JOURNAL 



OF 



ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



OFFICIAL ORGAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS 



Vol. 4 ALTGUST, 1911 No. 4 



FIELD WORK IN THE CONTROL OF THE ARGENTINE ANT 



By L. J. Nickels 



In Berkeley at the present time we have two small, isolated colonies 

 of Argentine ants {Iridoniyrmex humilis Mayr). One colony cover- 

 ing originally about four blocks is situated in the southern portion of 

 the city near Ashby Station; the other covering originally parts of two 

 blocks is located a short distance from the University Campus. 



These colonies have been known for at least two years; no attempt 

 at control was made, however, other than that of the householders, 

 which due to their lack of cooperation, proved unavailing. 



The southern territory is covered for the most part with one-story 

 frame dwellings. The one nearest the University is more diversi- 

 fied, one fifth of the area supports brick and stucco buildings, ranging 

 from two to four stories in height, the remainder is covered by frame 

 buildings two to three stories high, also two vacant lots, the larger of 

 these about 150 ft. square has not been infested although ants were 

 numerous in three sides of it. 



The situation under observation represents extremely favorable 

 conditions for the ant. The residents are not particularly careful in 

 the disposal of their garbage and a bakery, butcher shop, and a hotel 

 furnish a great abundance and never-ending supply of meat scraps 

 and sweets. 



Early in the fall of 1910 Professor Woodworth of this station (Uni- 

 versity of California Agricultural College, Department of Entomology) 

 published Bulletin No. 207, "The Control of the Argentine Ant" 

 in which the plan was suggested for controlling the insect, — the Argen- 

 tine or other species, as the result of detailed studies, of using a weak 

 arsenical poison. 



