Ss, 
Mr. Marlatt said that this work was very interesting to him 
because of the care with which the experiments had been carried on. 
His own course had been to try to allay undue enthusiasm regarding 
the San Jose scale coccinellid. Its introduction was an experiment 
that seemed at first promising. In many sections the experiment 
failed, but frequently this was due to the starvation of the coccinellid, 
because sulphur-lime wash was used at the same time and destroyed 
most of the scales. Predaceous insects of general feeding habits 
should be introduced with care. They may destroy beneficial as well 
as injurious species. Mantis, for instance, seemed to take a special 
delight in destroying the aphid-eating coccinellid. 
The following paper was presented : 
REPORT ON THE “NEW ORLEANS” ANT (IRIDOMYRMEX HUMILIS 
Mayr). 
By E. S. G. Tirus, Washington, D. C. 
In July of 1904 the Bureau of Entomology of the Department of 
Agriculture received a letter from Prof. H. A. Morgan, of Louisi- 
ana, inclosing a letter from Mr. I. Baker, superintendent of Audubon 
Park, New Orleans, La. Mr. Baker’s letter gave an account of an 
ant that occurred in enormous numbers in that city and was causing 
serious trouble. 
Under instructions from the Entomologist, Dr. L. O. Howard, I 
reached New Orleans from New Iberia, La., October 15, and pro- 
ceeded to the sugar experiment station in Audubon Park. Mr. R. E. 
Blouin, vice-director of the station, and Mr. E. Baker gave me such 
information regarding the presence, distribution, manner of spread- 
ing, and ravages of the ant as they had collected during the past 
few years. 
Mr. Baker first noticed the ants in 1896, at which time he moved 
into Carrollton, near the Southport docks. They then extended over 
but a small area, reaching approximately from Southport docks to 
Carrollton avenue and from the river back to Poplar street. At that 
date the residents in that section had been troubled with them but 
-a short time. I could find no one who could positively remember 
noticing them before 1895. 
In 1899 the ants were first noticed in Audubon Park, and by the 
next summer had become quite numerous. They are now practically 
all over the park, the nests mere commonly occurring at the bases of 
trees. On the experiment-station grounds the ants’ nests are very 
common around and beneath buildings, in flower beds and cultivated 
Nelds, beneath sidewalks, and even on the lawns. In wet weather, 
Mr. Baker stated, the ants deserted their ground nests and carried 
pupe, larvyee, and eggs into the trees, Here they constructed nests by 
