Eleventh Report of the State Entomologist 113 



ultaneously as in many species, and from his observations he concludes 

 that the males and females continue to live in the same formicary, which 

 increases indefinitely unless broken up. Pairing apparently takes place 

 subterraneously and not in the air, as in many species. As indicating 

 the prolificacy of the insect, it is worthy of note that M. Bellevoye esti- 

 mates that he killed 359,500 neuters in his apartments within about six 

 weeks' time without apparently diminishing their number; but after 

 continumg this destruction for over five weeks longer, they were 

 observed to be a little less numerous. 



Other Species Occurring in Houses. 



There is a much larger brownish or black ant sometimes found in 

 houses. It is known as Catnponotus herculaneus var. pe?insylvanicus. 

 This species usually comes into dwellings from nests built outside near 

 the house. It overruns the rooms and even gets into clothing and other- 

 wise makes itself disagreeably prominent. It is a very active species, 

 and in one instance related by Riley, it was so annoying that a fine old 

 homestead was on the point of being sold because of the presence of 

 this pest, when the source of the infestation was discovered in a large 

 nest of several feet in diameter in the back yard, and the colony 

 destroyed by treating it with bisulphide of carbon, as given below. 



The little black ant {^Monomorium minutum Mayr) may be found in 

 houses, and at times is as troublesome as the little red ant, though it is 

 not, like the latter, strictly a house species. Another, known as the pave- 

 ment ant, Tetraiiiorium caspitiun (Linn.), is common in Eastern towns 

 under pavements or beneath stones or flagging in yards. In Washington 

 it is often as pestilent a nuisance as the true house ant. Some species of 

 Lasius form large colonies in yards and may get into neighboring houses. 



Remedies. 



If the ants can be traced to their nests, and they are accessible, they 

 can all be killed by making several holes with a stick in the nests and 

 pouring in an ounce or two of bisulphide of carbon. This is the best 

 remedy known, and_^is a simple one, when the colony is located in the 

 yard or garden. It may be made even more effective if, after pouring in 

 the liquid, the nest is covered with a damp blanket and after a few 

 moments the poisonous vapor is exploded. The explosion drives the 

 fumes deeper into the nest and more quickly reaches the inmates. Care 

 should be taken in exploding the dangerous vapor. The torch may be 



