BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 281 



peach trees under certain Aveallicr and soil conditions, and no method 

 has been found as j'et to safeguard entirely the fumigation process. 

 A number of other fumigants are being tried in the hope that an ef- 

 fective and safe one- may be found. 



Work has been done with dust sprays in the control of the plum 

 curculio. In cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industi-y, ex- 

 periments are being conducted at Fort Valley, Ga., with powdered 

 arsenate of lead and finely ground sulphur in comparison with ar- 

 senate of lead in the self-boiled lime-sulphur solution as a combi- 

 nation treatment for curculio, peach scab, and brown rot. 



In the fall of 1916 a new and serious enemy of peaches was found 

 near lYashington. It is a small larva which bores into twigs and 

 fruit. This insect has been found also in New Jersey, on Long Island, 

 and at one or two other points in New York State. It is new to 

 science, but correspondence has shown that it came from Japan, where 

 it has been Imown for 10 j^ears or more. It may be called the 

 oriental peach moth, aiid has been named scientifically Laspeyresia 

 molesta Busck. A careful study of the biology of the insect is un- 

 der way, and experiments are being made with control measures at the 

 Arlington Experimental Farm. Extensive warnings have been sent 

 to fruit growers. 



Nut insects. — Extensive work on insects injurious to the pecan 

 has been carried on at Monticello, Fla., and several reports are now in 

 preparation. A Farmers' Bulletin (No. 813) on the insect enemies 

 of the pecan is now in press. 



From headquarters at Paxinos, Pa., careful studies on chestnut 

 weevils have been made. Fumigation to destroy the grubs in newly 

 harvested nuts has been planned, and if possible central depots, where 

 fumigation work can be handled on a community basis, will be estab- 

 lished in the chestnut-producing territory. 



Cranberry insects. — Headquarters for the work on insects injuri- 

 ous to the cranberry have been changed from Brown Mills to Toms 

 River, N. J. Some progress has been made in the control of the 

 blackhead fireworm on bogs that can not be reflowed, although the 

 w^ork is still in the experimental stage. Some growers, at the sug- 

 gestion of this bureau, are using nicotine sulphate with apparent suc- 

 cess. The cranberry tipworm is being studied, and control measures, 

 such as sanding, reflowing, and spraying, are being tested. Sanding 

 promises to be effective in the control of this insect, although many 

 growers claim that sanding increases troubles from fungous diseases. 

 A Farmers' Bulletin (No. 860) dealing with cranberry-insect prob- 

 lems is in press. 



Natural enemies of fruit insects. — Much progress has been made 

 in the study of the life histories of various species of parasitic and 

 predacious insects that feed upon the principal fruit pests, and special 

 attention has been paid to the fungous diseases of such pests as well 

 as of other species. An interesting disease of cutworms has been 

 found, and, so far as it has been tried, all species of cutworms seem 

 susceptible to inoculation with it. 



Orchard insecticides and spraying machinery. — Further tests of 

 insecticides developed in the bureau have been made, alone and in 

 combination with fungicides. In cooperation with the Bureaus of 



