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Show If Controlling Ants I By the Use of Poison in Sponge (Rj W. W. Henderson. Entomologist. V. A. C) There a vf many species of ant?. Thpe species differ slightly among I thomsoh os in size, structure and hab its. Those which arp injurious are I nearlj enough alike, however, that fchey may all bo controllpd in about the samp way. nts live together in colonies and I maintain a high degree of specializa-I specializa-I tmn. All the necessities of the colonics colo-nics arp provided for by a sppcial organization or-ganization which seems to indicate great intelligence or highh developed instinct. Thp number of ant in a colony may vary from a very few to mam thousands. These creature make their homes by tunneling in the ground, in rottpn . or solid wood, beneath logs. boards, stones, etc. They usually select sites for their homes in dry and undisturbed undisturb-ed place? and heap up earth, small sticks, stones and other material over the pntrance to their galleries These Wtk heaps or mounds offer a protection and contain many of the major tunnels of the colonies. Ants feed on the pollpn and nectar of flower-, on tender bus of certain V plants on seeds of various kinds on V ;n:--!.- .-piib-rs in-ee and hon PJ dew They ;ire fond of many foods intended for human consumption, and, to secure these foods, often become er troublesome in the household. They are particular fond of sheets For this reason thev harbor and care 1 for plant lice for the purpose of get ting the honey dew which these insects in-sects secrete, and are responsible for myriads of these destructive pests. Ants are rather difficult to control. "o one measure la successful under all circumstances For this reason several sev-eral methods are recommended in the belief that one at least may be found effective. Woodworth Method Sal soda 1-5 ounce White arsenic 1 5 ounce. Sugar 4 pounds Water to make 2 1-2 quarts The above ingredients are all dissolved dis-solved in the water which is first heated to boiling This makes a very sweet poisonous syrup Sponges sat-iirated sat-iirated with this syrup should be put into jars covered with perforated lids ; through which the acts can crawl. The Jars are set in convenient places for( L the ants The mixturi Is a slow pois-V pois-V on and the ants will carry it to their' nests and later die from the effects of what i hey have eaten. The young ants in the nests are therefore fed from the poison mixture and also succumb suc-cumb The foraging ants which find the poison niHv "cei wise" lo the mixture mix-ture and ceace to feed upon it If so it may be removed to another place or eh mgrd to a different receptacle, and the ;mts will attack it again Quick Poison Sal soda 1-5 ounrr White arsenic 1-2 ounce. Sugar 4 pounds Water to make 2 1-2 quarts A sponge saturated with the syrup mad.- ironi these ingredients is placed in ,i jar with a perforated top ;is de-cribed de-cribed above This poison kills the ants almost immediately It will be D.eci isary to wash out the sponge occasionally oc-casionally and resaUirate it with the I poison syrup Hot Water In this method the ingredients list-1 i ed above are used as given exeppt ! that thp whitp arspnic is left out. Whpn the ant beeonie numerous m ih-sponge ih-sponge It is dipped in hot water to kill them Carbon Otsulphide In using carbon bisulphide to kill, ants, the nests must first be located j They are pierced witJi straight sticks I or rods to make holes into which the ! carbon bisulphide la poured. The I holes are then stopped up with earth. I The poison gas penetrates the tunnels j , of the ants and kills them. This gas lis highly inflammable and fire must j be kept away. |