34 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



libraries * by eating the books, but those already mentioned are 

 the principal ones. 



Ants (Formic idee). — Of the large black or brownish ants that 

 trouble us in store-rooms but little can be said, as, so far as I have 

 examined the authorities within my reach, I have found but little 

 mention of them. Judging by my own experience, they are very 

 difficult pests to expel from the house. Cayenne pepper is said 

 to be disagreeable to them, and arsenic mixed with any kind of 

 attractive food will kill them. Oil of peppermint is found very 

 effectual in driving them away, but everything in its vicinity is 

 so permeated with the odor that its use can not be recommended. 

 It is often said that borax will drive them away, but this has been 

 tried without success ; however, according to a writer in the 

 Popular Science News, the borax should first be heated, to deprive 

 it of its water of crystallization. Hot alum- water is very offensive 

 to most of the insect pests of the house, and should be applied 

 with a brush when nearly boiling hot. 



Ants are extremely fond of sugar, and anything containing it 

 will attract them. A glass of jelly left uncovered within their 

 reach will be found tunneled in every direction, and, by pouring 

 boiling water upon it, the ants within may be killed. 



An excellent and simple trap for them is a sponge wet with 

 some sweet sirup. When the interstices of the sponge are filled 

 with the ants, it can be carefully taken up and plunged into boil- 

 ing water, and again set for them after saturating the sponge with 

 the sirup. 



Another trap which is still more simple is a plate covered with 

 a thin layer of lard, which should be placed in the closet frequent- 

 ed by them. This would probably prove more effectual in catch- 

 ing the little yellow ant (Myrmica molesta), which is sometimes 

 very troublesome in the house. 



Mention should be made of the white ants, which, although 

 resembling the true ants in appearance, really belong to the order 

 of Neuroptera. The only species found in the United States does 

 great damage by eating the interior of the wood-work of build- 

 ings. These ants enter the timbers of the foundation from below, 

 and extend their galleries to the top, leaving the outside untouched, 

 so that their presence is unsuspected until the supports suddenly 

 give way. 



Several years ago the " dungeon/' as it is called in the State- 

 House in Boston, was found to be undermined by them, and Dr. 

 Hagen apprehended considerable trouble if their depredations 



1 Prof. Yerrill found in the library of Yale College a caterpillar belonging to the genua 

 Angioma eating the leather bindings of old books. When ready to transform, this larva 

 spins a silken cocoon, and after a short time there issues from it a little moth measuring 

 half an inch across its spread wings. 



