855 



every l)orer-infested stalk, and they had spread over several 

 fields. By the end of the dry season, however, the ants, which 

 had become scarce during the wet weather, were again exceed- 

 ingly abundant, and no flies or their piiparia were to bo 

 found. 



We have had similar experience in each of the districts 

 where the flies have been liberated, even to those that were 

 sent over to Queensland, — at first they would appear to be 

 established and spreading in the fields during the rainy season, 

 but later they would entirely disappear. 



The only way that I can account for the way these flies 

 have succeeded in Hawaii is that megacephala is not nearly 

 as numerous here. 



Though these ants are often regarded as noxious insects 

 because of their relation to Aphids, Coccids and leaf-hoppers, 

 we must give them credit for the fact that they often devour 

 these insects, especially if there is a shortage of the honey-dew. 

 Professor Heer (1852 and 1856) speaks with surprise of their 

 destruction of cochineal insects, and recently Swezey (1913) 

 recorded their eating some of the mealy bugs on sugar cane. 

 Moreover, Dr. Wheeler (1910) points out that ants also render 

 some assistance by removing the s^veet excretions produced by 

 these various bugs, for if left to fall upon the leaves, it forms 

 a culture for destructive leaf fungi. 



Furthermore, this species can hardly be regarded m a house- 

 hold pest. Though they show a fondness for foods continuing 

 fats and proteids, particularly meats, beans, cheese, butter, 

 etc., these foods can easily be protected from them. T have 

 not observed that they show a particular liking for sweets, 

 in the house, as recorded by Professor Heer (1852, 1856). 

 As he noted, however, they do have a decided preference for 

 an insect diet, and we find them not only removing the dead 

 insects that chance about the place, but also going after the liv- 

 ing. One remarkable case was that of some dried fish which 

 had become thoroughly infested with Dermestid larvae. When 

 first observed, the ants were all over this fish and vigorously 

 attacking the spiny larvae. Within two days not one of the 



