34 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 1 



More interesting still was an attack made by Argentine workers 

 upon the giant Caniponotus herculeanus L., subspecies pennsylvanicus 

 De G.® While watching a heavy stream of /. humilis workers passing 

 up and down the bark of a large water oak tree one afternoon, three 

 or four workers of the former species made their appearance, seeking 

 food here and there on the same tree. Presently one of these giants 

 crossed the line of humilis workers and was immediately attacked, the 

 small ants fastening themselves to tibiae, tarsi and antennae and hang- 

 ing on with bull-dog tenacity. With marvelous rapidity the large 

 worker caught from one to three of her small adversaries at a time, 

 crushed them between her jaws and threw them aside. She would 

 reach from side to side and twist about to crush the little enemies 

 clinging to her tarsi, but as fast as she could dispose of them others 

 took their places. The extreme hatred which the little workers dis- 

 played towards this giant that had crossed their path was indicated 

 by an Argentine worker which crossed the bark a couple of inches 

 back of the herculeanus worker. Immediately the small worker 

 changed its course and ran at full speed after the large one, catching 

 up after traveling four or five inches, and at once attached itself to a 

 hind tarsus. After watching this interesting battle for a considerable 

 time the large worker was captured and placed in a cyanide bottle. 



There are many other points to be mentioned in connection with 

 this introduced pest, such as its probable future distribution, its 

 natural enemies, measures of control, and the manner in which it is 

 likely to affect various agricultural and commercial interests, were 

 space to permit. The problem presented by this species is a large 

 and complicated one and much tedious work of investigation will have 

 to be done before the economic entomologist can claim a victory over 

 this small but formidable foe. 



This paper was listened to with much interest by the members 

 present. Mr. H. E. Weed stated that workers of this species will 

 carry food to their nests for a distance of three quarters of a mile. 

 He said that people who did not live in the infested district utterly 

 failed to appreciate the havoc that these insects were causing. 



Three closely related papers were next presented, as follows : 



LIFE HISTORY, HABITS AND METHODS OF STUDY OF 

 OF THE IXODOIDEA 



By W. a. Hooker, Bureau of Entomology, U. 8. Department of Agriculture. 

 The intention in presenting this paper upon the life history and 



eDetermined by Prof. W. M. Wheeler. 



