855 
No. 145.] 
elytra are covered with similar oppressed hairs on the middle and posterior part^ 
leaving a broad brown band behind the middle (which is interrupted at the suture 
and sometimes does not attain the outer margin), and at the base a similarly colored 
band, which, posteriorly, is gradually shaded and without any definite edge. The 
anterior half of the elytra is punctured, the punctures black and becoming mom 
dense and coarse towards and at the base, where they open backwards aud have their 
anterior edges elevated into little callous points, rendering the surface rough and 
sliagreened, each puncture yielding a short black bristle. The hooks of the feet are 
pale yellow. 
Mining long narrow passages In the trunk and limbs, and staining the wood light brow*, 
a longish, black, shining ant, its abdomen with equidistant transverse rows of fine 
bristles, two rows upon each segment. 
Tub Walnut Ant. Formica Caryas. 
The fact is reported in the Albany Cultivator (1853, page 116) 
by C. B. Brown, of Damascus, Pa., that a house that was overrun 
with ants had been rid of this pest by placing a piece of shag- 
bark hickory wood upon a shelf in the pantry where these ver¬ 
min appeared to be the thickest. The ants gathered upon this 
billet of wood in the course of an hour or two in such number* 
as literally to cover it, whereupon they were brushed and shaken 
off into the fire, and the stick was replaced to collect another 
,swarm; and in this mode the house was soon entirely cleared of 
them. No reason is assigned for the ants being thus attracted by 
this wood, but there can be no doubt that the sweet syrup-like 
sap of the hickory was more congenial to their taste than any 
other food within their reach, and was the cause of their collect¬ 
ing together iu-the manner stated. And it is quite probable that 
a recently cut piece of hickory wood may prove in other case* 
one of the best traps for these pests, which occasionally become 
quite an annoyance in our dwellings. Hickory aud walnut trees 
whilst growing are also a favorite resort of these insects, and we 
have one American species which appears to be a constant resi¬ 
dent upon them, to the great injury of the trees. In the winter 
season I have repeatedly met with little clusters of this ant, when 
searching for insects under the loose scales of bark of the hickory, 
and on coming recently to work up some of these trees fur fuel* 
these same ants were found in the wood, occupying most of ti e 
galleries which the tiger cerambyx had bored therein, which gal- 
