SEVERAL VERY INJURIOUS scale pests of orange 

 would be much more largely controlled by their 

 insect enemies were it not for the Argentine ant. 



This ant is very fond of the sweet substance, 

 known as honey dew, excreted by mealybugs and 

 other soft scales and is always very attentive to them 

 and prevents many of their insect enemies from ap- 

 proaching them. Thus the natural enemies of these 

 pests are hindered in carrying on their good work. 

 As a result, some of the soft scales become exces- 

 sively abundant. 



The Argentine ant does not obtain honey dew from 

 the armored scales, but in patrolling the trees con- 

 stantly in large numbers in search of insect prey it 

 hinders, to a certain extent, the work of the natural 

 enemies of these scales, and if the control of the 

 scales be neglected for several seasons the infesta- 

 tion may be considerably increased. 



In Louisiana orange groves this ant can be con- 

 trolled as an orchard and house pest by the trapping 

 method described on pages 12-17. Once the orchard 

 has been practically rid of ants, which can be done in 

 from 8 to 10 fumigations of the trapped ants, little 

 work will be needed to keep them from causing further 

 annoyance. 



7/i California orange groves the ants can be pre- 

 vented from getting into the trees by banding the 

 trees in accordance with the instructions on pages 

 19-20, and their numbers can be reduced by poison- 

 ing. Recipes for ant poisons and directions for using 

 them arc given on pages 17-19. 



