1 62 First Report on Economic Zoology. 
Destruction of Termites and their Nests. 
When the nests can be located much good can be done by destroying 
the nests and inmates. This may be done by pouring kerosene oil or 
carbolic into the nests. The action is temporary, however, for it only 
drives many of the ants away to form fresh nests. 
Use of Arsenic Poisons for the Insects. 
A far better plan is to put arsenic and syrup into the openings of 
their tunnels or into the nests. The arsenic may be mixed up with 
sugar into a thick syrup. Paris green would probably answer well. The 
insects will feed off this and soon die, and it has been found that the 
dead Termites are devoured by other Termites which themselves become 
poisoned, and so great numbers are destroyed. Experiments should be 
made in this direction and if successful should be carried out on a large 
scale. Where this plan has been tried in isolated nests it has met with 
marked success. 
Clearing! White Ants from Wood-work. 
When present in wood-work of a house or other building, Riley * 
suggests injecting steam or hot water or kerosene wherever an opening 
seems to lead into their burrows in timber. 
Destruction and Prevention where damaging! living Trees. 
When the Termites attack trees by eating away the bark about the 
collar and root, the earth should be removed from the infected parts 
and the ground should be exposed to the depth of several inches, and 
the dead wood and bark cut off with a knife. A liberal supply of hot 
water will destroy those that cannot be reached with a knife. Pyrethrum 
and kerosene emulsion in extreme dilute solution can be applied with 
success, but the latter should be used with great caution. Trees which 
have been girdled may be saved by inserting scions between the root 
below and the stalk above, thus re-establishing the connection between 
the two. A poultice of mud and cow-dung applied to the affected part 
will protect it and assist in the formation of new bark.f 
Woods not attacked by White Ants. 
From a report concerning the ravages of the White Ant in St. Helena 
it is gathered that certain woods resist the attack of these pests better 
than others. The wood of Myrtacm and teak were found to be the last 
attacked and to resist their ravages. A correspondent in West Africa 
informs me that they will not touch pitch-pine as much as other woods. 
Californian red wood also appears to be free from attack.! 
* “ Insect Life,” II. 253. 
f Riley, “ Insect Life,” I. 341. 
X Bull. 30 (n.s.), Dept. Agric., U.S.A. 
