GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 83 



It is in the household, however, that ants 



» 



cause the greatest annoyance, mostly confined 

 to the larger species which, though nesting out- 

 side, sometimes find their way into the house, 

 and to the very minute red ant, Monomo)'ium 

 pharacnis, which usually does not nest outside, 

 but starts its colonies in some warm location 

 within the house. Ants are frequently found 

 in bee hives, seeking such locations partly, we 

 believe, for the warmth, and partly attracted by Yig. m. The smaii House 

 the honey. Ordinarily, however, in such situa- f^/^Vrf/ol/A" '' Enlarged! 

 tions they do little or no harm, for a good col- ongmai. 

 ony of bees can easily protect themselves and annihilate the ants if 

 they become too numerous. 



Remedial Measures. — The housekeeper's fight against ants 

 within doors can be classified under two heads, first, protecting food 

 material from their attack, and second (and far more satisfactory) , 

 destroying the colony or colonies, including the queen or queens, and 

 thereby putting an end to their depredations. Under the first head 

 we list, (a) the old remedy of scattering powdered borax about the 

 shelves; (b) the placing of the legs of the refrigerator, or of the 

 table or cupboards holding food in pans filled with water covered 

 with kerosene; (c) placing a sponge or sponges full of sweetened 

 water upon shelves frequented by ants, and when they are covered 

 with these insects, dropping them into boiling water, and repeating- 

 the process; (d) poisoning syrup and molasses with an abundance 

 of Paris green or arsenic, and placing it in shallow dishes in places 

 frequented by the ants; (e) a saturated solution of alum applied 

 over shelves with a brush and alloived to dry, appears to leave a de- 

 posit which is obnoxious to the ants, and they avoid it; (f ) another 

 poison said to be efi'ective consists of 1 part powdered lead arsenate 

 (probably 1/2 V^T^t of arsenic, or less, would be equally eff'ective) 

 mixed with five or six parts of honey ; (g) oil of pennyroyal on wads 

 of cotton, said to be effective in driving away; (h) removal of the 

 special food which appears particularly attractive. One would 

 have to exercise care in using the above poison baits, for if children 

 or others ignorant of their nature should have access to them very 

 serious results might follow. 



However, all of the above, while remedial in their nature, fail 

 frequently, to bring permanent relief, in that they do not reach the 

 queen in the ant nest, and the numbers of the ants continue to in- 



