PESTS ON THE FARM AND THEIR CONTROL 497 



result in a more wide exploitation of a good forage ground and 

 an actual increase of the ant nuisance. 



A more efficient remedy, where it can be safely used, is a syrup 

 poisoned mth arsenate of soda, the idea being that the ants mil 

 collect this poison syrup and convey it to their nests, so that not 

 only the ants which collect the syrup are ultimately killed, but 

 the inmates of nests feeding on it also succumb. The formula 



Fig. 231. — The little black ant (Monomorium minimum), a, Male; 6, pupa; 

 c, female; (/, same with wings; e, worker; /, larva; g, eggs; group of workers 

 in line of march below. All enlarged, the lettered illustrations all drawn to 

 the same scale. — U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



for the preparation of this syrup is as follows : One pound of 

 sugar dissolved in a quart of water, to which should be added 

 125 grains of arsenate of soda. The mixture should be boiled 

 and strained, and on cooling used with sponges, as already 

 described. The addition of a small amount of honey is said to 

 add to the attractiveness to ants of this mixture. Naturally the 

 greatest precautions should be taken in preparing this syrup 

 and in safeguarding it afterwards to prevent its being the cause 

 of poisoning to human beings or domestic animals. This method 



