88 



6. — How to Get Bid op Ants. 



As we have now almost exhausted the space allotted to us for this subject, we shall 

 close with the mention of a few modes of getting rid of ants, as no doubt they are more 

 familiar to our readers as domestic pests than in the interesting character described above. 

 We find that we must leave over to another year any account of many other varieties of 

 ants, such, for instance, as the dreaded driver ants of Africa, the agricultural ants of 

 Texas, the leaf-cutting and foraging ants of Central and South America, (see figs. 71, 72 

 and 73), the honey ants of Mexico (see fig. 74) and other remarkable species. We must 



Fig. 74. 



Fig. 71, Worker Major {Polyrhackis arbwicola). Fig. 72, Worker Minor {Eciton Mexicana). Fig. 73, Worker 

 Minor {E. Sumichrasti). Fig. 74, the Honey Ant of Mexico (Myrmecocystus m-exicanus). 



also postpone any description of the wonderful works of ants, in road-building, tunnel- 

 ling, well-digging, etc., their care of aphides, domestic life, intelligence, language and other 

 particulars, which, we have no doubt, are of great interest to all lovers of natural history. 



Numerous, and not uncalled for, are the complaints that house-keepers make in this 

 country respecting the inroads upon their sugar and preserves and other goodly stores, by 

 the swarms of little ants that infest our houses in the summer time ; but the annoyance 

 caused by these tiny creatures in this country cannot for a moment be compared with the 

 fearful ravages they often commit in hot climates. The following are some modes 

 recommended for their destruction when they come into the house : — (1) Take a 

 coarse sponge, damp it slightly, and then dust over and into it some finely pulver- 

 zed sugar ; lay the sponge in the place that they most frequent, removing for the 

 time any sweets that they usually attack. In a very short time the sponge will be found 

 full of ants ; dip it in boiling water, squeeze out the dead bodies, and repeat the opera- 

 tion. A little perseverance will exterminate the pests. (2) A somewhat similar plan is 

 to lay fresh bones around their haunts ; they will leave everything else to attack them. 

 When thus accumulated, destroy as before by dipping in hot water. (3) Another plan 

 that has been found effective, but we do not recommend it owing to the danger arising 

 from any carelessness in its use, it is to put arsenic or Paris green in highly sweetened 

 water, and set the vessel in their way. It is said that in two or three days no more will 

 be seen. (4) When ants are troublesome in flower-beds or lawn they may be de- 



