February, '16] SASSCER: FEDERAL INSPECTION FACILITIES 219 



{Forficula auricularia Linn.), and the European mole cricket (Gryllo- 

 talpa gryllotalpa Linn.), have appeared as pests in the eastern states, 

 which were, in all probability, introduced in soil around the roots of 

 florists' stock. The former insect is now well established in Newport, 

 R. L, and vicinity, and has been the subject of investigation by the 

 Bureau of Entomology during the past season. In Europe this insect 

 is not looked upon as a serious pest, and its depredations, in so far as 

 injury to plants at Newport, have been comparatively negligible. 

 However, its presence is objectionable, owing to the fact that the 

 insects leave their shelter after dusk, often crawling over porches, 

 and frequently, when frightened, seek shelter in the clothing of the 

 occupants of the veranda. Furthermore, these insects crawl through 

 the houses and conceal themselves under cushions, backs of chairs, 

 closets, shoes, and, in fact, every conceivable place. The appearance 

 of the European mole cricket in New Jersey was recently described 

 by Mr. Harry B. Weiss. ^ As, in the case of the earwig, the mole 

 cricket is not a serious pest in Europe, although at times it does occa- 

 sion some injury to plants which happen to be in the line of the burrow 

 of the insect. Elaterid and Lachnosterna larvae have also been dis- 

 covered in soil around imported stock. With such evidence as indi- 

 cated above, does it not seem desirable to consider the question of 

 soil around the roots? In other words, is it practicable to forward 

 such stock without soil around the roots? In case this is not per- 

 missible, is there not a possibility of eliminating such soil pests by 

 fumigating all imported material at the port of entry with hydrocyanic- 

 acid gas in the presence of a partial vacuum. 



INSPECTION FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 



By E. R. Sasscer. 



Largely through the untiring efforts of the Office of Foreign Seed 

 and Plant Introduction of the Bureau of Plant Industry, the much 

 needed equipment for the inspection of imported nursery stock was 

 installed during the current year. To emphasize the necessity of 

 proper inspection facilities it will, perhaps, be well to briefly describe 

 the nature of the material to be inspected. 



The Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction alone is constantly 

 bringing in plants and plant products from all quarters of the glol)e, 

 many of the packages originating in countries which have no system 

 of inspection and of which we know little as regards insects and plant 

 diseases. Although foreign official channels constitute an important 



* Journal of Economic Entomology, Vol. VIII, No. 5, p. 500, 1915. 



