INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CITRUS FRUITS 631 



other bugs is common on truck crops, clovers and other plants 

 and in the fall when these die and dry up they sometimes go to 

 citrus where it attacks fruit and tender growth, causing the 

 former to drop. 



It is similar in description and habits to the Green Soldier-bug 

 described as a peach pest. The cotton stainer (Dysdercus 

 suturellus) is often nearly as injurious. 



The adults go into partial hibernation during the winter 

 months. There are several over-lapping generations. 



Control. No spray has been developed to kill these bugs in 

 the adult stage. Young will be killed by oil, soap and tobacco 

 sprays. Adults may be collected by being jarred into large nets 

 held under the trees. Bugs so collected are killed with kerosene. 



Argentine Ant.* 



The Argentine ant is a household pest of first importance in 

 certain regions and has even greater importance in the citrus 

 groves. It is primarily of importance in Louisiana but occurs in 

 California as well. It has been known as a household pest in 

 New Orleans for many years, but was imported about 1891, 

 presumably from the Argentine, where it was originally described, 

 on coffee ships running from points in Brazil to New Orleans. 



Its chief importance in citriculture is its interference with the 

 various species of natural enemies of mealy-bugs and scale 

 insects. It is also said to foster some kinds of scales and plant 

 lice directly and to feed on buds, flowers and fruits of plants. 

 It is important in the sugar-plantings of Louisiana where it 

 fosters a mealy-bug (Pseudococous calceolaria Mask.) which is 

 one of the most important enemies to sugar-cane production. It 

 is said also to interfere with the natural enemies of the boll 

 weevil. This makes a heavy indictment for one minute insect but 

 probably only faintly echoes the truth. 



The Argentine ant is a very small species of a general brownish 

 color. They live in nests, usually in or on the ground but occasion- 

 ally in trees. Their destruction is usually a matter of destruction 

 of the nests, primarily, although it may be possible to destroy 

 colonies by persistent poisoning of the adults away from the nests. 



* Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr. See J. R. Horton Farmers' Bulletin, 928 

 U. S. D. A. and Bulletins 647, ibid., also Wilmon Newell, Jour. EC. Ent., 

 Vol. II, Nos. 2 and 5. 1909. 



