371 



to discover it. The refuse-pits were found to be very free from 

 maggots, much to my surprise, and later I discovered that this 

 was due to the fact that the httle brown ants got most of the 

 eggs and larvae of the flies almost as soon as they were pro- 

 duced. The eggs and newly-hatched maggots of the house-fly 

 are very small, but by very close observation I was able to see 

 the ants carrying them off in myriads. I also found that the 

 ants even attack and destroy the full-grown maggots whenever 

 they appear on the surface of the manure. 



In one experiment 200 newly-emerged adult flies were entirely 

 destroyed by the ants, which accidentally found their way into 

 the breeding cage. The attack was only discovered after most 

 of the flies had been dismembered. A few were still in the toils 

 with six or eight ants holding them by wings and legs while 

 others proceeded to cut them to pieces. All of the fragments 

 were finally carried away to the nests of the ants. 



While this species of ant is not so abundant here as in Fiji, it 

 is gratifying to know that they have the same fondness for an 

 insect diet. House-flies being one of man's worst enemies, com- 

 ing from filth on to his food and spreading all sorts of contagion, 

 people in tropical countries are particularly fortunate in having 

 such a check upon their spread. Though the little brown ants 

 are often a nuisance by getting into things which are unpro- 

 tected, we must give them credit for the good work that they do 

 for us. 



As is well known here, ants can easily be kept out of cupboards, 

 etc., by surrounding the legs with tapes wet in an alcoholic solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate. This treatment remains effective 

 for a long time unless the tapes become wet or dusted over. 



THE KALO IX HAWAII (VI). 



By Vaughan MacC.\ughey and Joseph S. Emerson. 



THE cultural REQUIREMENTS OF KALO. 



The cultivation of kalo is limited to frostless regions. The 

 corm requires in most cases a full year to mature. Cold weather 

 during that period would be disastrous. As examples of kalos 

 which mature rapidly we may mention the Apntvai, the Mahaha, 

 and the Piko-o-wakca. In Olowalu, ]\Iaui, the strong winds often 

 ruin the growth of the kalo, which has to be pulled before com- 

 pleting its maturity. For this reason the Apmvai is preferred, 

 because it gives a good corm in six months. The Piko-o-zvakca 

 can also be pulled in six months. In Ewa, Oahu, the Mahaha is 

 pulled in five months. In all these cases a more perfect develop- 

 ment would be secured bv allowing a longer time for srrowth, but 

 where haste is required the time is not given. The ohd or lateral 



