BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AXD PLANT QUARANTINE 17 
pine trees, thus causing injuries that weakened the trees and hastened 
their death. 
Studies are under way to determine the most effective and economi- 
cal measures to control these beetles. No method of controlling the 
red turpentine beetle is known at present. 
Southern Pine Beetle Breaks Out in South 
For the first time in about 20 years the southern pine beetle killed 
pines on a widespread scale in the South. Injury was especially 
severe in eastern Texas, where an estimated 100 million board feet 
of timber in an area of 180,000 acres was killed by the end of 1950. 
There were other scattered outbreaks, on a smaller scale, throughout 
the South, especially in Alabama and North Carolina. Land-man- 
aging agencies were offered advice on how to control the outbreaks, 
largely by the prompt removal of infested trees and destruction of 
bark beetle broods. 
Tests were conducted to determine the value of new insecticides in 
controlling the beetle. Results indicated that benzene hexachloride 
may surpass orthodichlorobenzene. long considered the standard in- 
secticide for control of bark beetles. 
Observations in Texas indicate that present knowledge of the habits 
and activities of this insect, largely gathered from studies made years 
ago in more northerly and easterly parts of the South, is inadequate 
to explain the conditions now existing in the Deep South. 
Entomologists Assist in Salvaging ^ ind-Thrown Timber 
In Xovember 19-49 hundreds of millions of board feet of coniferous 
sawlog timber and poles were felled by southwest winds blowing 
across northern Idaho and western Montana. The volume of the 
material was so great that several years will be required to salvage it, 
using the entire region's available logging and milling facilities. The 
felled timber was exposed to unusual attacks by bark beetles and wood 
borers. After an investigation, Bureau entomologists recommended 
immediate salvage of timber in imminent danger of insect attack. 
Salvage operations were therefore directed into areas of greatest 
danger. It is anticipated that most of the wind-thrown timber will 
be logged before serious insect infestation develops. 
Survey on European Pine Shoot Moth Aids in Selection of Planting 
Sites for Red Pine 
Surveys conducted cooperatively with the New York State Depart- 
ment of Conservation show that the European pine shoot moth is not 
a serious pest of red pine in sections of Xew York where the average 
minimum winter temperature is —10° F. or lower. In contrast, 
severe infestations were found in warmer areas. This finding on 
temperature effects on the insect agrees with the results of previous 
investigations which showed that heavy mortality of overwintering: 
shoot moth larvae results from the low temperatures. Foresters in 
Xew York may now select areas where red pine can be planted without 
fear of severe damage by this insect. 
