CONTROL OF ANTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 129, 1 May 1940, Page 12

CONTROL OF ANTS.

SPECIES AND HABITS. THE LARGE BLACK. (Written for the “Standard.”) There are two species of large black ants, and one, the carpenter ant, makes its home in timbers or often in the hoartwood of living trees or in stumps. It does not feed on wood, lmt may injure trees by cutting tunnels in tho heartwood. It is not often that it enters the house, but if it does it can be controlled by the use iof tho poison syrup recommended for Pharaoh's ant, or with tho following brown-sugar poison: Mix lib of brown sugar and (oz of paris green. Scatter this thinly about the ants’ nests. It will lx? carried away by tho worker ants. Poison, very effective for some of the species, is not effective for carpenter alits. ’ OTHER ANTS. Of the several other species of ants which nest in the soil and occasionally find their way into houses, the two most common are tho cornfield ant and tho odorous ant. Botli of these species live in tho soil and commonly feed on tho excretions of aphids or' plant lice. They enter houses most often after heavy rains when in search of food. The odorous ant is one or flic most common household pests. It possesses a great fondness for sweets and can be almost completely eradicated by tho use .of the sweetened bait prescribed for Pharaoh’s ant. To control the cornfield and odorous ant before they become troublesome in tho house, locate their nests, by trucking (ns described for Pharaoh’s ant); then destroy the nest by applying kerosene, gasoline, carbon bisulfid or calcium cyanide. A machine oil can is a handy container lor applying carbon bisulfid. In using carbon bisulfid make several holes in the nest, each about the size of a lead pencil and 6 to Bin dee)). Into each hole pour about one tablespoonful of carbon bisulfid, and cover the whole area treated witli canvas 01 a heavy blanket. A horse cover is suitable for this purpose. In using carbon bisulfid remember that tho gas is explosive when mixed with air and therefore must he Kept away from fire. To use gasolino or kerosene simply saturate tho soil and the nest with these chemicals. It the nest is large, dig down into it belore pouring on the gasolino or kerosene, because to 1)0 effective these substances, must come into contact with the insects bodies. These materials will kill all vegetation in the area treated. The following-poison is very effective, especially when used near the colonies after rains. Bring to a hod: Granulated sugar, lib; water. 1 pint; tartaric acid, 1 gram; strained honey, ilh. In a separate container dissolve sodium arsenate in hot water in the following proportions: Sodium arsenate, Joz (3.5 grams); hot water, / tabiespoonfuls (1 fluid oz). T) hen the solutions have cooled add the second to the first and stir well. Store in a cool place. Accurate weights are necessary and tho mixing must be made according to the directions. Place this mixture rather plentifully where the a,,its will find it. but out of roach ol children and animal pets. Tt works as well out of doors as it does in the house if kept fresh. WONDERS OF THE ANT.

The organisation of tho ant community has been the subject of innumerable books, and was one of the earliest insect phenomena to attract tho attention of man. Even the smallest nest of llicso amazing creatures is full of fascinating material for tho students, not only of insect life, but of lar wider subjects. Many philosophers have gone to the ants for theories and' ideas, but the mystery of their ways will stand many more years of painstaking research before it is fully elucidated. From their size, their wide distribution, and the fact that they live in particularly- attractive surroundings, the wood ants (a distinct species) form a very interesting study. The rambler in the pine forest will probably tome across a wood ants’ nest, although at first sight he may not recognise it. During winter these Inigo mounds of pine needles, twigs, earth, and bits of debris, show no sign of life, and may bo considered to be just mere heaps ol refuse. As warmer days approach, however, the ants appear, and by early summer the surface of tho heap is a seething mass of ants. A normal wood ants’ nest is about two feet high by as much as five or six across. Its actual dimensions are not easy to ascertain, for the borders are irregularly defined and the nest straggles shallowly on either side, and is also continued for some way bolow ground —as far, in fact, as it rises above. Ants aro communists and arc divided into tho tsaino groups ns other social workers, such as bees. There arc workers, males, and queens, but there is more than ono queen in each, nest, so that tho community is not centred round one particlular ant, hut is more of a state, in which every individual is working for the good of "the whole. There may be several queens, or even several dozen.

The powerful jaws ol the ant are very evident and are of the typo specially adapted to biting. Tho stinging powers 01 the ant are reminiscent of bees and wasps ; the acid ; which is responsible for the stinging feeling is named formic acid, formica being ihe Latin word for ant. The ants which wo see swarming in masses round the nest at most times of tho year are wingless. The mal&s and females, however, arc winged. At certain seasons, when conditions are suitable, the males and females emerge from their subterranean home and embark op their nuptial flight; then return to earth and break off their wings. This is a familiar phennomonon in tho country, where those apparent swarms of flying ants cause at times, considerable inconvenience and much annoyance. In the wood ants the procedure is exactly similar to that of the cornfield ants, though pairing takes phico after this nuptial flight. The winged males and females, however, may he procured by removing a portion of tho middle of tbo nest, when the ants will crawl out of the debris arid these two fertile forms can then he separated from the workers. The fertilo males aro blackisli-brown in colour, clothed with short hairs; their logs are reddish. The fertile female is reddish-brown and larger than any of the other ants. Tho workers carry out all the normal duties of the community, feeding the young, tending the queens, fetching food.' seeking for supplies of material for the mound and clearing away refuse from the nest. They also guard against tlio raids of ant's from other nests, and repel attacks of any enemies that may assuult the community.—Concluded.

Sydney Wool Turnover. Appraisements of wool in Sydney for fhe- season to date total 1,234,711 bales, an increase of 98.965 bales compared with the quantity sold during tho full 12 months of tbo preceding season. The value -of tlio wool appraised in Sydney to dute at the contract price is approximately £2O 990,037. Last season’s total sales realised £15,077,537.