363 



foothold in tropical or subtropical countries it is able to propa- 

 gate very rapidly and to exterminate the indigenous ant-fauna. 

 Bermuda and the Virgin Islands are cited as cases in point ; 

 and the following interesting observations are recorded : 



"During March, ItXXi, 1 devoted ten days to a careful 

 study of the ant-fauna of the little Island of Culebra, off 

 the eastern coast of Porto Kico, without seeing a single speci- 

 men of Ph. megacephala. This island is, however, completely 

 overrun with a dark variety of the vicious fire-ant (Solenopsis 

 geminata). One day, on visiting the Island of Culebrita, 

 which is separated by a shallow channel hardly a mile in 

 width from the eastern coast of Culebra, I was astonished to 

 find it completely overrun with Ph. megacephala. This ant 

 was nesting under every stone and log, from the shifting sand 

 of the sea-beach to the walls of the light-house on the highest 

 point of the island. The most careful search failed to reveal 

 the presence of any other species, though the flora and physical 

 conditions are the same as those of Culebra. It is highly 

 probable that Ph. megacephala, perhaps accidentally intro- 

 duced from St. Thomas, a few miles to the east, had extermi- 

 nated all the other ants which must previously have inhabited 

 Culebrita. The absence of megacephala on Culebra is perhaps 

 to be explained by the presence of the equally prolific and 

 pugnacious fire-ant." 



1913. Cardin, Patricio. — A probable parasite of Scapteris- 

 cus didadylus in Cuba. Journ. Econ. Ent. VI, 330-331. 



The author states that the fire ant (Solenopsis geminata 

 Fab.), and the common red ant (Pheidole megacephala Fab.), 

 were the most dreaded enemies of the mole cricket, or 

 ^'changa", in high and dry land, and he partly attributes the 

 scarcity of this pest, in Cuba, to the attacks of these pests. 



1913. IllingAvorth, J. F. — Little brown ant doing good 

 work in Hawaii. Haw. Forester and Agric. X, 370- 371. 



The writer states that P. megacephala appears to be the 

 principal factor holding house flies in check under tropical 

 conditions. It is estimated . that the ants destroy fully 75% 

 of the flies ; carrying off most of the eggs or larvae as soon 



