Ill 



Grasshopper outbreaks were heavy and injurious, especially in 

 North Dakota and the Canadian border, the chief species being Melano- 

 pliis atlantis and Camnula pelliicida. There were, unfortunately no 

 funds to meet the sudden requirements for poison-bait and labour 

 and attention is drawn to the great desirabihty of a reserve fund to 

 meet similar emergencies in the future. A method of spraying for the 

 alfalfa weevil [Hypera variabilis] has been devised that promises 

 much success ; this will be described in a bulletin to appear shortly. 

 Chinch bugs [Blissus leucopterus] were more than usually injurious in 

 Missouri, Illinois and other middle-western States. These regions 

 also suffered from outbreaks of the true army worm [Cirphis unipuncia]. 

 Excellent results were obtained wherever the poison bait and ditch 

 barrier methods were used promptly and intelligently. 



Among stored products it is estimated that as a result of inspection 

 and advice by experts, supplies of rice and beans were saved worth 

 about twenty-seven times the appropriation for this project. Processes 

 described in last year's report [loc. cit.. 94] for preventing losses among 

 stored goods have been continued ; a commercial machine for sterilising 

 cartons of cereals by electricity promises to give good results. Among 

 household pests a special study has been made of the black carpet 

 beetle [Attagemis piceus]. 



Deciduous fruit insect investigations included a study of the Japanese 

 beetle [PopiUia japonica] [R. A.E., A, viii, 307, etc.]. This beetle has 

 proved to be almost omnivorous. Its special distribution covers 

 about 50 square miles. To restrict it an attempt is being made to 

 mamtam a barrier of dusted or sprayed foliage about a mile wide 

 completely round the infested area. In spite of this, the indications 

 are that the beetle will continue to spread. Its natural enemies 

 occurring in Japan are being studied, and it is hoped that some of these 

 may be established m New Jersey. One shipment of a predatory 

 beetle has already been received. Peaches in Georgia have been 

 A-ery severely damaged by the plum curculio [Conotrachelus nenuphar] 

 which has caused losses estimated at about ^400,000. Observations 

 indicate that under conditions of abundant rain and high temperature 

 this weevil may develop a partial second generation of larvae which 

 infests the ripemng fruit. Work on the codling moth [Cydia porno- 

 iieLla\ has been continued on the same lines as last year {loc cit 94] 

 The spray gun gives the best results in insecticidal treatments' As 

 many moths have been known to emerge in the packing sheds baskets 

 used in handling the crop of 1919 were kept through the winter in 

 closed buildings. An attempt is being made to introduce parasites 

 of C. pomonella, and tests are being made with a dust composed of a 

 lungicide, lead arsenate and tobacco extract, to be used simultaneously 

 against fungous diseases, biting insects and sucking insects Further 

 investigations have been made on the grape-berry moth [Pohchrosis 

 xnteana] m Ohio ; where infestation is not too severe, one treatment 

 with lead arsenate should be sufficient. In parts of Michigan con- 

 siderable damage has been done to grapes by the grape root worm 

 [tidia viticida] and an Aphid, which have hitherto been considered 

 unimportant pests. The treatment with sulphur fumes for the grape 

 mealybug [Psendococcus bakeri], advocated in last year's report has 

 proved to be impracticable, and other methods are being investi- 

 gated. The white-hned sphinx moth [Celerio lineaia] and the grape 

 sphinx moth [Pholm achemon] were both troublesome • for the 

 former no satisfactory sprays were found, and hand-collection was 



