LETTER OE TRANSMITTAL 



' U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Entomology, 

 Washington, D. C, January 2, 1913. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend 

 for publication as Bulletin No. 122, of the Bureau of Entomology, 

 a manuscript entitled ''The Argentine Ant," by Mr, Wilmon Newell, 

 formerly a collaborator, and Mr. T. C. Barber, formerly an agent of 

 this bureau. 



The Argentine ant is an imported pest of great importance. It 

 is unique among injurious insects of this country in the diversity of 

 the damage that it causes. It is not only a household pest of the 

 first rank, but it affects materially the interests of sugar planters, 

 * orange growers, and others. The territory infested by this ant is 

 bemg rapidly extended. For all of these reasons it is important that 

 there be placed on record a full account of the studies that have been 

 conducted regardmg it. 



The work upon which this manuscript is based was begun by Mr. 

 Newell as secretary of the Louisiana State Crop Pest Commission. 

 Later Mr. Newell contmued the work as a collaborator in this bureau, 

 and Mr. Barber, an agent of the bureau, but working under Mr. 

 Newell's direction, added to the results obtained. 

 Respectfully, 



L. O. Howard, 

 Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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