INSECT PEST SURVEY BULLETIN 
Vol, 21 
Summary for 1941 
No. 10 
INTRODUCTION- 
Poliowing the general trend of weather -for the last 20 years, the year 
1941 was warmer than. normal in practically all parts of the country, the only 1 
exception being a limited, s.rea in the interior of the Northeast. The year was 
: also outstanding for heavy precipitation, .- The latter half of the year was 
'especially wet west of the .Mississippi River,, and the only States having defi- 
ciencies were those from North Carolina and Tennessee northward, 
*> _ _ • ' 1 • ’ . y 
The winter was,, slightly colder, than normal in parts of the Atlantic States, 
hut in all, other sections., above-normal- warmth prevailed, the plus departures 
being, especially large in the western half of the country.* Prom March to May, 
inclusive,, temperatures 'were . slightly below- normal in -the -South- and most of the’ 
Appalachian Mountain . sections s . but were substantially warmer than normal thrOugi 
out' the northern half of the country-. .While most of the western half of the 
country war well' supplied with moisture during the. winter and’ spring, precipita- 
tion was subnormal east of the Mississippi, River,- and drought prevailed in the' - 
Middle Atlantic and New England S tabes, # g 
The summer was .warmer than .normal generally and- tho fall very much warrior 
than normal, everywhere except west of the Rocky Mountains, ■ where it was ' below 
normal* June brought rainfall generally, to the drought ..area in the East to 
relieve the agricultural situation, but the rains were not heavy enough to pene- 
trate deop and the subsoil remained rola.tively dry* Another drought set in the’ 
latter part of August, which by the first of October had assumed serious and 
widespread proportions, covering the entire Atlantic area and extending west- 
ward to the central. Ohio Valley and Tennessee, 
Insects in general passed the winter in the usue,l abundance. The boll 
weevil survived in more than normal - abundance, and continued so throughout the 
season,.. The chinch- bug also came through the -winter, in. great numbers-, but he ay; 
spring rains inlbKe;* infested area .during, -the critdc-n.1 period of the insect-’-s 
development reduced the population, and: summer rains further reduced it. 
The 'dry weather,, in - area infested by the Japanese beetle retarded feeding o' ' 
the larvae hnd overwintering populations went, into hibornatipn' with a low food 
reserve. The drought also is thought to have had a deleterious effect on the 
European corn borer, . . . • ■-.••• -■ 
■Rains in the grasshopper-infested area, produced wild vegetation which 
served as food' for the yotmg 1 hoppers ..and. prevented- -.them- from migrating, to crop 
••-Because of the abnormally warm weather in the . fell many insects continued 
development’- latof than usual, providing 1 abundant numbers for hibernation* 
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