BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 393 



paratively slight. In eastern New York, in the vicinity of Schenec- 

 tady and Albany, the area has grown slightly, but the damage here 

 continues to be trifling. 



Scouting operations conducted throughout the New England area 

 during the summer of 1922 developed the fact that the corn borer 

 had invaded eastern Rhode Island and had spread northwestward 

 up the Merrimack Valley into central New Hampshire. It has also 

 become firml}' established in York County, Me. It is believed that 

 the insect probably has reached its limit of destructive distribution 

 in central New Hampshire, as practically no corn is grown to the 

 northward of the present area, which is bordered by the White 

 Mountains. On the other hand, it is probable that the insect will 

 continue to spread into southwestern Maine, and that it may seriously 

 invade the sweet-corn growing area adjoining the region of present 

 infestation. The pest continues to be seriously injurious in the 

 region immediately surrounding Boston, Mass. 



During the year a new publication. Farmers' Bulletin 1294, has 

 been published, embodying the immediately applicable results of the 

 European corn borer investigations which have been carried on for 

 the past four years. A complete technical report on the progress of 

 these investigations is in preparation. 



Excellent progress has been made in the work of introducing the 

 insect enemies of the corn borer from Europe, and during 1922 more 

 than a million specimens of one species were liberated in the New 

 England area. 



Arrangements have been perfected with the Canadian Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to supply colonies of this parasite for possible 

 establishment in the Dominion in southern Ontario, where the corn 

 borer occupies a large part of the peninsula bordered by Lakes 

 Ontario, Erie, and Huron. An additional parasitic species which 

 first was liberated in Massachusetts during the fall of 1922 has been 

 recovered from the field in several different localities in New Eng- 

 land, and the establishment of this species there now seems assured. 

 Several other promising parasites are being reared, both in New 

 England and in France, and it is confidently expected that these 

 species will be propagated in sufficient numbers to insure them an 

 excellent opportunity to become established in this country. 



Some of the States which have been cooperating financially in the 

 work against the European corn borer have failed to appropriate 

 funds for the continuation of this work during the present fiscal 

 year, a fact which may interfere somewhat with the effectiveness 

 of the combat against this pest. An additional appropriation of 

 $25,000 which was granted hy Congress and which became available 

 July 1, 1923, will not be entirely sufficient to compensate for the 

 reduction of State assistance in this work. 



Alfalfa weevil. — The continued spread of the alfalfa weevil 

 throughout the Great Basin States and the increasing damage which 

 it is causing in some of these States, notably Idaho, have caused 

 great apprehension, especially throughout the more newly infested 

 regions. The insect now occupies practically all the alfalfa- 

 growing regions of Utah and Idaho, and is found in parts of Colo- 

 rado, Wyoming, and Nevada. It has also been discovered in eastern 

 Oregon and more recently has been reported from Sierra County, 



