BUREAU OF EXTOMOLOGY. 311 



has now been perfected Avhich it seems certain will safef^uard the 

 alfalfa crop from the inroads of this pest wherever jiroperly applied. 

 This method has been experimentally demonstrated in cooperation 

 with local farm bureaus over an area aggrefrating some 4,000 acres 

 in which the spra3'ing operations were conducted by practical 

 farmers. The average cost of the work was $1 per acre, and with 

 alfalfa hav selling at $35 a ton it is easily seen that the cost is com- 

 paratively trifling. In one count}' alone local authorities estimate 

 that the saving secured by this spraying method amounted to $40,000 

 for a single season. A new Farmers" Bulletin (No. 1180) describing 

 fully the methods mentioned is in course f jiublication. 



Chtxcii bugs. — Considerable damage 1/ chinch bugs was recorded 

 during the early summer of 1920, The ^^(>rk of this well-known pest 

 resulted in more damage throughout Missouri than had occurred 

 since 1913. Greatest injury seemed to be centered in St. Louis 

 County, and Federal experts were active in advising farmers re- 

 garding the most eflicient methods of control. Many publications 

 were distributed in the stricken region through the cooperative efforts 

 of State and Federal men. Illinois and other Middle Western States 

 also suffered considerable injury. 



Army worm. — Ijocal outbreaks of the true army worm occurred 

 during June of the present summer in Missouri and Illinois. The 

 usual excellent control was secured wherever the poisoned bait and 

 ditch barrier methods were used in a timely and proper manner. 

 Department entomologists were active in giving out the re(iuired 

 information in the infested areas. Fortunately no widespread out- 

 break resulted from the colonies which appeared in the States men- 

 tioned above. 



STORED-PRODUCT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



The very great value of the work of this section of the bureau is 

 strikingly shown in many Avays. A noticeable instance occurred dur- 

 ing the year Avhen inspection and advice by the bureau's experts 

 saved the Quartermaster's Department of the Xavy sup]:)lies of rice 

 and beans worth about twenty-seven times the appropriation for this 

 project. Dr. E. A. Back continues in charge of this work. 



CoRX WEEVILS. — The research laboratory established at Orlando, 

 Fla., for the purpose of studying the biology and methods of control 

 of corn weevils, has been continued during the year. A large amount 

 of new information has been .secured regardinjr the bioloirv of weevils 

 and their parasites. Pour papers crtntaining new information have 

 been i)res(Mi<e(l for publication and one Farmers' Bulletin (No. 1029) 

 giving practical suggestions for fanners along the lines of corn con- 

 servation has been published and widely circulated. 



The office established at Athens. (la.. has been moved to Thomas- 

 ville, (la., in order that the expert in charge may more easily reach 

 the important corn-growing sections of southern (ieorgia, where an 

 intensive camj)aign has been carried on to take to the farmer, in 

 cooperation with tlie extension service of the Georgia Agricultural 

 P^xperiment Station, information regarding the jireservation of corn 

 from weevils. This work has proved very poj)ular an<l has resulted 

 in the construction of a large number of corncribs in which corn is 

 being successfully treated with carbon disulphid. 



