308 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1911. 



and all kinds of garden vegetables. Indeed, there seem to be very few 

 or no cultivated plants that they do not attack. 



They generally move along well-beaten paths that are almost as 

 wide and as well denned as sheep paths in a pasture. 



The expense of fighting these, ants is a really serious item in the cost 

 of the production of Brazilian coffee. A distinguished Brazilian 

 planter says, with perfect justice, that "among the obstacles with 

 which the planters have to contend * * * there stands perhaps 

 in the front rank the destructive force represented by the sauba. " x 



One can get some idea of the economic importance of ants in Brazil 

 from the fact that in the seventies and early eighties an enormous 

 number of privileges or patents were asked of the Brazilian Govern- 

 ment for machines and devices of various kinds for killing ants, and 

 especially the saubas. 



In 1857 the Province of Rio de Janeiro voted a reward of $25,000 for 

 the discovery of a means of destroying saubas. 2 



It is impossible to keep things out of their reach on any large scale. 

 Certain devices are used with more or less success for protecting things 

 indoors when they are constantly watched, but standing crops or 

 considerable stores require constant watchfulness and war. 



In regard to the saubas in the Amazon region Bates says: 



This ant (the satiba) is seen everywhere about the suburbs, marching to and fro in 

 broad columns. From its habit of despoiling the most valuable cultivated trees of 

 their foliage, it is a great scourge to the Brazilians. In some districts it is so abundant 

 that agriculture is almost impossible, and everywhere complaints are heard of the 

 terrible pest. 3 



ATTACKS ON MAN. 



The formiga defogo, or fire ants, are so called on account of the pain- 

 fulness of their sting. When they are met with in large numbers 

 there is simply no withstanding them. 



One of the reasons for calling ants the kings, rulers, and owners of 

 the country is due to the vicious attacks they make upon all kinds 

 of animals. Bates tells of one case in which a town on the Tapajos 

 was actually depopulated by ants of this kind. This statement 

 seems so remarkable that it is quoted here at length : i 



Aveyros was deserted a few years before my visit on account of this little tormentor 

 (formiga defogo), and the inhabitants had only recently returned to their houses, 

 thinking its numbers had decreased. It is a small species, of a shining reddish color, 

 not greatly differing from the common red stinging ant of our own country ( Myrmica 

 rubra), except that the pain and irritation caused by its sting are much greater. 

 The soil of the whole village is undermined by it; the ground is perforated with the en- 



1 Henrique de Paula Mascarenhas: Revista Agrieola do Imperial Institute, vol. 14, p. 215. Rio de 

 Janeiro, December, 1883. 



2 Auxiliador da Industria Nacional, vol. 37, p. 64. Rio de Janeiro, 1S69. 



3 H. W. Bates: The naturalist on the River Amazons, 4th ed., p. 9. London, ISTo. 

 * Naturalist on the Amazons, p. 205. 



