624 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



parasite experts was also diverted to some extent to the investigation 

 of the possibilities of importing alfalfa-weevil parasites. As a 

 result a much larger numhor of parasites of the alfalfa weevil have 

 been brought over from Italy, Germany, and Switzerland than it 

 was possible to obtain last year. A stronger and better-trained force 

 of men has been stationed in Utah to handle the material received, 

 and during June of 1012 the imported parasites were being reared 

 in Utah from alfalfa stems and other material received from Europe 

 and were l)eing liberated into the fields infested by the weevil — a 

 course that was imposs'ible last year on account of the limited amount 

 of material imported. There seems little doubt, from the investiga- 

 tions in Italy during the spring of 1911 and the spring of 1912, that 

 the weevil is largely controlled in that country by its native parasites. 

 It remains to be seen whether a similar condition of affairs can be 

 brought about in our Western States, which depend so largely upon 

 their alfalfa crop and which differ so greatly in many places from 

 the climatic conditions of Italy. The attempt seems to be well worth 

 while when carried on simultaneously with remedial efforts in other 

 directions. 



EXPORTATIONS OF USEFUL INSECTS. 



During the year parasites of scale insects have been sent to Peru, 

 to Argentina, to Italy, and to Spain. Parasites of tobacco insects 

 have been sent to the Tobacco Planters' Association of Deli, Sumatra, 

 and an egg-parasite of one of the important tobacco pests has reached 

 Sumatra in good condition via Amsterdam and has been liberated 

 in living condition. The spread of the brown-tail moth in the 

 Province of New Brunswick was mentioned in the last annual report, 

 and brown-tail moth parasites, introduced into this country from 

 Europe and established in New England, have been sent to New 

 Brunswick, to an agent of the Central Experimental Farm of the 

 Dominion of Canada, who has liberated the parasite material, which 

 gives promise of success equal to that of New England. 



During the year the results have been announced of the importa- 

 tion into Italy from the United States, through this bureau, of an 

 internal parasite of a scale insect which promised the destruction of 

 the mulberry plantations in that country. Dr. Antonio Berlese, of 

 Florence, in a recently published paper in which he goes into the 

 question of the spread of this x^merican parasite in Ital3^ announces 

 the following conclusions: (1) The American parasite is perfectly 

 adapted to the climate of upper Italy ; it multiplies more actively in 

 the milder regions than in the colder regions, having probably one or 

 two generations less in the latter; (2) excessive cold, however, is not 

 injurious to the parasite; (3) the diffusive intensity of the parasite 

 is so great that it will disperse throughout upper Italy even without 

 being aided artificially. During the present year the States of 

 Liguria and Venetia will be for the greater part freed from the scale. 

 The same condition will be reached for Lombardy in 1913 and for 

 Piedmont in 1914. 



It becomes more apparent every year that the United States, by 

 aiding foreign countries in this way, is not only performing a cour- 

 teous and helpful service to others, but is most emphatically benefiting 

 itself, since return service of a similar kind and of an important 

 nature is willingly and courteously rendered. 



