470 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 9 



infested and a somewhat similar campaign to the one in Berkeley and 

 Oakland was carried on by the autljor. This effort differed from 

 those previously undertaken in that no attempt was made to eradi- 

 cate but from the first the idea was control. As a control measure 

 the previous campaigns had been completely successful. 



The method consisted in the use of paraffined paper bags, perforated 

 at the bottom to allow free access of the ants. In this bag was placed 

 a sponge saturated with the ant syrup. The formula for this syrup 

 is as follows: 



4 oz. sodium arsenite; 

 16 lbs. sugar; 

 Water to make three gallons of syrup. 



A supply of the prepared bags was placed in convenient places in 

 the infested yards and the sponges refilled as often as necessary. 

 In some cases cyanide solution was used on the nests. Preparation 

 and distribution of the material was done by one man working part 

 time in the employ of the city. He also answered all calls for assist- 

 ance to any part of the city and whenever an infestation of Argentine 

 ants was found, work was begun in that vicinity. 



Piedmont was peculiarly subject to new infestations since the greater 

 part of their potted plants, nursery stock, manure, and building 

 materials are brought from the adjoining city of Oakland, which even 

 at this time contained large areas of ant infested territory and had 

 ceased doing anything to control them. In this way new infestations 

 are constantly begun in Piedmont but by prompt control measures 

 the spread of the ant was restricted and also the annoj^ance to house- 

 holders was almost completely eliminated. City control was continued 

 for about three years; the first year the total cost was three hundred 

 ($300.00) dollars, the second year, on account of several new infesta- 

 tions, the expense was slightly more but less than four hundred ($400.00) 

 dollars and this for a total area of sixteen blocks scattered in every 

 part of the city, besides inspection of the entire city. In the third 

 year small tin cans were substituted for the paper bags, this reduced 

 the amount of refilling necessary as larger amounts of syrup could be 

 left in the containers so that in spite of an increased territory, the cost 

 remained about the same. The work was dropped at this time from 

 lack of funds. 



^Instead of buying prepared sodium arsenite (which is quite variable in strength) 

 it is now made according to the following formula. 



1 oz. white arsenic; 



2 oz. sal soda or 1 oz. sodium hydroxide; 

 f? oz. water. 



Boil until clear and combine with 16 pounds of sugar and sufficient water to make 

 three gallons. 



