Biology and Control of the Allegheny Mound Ant

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Abstract
The Allegheny Mound Ant, Formica exectoides, is present in eastern N. America from Nova Scotia to Georgia. In the vicinity of College Park, Md., the ants are active from April to Oct. In nature they feed principally on honey dew from various insects, and the bodies of numerous kinds of insects. Studies to determine food requirements in artificial nests indicated that prepd. foods composed of 25% honey, with added liver extract or liver broth, were most acceptable, and adequate. In artificial nests held at approx. 70 [degree]F the various stages require an average of the following number of days: egg 19.4, larva 37.1, pupa 25.1 ; at temps. varying from 48[degree] to 94[degree]F, the average length of each stage was: egg 21, larva 18.2, pupa 27.3 days. Fumigation with CH3Br and paradichloro-benzene, dusting and spraying with DDT, and barriers of fluorine compounds around the mounds all gave some measure of control. The most successful and practical was NaF barriers.

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