90 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Bibliography 



1896 Marlatt, C. L. U. S. Pcp't Agric. Div. F.nt. l!ul. 4. n. s. p. 70-76 



Large black carpenter ant 

 Caviponotus licrcitlancus Linn. 



A large black ant may be observed running in and out of diseased trees and on 

 examination it may be found that a considerable proportion of the interior has been 

 honeycombed. 



These insects are ai)i)arently unabU: to enter a sound tree and only 

 where a wound lays bare the wood are they apt to effect an entrance. This 

 is specially true when the diseased area is near the ground. Plate 31, 

 figure 2 illustrates how thoroughly this species can honeycomb the 

 interior of an elm tree. The irregular method of work is probably to be 

 explained by the fibers of this tree interlacing so closely that there is very 

 little or no difference in the texture of the wood made in the different 

 seasons of the year. Plate 31, figure i, illustrates the work of the same 

 species in balsam, and it will be seen that the method of operation is 

 entirely different. The wood has been excavated along well defined lines, 

 antl that which is allowed to remain forms portions of large lamina. An 

 examination of the specimens revealed the fact that the ants had eaten out 

 the softer portion of the wood and left the harder parts formed towards the 

 end of the season, when growth was comparatively slow and the wood 

 correspondingly firmer. The work of this species in balsam was observed 

 by the writer in 1900 at several localities in the Adirondacks. In one or 

 two instances the trees were so honeycombed that they broke in heavy 

 winds and fell. One balsam, which at tht! time of observation, was badly 

 infested with Tomicus balsameus Lee, had been entered by these 

 ants in large numbers and their galleries continued to a hight of 4 or 5 

 feet, rendering that portion of the tree worthless for anything else but 

 firewood. 



