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FALL NUMBER Zk 
THA SAuUVA (Atta sexdens, L.) 
The destructiveness of this species is attested in all agricul- 
tural countries in tropical America, ranging from Texas to Ar- 
gentina. It is the “billion dollar insect’’, destroying far more 
than the boll weevil, with which the Florida entomologists are 
quite familiar. 
The formicaries of this “bicho” are often from six to eight 
meters across and the range of the activity of the ants from one 
nest may be as great as a hundred meters. Frequently they 
connect their formicaries with the field in which they are cut- 
ting by long tunnels. I have a photograph of one formicary 
that went to a depth of more than four meters. 
Naturally formicaries of this size can breed a great quantity 
of sauvas, and each year produce thousands of tanajuras 
(queens). During the spring (October and November), after 
the rains have commenced, these tanajuras make their nuptial 
flight. Fortunately the distance they fly from the formicary is 
not great. The largest number of them alight within one hun- 
dred meters of their birthplace. After divesting themselves of 
their wings these new queens begin to excavate and then com- 
mence a new colony. Each one carries with her enough ‘“am- 
brosia” to care for herself and progeny until the first set of 
workers are ready to bring in the organic matter on which to 
plant the mushrooms. 
EATING TANAJURAS. 
These tanajuras are of a considerable size. With their wings 
folded back they measure from four to six centimeters. Their 
wing-spread is six to seven centimeters. Just after they have 
shed their wings the tanajuras are considered a particularly 
appetizing morsel. We had been told repeatedly that the ab- 
origines ate them, and that some of the country people cooked 
them. So we made particular inquiry to find out how this par- 
ticular feat was accomplished. It seems that the regulation 
way is to pull off the heads and fry the abdomen and thorax in 
hot fat. So Mrs. Hargrave (nee Effie Rolfs) prepared some of 
them for us. While in the hot fat, the abdomens burst, sounding 
and appearing very much like popcorn. In eating quality, too, 
they are about like good popcorn, crush readily and give off a 
rather pleasing, evanescent aroma. 
