1935] SERVICE AND REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS 15 
an effort were made. Not only does the bulb eelworm have a much wider distri- 
bution and a much greater host list than was thought to be the case when the 
restrictions were placed, but it also has been found to infest hyacinths, tulips, 
and lily-of-the-valley pips, all of which are now and have since 1919 been admitted 
under permit and inspection in unlimited quantities for any purpose. Further- 
more, it has been taken in the following vegetables : Carrots, onions, garlic, and 
cipollino (Muscari), which are admitted from foreign countries under the Fruit 
and Vegetable Quarantine No. 56. 
The records of field inspections made in 1933 in accordance with the provisions 
of Quarantine No. 62 (the results of the 1934 inspections are not yet available) 
resulted in the finding of the bulb eelworm in commercial narcissus plantings in 
15 States (California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, 
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and 
Washington) which comprise for the most part the principal narcissus-producing 
areas. In addition to the records for the year 1933, the bulb eelworm had pre- 
viously been reported on properties in Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin. 
The greater bulb fly has been taken in 12 States, and the field inspection made 
in 1933 revealed its presence in commercial narcissus plantings in 8 States (Cali- 
fornia, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and 
Washington). In previous years it was collected in Illinois, Rhode Island, Utah, 
and Virginia. In addition to narcissus it has been collected in imported hyacinths 
and cipollino. 
Information which has been assembled in recent years indicates that the lesser 
bulb fly is not the pest it was believed to be at the time the restrictions were 
placed on foreign and domestic narcissus bulbs and as a consequence in the ad- 
ministration of Quarantine No. 62 it is now disregarded. It has been reported 
to occur in 23 States. In addition to the narcissus it has been collected in foreign 
shipments of hyacinths, lily, iris, cipollino, and onions. 
The bulb eelworm and the greater bulb fly, not including the lesser bulb fly 
which, as previously stated, is not now regarded as a pest, despite the restric- 
tions, foreign and domestic, which have been in effect since 1926, now have a 
wider distribution in this country than was known to be the case at that time. 
Both of these pests also arrive from foreign countries in bulbs which are admitted 
in unlimited quantities under regulation 3 of Quarantine 37. Obviously, if the 
present restrictions on narcissus bulbs were to be continued they should be ap- 
plied with equal force to all other bulbs and plants known to be hosts of the 
bulb eelworm and the greater bulb fly. In view of the known distribution of 
these pests in the United States, and the wide variety of hosts attacked with the 
resultant hopelessness of bringing about their eradication, especially the eelworm. 
this action is regarded as biologically unsound from a plant-quarantine stand- 
point. In point of fact, the evidence at hand clearly indicates that the establish- 
ment of these pests in this country is now so widespread and so impossible of 
eradication by any reasonable means that such reinfestation as may take place 
with unlimited importations under permit and inspection at the time of im- 
portation of certified bulbs will have no bearing on their control. In other 
words, the opportunity of eradication of these pests has passed. Moreover, pests 
equally as important, if not more so, than the ones which prompted the placing of 
restrictions are now widely distributed in this country. In view of this condi- 
tion the unlimited entry of narcissus bulbs under permit and subject to inspection 
beginning December 15, 1936, is authorized. All such importations, in accordance 
with the provisions of regulation 7 of Quarantine 37, shall be accompanied by a 
certificate certifying that they have been thoroughly inspected at the time of 
packing and found or believed to be free from injurious plant diseases and insect 
pests. Inspections at ports of entry will be made to prevent this country being 
made the dumping ground of infested or infected narcissus bulbs, and any such 
shipments offered for entry will be rejected. 
Deferring the effective date for 2 years is for the purpose of permitting those 
adjustments made necessary by the removal of the restrictions and is in accord 
with the procedure followed in 1922 in announcing the placing of restrictions to 
be effective 3 years later. 
Lee A. Strong. 
Chief, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. 
