522 ANNUAL REIPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGBICULl^RE. 



MISCRLI.ANEOUS SUBTROPICAL INSKCT8. 



As opportunity has oflored. some investigation has been made and 

 a careful watch has been kept of insect pests, particularly newly 

 imported ones, affecting other subtropical fruits. This relates par- 

 ticularly to Pidrinaria p.sidli^ probal)iy the worst pest in southeastern 

 Asia of citrus and other subtropical fruits. This insect has in recent 

 years been introduced on nursery stock into Florida, and seems to 

 liave been widely distributed by one of the leading nursery firms of 

 that State. It is now exhibiting its possibilities for damage, particu- 

 larly on fig, at West Palm Beach, Miami, and other ^joints in Florida. 

 The Alcyrodes howardi, a not very close relative of the white fly, has 

 become established on the east coast of Florida, having evidently 

 been brought over on stock fi'om Cuba, where it seems to be native. 

 An oriental scale pest, Conchaspis angraci, has become established 

 on figs at Miami and probably elsewhere in Florida. The mango 

 weevil, Cryptorhynchiis mangifercc, has come in very commonly in 

 mango seeds imported for planting during the last year. A warning 

 circular on this insect has been issued by this bureau. Two important 

 mango scales which have been brought in on recent shipments of 

 mango trees to this country are still in existence in Florida. These 

 mango pests, and especially the weevil if it becomes established, Avill 

 seriously affect the future of the mango industry of Florida. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF INSECTS IN THEIR DIRECT RELATION TO THE HEALTH 



OF MAN AND DOMESTIC ANIJMALS. 



THE HOUSE FLY AND THE MALARIAL MOSQUITO. 



The work upon the house fly has been continued and new facts have 

 been ascertained which have a practical bearing upon the general 

 crusade now being carried on in this country against this disease- 

 bearing species. A new Farmers' Bulletin upon the subject has been 

 published and is being widely distributed, and many communities 

 in various parts of the country are making an organized effort to 

 limit the numbers of the pest. 



The spread of the boll weevil into the Delta region of Mississippi 

 has complicated the labor problem in that part of the country, since 

 the negro population is moving away into regions not yet reached 

 b}' the weevil. The substitution of white labor for this vanishing 

 negro labor meets with the strong obstacle that although very rich 

 that portion of the country is highly malarious. A Farmers' Bulle- 

 tin entitled " Some Facts about Malaria " has, therefore, been pub- 

 lished during the year, and in it the full story of the relations be- 

 tween the Anopheles mosquitoes and malaria is told. A companion 

 Farmers' Bulletin giving remedies to be used against mosquitoes was 

 issued at the same time. 



WORK ON TICKS. 



Under ISIessrs. Hunter and Bishopp, of the bureau, work on the 

 tick which has been proved to be the transmitter of the disease of man 

 known as the Rocky Mountain spotted fever was given especial atten- 

 tion. The distribution of the species was studied throughout a por- 

 tion of the year 1910 and it was found to occur in more than 180 



