f° 
| BULLETIN Nol 3 377 
Contribution from the Bureau of Eatomolodyo 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER rome i8, 1916 
THE ARGENTINE ANT:' DISTRIBUTION AND CON- 
TROL IN THE UNITED STATES. 
By Ernest R. Barser, Scientific Assistant, Southern Field Crop Insect Investi- 
gations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. | Page. 
Present known distribution in the ETA GS yee ee See ee a eee ee 6 
Southern States] 222 =) Ss 22) bite history 2222s se Se eae a G 
DISPERSION sae Ae ee a Si NEG Uae CONG Oise eee 9 
HE conomicmmporrance 22 oss eee ee 5) 1 Repression. = 2. 2 s2 2 ee Sa 10 
INTRODUCTION. 
The Argentine ant? is one of the most serious of household pests. 
Any exposed food or food refuse in the infested sections attracts the 
workers of this species in abundance, and residents and keepers of 
grocery stores, meat markets, confectioneries, etc., must either suffer 
considerably or almost constantly use poison or barriers of various 
kinds. If its activities were confined to the household only, the prob- 
lem of controlling the Argentine ant would be sufficiently difficult, 
but in common with some other ants it has the habit of protecting 
mealybugs and aphids and thus indirectly becomes a pest of crops. 
The problem is more serious from the fact that the species is 
steadily spreading in all directions throughout the Southern States. 
It is practically certain that it was introduced into this country at 
New Orleans, in ships which brought coffee from ports in Brazil, 
although the exact date of this introduction will always remain 
in doubt. 
The Argentine ant was first observed in New Orlane 4 in 1891 by 
Mr. Edward Foster. At that time he records it in small numbers: 
1 The work of the Bureau of Entomology on the Argentine ant is divided into two parts. 
One part deals with the ant as a general pest, its distribution, and relation to the cultiva- 
tion of sugar cane. The other part relates to the special problem of control in citrus 
groves. This phase will be treated in another publication. The work reported in this ~ 
paper does not include reference to conditions in California, parts of which State are alsa 
infested by the Argentine ant. 
2Tridomyrmez humilis Mayr. 
$Foster, E. The introduction of Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr) into New Orleans. Jour. 
Heon. Ent., v. 1, no. 5, p. 289-293. 1908. 
41860°—Bull. 377—16——-1 
