Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 212, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1910 — BRINGS ANT PLAGUE [ARTICLE]

BRINGS ANT PLAGUE

Dry Summer Causes Little Insects to Thrive. Especially Active In Attacking Flowers, and In Some Localities Invading Homes—Moisture Is Chief Foe. Chicago.—Following in the wake of the plague of tussock moths, though not as serious in comparison to the amount of destruction wrought but more of a nuisance, the plague of ants has settled upon the city to an extent that has created a widespread inquiry for means to get rid of the pest. Experts say that the oversupply of ants is due to the unusually dry weather which has prevailed this summer, their favorite breeding places being in dry, sandy soil. While practically every section of the city has suffered to some extent from the busy little toilers, localities adjacent to the lake along the north and south shores have been most annoyed by the visitation. As a rule ants are not considered as a serious menace to growing things, and they have even been credited with destroying the parasites which Infest

plant life, but this year, according to Information from many sources, the ants have fallen to eating flowers of various kinds and the tender shoots of growing vines. They have made homes in lawns hitherto free from the nuisance, establishing themselves under stone and cement sidewalks, and have even carried their Invasion to back porches and into homes, to the dismay of housewives. Among the flowers to which ants seem to have been paying particular attention are asters, whose succulent petals are attractive.. Householders have resorted to numerous expedients to exterminate the colonies of ants, but in most instances without much success. Kerosene oil is said to have been found effective in some instances, but the best remedy is declared to be any of the several exterminator powders on the market ‘‘■ies, we have had an unusual number of calls 'for advice with regard to ants this summer,” said the manager of a big seed house; “they seem to have been unusually prolific, and the reason for it is the dry weather. Ants thrive best and breed best in sand, and it is seldom that they care to remain in moist, loamy soil. "Keep the ground as well soaked as possible, sprinkle the lawns plentifully and use some good ant exterminator with persistence. That would be my advice to those who are troubled with the little nuisances. By filling the crevices and runways of the bugs with exterminator they can easily be kept out of walls and away from sidewalks.”