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Smith (L. B.). The Pavement Ant {Tetramorium cesfitum, L.). — 

 Virginia Truck Expt. Sta., Norfolk, Bull. no. 10, 15 pp., 6 figs. 

 [Received 10 February 1916.] 



During the past two years growers in the Norfolk region have been 

 suffering losses from the attacks of Tetramorium cespilum, L. (pave- 

 ment ant). This pest was introduced into the United States from 

 Europe, probably 150 or 200 years ago, since when it has become 

 widely distributed. In America it has become a household pest in 

 towns, but until quite recently, had not been recorded as attacking 

 vegetabl.e crops. It has been observed to feed on the following 

 vegetables : kohl-rabi, cauliflower, cabbage, egg-plant, Brussels 

 sprouts, pepper, tomato, radish, parsley and lettuce. The damage 

 is done to the roots, crown and lower portion of the stem and 

 on the stem and crown resembles that caused by cutworms. The 

 attacks have been found to be more severe during the spring, 

 autumn and winter. Where the nests are accessible, fumigation with 

 carbon bisulphide has proved the most efficient method of control. 

 If the nest occurs on the surface of -the ground, a saucer containing 

 a few ounces of the fumigant should be placed on the ground and 

 covered with several thicknesses of heavy canvas for at least twelve 

 hours. If the nest is underground, swabs of absorbent cotton soaked 

 in the fumigant should be pushed down into the nest and the soil 

 packed firmly over them. Where these methods cannot be employed, 

 poison baits may be used. The following Paris gi'een and bran bait 

 formula has given excellent results : Wheat bran, 25 lb. ; Paris 

 green, J- lb. ; molasses, 3 U.S. quarts ; oil of cloves or other aromatic 

 oil, one teaspoonful ; and enough water to make a soft mash. The 

 following soluble arsenic and syrup bait proved even more efficient : 

 Molasses .or fruit syrup, 41b.; water, 1 U.S. quart; potassium 

 arsenate, J oz. ; and one orange ground to pulp. The bran bait is 

 sprinkled around the bases of the plants, while a sponge is saturated 

 with the arsenic and syrup bait and placed, to minimise evaporation, 

 in a small cardboard box through the sides and bottom of which holes 

 about one-half inch in diameter have been punched. The box should 

 be placed near the nest or close to the runs of the ants. The sponge 

 shoiild be saturated again three days later and again a third tiine if 

 the attack continues. Hot water, at 175° F. or more, is very destructive 

 to ants, but fails to reach all parts of a nest which is not on the surface 

 of the gro\md. The use of fish-scrap fertiliser greatly lessened the 

 attacks and is therefore of some value as a repellent. 



CoAD (B. R.). Studies on the Biology of the Arizona Wild Cotton 

 Weevil.— C/. 5. Dept. Agric, Washington, B.C., Bull. no. ;314, 

 18th January 191G, 23 pp., 1 fig., 2 plates. 



This paper deals with AnOionomus grandis Ihurheriae (Arizona wild- 

 cotton weevil) in Arizona [see this Review, Ser. A, iii, p. 545]. This 

 weevil is not known to occur on any plant other than Tlmrheria 

 ihespesiodcs, which is found from Arizona southwards along the Sierra 

 Madre as far as Guadalajara in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. There 

 is no information as yet concerning the presence of the weevil on this 

 plant in Mexico. As the activity of the insect in nature largely 



