22 THE argentike ant. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



Up to the present time the Argentine ant has attracted most atten- 

 tion as a househokl pest. Particuhxrly tkiring rainy weather, when 

 honeydew is scarce, the ants invade houses in myriads and drive the 

 housekeepers almost to distraction. Nearly everything which is 

 ecHble for human beings is attractive to them, and ceaseless attention 

 and strenuous effort are necessary to keep them out of pantry and 

 kitchen. The use of poisons and repellents must be continuous; 

 if there has been a little carelessness in this regard the foodstuffs 

 become filled with countless numbers of ants in a very short time. 



Among the foodstuffs most eagerly sought may be mentioned 

 honey, sirups, sugar, candy, cakes, cookies, jams, marmalades, pre- 

 serves, fruit juices, cream, olive oil, lard, egg (either raw or cooked), 

 fish (either fresh or canned), and various raw meats, such as chicken, 

 veal, mutton, pork, beef, etc. Corn meal is sometimes the object 

 of attack and wheat flour to a slight extent. 



Aside from their invasions of food the ants are household nuisances 

 generally. No corner or nook is safe from their explorations and the 

 discovery of something edible is quickly heralded in the nest, whence 

 come thousands of workers to carry away the plunder. In heavily 

 infested sections it is often necessary to place bedposts upon panes of 

 glass coated with vaseline or other repellent in order that the occu- 

 pant may sleep in peace. To have ants running all over one's person 

 is disagreeable enough, but what is more serious, they will not hesitate 

 to attack any part of the body where skin or membranes are tender 

 enough to be pierced by their mandibles. 



Authentic cases are on record where it has been necessary to take 

 babes from their cradles and repeatedly immerse them in water to 

 rid them of the ants which crawled by hundreds over their bodies 

 and into their mouths and nostrils. We have even received reports 

 of infants being killed by the ants, but such reports we have not 

 verified. Such a thing is not, however, outside the realm of 

 possil)ility. 



In groceries and stores they are kept out of sirups, sugar, molasses, 

 and like products only with great difficulty. In restaurants and 

 confectioneiy shops the closest vigilance is required to keep the ants 

 out of the cakes, candies, ice cream, fruits, etc., as well as out of ice 

 boxes, refrigerators,* show cases, and windows. Meat in butchers' 

 shops is also a great attraction, and if loft unprotected for even a 

 short time thousands of ants will be swarming over it. 



In nurseries and among ornamental plants the ants foster and 

 protect countless thousands of scale insects and plant lice, the excre- 

 tions of which furnish the choicest delicacy with which the ants 



' The temperature of the ordinary refrigerator is not low enough to deter the anfs in their foraging. 



