RECENT EXPERIMENTS IN THE CONTROL OF TWO PUERTO RICAN ANTS

Abstract

1. Under local conditions, experiments have indicated little value for thallium compounds and mixtures against the hormiga brava, Solenopsis geminata F., out-of-doors. In-doors, the thallium sulfate syrup has been just as uniformly successful as out-of-doors it is a failure. An emulsion of crude carbolic acid, either alone or mixed with kerosene emulsion or the engine oil emulsion sprays used for scale control, is still the cheapest and most effective insecticide to use against this ant in citrus groves, pineapple plantings and vegetable gardens. 2. Against the hormiguilla, Myrmelachista ambigua ramulorum Wheeler, a bait consisting of ground meat and thallium acetate is very effective, and gives promise of being adopted commercially when cheaper and simpler methods of application are devised.