30
TOWN FIGHTING
TERMITES PEST
White Ants From Tropics Threat
en- Destruction to Houses
in Clinton, I'LL
HONEYCOMB CEMENT BLOCKS
Campaign Of determination, In Which
State University ls Assisting, 10
Being Vigorously Pushed-ln-
sects Are Plague in Africa.

bloomington, Hl.-1lG mllIlODSi OF
white ants. known as termites, whose
powerful mandibles honeycombing
even cement blocks, threatens destruc-
ton TO houses in Clinton, are extreme
ly rare In the United States. The in
sects were first noticed In the home OF
@. 7. Sprague. Later they we're found
In myriads In the new home of G. F.
Weld, just completed at a cost Of s15,-
600 and one Of the finest in the town.
Other residences are also oyerrun with
the pests and 1t has become necessary
to organize q campaign of eXtermina-
ton.
Prof. ]. w. Finley Of the biological
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
floors removed and walls opened in
order to reach the nests of the insects.
Great quantities of creosOte were ap-
piled and this mixture liberaly sprin-
kled over the premises. in the cellar
and every other place likely to be the
retreat Of the neuroptera, as the ter
mite ant is scientifically known.
Are Plague in Africa.
The scientists are loath to believe
that these ants have become numerous
and destructive in this country The!
have been 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 fOl
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 were able to bore
their way through the cement-blocb
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 timberet
sections adjacent to the city. 1t was
not previously known that the insects
existed In any considerable quantity
nor was their destructiveness ever re
ported in the past. They appear tc
have moved in one vast army anC
take possession Of certain houses
oyerrunning every portion and forcing
the occupants to seek shelter with
neighbOrs.
Owing to the fecundity of the pests
1t is feared that they will produce
myriads Of new colonies unless the
campaign of determination is entirely
successful. For this reason every eff
fort is being made to dispatch the last
Of the vfsitants, and the application
of the creosote and other destroying
agencies will net be spared. In fact
| creosote Is being purchased by the
barrel and is being literally applied te
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 the scientists, the ter
mites are divided into five classes
males, females, workers. neuters anG
soldiers. The workers, neuters and
soldiers appear to be imperfectly de
veloped females. The males and per
feet females have four wings which
are long and nearly equal anc
which are frequently suddenly cast
off before the termination Of theil
life, but the greater part of the com
munity consists Of wingless workers
The soldiers are larger than the neu
tiers and have very large mandibles
which they are always ready to use
upon any assault. In tropical cOun
tries they are said to be useful ir
destroying decaying animal or vege
table matter. 1t Is said that they ever
attack and destroy large animals wheI
pressed by hunger and when their nat
ural food 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 al
Clinton was called TO their attention
The black ant has long been numerous
in central Illinois, but so far as known
this Is the first instance where the
tsrnite of the tropics appeared In
menacing numbers or have inflicted