16 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1934 
OCEAN AND BAY FLOTATIONS 
One unusual occurrence observed for the first time in 1933 was a large flotation 
of Japanese beetles in Delaware Bay, and another in Raritan Bay and the At- 
lantic Ocean at Staten Island and Long Island. When first observed, quantities 
of beetles were being washed in with the tide at a beach near Delaware City, Del. 
Quite an infestation was observed feeding on nearby foliage. Beetles were later 
found washed up on Woodland Beach in lower Delaware. Most of the beetles 
were dead when washed ashore, but a goodly number of the survivors recovered 
and began feeding. Six Delaware-owned traps placed at Reedy Point Bridge 
caught 3.5 quarts of beetles in 2 weeks, and 18 traps set at Woodland Beach col- 
lected 7.5 quarts. Beetles in considerable quantities were washed ashore along 
Delaware Bay from Delaware City south to Kitts Hammock, a stretch of about 
40 miles. Sections adjoining this coastal area are important agricultural sections 
of the State. A still heavier flotation was observed in Raritan Bay between 
New Jersey and Staten Island, N. Y. Large numbers of the beetles were washed 
up along the shore near Princess Bay, on the southwestern shore line of Staten 
Island. A large number of beetles could be picked up for a distance of several 
miles. About 25 percent of them were able to crawl. Further evidences of beetle 
flotation were noted along the southern shore of Long Island. A distinct line of 
Japanese beetles along the beach at high tide was observed on Long Beach. It 
was estimated that there was an average of 100 dead beetles per yard along the 
high-tide line. Nearly the same number of beetles was found at Point Lookout, 10 
miles farther east. Examination of 10 miles of shore line at Jones Beach disclosed 
beetles remaining from the high tide of the previous day. At the easternmost 
point examined, the number of beetles decreased to an average of approximately 
1 per inch. This would indicate an eastward drift of beetles for at least 60 miles 
from the heavily infested sections of New Jersey and Staten Island. From 5 
million to 10 million beetles were washed ashore along the 60-mile stretch from 
the eastern point of Long Island to the Suffolk County line. 
STATE AND COMMUNITY CONTROL ACTIVITIES FOR BEETLE-POPULATION REDUCTION 
Early in the summer of 1933 sprays of coated lead arsenate were applied to 
foliage in the heavily infested sections of Laurel, Elkton, and Colgate, Md. 
Bait-dispensing cages were also distributed in these localities. This work was per- 
formed in cooperation with the Maryland State Horticultural Department. 
Sixty-two hundred traps were also distributed in 38 Maryland localities of known 
infestation within the regulated zone for the purpose of reducing beetle popula- 
tion. These traps caught over 1,400,000 beetles. One million one hundred 
thousand of this total were trapped at an open-field infestation near Elkton. The 
State of Delaware operated 814 State-owned traps at 17 points, and made catches 
totaling 164,000 beetles. 
This year's suppression campaign carried on by the New Jersey Department of 
Agriculture involved the use of 980 traps, each having a 40-quart container, and 
300 standard-sized traps. These weie distributed to 150 farmers, whose catches 
totaled over 47 tons of beetles. In New Jersey favorable trapping weather was 
limited to less than 3 weeks, between July 1 and 9 and July 17 and 25. During 
3 days in the first week in July, 6 large-sized traps captured 65 gallons of beetles. 
Also in New Jersey, 700 State-owned traps were used in determining degrees of 
infestation in 15 towns and around several lakes in the northern counties of the 
State. 
The Rhode Island Department of Agriculture also set out 807 State-owned 
traps in 6 cities. Trap and hand collections were made totaling 45,000 beetles. 
Three hundred and sixty-three Connecticut-owned traps were operated in Mid- 
dletown, Manchester, Putnam, and Winsted. These traps captured 147 beetles. 
In cooperation with the State authorities of Virginia, 2,057 traps were operated 
in 8 previously infested cities in the regulated area. These traps caught approxi- 
mately 39,000 beetles. The operation of traps for beetle-population reduction in 
the District of Columbia resulted in catches of over 315,000 beetles. 
Active campaigns designed to reduce Japanese beetle populations to a minimum 
were sponsored during the summer of 1933 by a number of civic organizations 
and municipal officials in Barrington, Hackensack, Manville, Perth Amboy, 
Spotswood, and Woodbridge, N. J., and Mount Vernon, N. Y. 
Large-sized Japanese beetle traps were sold by a committee of the New Jersey 
Board of Agriculture at $1.50 each to 510 purchasers throughout New Jersey and 
in Norfolk and Richmond, Va.; West Grove and Allentown, Pa.; Bronxville, 
N. Y.; and Stamford, Conn. Traps of the type sold were not available through 
regular commercial channels. 
