BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT QUARANTINE 109 
As a result of experiments conducted by the Division of Control 
Investigations the use of methyl bromide was approved for the fumi- 
gation of lima beans infested with the bean pod borer (Maruca 
testulalis (Geyer) ) and of cipollini infested with Exosomu lusitanica 
(L.). Prior to this year infested lima beans were refused entry, 
and infested cipollini were either refused entry or given a hot-water 
treatment. 
AIRPLANE INSPECTION 
The number of airplanes from foreign countries continues to in- 
crease from year to year, and the possibility of introducing plant 
pests through this rapid means of transportation increases accord- 
ingly. During the year 4,969 airplanes from foreign countries were 
inspected. These inspections were made at the following 19 ports 
of entry: Douglas and Nogales, Ariz.; Calexico, Los Angeles, San 
Diego, and San Francisco, Calif.; Key West, Miami, Tampa, and 
West Palm Beach, Fla. ; Agana, Guam ; Honolulu, T. H. ; Baltimore, 
Mel. ; New York, N. Y. ; San Juan, P. K. ; Brownsville, El Paso, and 
Laredo, Tex. ; and Seattle, Wash. 
Seven hundred and seventy-nine of the airplanes inspected were 
found to carry prohibited plant material, much of which came from 
places where it is known to be the host of injurious plant pests. 
Two thousand four hundred and forty-five interceptions of insects 
and plant diseases were made in connection with the airplane in- 
spection. These represented specimens taken from plant material 
carried in baggage, cargo, and stores, and also insects which were 
being carried as stowaways on the planes. These interceptions are 
not only of interest as possible plant pests, but many of them repre- 
sented different species of mosquitoes and other insects which might 
have decided importance, from the human-health standpoint. 
While the majority of the interceptions represented forms which 
may be considered as having little economic importance, there were 
many interceptions which could be identified as to genus only, hence 
it is impossible to estimate their importance from a plant-pest stand- 
point. Interceptions of such well-known pests as fruitflies belong- 
ing to the genus Anastrepha, species of Aleyrodidae and Pseudococ- 
cus, the bean pod borer (Maruca testulalis (Geyer)), and several 
species of scale insects were included. 
FOREIGN PARCEL-POST INSPECTION 
Inspection of foreign parcel-post packages is carried on through 
the cooperation of customs and post-office officials. Under an ar- 
rangement which has been in effect many years, foreign mail pack- 
ages found to contain plants or plant products are referred to in- 
spectors of this Bureau for examination. Such packages arriving 
at ports of entry where no plant-quarantine inspectors are stationed 
are forwarded to the nearest port where inspection can be made. 
A record by port of the number and disposition of foreign parcel- 
post packages inspected appears in table 1G. 
