Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant 
Quarantine, Agricultural Research Administration, 1953 
United States Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C '., September i, 1953. 
Dr. B. T. Shaw, 
Agricultural Research Administration. 
Dear Dr. Shaw : Realinement of several important phases of ento- 
mological research was accomplished during the past year. There 
were also major accomplishments in plant quarantine and insect 
control activities. These activities are summarized in the attached 
report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1953. 
Sincerely yours, 
Avery S. Hoyt, 
Chief. 
CONTENTS 
Page 
This year in brief — 5 
Stored-product insects 7 
Formula EQ-53 to protect washable woolens announced 7 
Cool storage effective against the cigarette beetle 7 
Nonexplosive aerosol formulation developed 8 
Flammability of oils and solvents used in aerosol formulations de- 
termined 8 
Effectiveness of lindane against stored-tobacco insects studied 8 
Insecticide residues protect fibers and fabrics for long periods 8 
Method developed for forced circulation of fumigant in loaded grain 
cars 9 
Fortieth ship approved for cold treatment of imported fruit 9 
Electrical apparatus now available to determine methyl bromide 
concentrations 9 
Approved vacuum-fumigation facilities rechecked 9 
Promising new methods developed for disinfesting airplanes 10 
Light traps attractive to stored-grain insects 10 
Rice weevil eats five times its own weight 10 
Cotton insects 10 
Cotton insects cause quarter-billion-dollar loss 10 
Pink bollworm research and control activities 11 
Pink bollworm research activities greatly expanded 11 
Pink bollworm causes heavy commercial damage to cotton in south 
Texas 12 
Inspections disclose many newly infested areas 12 
Stalk destruction deadline met in 1952 12 
Cooperative pink bollworm control work in Mexico 13 
Wild cotton eradication in Florida 13 
Improved stalk shredders kill more pink bollworms 13 
Pink bollworm able to overwinter within present range of in- 
festation 13 
Ginning and oil-mill delinting destroy high percentages of pink 
bollworms 13 
Cage tests determine pink bollworm emergence from gin waste __ 14 
Late-season combined pink bollworm and boll weevil treatments 
effective 14 
Light traps may assist in pink bollworm detection and control 14 
Synthetic media developed for laboratory rearing of pink boll- 
worms and boll weevils 15 
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