ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 263 



(1911), No. 52, pp. 773-775). — The author reports having found Odyncrus clicv- 

 ricmnuK to bo an enemy of CochyUs amhiyuella at Castries, in the Department 

 of Herault. 



Two destructive Texas ants, W. D. Huntek {U. 8. Dept. Ayr., Bur. Ent. 

 Circ. JJ/.S, pp. 7). — The cutting or parasol ant (Atta texana) is known only 

 from a limited area in south-central Texas, which extends from the Brazos 

 Itiver as far north as Waco to the Gulf, westward as far as San Antonio, and 

 southw;ird to the vicinity of Alice. "The ant is most common in the valleys 

 of the Colorado, Guadalupe, Comal, and San Antonio rivers. In these situ- 

 ations il is evidently increasing in numbers from year to year. In many 

 cases the nests occupy the land })ractically continuously for many miles up 

 and down the valleys. . . . 



"The habits of this insect have attracted great attention from scientists and 

 others. The ants cut the leaves from trees and carry them to the nests. Each 

 leaf is finely divided and made into small pellets. In this work the mandibles 

 and legs of the ants are utilized. The small masses are placed upon the so- 

 called fungus garden, where they furnish a growing medium for the gi'owth 

 of a fungus which furnishes the colony with food. As the supply of fungus is 

 consumed the ants add to the old mass, so that eventually the nests are found 

 lo contain large spongy formations on the outer portion of which the slender 

 threads of the fungus are growing. Evidently the ants exercise great care in 

 preventing the contamination of the fungus garden by any but the sole species 

 of fungus that is utilized. . . . 



"The distance over which foraging expeditions take place may be 200 yds. 

 or even more. Practically all species of plants seem to be suitable for food, 

 although it is noticeable that only 1 species is attacked at a time. . . . Among 

 cultivated crops, cotton, corn, fruit trees, sorghum, and many others are at- 

 tacked. Among wald plants, forest trees are favored, and frequently the 

 Spanish moss is used. The various species of oaks seem to be more or less 

 immune, either on account of the texture of the leaves or the tannic acid they 

 contain." In many cases the attack is concentrated on a single tree, which 

 may be defoliated in a night. The damage to growing crops is frequently 

 heavy and complaints have become more numerous in recent years on account 

 of the greater abundance of the ants. 



The best method of control is through the use of a potassium cyanid solution 

 made at the rate of 1 oz. to 1 qt. of water. After carefully mixing this liquid, 

 it should be poured into each of the openings, a quart to each opeaing. In 

 experiments conducted by J. D. Mitchell it was found that the destruction of 

 the entire colony followed after 1 or 2 applications in this manner. The use of 

 carbon bisulphid is not practical on account of the very extensive excavations 

 the ants make in the sand. 



The agricultural or hillock ant (Pogonomyrmex barhatus molefacienn) is o^ 

 economic importance since it will not allow vegetation to grow in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of its nest and because of the powerful sting which it uses on the 

 slightest provocation. It occurs from the Brazos River westward. West of San 

 Antonio it is replaced by closely allied forms and farther north, in Kansas and 

 Nebraska, a distinct species (P. occidentalis) occurs. This ant is conspicu- 

 ously a resident of open places and does not occur in wooded localities. " The 

 mounds are 15 in. or more in diameter and are frequently covered with par- 

 ticles of earth or sand from beneath the surface which contrast strongly with 

 the sux-rounding soil. The bare areas around the mound may be 10 ft. or more 

 in diameter." 



The most important enemy among the birds is the great-tailed grackle 

 {Megaquiscalus major macroiints), commonly known as the jackdaw. Several 



