no NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Riley-Howard: in Insect Life, ii, 1890, p. 200 (note on habits); id., 



V, 1893, p. 268 (edible qualities of) ; id., vi, 1894, pp. 340-341 



(red ants destro}ing bed-bugs). 

 Weed, C. M. : Insects and Insecticides, 1891, pp. 275-276, fig. 143 (brief 



account, with remedies). 

 CoMSTOCKS : Man. Study Ins., 1895, p. 643 (habits, remedies). 

 Marlatt; in Bull. 4 New Ser., U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Ent., 1896, p. 38 



(destroying bed-bugs), pp. 95-97, fig- 43 (general account). 

 Smith: Economic Entomol., 1896, pp. 396-398, fig. 452 (habits, 



remedies). 



This widely distributed insect is known to many a housekeeper as a 



most persistent inmate of the dwelhng. Its presence in all kinds of foods, 



in dishes, and many other places where it is not wanted, often gives rise 



to the question : Is there anything that will exterminate red ants in a 



house ? 



The Earlier History of the Insect. 



This pest is an European insect which was introduced very early 

 in the history of this country, or it is a native form agreeing so closely 

 with the European species that they cannot be separated. In 17^7, 

 Linnaeus described the European insect under the name of Formica 

 Pharaonis and gave as its habitat, Egypt. According to Dr. Packard, 

 this insect is known in houses all over the world. At times it has be- 

 come so great a pest in London, Liverpool, and Brighton, as to cause the 

 occupants in some instances to vacate their houses. 



Say described it in 1835 as Myrrtiica molesia, stating that this is the 

 insect that is frequently found in great numbers in houses. The insect 

 had been known in this country for a long time under the name given by 

 Say : later it was referred to the genus Mojwmorium, and finally the 

 identity of the insect described by Say with the European was established. 



Description of the Insect. 



The ant is so well known to many housekeepers that a description is 

 not necessary for them : it is the pale reddish-yellow or honey-yellow 

 species commonly found in pantries and similar localities. But for the 

 sake of completeness the description of Say is herewith given : 



X Body pale honey-yellow, immaculate : antennae with the two ulti- 

 mate joints much larger than the others ; the terminal one as large again 

 •as the penultimate one: wings whitish; smaller cubital cellule none; 

 discoidal cellule very small, less than half as large as the first cubital; 

 first cubital receiving the recurrent nervure near its base; nervure of the 

 radial cellule terminating abruptly before the tip ; the two other apical 

 nervures feebly traced towards the tip and not reaching the tip : meta- 

 thorax unarmed. 



Length less than three-twentieths of an inch. 



