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Columbia. In Delaware 1 beetle " s found at Dover, 24 at Clayton, 1 at 
Fort Penn, and 1 at Stanton. It is "believed that the loa-, rainy period 
in August and aarly September lid much to retard the 1 spread of the 
insect in 1937, Most of the infestations found outside of the known in- 
fested territory "•ere located in to" T ns and cities and were carried to 
those points, it is believed, largely through artificial channels, such 
as railroad trains, automobiles, and contra bond produce." (L. B, Smith, 
Bureau of Entomology, U» 3, D. A, ) 
MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE. 
"In general, over the Southern and Eastern States, the Mexican 
bean beetle ( Epilec hna corrupt a Muls.) has been more numerous and has 
done more damage than in 1935 and 1936. The dispersal into ne 1 " territory 
has been the greatest in point of square miles, and about as great in 
point of distance, as in any year since 1920 "hen it r v first dis- 
covered in northern Alabama. This spread has o>:^n chiefly h o the east 
and northeast as in previous years, the beetle having reached seven 
counties in southwestern Ne"? York and at least five counties in Ontario, 
as far north as Toronto. The presence of the beetle in four southeastern 
counties of Michigan is very important. No predictions as to its serious- 
ness to the 1- rge bean industry there are attempted, but it should be 
carefully '"atched, It has reached the coastal section in Virginia, occur-^-- 
rixg in injurious numbers at Norfolk. Reports iron A] a, Georgia, the 
Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, and Mississippi state that the 
infestations ar^ heavier than in 1925. In Kentucky fewar reports from 
growers were received at the Errperinient Station, probably because of in- 
creased familiarity with the pest and the methods of control. In southern 
Ohio emergence from hibernation occurred a few days earlier than in 1925, 
the first adults being noted in the field May 23. En ice proceeded 
rapidly and "Inter survival " i hj hoi than in 1925; 4 per cent of the 
beetles in large, cages, survived, as compared -ith less than 1 per cent 
in 1926. The spring and early summer infestation in southern Ohio ".'as 
very heavy in many localities, but on account of the rapid emergence, 
and the scarcity of early beans due to wet weather, the egg-laying period 
was confined to a shorter period than usual. This resulted in a very 
distinct gap, after the disappearance of the overwintered beetles, and 
before the appearance of the firs t- generation *&9et! ', Beans Planted in 
the latter half of June had fe 1 * 7 eggs deposited on them and were not 
severely injured, Beans planted later were again heavily infested and 
in many instances v ere destroyed. Only the summer beans bore a normal 
or nearly normal crop without treatment. A large number of beetles "ent 
into hibernation, many earlier than usual, but the prolonged dry leather 
this fall in southern Ohio may seriously affect "inter survival. In 
northern Alabama the survival in large cages "*as 15 per cent as compared 
with 10.8 per cent in 1926. The first beetle was noted in the field on 
March 31 which -—■ 12 days -jr3 ; a in 1926, The infestations '-ere 
heavier than in the preceding three years, but the yield of earlj 
beans "r>.r not much r luced, althota -h the fields -hich "'ere not plowed 
• under immediately after picking were iefol"iat I, Later beans and pole 
