INSECTS IN RELATION TO NATIONAL DEFENSE 
* * * * * Supplemental Foreword, May 1, 1944 * * * * * 
The preparation and publication of a series of articles 
dealing with insects that attack or annoy man and destroy mate' 
rials produced and assembled for defense purposes were begun 
in the latter part of 1940, This series of 23 circulars was 
issued in processed form under the general title "Insects in 
Relation to National Defense." The primary purpose of these 
articles was to present in convenient form essential current 
information to aid those directly concerned with national 
defense on how to recognize and combat the more important 
insect pests that would b e encountered. Seven of the series 
were issued in February 1941 and 18 by November of that year. 
Two of the remaining articles were issued in 1942, two in 
1943, and the Reference Index (No, 23) in January 1944. 
Since the initial preparation and publication of cer- 
tain of the articles, intensive research on some of the pests 
has developed new and more e ff ective methods for combating 
them. During the interval there have also been marked 
changes with regard to supplies of certain insecticides, 
materials used with them, and devices and equipment used to 
apply them. Because of these developments the recommenda- 
tions on control measures and the information on materials 
to be used, given in certain of the circulars, are not en- 
tirely current. Conditions as to supplies are subject to 
frequent changes and intensified research will continue to 
develop new information on control practices. It has, 
therefore, been deemed unwise to revise the various circu- 
lars and endeavor to keep them up-to-date. 
Information on new methods of control is made avail- 
able to responsible military officials and, when approved 
by them, appxupriaoe instructions are issued. In the case 
of some pests, specifically lice, where the control proce- 
dures have been modified as a result of recent research, 
the new materials are not generally available even for use 
by military agencies within the continental United States. 
Specific instructions from responsible military officials 
are, therefore, necessary in reference to their use. 
The offer to supplement information included in the 
various circulars, which was made in the introductory 
number, is renewed. The Bureau of Entomology and Plant 
Quarantine will be glad give advice on specific questions 
with regard to control of particular insects and to supply 
information on the availability of supplies that may be 
secured to combat them. 
