Evening star., 1926-06-13
SUMMER ANT PEST
FACES HOUSEWIVES
Department of Agriculture
Tells How to Get Rid
of Insects.

This is the time of year when ants
get pesky and worry the housekeeper
into warfare to rid the premises Of
the invaders. The little red ant, in
particular. This insect renews it's
visits every year at this season in
District dwellings,. causes considerable
annoyance to householders and Is the
bane of the pantry. Not only may
the campaign Of the pest be prevented
by simple sanitary measures but it
may be entirely annihilated by poison
warfare in scientifically proved doses,
according to the Department OF
Agriculture.
The little red or Pharaoh'S ant,
fondly termed Monomorium Phara-
oniS by the entomologistS, is a tropical
Old World species which in the tenn
perate regions passes it's existence in
heated houses. They are not so de-
structive to household effects or sup
plies as they are irritating from the
mere fact of their presence and their
faculty of getting into articles Of food,
particularly sugars, syrups. cakes,
candies and cooked foods OF animal
origin.
Nearly All Alike.
In habits and life history the house
ants are all much alike, and, in COM
mon with other social insects, present
that most complex and interesting
phase Of communal life, with its ac-
companying division of labor and di-
versity of forms of individuals, all
working together in the most perfect
harmony and accord. The ants ordi-
narily seen in houses are neuters or
workers.
In the colony itself. If it be discov-
cred and opened. will be found also
the larger WingleSs females and, at
the proper season, the winged males.
During most of the year, however, the
colony consists almost exclusively OF
workers. with one or more perfect
wfngless females. Winged males and
females are produced during the sum-
mer and almost Immediately take
their nuptial flight. The males soon
perish, and the females shortly after
ward tear off their own wings, which
are feebly attached, and set about the
establishment of new colonies.
The eggs. which are produced in ex-
traordinary numbers by the famales
of queen ants, are very minute,
oval, whitish objects, and are cared
for by the workers. the young larvae
being fed in very mucn the same way
as IN the colonies of the hive bee. The
So-called ant eggs, in the popular con-
ception, are not eggs at all, but the
white larvae and pupae, and those of
females and males are much larger
than those of the workers and many
times larger than the true eggs.
Some Are Inaccessible.
The distinctly house-inhabiting ants.
such as the Pharaoh's ant and other
imported species nesting in the wood
work, masonry or articles of fur
niture, are often very difficult to
eradicate because of their inaccesSi-
bility. II the nest can be located by
following the workers back to their
point of disappearance, the inmates
of the nest, if nearby, may sometimes
be reached by injecting little disul-
phid of carbon, kerosene or gasoline
into the opening by means of an Oil
can or small syringe. In the use OF
these substances, naturally, precau'
tions should be taken to see that no
fire is present, as all of them are in
flammable.
The nuisance of the red ant can be
largely limited by promptly cleaning
up all food scattered by children and
by keeping in the pantry or storeroom
in antproof metal containers or in
ice boxes all food supplies that may
attract ants and by limiting the
amount of such articles as far as pos
sible to daily needs. The use of most
repelling substances such as camphor
and naphthalene in connection with
food supplies has been found lmprac
teal and of comparatively little bene-
fit. Sodium fiuOride powder busted
about the runways of the ants has
been reported TO give excellent re-
suits.
The collection of ants by the use
of attractive bats such as borax and
sugar dissolved in boiling water is a
remedy of doubtful value. A more
efficient method where it can be safe
ly used, is a syrup poisoned with
a arsenate of soda, the idea being that
the ants will collect this poison syrup
and convey it into their nests. so that
not only the ants which collect the
syrup are ultimately killed, but the
inmates of nests feeding on it also
succumb. The formula for the prep
aration Of the syrup is one pound of
sugar dissolved in quart of water
to which should be added 125 grains
of arsenate of soda to be placed on
small sponges left at places fire.
quented by the ants.