BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AXD PLAXT QUARANTINE 33 
Measures to Control Imported Fire Ant Studied 
The imported fire ant, an important introduced species abundant 
in parts of Alabama and Mississippi, has been found in other States 
in the Southeast. Infestations have been found in a total of 78 
counties or parishes in Alabama. Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisi- 
ana. Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 
Shipment of nursery stock from infested areas is probably the most 
important way of spreading the pest to new areas. 
Chlordane applied as a spray or dust to individual ant mounds or 
to infested areas will give good control of the ant. Preliminary tests 
show heptachlor to be equal or superior in effectiveness of control. 
HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 
Several Insecticides Tested for Control of Ants in Homes 
The degree and duration of ant control in homes from the use of 
some of the available insecticides were determined in the Savannah, 
Ga.. area. Chlordane. now widely employed as a 2-percent spray 
for the purpose, proved superior to other materials. Proper treat- 
ment of homes provided good control of ants for at least 4 months. 
Lindane used as a 0.5-percent spray gave a shorter period of pro- 
tection than chlordane. but a longer one than 5-percent DDT sprays. 
Pyrethrum and piperonyl butoxide were least effective of the four 
materials tested. 
Stored Woolens Can Be Protected Against Fabric Pests for 3 Years 
Investigations in cooperation with the Department of Defense were 
continued on means of protecting fabrics from attack by clothes mot lis 
and carpet beetles. It was demonstrated that impregnating wool 
cloth with DDT at the rate of 0.3 to 0.4 percent of the weight of the 
cloth protects rolls of cloth in storage for at least 3 year-. Spraying 
the outer surface of the rolls with DDT also gives excellent protection. 
Special equipment has been designed and constructed for spraying- 
rolls of cloth before storage. These developments will reduce the cost 
of protecting fabrics in storage and provide almost complete protec- 
tion against insect damage for at least 3 years. 
Further Developments in Control of Fabric Pests Look Promising 
Sprays containing combinations of DDT and chlordane or DDT 
and lindane also showed promise for controlling fabric pests. Spray- 
ing infested rolls of woolen cloth with such combinations controlled 
existing infestations through contact and vapor toxicity of the chlor- 
dane or lindane. DDT provided long-lasting protection against re- 
infestation. Results of preliminary tests indicate that infestations 
of carpet beetles or clothes moths in raw wool can be controlled and 
the wool protected from further infestations by spraying the outside 
of the bags with the combination sprays. 
Lindane proved useful in several other ways for controlling fabric 
pests in homes. Treating the inside walls of storage chests with lin- 
dane at the rate of one-half gram of lindane to a square foot of sur- 
