BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 321 



beet and so-called alfalfa webworms. A comprehensive account of 

 the beet leaf-beetle, an important enemy of beets of all kinds in the 

 Western States, has been completed. This insect has practically the 

 same distribution as tlie bean ladybird but appears to be decreasing 

 in injuriousness. 



Other truck-crop insects. — A new enemy to strawberries, recently 

 discovered in Virginia, an imported moth which works as a crown 

 borer, is being investigated to determine its capabilities as a pest. 

 Other insect enemies of straw^berry, blackberry, and raspberry, espe- 

 cially the strawberry weevil and the leaf-rollers, have been studied, 

 and accounts of some of the more important forms are available for 

 publication. The minor insect enemies of the sweet potato have been 

 the subject of similar investigation. The onion maggot has been 

 under continual investigation in the hope that some more practical 

 and inexpensive remedy than is now- known may be discovered. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF INSECTS AFFECTING FOREST RESOURCES. 



The work of the Branch of Forest Entomology has been continued, 

 as before, under the supervision of Dr. A. D. Hopkins. 



In addition to the investigation of insects affecting the forest re- 

 sources of the country, the allied subject of shade trees and orna- 

 mental shrubs received some attention. AVhile the forest resources 

 represent an indispensable need of the Nation and are an item of 

 pecuniary wealth, the shade trees and ornamental plantings of parks 

 and streets, grounds of health and pleasure resorts, public institu- 

 tions, and city, suburban, country, and farm homes represent a 

 form of wealth which the people realize in health, recreation, en- 

 joyment of the home, and increased value of propeity. 



Principal depredations or the tear. — In addition to the usual 

 damage bj^ insects to forest and shade trees and forest products, 

 which amounts, in reduced values and direct losses, to more than 

 $100,000,000 annually, there has been no conspicuous increase in the 

 more destructive insects except that of the spruce budworm in the 

 spruce forests of northern New England, which has been the source 

 of considerable alai-m to the manufacturers of paper pulp and the 

 ])u!)]ishers of newsi)a])ers: a defoliating worm affecting large areas 

 of pine in Texas; and a threatened outbreak of the southern pine 

 beetle, which is the worst menace to the pine forests of the Southern 

 States. The defoliation of the Sitka spruce of the Oregon and Sitka 

 coasts by plant-lice and caterpillars has been the subject of special 

 in(|uiry. 'J he dying of elms in the Mississip|)i Valley and of oaks 

 in the Southern States has attracted much attention, and there has 

 been a decided increase in the recjuests for information about insect 

 damage to shade trees. One of the most remarkable losses of a 

 serious nature has been that caused by a wood-boi-iug beetle to lead 

 telephone cables in California. Damage by ■wood-l)orin<r insects to 

 ash lumber for the manufacture of aircraft at the Philadelj^hia 

 navy yards was the subject of investigation and recommendation. 

 Sixty-eight cases of damage by white ants oi- termites to buildings 

 and contents were reported from 21 States. 8 Territories, and the 

 Distinct of Columbia. Some of the notable examples in Washington 

 City were damage to and in the new Bureau of Engraving and 



