THE ARGENTINE ANT: DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL. i 
January, and February (at New Orleans) these large colonies are. 
found. They sometimes reach very extensive proportions and may 
contain several hundred queens and countless workers and immature 
stages. These colonies are usually located at the base of large trees 
en high, well-drained spots of ground, in manure piles, or in any other. 
piles of decomposing rubbish where heat is generated. A warm day 
will make them particularly active, and they will form trails in all 
directions from these winter nests to food supplies. They may be 
observed traversing the trunks of trees every warm winter day, and 
from the trees trails are made to nearby houses, where ey cause 
considerable annoyance. 
With the advent of warm spring weather the breaking up of the 
large colonies occurs. This is the time of the year that food is very 
scarce, and at this season the ants are particularly aggressive and 
troublesome in the houses. Z'his ts the best time to use poisoned sirup, 
which will be described later, for controlling this pest. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
There are three adult forms to be found within a complete nest in 
the spring months of the year—the queen, the male, and the worker. 
A colony may be complete, however, with a queen and workers. 
Three immature forms are also present—the egg, larva, and pupa. 
EGG. 
In an artificial formicary a fertilized queen lays from 3 to 30 eggs 
per day when ample food is supplied. Itis very probable that under 
natural conditions the egg production is considerably more. Only a 
few seconds are occupied for the laying of each egg. A worker, 
apparently awaiting the arrival of the egg, picks it up and transfers 
it to a pile of eggs already in the nest. The surface of the egg is 
somewhat mucilaginous and readily sticks to other eggs. This per- 
mits the workers to handle the eggs en masse and also permits of 
their being deposited in desirable locations on the walls and ceilings 
of the galleries. 
The ege when first laid is about 0.3 mm. long and 0.2 mm. wide. 
It is elliptical, pearly white, lustrous, and without markings. As the 
time for hatching approaches the luster disappears. It is extremely 
difficult to detect the exact time of hatching. The average summer 
incubation period is about 15 days, but this, of course, is subject to 
the variations of temperature and humidity during this period. 
LARVA. 
The larva, when first hatched, is creamy white. Its body is very 
curved, but it gradually straightens as the larval growth continues. 
It is entirely helpless and is practically motionless. 
