LITERATURE FOR 1916 ON ANTS AND 

 MYRMECOPHILS 



MORRIS M. WELLS 



University of Chicago 



The literature on ant behavior for the year 1916 shows a 

 rather marked predominance in the number of economic papers. 

 In a way this is encouraging for it indicates that the students 

 of economic entomology are tending to place more emphasis 

 upon the general biology of the forms under investigation. 

 Much of the matter in the following pages will be found to 

 have been taken from papers whose point of view is in the 

 main economic. 



ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS 



According to Marlatt (13) the ants that are house pests in 

 North America are, in practically all cases, of tropical origin. 

 Still further, nearly all the ants that have been introduced into 

 North America from Europe and South America, whether house 

 pests or not, are tropical species. In their tropical climate these 

 ants are usually outdoor species but in the temperate regions can 

 usually exist only in houses, green-houses, etc. Most of these 

 ants are annoying rather than harmful, but some of them and 

 especially the Argentine ant (Iridomyrmcx Jmmilis) are first class 

 pests. Marlatt classifies our ant pests upon a basis of their 

 origin, as follows: Tropical old world ants, 12 species; ants 

 from the new world tropics, 5 species; native North American 

 ants of temperate regions, 2 species. 



Of the imported ants whose behavior makes them first class 

 pests, the xVrgentine ant has, during the past year, received much 

 attention. Donisthorpe (6) states that this species is becoming 

 a serious pest in England. Barber (1) has made a rather extended 

 study of the habits of this ant and speaks of it as being one of 

 the " worst of pests." In the house, he says, it eats everything. 

 The temperature of ice boxes has no deterrent effect and it invades 

 every room in the house. In one case a young baby was attacked 



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