Theft by harvesting ants of pasture seed broadcast on unploughed land

Abstract

Ants of Pheidole species took seed of six pasture species sown on unploughed land ; multi-step lime pelleted clover seed was taken. It was calculated that ants could take sufficient seed to endanger the success of an aerial sowing. The mean number of plants to establish for four sowings in 1964 and six sowings in 1965 of each of six species was increased significantly, except for one species in 1965, by treating the seed with dieldrin miscible oil (1 lb active ingredient dieldrin and 0.25 lb surfactant per 100 lb of seed). The increase in reliability of establishment of grasses and clovers on unploughed land by treating the seeds with dieldrin is of field importance.