4 
2-E. F. itelpEng-S-lS-SS 
cncsjiintered tl'ic disaase in the field k© dad no, detailed inforaation 
regai-ding potential vectors. W© did not even have, in the fetional 
Collections, identified spaciuseJis of the mite r^orted by the 
Japa.na8@ to be the vector of -the disease, as a result tlio search 
for potential vectoa:^ by epldwdologic studies «as delayed many 
weeks until the closely related species encountered coi*ld be 
diffei’tmtiated. Prior knowledge of the chigger faxma of Korea 
would have hastened by a>a» months m understaiding of the ecology 
of the disease, aivi thus provided a method of preventing it, th© 
same sort of knowledge regarding the mite fauns of Africa Is of 
great interest to om' amed forces, and can be wuch better assembled 
as a result of esq^aditions of this sort than (hiring a allitafy 
operation. 
Field studies of Acarina require considerable experience, and the 
importance of a worker of Dr, Baker's qualifications participating 
in eiplorations should not be overlooked. In addition to tii 
field studies, we hope that arrangesimta can be made for ,'Or, Baker 
to spend a few days studying t.he aore imixirtai t mite colleotions 
in Mirope en route fresa Africa to the tinited dtates. This activity 
alone is consid«r«l of sufficioat importance i'ully to justify the 
expense that will result from Or, Baker's participation In tlie 
entire ejqjodition. 
Mention should be made of the close and excellent cooperation that 
ead-sts between this Section and the ^'aithsonian Jhvstitution, 
Through the years the Bepaiiaaent of Agriculture .has bem instru- 
mental in the dovelopaent of the national Collectlcms of insects 
and mites, arwi inasmuch as these collections asnstitute the 
prineipal T>jorklng tool of SRir profesalsrial taxonomists. It Is 
incwbsnt upon us to continue tills coopei*ative arranges nt amS aid 
■in whatever fashion wo can in the improvement of CRir referee® 
materials. 
During the time that Br, ligksr will be absent on this mission, we 
shall depend upon i)r, (Jeorge b, Vsharton, Departsifa^t of Zoology, 
University of Haiyland, to liandle urgarst problms having to (to 
with the identific.-ition and classj.rication of Acarina, Ik*, b'iiarton 
is a collaborator, and he and Dr, Baker cooperate closely in tiw 
conduct of work on this grotjqj. 
ccj Dr, .li., b, Baker 
Dr, ft, H., Anderson 
Sr. thildo L« Schmitt 
