FLYING ANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 71, 24 March 1936, Page 5

FLYING ANTS.

PLAGUE IN TARANAKI. TERRITORIALS ATTACKED. SPORTSMEN'S DAY SPOILT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. Something, it seems, always happens to spoil a perfect day. Sunday, as mild and pleasant an autumn day as could be wished for, and one obviously meant for outdoor activities, was spoilt by an invasion of Hying ants. The ants confined their activities to a few hours, but in that time territorials, tennis players, golfers, and sightseers suffered considerable irritation. At the Taranaki Regiment camp at Waiwakailio Showgrounds the plague became a regular invasion, the invading host being so myriad that at one time it was impossible to see the tents on the eastern side of the ground from the parade area. The whole personnel of the camp, about 250, was going through movements for the presentation of colours by the Governor-General. The rehearsal had reached the most impressive part, where the battalion stands still in set positions, when the ants appeared from over the Waiwakaiho River. In a few seconds the pests were everywhere. "It was just like a cloud descending on us," said one of the volunteers, who went through tho ordeal. It was now a choice between military dignity and almost insufferable discomfort. Tiny ants crawled up the Territorials' noses, into their ears and eyes, and under their shirt collars. The senior officers, feeling that they must set an example, stood stock still, but a few minutes of ants crawling over various parts of liis

body was enough for at least one officer, who dug his sword into the ground and had a few happy moments of slapping. The destruction of a few thousand of the pests, however, did not drive the rest away, and though the parade was gono on with it was a hot and badtempered crowd of young men who later sought the shelter of tents. Even here the ants followed them, so that the troops had to undress before they could rid the insects from their clotliing. Almost every open air area had a similar experience. At the Westown Golf Club two golfers had to abandon a search for lost balls, so vicious were the ants and tho players' morning round was spoilt by the insects' persistent attention. Sightseers at the aerodrome were also irritated by the pests. About this time last year flying ants also appeared en masse at the New Plymouth airport, driving some hundreds of relief workers into shelter. On that occasion several men were so badly affected that they had to have medical attention.