“570- 
Infestations in southern California in general were very light during 19^ 
averaging about 4-percent damage for fields harvested during July, August, one' 
September. In one field harvested in October and November, infestation was 
normal, or about 17»5 percent. The infestation in corn throughout the season 
wps apparently normal, averaging 83 percent for June, 95 percent for July, 8C 
percent for September, 92 percent for October, and 96 percent for November. 
(j. Wilcox, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, TJ. S. D. A.) 
Infestation by the tomato fruit worn in northern Utah averaged about 4 
percent in 1940 and was slightly greater than in 1939 • ®arly sweet corn in 
June was approximately 30-percent infested with corn earworm of the fourth an 
fifth instrrs, and by July a.lmost 100 percent was infested. The infestation 
of the tomato fruitx/orn on tomatoes was noticeably higher in the southern par 
of Da.vis County than in any of the other tomato-producing districts. Infesta- 
tion appeared to be greater in fields of rank growth, which was also associat 
with exuberant blossoming. The first eggs x^ere observed on tomatoes during 
mid-July and eggs were recovered during the season up to the early part of 
September, the peak of oviposition of 1.3 eggs per plant occurring in mid- 
August. The collections from bait traps and light traps were small during 
1940, yet the peak of collection from both of these sources occurred during m 
August. Oviposition studies in 1940 showed 92 percent of eggs deposited on 
tomato plants were recovered on small leaves and 79*2 percent were on the upp 
surface.- E. H. reported that in 1940 the insect caused injury to tomr 
for the first tine in the Parma, Idaho, district. Injury to sweet corn has 
been common. (H. E. Dorst, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, ■'*. • , 
U. S. D. A.) 
PEPPER WEEVIL 
The 1940 sen ,son followed one of the warmest winters experienced for many 
years in California. A general lack of pepper field and nightshade clean-up 
until spring allowed an unusually largo number of weevils to survive the 
winter. Weevil infestations, which began early in June, increased very rapid 
until an average of 60 percent of the crop was destroyed in Orange and Los 
Angeles Counties. Infestation records kept in three fields in Orange County 
and in two fields in Los Angeles County indicated a. range of 47- to 89~P ercer 
damage, with an average of 64 percent by numbers of pods. Damage by weight i 
always less than damage by number of pdds, because the early, larger, pods su 
vive. Early infestations also occurred in San Diego County, but most of the 
fields were thoroughly treated, which materially reduced losses. Weevil con- 
ditions look more favorable for 194l because adult weevils entering the winte 
season were already old, and have less chance of surviving. This was due to 
the destruction of all small pods and blossom buds by a, very large weevil 
population long before the season was over. Thus there were no young weevils 
emerging late in the fall to provide a vigorous population which might survi- 
the winter. (Roy E. Campbell and J. C. Elmore, Bureau of Entomology and Plr„r 
Quarantine, TJ, S. D. A.) 
