516 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tion is to carry out a thorough and systematic investigation, over tlie 

 entire area of distribution, of the economic relations of these insect.- 

 to the production of grains and forage crops. This involves the 

 greater portion of the time of several assistants. 



WIKEWORM INVESTIGATIONS. 



An investigation of wireworms, wliich are very destructive insects, 

 was begun two years ago in eastern Washington, and also to a limited 

 extent in the Eastern States. Investigations of the species attack- 

 ing wheat and corn in the extreme Nortliwest will probably be fin- 

 ished the present year and facts be in shape for publication. The 

 beginnings that have been made in the investigation of these insects 

 throughout the East and Middle West are being continued and 

 extended. 



CLOVER AND ALFALFA SEED CHALCIS. 



So destructive has the clover and alfalfa seed chalcis become to 

 alfalfa seed, especially in the Western States, that its destruction has 

 become a serious obstacle to the production of alfalfa seed. A 

 thorough investigation of the species has been taken up and consid- 

 erable progress made in Arizona, Kansas, and Utah. It is also being 

 investigated as a clover-seed insect throughout the East and Middle 

 West. 



THE CORN LEAF-APHIS. 



The corn leaf-aphis {Aphis maidis) has received considerable atten- 

 tion in the North, not on account of its destructive habits— for it is 

 a comparatively harmless insect there — but because of its supposed 

 relation to the corn root-aphis. In the South, however, it is injurious 

 to the barley crop, and the damage is very serious along the Mexican 

 border from the Gulf to the Pacific and extending northward for a 

 considerable distance. An effort is being put forth by the farmer 

 to find some kind of grain that can be grown in that part of the 

 country. So far it would seem that but for the attacks of this insect 

 barley might be grown profitably and thereby solve this problem. 

 In order to aid in the efforts of farmers over the area indicated, 

 extended investigations of the species have been undertaken along 

 the southern border of the country. 



COWPEA AND SOY BEAN INSECTS. 



The investigations of the cowpea curculio have been concluded 

 and the results published in Bulletin 85, Part VIII, of this bureau. 

 The area over which cowpeas and soy beans are at present being 

 grown has become very extensive and is constantly increasing. An 

 investigation of the insect enemies of these two forage crops has been 

 undertaken by two assistants of the bureau and a portion of their 

 investigations will probably be ready for publication during the 

 coming fiscal year. 



OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. 



The investigation of the alfalfa butterfly in southern California 

 has been carried to a point where practical information has been 



