114 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 15 



than that species and can easily be distinguished from M. pharaonis when examined 

 under a microscope. It not only occurs in houses, but has been noted to attack the 

 seed of cereals in Kansas. 



The acrobatic ant Cremastogaster lineolata Say, has been found to occur in a number 

 of houses. This ant is widely distributed over the State and has a fondness for sweets. 

 This is no doubt the reason why it is attracted to houses. Out doors it may nest 

 under stones, in wood, in galls, etc. Because of these varied nesting habits it is 

 possible that lineolata may nest in houses, but it is the writer's opinion that this is 

 seldom, if ever, the case. 



Iridomyrmex analis Mayr, an ant closely related to the Argentine ant in general 

 character and habits and often mistaken for this species, has been found to give 

 trouble in houses. This seems to be exceptional rather than the rule. These 

 ants are also fond of sweets like their near relative the Argentine ant. The two 

 species can be readily distinguished from each other by the presence of a sweetish 

 sickening odor given off by the workers of analis when crushed, while the workers of 

 humilis have no perceptible odor. /. analis also has a much lighter colored abdomen 

 than the Argentine ant, workers of the latter being of a uniform brownish coloration. 



Tetramorium guineense Fabr. has been noticed to occur in one of the sea port 

 towns of this State — Pascagoula. It is an imported species, having come from the 

 Old World. In some towns in the United States it has assumed importance as a house 

 infesting species. So far as the writer knows it has caused no trouble in Mississippi. 



Another imported species, Solenopsis geminata Fabr. subsp. r«/a Jerdon, has been 

 recorded from Tupelo. This ant, which is also an Old World species is capable of 

 becoming a house pest, although it has not been reported so from that town to date. 

 A striking fact is that no other species seems to be present in the town where this ant 

 occurs. It is quite possible that S. geminata ruja has driven out the native ants. 



Camponotus caryae var. rasilis, a very striking red and black species that nests in 

 trees, has been observed to infest one house this year. The workers showed a partic- 

 ular fondness for sweets, infesting jam, sugar and syrup. 



M. R. Smith 

 Mississippi State Plant Board 



Sulphur Investigations. It is most gratifying to state that the Crop Protection 

 Institute has succeeded in securing the cooperation of three sulphur companies — 

 The Union Sulphur Company, The Freeport Sulphur Company and The Texas Gulf 

 Sulphur Company — in providing for basic studies of both the entomological and 

 phytopathological aspects of sulphur, each in relation to meteorological conditions. 

 These companies have agreed to provide $7500 a year in addition to raw materials 

 for a period of two years, the project to be administered by the Crop Protection In- 

 stitute. It is expected that two or three research men will be located in existing 

 laboratories, probably state experiment stations, under conditions which will permit 

 of a thorough investigation of all the important factors, beginning with elemental 

 sulphur and from this proceeding to compounds of sulphur. 



This is a gratifying start toward solving problems of vital importance. May it 

 prove to be only the beginning of a series of studies directed toward developing more 

 efficient insecticides and fungicides. 



E. P. Felt 



