CIRCULAR No. 39DECEMBFR, 1918
(Revised and Reprinted June, 1921)
ALABAMA
Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
AUBURN
The Argentine Ant and How To Control It
(Work Done Under Provisions of Local Experiment Law)
By
F. L. THOMAS
Assistant Entomologist
1921:
Post Publishing Company,
Opelika, Ala.
STATION STAFF
SPRIGHT DOWELL, President of the College
.1. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station
AGRICULTURE:
J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist.
E. F. Cauthen, Agriculturist.
M. J. Funchess, Soils.
J. T. Williamson, Supt. Co-
operative Field Experi-
ments.
H. B. Tisdale, Associate
Plant Breeder.
VETERINARY SCIENCE:
C. A. Cary, Veterinarian.
CHEMISTRY:
E. R. Miller, Chemist.
0. N. Massengale, Assistant
Chemist.
BOTANY:
W. A. Gardner, Botanist.
G. R. Johnston, Associate
PLANT PATHOLOGY :
--- - ----- Plant Pathol-
ogist.
HORTICULTURE:
G. C. Starcher,
Horticulturist.
C. L. Isbell, Associate.
Lyle Brown, Assistant.
ENTOMOLOGY:
W. E. Hinds, Entomologist.
F. L. Thomas, Associate.
J. M. Robinson, Assistant.
.ANIMAL HUSBANDRY :
J. C. Grimes, Animal
Husbandman.
G. L. Burleson, Assistant.
AGRICULTURAL EDITOR:
P. 0. Davis.
THE ARGENTINE ANT AND HOW TO CONTROL IT
By
F. L. THOMAs, Asst. Entomologist
One of the most troublesome pests in the southern
part of the United States is the Argentine Ant. Ten
years ago it was taken at Mobile by Mr. H. P. Loding.
Since that time it is known to have spread to several
other points in Alabama, principally along the railroad
lines*. It has been not only a cause of great annoyance
and loss to householders, but also of material loss to
property owners. In infested city sections it is not
uncommon to find several houses in a block which are
vacated and cannot be rented because they are so
overrun with ants. The effect of ants upon real (state
values is a serious matter. Much investigation con-
cerning the habits of this pest has been made by the
station, the work being done under the provision of the
Local Experiment Law.
Although this species is better known as a city pest
the country districts have not escaped its ravages.
Nurserymen, truck growers and orchardists, especially
citrus growers, are among those who suffer most, out-
side of the householders.
WHERE THE NESTS CAN BE FOUND
The nests of the Argentine Ants may be found in
.almost any sort of location that offers protection from
ihe elements-even under a newspaper on the ground
and under shingles on the roof of a house, or inside o"
a manure pile and within wooden porch pillars. The
species has a marked tendency to construct nests 
in
close proximity to any abundant food supply.
In the fall of the year the colonies unite by commonl
instinct and seek especially dry, sheltered situations
such as decaying logs, masses of leaves, manure heaLps,
straw, etc., where heat is generated. Warm p aees are
particularly attractive. As early as March the sprin4
migration takes place and the winter colony divides
into small colonies which spread in search of food and
to build new nests.
*Heavy infestations occur at Mobile Montgomery and Birm-
ingham and at several points along the L. & N. Ry. between
these cities, also at Andalucia, Selma, )emopolis, Marion, Tal-
ladega, Sylacauga and many othr smaller places in Alabama.
56
INJURES FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES
This ant is injurious to the buds, blooms, and fruit
of orange trees, destroys the ripening fruit of fig trees
and is indirectly injurious by its care of various scale
insects and plant lice. It is also antagonistic to certain
beneficial insects, attacking the fire-ant, which is an
enemy of the boll weevil. The mealy bug, an impor-
tant enemy of the sugar cane growing industry, in-
creases with great rapidity wherever the Argentine
Ant is found. As a pest to truck growers it will dig up
and feed upon fresh planted lettuce seed, but its fond-
ness for corn meal scattered on the bed may prevent
this destruction. While the ants are busy with the
corn meal the seed germinates, after which it is not
disturbed.
The spread of this pest has occurred mostly by ship-
ment of infested materials along road lines. Indi-
viduals by the thousands and even complete colonies
travel from infested points in shipments of groceries,
feed stuffs, manufactured articles, timber, etc. In-
festations are usually found around the establishments
of grocers and commission merchants. Heavy, flood-
ing rains are undoubtedly a factor in the natural
distribution of this ant. Rising water which floods
their nests causes them to cluster together and form a
compact ball which floats and may be carried long
distances by the water. The ants may live in this way
for a long time and if a queen happens to be included
new colonies may be established.
