ANTS WHICH PREY UPON THE WEEVIL. 



71 



fields. It is rocordod in tlio Dallas colloclioii as attackinji^ the boll 

 weevil at Llano, Lampasas, Albany, Ilcniiotta, Arlington, and Dallas, 

 Tex., Ruston, La., and Roxic and Port Gibson, Miss. The species 

 has been taken attaeking the immature stages of Trichoharis com- 

 2)acta, Anthonunius albopilosus, and Anthonontus fidvus . It generally 

 attacks these weevils as well as the boll weevil on the plant, entering 

 the infested bud or square in search of its food. 



Monomonum phai-aoins L. This ct)smopolitan house ant (fig. 18) 

 is another of the most important boll-weevil enemies, being very 



Fig. 17.— The little black uut (Monoinoriain minimum), an enemy of the boll weevil: a, Fe- 

 male; b, same with wings; c, male; d, workers; e, pupa; /, larva; g, egg of worker. 

 Enlarged. (From Marlatt.) 



abundant in the cotton fields of certain sections. It is represented 

 in the Dallas collection as attacking the boll weevil at Victoria, Tex.; 

 Fosters, Ruston, and Monroe, La., and Camden, Ark. It also 

 attacks the weevil on the plant. In southern Louisiana it is being 

 exterminated by the Argentine ant {Iridomyrmex Tiumilis). 



Pheidole sp., near flavens. At Arlington, Tex., August 31, 1908, 

 Mr. Cushman found abundant e\adencc of the control of the boll 

 weevil by this species. It attacks the weevil larvse both on the 

 plant and on the ground. 



