90 
THE ARGENTINE ANT. 
used in the construction of an "ant-proof" hive stand. Accordingly 
a four-legged hive stand was made with, top and sides extending 
some distance beyond the legs and downward, so as to prevent rain 
water from reaching the upper end of each leg. The top and sides 
were made thoroughly water-tight and the ant tape wound several 
times about the upper end of each leg. Below the tape, fitting 
snugly around the leg, was a piece of zinc about 6 inches square to 
prevent water from splashing upward from the ground during storms. 
One of these hive stands, turned on end to show the method of 
construction, is illustrated in figure 11, and the details of construc- 
tion are further shown 
in figures 12 and 13. 
These figures are from 
drawings by Aiiss Ethel 
Hut son. The two front 
legs of the stand were 
made an inch shorter 
than the rear two to 
give proper drainage to 
the hive . In putting on 
the tape we wrapped 
about a yard of tape 
about each leg, placing 
corrosive sublimate be- 
tween the layers. Made 
in this manner these 
stands by actual test 
repelled all ants for 11 
months without any 
attention being re- 
quired except to pre- 
vent grass and weeds 
from growing up and 
touching the hive and 
upper part of the stand. 
With corrosive sub- 
limate between the 
layers of tape the latter is effective until it disintegrates or until it 
gets wet, and bees crawling up the legs pass the barrier of tape 
without injury or inconvenience. Our stands were made of tongue- 
and-groove lumber, which made them rather cumbersome, but there 
is no reason why such stands should not be made with top and sides 
of galvanized iron. This would make them light, durable, and 
cheap. 
Fig. 11.— Ant-proof hive stand, upturned, showing method of con- 
struction. (Senior author's illustration.) 
