388 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



made in the development of an insecticide of the general character 

 of nicotine for the control of soft-bodied insects, such as plant-lice. 

 Many compounds are being tested as to their possible toxicity 

 against insects, a partial report of which work has been issued as 

 Department Bulletin 1160. Additional reports on these studies 

 will be made from time to time as the material warrants. In co- 

 operation with the Chemical Warfare Service of the War Depart- 

 ment and the scientists of the Federal Horticultural Board, studies 

 are being made of war gases as to their suitability for insect con- 

 trol. At the Sligo, Md., laboratory principal attention is being 

 given to detailed studies of lubricating-oil emulsions at various 

 strengths and for various insects. At this station are also being 

 tested in a field way various insecticidal materials developed by 

 the laboratories in Washington, including many organic substances, 

 chlorinated compounds, coal-tar derivatives and the like. 



Taxonomic work. — The taxonomic work of the office relates 

 mostly to Aphididae and Aleyroclidae and involves determinations 

 of insects of these families received from various sources. Four- 

 hundred seventy-five lots of aphicls have been handled and 

 183 lots of aleyrodids. In order to better understand the species 

 described by various workers in foreign countries, specimens of 

 such species as possible have been borrowed and carefully studied 

 and illustrated. Two specialists in Aphididae visited the office 

 during the fiscal year to avail themselves of the bureau collection. 

 A monograph of the genus Amphorophora has been prepared and 

 work is now in progress on the genus Myzus. 



WORK ON THE GIPSY MOTH AND THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



This work has been continued throughout the year under the direc- 

 tion of A. F. Burgess. 



The field work of the bureau has been carried on in New England 

 in an area about 25 miles wide adjoining the outside border of the 

 infestation. This strip extends through western Connecticut and 

 Massachusetts and central Vermont, and in the northern part of the 

 last State it swings to the eastward and crosses the State of New 

 Hampshire. 



In addition to this, cooperative work was carried on with the State 

 of New Jersey from funds made available jointly by the State and 

 the bureau. The infested area covers about 400 square miles and in- 

 tensive clean-up work was done in this district. 



A fund of $150,000 was made available in New York State early 

 in the spring to carry on survey, experimental, and control work. 



The New England States take care of the infestations inside the 

 border area and this work is paid for from State, municipal, and 

 local funds. 



The Federal funds have been allotted to four principal projects, 

 viz, supervision, field and laboratory research, quarantine and in- 

 spection, and scouting and extermination work. Each will be con- 

 sidered separately. 



Administration.— A central office has been maintained at Melrose 

 Highlands, Mass., from which the work is administered throughout 

 the New England States, eastern New York, and New Jersey. A 

 quarantine office is maintained in Boston, Mass., and a suboffice in 



