THE ARGENTINE ANT: DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL. 5 



which are tributary te these centers. A point where such a distribu- 

 tion has occurred is Summerville, a little town 24 miles north of 

 Charleston, S. C., which has become infested, presumably, from the 

 latter place. 



In a complete colony in the spring of the year three distinct forms 

 of adults are to be found queens, males (drones), and workers, the 

 workers greatly outnumbering both the queens and the males. The__ 

 workers, foragers of the colony, are imperfect females with no re- 

 productive functions. The queens, which are the reproducing fe- 

 males, remain within the nest nearly all the time, and are fed and 

 tended by the workers. The males have apparently but one func- 

 tion that of fertilizing the queens. It will be readily understood 

 that, as in the social economy of ant communities of other species, 

 it is absolutely necessary that a fertilized queen be taken along with 

 a number of workers before a new colony can be started. It is quite 

 possible that almost every town and city in the Southern States has 

 had a number of workers introduced at one time or another, but 

 owing to the absence of a queen a noticeable infestation has not 

 become established. Workers alone carried in this manner would die 

 out. Such may be the case at Nashville, Tenn., where only a few 

 workers have been found. Later observations will be necessary to 

 decide this question. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



As a pest in cities the Argentine .ant has no equal. Owing to its 

 small size and unobtrusive color, it is able to invade practically every 

 part of ordinary dwellings, stores, etc. It is almost omnivorous, 

 eating most cooked foods and a considerable percentage of the raw 

 foods that are to be found in the average pantry. It exhibits a 

 marked preference for some foods, such as sugar, sirup, honey, jams, 

 cakes, candies, pies, fruit, and meats of all kinds. The temperature 

 of refrigerators or ice boxes seems to have no deterrent effect, and 

 ants will readily invade them. 



It is a common occurrence for Argentine ants to invade bed- 

 chambers, and while they do not possess a sting, they can cause 

 considerable pain with their mandibles. There have been many 

 reports of babies being attacked by them in such numbers as to 

 cause serious results, and several of these reports have been verified. 

 In August, 1915, the writer located such a case in Augusta, Ga. 

 A reputable citizen of that city, residing in a heavy infestation of 

 the Argentine ants, gave the following account of such an attack on 

 his 4-weeks-old baby : 



We were awakened in the night by a weak cry from the baby, and when 

 the light was turned on the baby's face was black with ants. They were in the 

 baby's nose, ears, and mouth. We hurriedly carried the baby to the bathtub 



