two plots will serve as controls. An electrophoretic techni- 

 que will be used to determine the proportion of hybrid and 

 pure strain ticks in samples of ticks from cattle and thus 

 will provide a means of monitoring progress toward the 

 elimination of the pure strain B. microplus from the 

 pastures. Dr. Larry Hilburn, the geneticist at the U.S. 

 Livestock Insects Laboratory at Kerrville, and Dr. Paul Sat- 

 tler, a research associate, are investigating the genetics of 

 Boophilus ticks, including the hybrids from crosses be- 

 tween B. Microplus and B. annulatus, in an effort to 

 discover a method for improving the sterile hybrid 

 procedure. 



After 5 years of full-time research in support of the tick 

 eradication program in Puerto Rico, Dr. Glen Garris was 

 reassigned to the Lone Star Tick Research Laboratory at 

 Poteau, Oklahoma. However, Dr. Garris is still involved in 

 cooperative research on the ecology and control of the 

 tropical bont tick with French research workers on the 

 island of Guadeloupe. Dr. Garris and other scientists in 

 the Tick and Scabies Research Unit will make regular 

 visits to Puerto Rico as part of continuing ARS efforts to 

 provide research support for the eradication program. Most 

 of the future research for the program in Puerto Rico will 

 be conducted at the laboratory in Mission. 



