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APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY 



This is one of the worst of house pests known in the regions where it is 

 abundant. Its small size enables it to enter through the smallest cracks 

 and it goes everywhere in houses after its food. It will eat practically 

 everything in the way of foods, both raw and cooked, and no part of a 

 house is free from its presence. The cold of ice chests does not repel 

 them and beds are not entirely protected by placing the bedposts in dishes 



FIG. 387. Argentina Ant (Iridomyrmsx humilis Mayr.) : 1, wingless female; 2, worker, 

 3, early stages: a, eggs; b, young larva; c, full-grown larva; d, side view of pupa; e, ventral 

 side of pupa; /, dorsal view of pupa, 4, male. All greatly enlarged. (From U. S. D. A, 

 Farm. Bull. 740.) 



of water or kerosene, as after a few hours a film of dust forms on the 

 surface of this, over which with their light bodies they are sometimes able 

 to pass. Though they do not sting, they bite freely and are able to 

 cause some pain in this way. Young children asleep have been found 

 with ants in the nose, ears and mouth, and older persons are frequently 

 inconvenienced by them in a similar way. They visit plant lice, soft 

 scales and other insects for honey-dew and to some extent at least, their 

 presence is favorable to these pests and makes their control more difficult. 



