LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Bureau of Entomology, 
Washington, D. C, April &£, 1912. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for publication a manu- 
script entitled " The Bean Thrips," by H. M. Russell, an entomo- 
logical assistant of this bureau. 
This bulletin deals with an insect pest of the family Thripidse, 
the study of which has been hitherto largely neglected, and which of 
recent years has attracted considerable attention from an economic 
standpoint, as the cause of immense losses in the Pacific coast regions 
and elsewhere to truck farmers. The insect is closely related to the 
tobacco thrips, as well as to the onion thrips, to which species are 
chargeable untold losses in the production of these two staples. Ex- 
periments to produce formulae and devices with which successfully 
to combat this insect are being perfected, and methods for the com- 
plete control of the pest are early expected. 
I recommend the publication of this manuscript as Bulletin No. 
118 of this bureau. 
Respectfully, L. O. Howard, 
Chief of Bureau. 
Hon. James Wilson, 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
