August, ’24] 
HAMLIN: PRICKLY-PEAR CONTROL 
447 
The total fiscal requirements for the inspection work in any state shall be determined 
and the funds to meet the needs shall be drawn equally from the Federal Horticul¬ 
tural Board and the Inspection Service of that state. 
The Committee on Nominations for the year 1924 reported as 
follows: Chairman, E. R. Sasscer; Secretary, W. B. Wood. On motion, 
the ballot was cast and these officers elected for the ensuing year. 
There being no further business, the session adjourned at 4:30 P. M. 
BIOLOGXCAL CONTROL OF PRXCKLY-PEAR IN AUSTRALIA: 
CONTRIBUTING EFFORTS IN NORTH AMERICA 
By John C. Hamlin, Officer-in-Charge, 
Pnckly-pear Investigations, Commonwealth Prickly-pear Board 
Abstract 
The introduction from North America of natural enemies of Australia’s intro¬ 
duced prickly-pear pest has been under way about three years. This paper records 
the methods of rearing, packing, and shipping the insects, and the equipment em¬ 
ployed in this special project. The insects shipped, number of times sent, and the 
number of individuals consigned are also briefly shown. The relation of the North 
American work to the present effort in Australia is summarized. Notes on several 
important cactus insects from Mexico are included, as is a statement of the cactus 
diseases dealt with. 
Introduction 
In furtherance of the Australian Government’s project for biological 
control of the prickly-pear pest, North and South America were selected 
as the areas whence the natural enemies of cactus were to be imported. 
This statement deals with the work performed in North America in 
connection with studying, collecting, breeding free from parasites, and 
forwarding cactus enemies to Australia. During the two years ended 
October 31, 1922, the writer (then Entomologist and Biologist to the 
Board) was charged with this phase of the work, while Mr. E. Morten- 
sen, Assistant Entomologist, continued the work during the succeeding 
sixteen months. 
Acknowledgments 
Both the Board and the writer are deeply indebted to many indi¬ 
viduals and institutions throughout the United States and Mexico. 
Below are mentioned only those who were especially instrumental in 
bringing about the results recorded in this paper. 
Throughout the work in North America, Doctor W. D. Hunter's 
close contact with it has enabled him to render the Commonwealth 
