24 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [VoL 1 



For years coffee ships from Brazilian ports have unloaded their 

 cargoes at these wharves, and from what we now know of the habits 

 of this ant, a ship could hardly set sail from any port where it occurs 

 without carrying many workers and doubtless many queens as well. 



On the authority of Prof. W. M. Wheeler^, 7. kumilis is apparently 

 a native of the Americas only in Brazil and Argentina. That the 

 species was brought to New Orleans in the coffee ships from Brazil, 

 seems so highly probable as to admit of little doubt. Incidentally it 

 may be remarked that few, if any, merchant vessels now clear from 

 the port of New Orleans during the summer months without having 

 an abundant supply of kumilis on board. 



It may not be out of place at this point to call attention to the 

 common name of this insect. The local name of *' crazy ant"" has 

 been applied to this species by some of the inhabitants of New Or- 

 leans, but it is far from being a desirable name. The most universal 

 name in use is that of "New Orleans ant" and this seems to have been 

 adopted by common consent on account of the species being so abun- 

 dant in New Orleans. In view of the probable future importance of 

 this insect the common name adopted now will likely remain a fixture 

 in popular entomological literature. 



It is manifestly unjust to attach the name of the Crescent City to 

 this pernicious pest, for on neither the city nor its inhabitants can the 

 responsibility be saddled for the introduction of this little ant. 



As the species was first described from Argentina and as that coun- 

 try doubtless embraces a large part of the area in which the species 

 is native, I should like to propose the name "Argentine ant" as being 

 far more appropriate and specific than any yet suggested. I should 

 like to see the species so recognized in the official list of insect names 

 adopted and revised from time to time by this Association. 



The dissemination of the Argentine ant from New Orleans to towns 

 along the principal railroad lines within 200 miles of the city has not 

 been particularly rapid, but has been very complete. To the eastward 

 of New Orleans the infestation extends into southern Mississippi and 

 to the westward as far as Lake Charles, La., a distance of two hundred 

 miles, or nearly to the Louisiana-Texas state line. Down the Missis- 

 sippi River the infestation is heavy the entire distance to the Gulf 

 of Mexico, a distance of ninety miles. Northward the infestation 

 reaches again into the State of Mississippi and in a more northwesterly 



^Entomological News, Jan., 1906, p. 24. 



cSince the above was written, Prof. W. M. Wheeler has advised the writer 

 that the term "crazy ant" is applied in Florida and the West Indies to an- 

 other species, Prenolepis longicornis. 



