BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT QUARANTINE 
13 
In commercial-scale dusting of cane for control of first-generation 
borers, applications of cryolite by airplane and ground equipment 
were about equally effective. Both gave a high degree of control, 
which in some instances amounted to as much as 50 percent reduction 
in numbers of borers present at harvesttime. In general, natural 
cryolite gave as good results-as synthetic cryolite. Dilutions of these 
materials gave poorer control than the full-strength dusts. 
The use of medium and heavily infested cane for seed resulted in 
estimated reductions in yield of 2.5 and 3.3 tons, respectively, of mill- 
able cane per acre, as compared with plantings of uninfested seed cane. 
WEST INDIAN SUGARCANE MITE SURVIVES ERADICATION EFFORT 
Although the eradication of the West Indian sugarcane mite at- 
tempted in 1941 appeared last year to have been successful, the mite 
was found to be again well established in two locations at Canal 
Point, Fla. 
TRUCK CROP AND GARDEN INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
The control of insects that attack vegetables or transmit diseases to 
these crops has assumed an increasingly important role in the wartime 
food-production program. In addition to increased commercial plant- 
ings of such crops as beans, peas, potatoes, and tomatoes, the expansion 
of the Victory Garden campaign has created a further demand for 
information on insect control. Since some of the insecticides, such, 
as pyrethrum and rotenone, are available only in limited quantities, it 
has been necessary to husband these supplies and to develop substi- 
tute materials or other control methods. A special effort has been made 
to disseminate information regarding insect control through the timely 
publication of bulletins and mimeographed material, as well as- 
through the radio and the press and by personal contacts of Depart- 
ment workers with those interested in this information. 
Special emergency surveys of insects and control requirements have 
been conducted, in cooperation with State workers, industry, and 
other agencies, in an effort to insure the distribution of insecticides to 
localities or districts where they are most needed. 
ENCOURAGING RESULTS OBTAINED WITH NEW INSECTICIDES 
In cooperation with commercial and State agencies a large number 
of new materials and combinations of materials have been tested for 
their insecticidal value. Among these materials the new synthetic 
organic chemical DDT was very effective, in preliminary field tests r 
against the following insects: Potato leafhopper, imported cabbage 
worm, cabbage looper, diamondback moth, cabbage webworm, pea 
aphid, Colorado potato beetle, flea beetles on potatoes, Lygus plant 
bugs, and the tomato fruitworm. Encouraging but not outstanding 
results were achieved with this material against the following insects : 
Pea weevil, onion thrips, gladiolus thrips, bean leaf beetle, stinkbugs 
of various species, and the beet leafhopper. Unsatisfactory or indif- 
ferent results were obtained against the Mexican bean beetle, the 
tobacco hornworm, the turnip aphid, and red spiders. 
In tests directed against cabbage caterpillars, some insecticidal value 
justifying further tests was shown for yam bean flour, various nico^ 
tine combinations, a soap-water spray, scorodite, 2-chlorofluorene, 
