256 INSECT ENEMIES OF THE FLOWER GARDEN 



Ants in the Lawn. Colonies of black ants (Fig. 258), which 

 build large nests sometimes a foot high, may be exterminated by 

 the use of bisulfid of carbon. Make eight or ten holes at intervals 

 over the nest, using a cane or any pointed stick of similar size, 

 and push it in for eight or ten inches. Pour a tablespoonful of 

 bisulfid of carbon into each hole, stop the opening with earth, 

 and throw two or three burlap sacks or a piece of canvas over the 

 nest to help confine the gas. Preferably the sacks should be wet. 

 Leave them for twenty-four hours. Repeat if necessary. 



The small red ants which make tiny hills are sometimes trouble- 

 some when abundant. Repeated hoeing and cultivation will 

 discourage their work, as will also copious watering. If many 

 small hills in a cluster impair the lawn, treat with bisulfid of carbon 

 as recommended above for black ants. 



FIG. 258. The common black ant, much enlarged. 



The Stalk Borers. Golden glow, dahlias, hollyhocks, gaillardia, 

 delphinium, asters, daisies, peonies, lilies, and sunflowers in the 

 flower garden, as well as tomatoes and other plants in the vege- 

 table garden, may suffer as a result of the attack of several species 

 of borers belonging to the genus Papaipema. A drooping or wilt- 

 ing tip or branch (Fig. 259) is generally an indication that just 

 below the affected portion a hole in the stalk may be found from 

 which protrude castings left by the caterpillar. This caterpillar 

 excrement, wherever found, is proof positive of the presence of 

 the pest, and a little searching will result in the burrow being 

 discovered. 



Life History. These moths (Fig. 260) emerge in late summer, 



