72 INSECT ENEMIES OF THE BOLL WEEVIL. 



Plieidole crassicornis Emery. At Lampasas, Tex., September 23, 

 1908, Mr. Cushman found this ant a very abundant enemy of the 

 boll weevil. 



DOLICHODERID^. 



Forelius maccooki Forel. At Bee^dlle, Tex., August 13, 1906, Mr» 

 C. E. Jones found a high mortality of the boll weevil due to this 

 species. Dr. Wheeler has recorded the fact that this ant prefers 

 bare, dry ground for- its nests. The species also attacks Alabama 

 argillacea and EeliotJiis obsoleta. On September 7, 1908, at Dallas, 

 Tex., Mr. F. C. Bishopp took specimens in the act of attack, and 

 September 21, 1908, Mr. Cushman took others at Llano, Tex., attack- 

 ing the weevil. 



Dorymyrmex pyramicus Roger, the ''lion ant," protects solitary 

 tree cotton from the boll weevil in Cuba (Schwarz, 1905). 



f 



Fig. 18.— The little red ant {Monomorium pharaonis) , slu enemy of the boll weevil: 

 a, Female; b, worker. Enlarged. (From Riley.) 



Dorymyrmex pyramicus (Roger) var. flavus McCook. This com- 

 mon ant of the cotton fields has only once been taken as an enemy 

 of the boll weevil, namely at Texarkana, Tex., by Mr. R. C. Howell, 

 but its abundance would make it a very important species if it 

 should develop a fondness for wee^dl larvae. It is an enemy of 

 Alabama argillacea and EeliotJiis obsoleta. 



Iridomyrmex analis Andre. Specimens of this ant were found 

 attacking the boll weevil by Dr. W. E. Hinds. This species is nor- 

 mally a honey ant, but occasionally takes insect food. It is very 

 common in cotton fields, especially in Louisiana. 



Iridomyrmex Jiumilis Mayr. The much-feared Argentine ant has 

 been taken attacking the boll weevil. It is, however, a friend to 

 the weevil because it exterminates Solenopsis geminata, Monomorium 

 plmraonis J a.nd Iridomyrmex analis (Foster, 1908). 



