200 DEPAETMP]NTAL KEPOKTS. 



WORK ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF INJURIOUS INSECTS 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 



During tlie past fiscal year it has Ijeen learned that a number of 

 insects have been introduced in this country, and in reports which 

 have been published in regard to them their distribution abi'oad and 

 their present habitat in this country have been carefully defined, and 

 from this data the probable future spread has been indicated. The 

 work of mapping the distribution of the most destructive native as 

 well as introduced species has been continued. This is a work that 

 will require considerable time before its final completion. Meanwhile 

 a careful record is being kept of reports received from correspondents 

 and from experiment station entomologists and other practical work- 

 ers throughout the country, so that data are available when desired 

 on the known distribution of anj' prominent injurious species. From 

 time to time inquiries are made in regard to these matters from various 

 practical economic workers, and our lists are found indispensable for 

 the purpose. 



APICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



In apiculture the woi^k included an importation of select breeding 

 queens from Italy and smaller importations from Austria and Cyprus. 

 These were forwarded to experiment stations and to bee raisers in dif- 

 ferent sections of the country. Favorable reports have been received, 

 notably in the case of a southern California bee keeper whose honey 

 crop during the year was 38 tons. He stated that while black bees 

 were doing nothing the Cyprians from the Department importation 

 gathered a fair crop, while the best Italians of his own raising got 

 only half as much. Various crosses were made between these races 

 and some promising strains secured, one result being that the irrita- 

 bility of some excellent honey gatherers can be modified b}^ using 

 males of gentler races in the crosses. Further data regarding honey- 

 producing iDlants, their distribution, times of blossoming, and amounts 

 and qualities of the yield have been collected. Practical tests of vari- 

 ous systems and devices for rearing queen bees have been made. In 

 this connection a queen-rearing nucleus hive, which promises excel- 

 lent results, both in the rearing of queens and the wintering of sur- 

 plus queens, has been devised. Experiments in connection with out- 

 door wintering were also repeated. 



TECHNICAL WORK. 



Nearly all of the various expert employees connected with this office 

 are specialists in certain orders or smaller groups of insects, and are 

 obliged each year to devote much time to tlie identification of speci- 

 mens for experiment station entomologists and others throughout the 

 country, and even abroad, who have not access to libraries or large 

 collections. This work is carried on mainly through correspondence, 

 and, as indicated in previous reports of the Entomologist, makes jjrac- 

 tically no showing in the output of the Division. It is, however, a 

 necessity, and of great practical value in facilitating the work of those 

 who need such assistance before they can write or publish understand- 

 ingly with regard to the destructive insects which they have under 

 observation. Mention has been made under the title of " Work on 

 scale insects" of the determinations of material in that group of 

 insects. 