WINTER BEST TIME TO TRAP THEM
One easy method of destruction takes advantage
of their habit of uniting many small summer coloinies
in the fall to make a single, large, winter colony. Win-
ter trapping has proven so effective that if carried out
uniformly by a community where the infestation oc-
curs few, if any other measures, would be necessary
to hold the pest in check. An ordinary dry goods box
placed on a well drained spot is filled with straw and
horse manure or cotton seed and exposed to the
weather so that the contents become moist and com-
mence to decay. The top may then be covered so as
to exclude winter storms and a few meat bones may
well be included as bait. This makes an excelle n t
winter nest which will attract practically all colonies
57
within a radius of 30 or 40 yards. Sometime in Janu-
ary or during cold weather, the box is made tight and
fumigated with about a cup of carbon disulphide.
An abundance of boiling water poured into the box
will kill the ants where this cn be done conveniently.
In heavily infested houses much relief may be se-
cured by using bichlorid-of-mercury tape around the
legs of tables, shelves, beds, refrigerators, safes, etc.
This tape should be prepared by a druggist. While
this tape does not repel all ant species it is quite effec-
tive against the Argentine Ant.
DESTROY WITH SLOW ACTING POISONS
In attempting to control this pest it is useless to feed
a strong poison which will kill only the workers that
get it. All eggs are laid by the queens which rarely
leave their nests. The colony will therefore be a source
of constant infestation until the queens are all killed
or the ants move them away. It is therefore necessary
to adopt measures which will destroy the queens. The
queens are fed in the nests by the workers which have
the power of regurgitating food which they have gath-
ered upon their foraging expeditions. The workers
are able to carry considerable liquid food in their
abdomens which become distended and transparent.
If therefore a slow-acting poison is used it will be taken
to the nests by foragers and workers and the queens
may thus be poisoned, and with their death the colony
will be exterminated.
IMPROVED FORMULA FOR ARGENTINE
ANT POISON*
Granulated Sugar (best white) ----------------- 3 lbs.
Water -------------------------- 3 lbs. (or pints)
Tartaric Acid--- --------- _2 grams
Benzoate Soda ------------------------ 2.8 grams
Sodium Arsenite (chemically pure) ---------- 5 grams
Honey (strained, best grade) _8% by weight or 11/2 lbs
(Use only the best grade of materials.)
PROCEDURE
Dissolve the sugar in the water in a clean granite
ware kettle. (Do not use iron kettle). Add the Tartaric
Acid and Benzoate of Soda and boil for thirty minutes;
then cool. Dissolve the Sodium Arsenite in one-half
pint of hot water, cool this solution; then add to the
58
sugar solution. When colti add the honey to the entire
solution.
This formula should stand a year or more without
fermentation or becoming unattractive to the ants.
EXPOSURE "OF THE SYRUP.
Use preferably about 4-oz. size clean tin cans with
covers. Bend the edges of the top in sharply at op-
posite points to allow a space through which the ants
may find access to the poison after the cover has been
put in place. Prepare a cheap grade of sponge, ("Grass
Well Sponge") by washing and boiling them, then
tearing into pieces that will fit into the bottom of the
can. Add about one gill of the poison syrup or fill the
can one-half full.
In placing the cans they may be hung in the crotches
of trees, out of the reach of children and animals, by
bending a wire so that the ends will hook under the
cover where the top of the can is bent in. The wire
may then hang on a nail at any convenient point as in
a crotch of a tree. Cans may well be placed upon, or
hung against the foundation piers of houses at such
points as the ants seem 
to favor for entrance to 
the
building. Six or eight cans scattered around an or-
dinary sized lot will usually control the ants so that
they will not be a pest in the house. One premise may
be protected in this way in a large degree in spite of
the fact that adjacent premises are not kept free, but
it is far better of course to have all lots in a neighbor-
hood protected in a similar manner. Where prepared
in quantity the cost should not exceed ten cents per
can.
CLEAN UP CAMPAIGNS
It has been found in practical experience that large,
infested areas in cities and towns may be practically
cleaned up by a cooperative campaign through which
the entire area is properly protected by distribution oi
these cans of poisoned bait. The best time of year to
begin this campaign is August and September. As a
general thing the expense for the cans and poison is
paid by the property owner or occupant, while the
supervision of the work is carried on by an expert en-
tomologist. Arrangement can possibly be made with
the Experiment Station, Dept. of Entomology, Auburn,
Ala., to supervise this work for any community that is
interested to conduct a clean-up campaign against the
Argentine Ant.
*After E. R. Barber, U. S. Bureau of Entomology.