DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 201 



A group of injurious mites containing about 20 species, the Tyro- 

 glypliidsG, has been the subject of special study by one of the office 

 experts, and a report will be available in a few months, to be issued 

 as a bulletin of the technical series of this Division. Nearly all of 

 these insects have been introduced from Europe, and are for the most 

 part very minute in size, and have required very careful study for 

 their identification and separation into species. Thej" attack j^rinci- 

 paliy stored products, both animal and vegetable, such as clieese and 

 ham and various seeds, and are frequent!}' pests in granaries, ware- 

 houses, flouring mills, and similar buildings where perishable material 

 is stored. One of these, worthy of particular mention, is an enemy 

 to figs and prunes, dried and while drying, and has recently been dis- 

 covered in California. Another, the bulb mite, has been already men- 

 tioned in the consideration of work on greenhouse j)ests. Still another 

 species is a serious mushroom pest, while others injure the roots of 

 various plants. As a rule, these insects affect plants propagated 

 under artificial conditions, and are more abundant on plants of Aveak 

 growth. The species which affect stored material can be successfully 

 treated by fumigation with bisulphid of carbon or hj^drocyanic-acid 

 gas, but as yet no jjractical economic treatment has been devised for 

 some of the forms which affect living plants. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL WORK. 



The preparation of indexes to the more important contributions on 

 American economic entomology has been continued as in previous 

 years ; and Part YIII of a series covering this subject Avill, it is expected, 

 be ready for publication by January 1, 1908. There is now in process 

 of publication an index to the first thirty general bulletins (new series) 

 of this office. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The correspondence for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, was 

 greater than ever before in the history- of the Division, necessitating 

 the writing of about 8,500 letters in answer to inquiries regarding 

 noxious insects, in addition to others that were answered by circulars, 

 printed or mimeographed. To reduce the number of letters to be 

 answered by dictation, we have prepared and published during the 

 year eight circulars and five Farmers' Bulletins. Nevertheless, about 

 as many letters as written the previous year were sent out, and the 

 answering of correspondence by circulars has also greatly increased, 

 demanding at the present writing nearly the entire time of one clerk 

 of this office. The work of preparing additional circulars is being 

 continued, and it is planned that at least an equal number of publi- 

 cations of this nature and Farmers' Bulletins will be issued during 

 the coming fiscal year. 



PROPOSED WORK FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1903. 



The work for the fiscal j^ear of 1903 will be a continuation of the 

 investigations, described in the foregoing pages, now in progress. The 

 important boll-weevil work in Texas will be especially developed along 

 the lines of practical field demonstration. The opportunity, however, 

 will offer in the fall, when the season's work in the field is over, to 

 make some very desirable explorations in Mexico, which will occupy 

 the attention of two of our special agents; and important biological 



