240 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



The insect responsible for the injury in the Eastern States above 

 mentioned has been identified as Trachelus tabulus, a European 

 sawfly. This insect is known to have been present in Pennsylvania 

 since 1913, but appreciable injury to wheat has not been observed 

 until very recently. Possibly the rapid multiplication of the insect 

 has been aided by the recent movement for an increased production 

 of wheat and the consequent planting of wheat for two or more years 

 in succession on the same land. As is the case with the Hessian fly 

 an^ the jointworm, this sawfly hibernates throughout the winter in 

 the wheat stubble of the current year. An investigation of this 

 insect has been started. 



STORED-PRODUCT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



This section of the work of the bureau has been carried on during 

 the fiscal year under the immediate charge of Dr. E. A. Back. 



Because of the general needs of this country and of allied countries 

 in the present crisis, the efforts of this section have been directed 

 almost entirely toward the dissemination of information regarding 

 the suppression of insects affecting stored food supplies, particularly 

 the insect pests of beans, peas, corn, wheat flour, and food products 

 made therefrom. Experts on the Pacific coast and in the South have 

 been engaged in the inspection^of many warehouses and mills where 

 food supplies are stored. 



Throughout the year large supplies of food that were being seri- 

 ously affected by insects have been located. The owners of such 

 supplies have been advised regarding the necessity for prompt action 

 in order to avoid further losses, and have been shown how to prevent 

 losses to newly acquired supplies that are free from insects. This 

 service has been extended to farmers, particularly growers of corn 

 and rice, whose crops suffer extensively through weevil attack. 



Arrangements have been made with the Quartermaster Depart- 

 ment of the Army at the port of New York whereby the bureau un- 

 dertakes to make frequent inspections of food and clothing supplies 

 intended for overseas shipment. The purpose of this cooperation is 

 to keep the Quartermaster Department informed, through inspec- 

 tions made by experts, not only of the condition of food supplies 

 purchased and delivered at the warehouses but also of their condi- 

 tion from time to time during the storage period. Such inspections 

 detect and lead to the checking of insect ravages before the insects 

 have had the chance to multiply and cause great losses. Much good 

 has already resvilted from this work, and as the warm weather con- 

 tinues the loss through insect attack will be greatly lessened. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLE AND 



TRUCK CROPS. 



The work on this group of injurious insects has been continued, as 

 in former years, under the direction of Dr. F. H. Chittenden. The 

 more important subjects of research have been insects injurious to 

 potato, tomato, and related plants, to beans and peas, to sugar beets, 

 and to sweet potato, especial attention having been given, under an 

 emergency appropriation, to the study of the sweet-potato Aveevil in 

 its occurrence in the Gulf States, with the object of control and 

 eradication. 



