12 FARMERS ' BULLETIN 862. 



An experiment typical of many others is given in Table II. 



TABLE II. Relation of the Argentine ant to the natural control of the mealybug. 

 Experiments at Sierra Afadre, Cal., July to October, 1916. [Percentage of 

 fruit infested with the mealybug on each tree. Twenty orange trees to each 

 test.] 



I. NO INSECTICIDAL TREATMENT. 



1 Only 8 infested fruit on entire 10 banded trees. 

 II. TREES SPRAYED WITH WATER ON JULY 25. 



HOW TO KEEP ANTS OFF OF TREES. 



To free trees of ants the ideal procedure w*ould be to eradicate 

 these insects from the area affected. The writers have not carried 

 on any such tests, but the published results of work carried on by 

 the Department of Agriculture against the Argentine ant 1 would 

 indicate the feasibility of freeing orchards of this pest. 



The procedure followed with noteworthy success in municipal 

 control work was the distribution throughout the affected area of a 

 poisoned sirup in a suitable container. A paraffined paper bag, with 

 perforations for the passing of ants, containing about a gill of sirup, 

 was used as a container for nailing to trees. 

 The sirup is made as follows : 



Granulated sugar pounds 15 



Water pints__ 7 



Tartaric acid (crystallized) -ounce i 



Boil for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. 



Dissolve sodium arsenite (C. P.) ounce f 



In hot water pint 1 



Cool. Add poison solution to sirup and stir well. Add to the 

 poisoned sirup: 



Honey pounds 1* 



Mix thoroughly. 



1 Barber, E. R. The Argentine Ant: Distribution and Control in the United States. 

 U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 377. 23 p., 4 fig. 1916. Newell. Wilmon, and Barber, T. C. The 

 Argentine Ant. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Ent. Bui. 122. 98 p., 13 pi., 13 fig. 1913. 



