de in a ES i a i 
THE ARGENTINE ANT: DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL. 13 
composition had taken place in the sirup in the jars, a very disagree- 
able odor being given off. As many of the jars as could be found were 
collected. These were thoroughly cleaned, especially the sponges, 
which were washed in boiling water. Fresh sirup was prepared and 
the jars recharged and again distributed. 
The jars were again recharged in October. At this time, though 
the infestation had not spread, the ants were more numerous. They 
were very numerous in the sirup rooms of both bottling establish- 
ments, and in both meat markets. 
Observations were made in December, and at this time conditions 
were fairly satisfactory. Ants had troubled only two of the houses, 
in each instance only for a day or so, and had then left. The bottling 
establishments were closed for the winter. The intention was to 
recharge the jars at this time, but the status was so satisfactory that 
it was decided to leave them until the following spring. 
In the beginning of April the ants were not very plentiful. Only 
three houses had been invaded during the winter. The sirup rooms 
of both bottling works were again besieged. 
By the latter part of May the ants were more numerous all over 
the infested area, though none of the residents or storekeepers had 
so far been troubled. The proprietor of bottling establishment A 
now had his sirups isolated and the ants were noticeably fewer 
around this building, but they were in increased numbers around the 
other plant. The ants were now very numerous on one block, and as 
the jars had not been satisfactory outdoors, special paraffin-covered 
rainproof paper bags were prepared to place on the trees near the 
houses and along the streets throughout the infested area. The 
“experiment had been conducted for 20 months and the results had 
not been entirely satisfactory. The ants had been almost completely 
kept out of the houses and stores, except the sirup rooms of the 
bottling works, but large numbers were still present outdoors. 
It is fairly conclusive that the sirup within the houses repelled the 
ants, for even in the spring the ants gave little trouble to the resi- 
dents. 
On July 9, 50 paper bags’ containing this sirup were placed on 
trees throughout the infested area. About half of these bags were 
placed on trees in one block. All the bags were tacked about 15 feet 
_ above the ground to keep them out of reach of children and to arrest. 
evaporation as much as possible, bags at this height being in the 
shade. 
On August 13 a status inspection was made, and very remarkable 
results were observed. There were not at this time more than 20 
per cent of the ants on the trees as compared with July, and all of 
the houses without exception situated anywhere near the trees had 
1A description of the preparation of this bag is given on pages 20 and 21. 
