nri;KAr of entomology. 339 



Investigatiox of FRirrr flies and other tropical and subtropical 

 FRUIT INSECTS IX THE Canal Zone, Panama. — The work of this 

 l)roject has been somewhat curtailed during the year owing to the 

 loss of the services of the assistant in field charge. The work has, 

 however, been conducted in a modest way and additional facts have 

 been secured concerning the life history, habits, and distribution of 

 the so-called black fl}' of citrus, which has been established in the 

 Canal Zone for several years. The survey of injurious insects estab- 

 lished in the Canal Zone has been conducted primarily for the pur- 

 pose of determining the injurious insects Avhich may be brought to 

 southern ports in cargoes of fruit. 



In\'estigatiox of camphor thrips. — A study of the camphor 

 tlirips was undertaken for the first time this year and a temporary 

 field station was established at Satsuma, Fla. The w^ork in this 

 laboratory included the life history and methods of controlling this 

 thrips in nursery stock and camphor plantations. Although this 

 work has been under way for a comparatively brief period, sub- 

 stantial progress has been made. 



BEE-CULTURE INVESTIGATIONS. 



The worlv of the Office of Bee Culture Investigations, under Dr. 

 E. F. Phillips, as formerly, has been largely a continuation of the 

 work instituted during the war for the increase in honey produc- 

 tion, while at the same time an effort is being made to take up again 

 some of the investigational work which was dropped during the rush 

 of war activities. The educational work begun during the w^ar has 

 proved so beneficial and so popular that it is not desirable or even 

 possible to discontinue it. The lalioratory and apiary are still located 

 at Somerset, Md.. near Washincton. 



Demonstrations in p.ee culture. — The funds available for this 

 work were reduced this year by the loss of the fuiuls availal)le under 

 the food-production act. and because of this decrease it was necessary 

 to drop the work in .some States. In deciding which States should 

 no longer receive aid from this office an effort was made to discon- 

 tinue this aid in those States where the project would be continued 

 on much the same scale l)v the States alone, and in most cases this 

 was done. At present in every case where this office contributed to 

 the work it is supported by both the States and this department, and, 

 as it is now expected that the demonstration work Avill be a perma- 

 nent feature, plans have been made for the entire administration of 

 the movements ol' the extension men by the several cooj:ierating ex- 

 tension divisions. In all, seven States are now cooperating with the 

 office in this work. While during the war it was ])ossible to obtain 

 the services of men willing to make a considerable financial sacrifice, 

 it is now virtually impossible to get competent men who will take 

 up this work f<ir the salaries offered because of the greater income 

 possibh' from honey production by thosi' fitted for the extension 

 activities in beekeeping. It is therefore not feasible to increa.se the 

 extension work in beekeeping Tai)idly with the jiresent salary .scale. 



Tiie work of the demonstration men has been along the lines men- 

 tioned in ]»revious reports, (be only change being that gradually 



