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now practically take his full attention. The Secretary of Agriculture has 
appointed Dr. E, A, Back to the new position, "Entomologist in Charge Stored- 
_ Product Insect Investigations." Doctor Back will proceed to the field at once and 
begin an investigation of grain-storing methods. Doctor Chittenden Wiil, tn 
acdition to his other duties, continue for a time to act in an advisory capacity 
in regard to stored-food insects and will complete and publish studies already 
under way that relate to this line of research. L. 0, HOWARD, 
YOU SHOULD BUY A LIBERTY BOND TO ALD IN PERPETUATING THOSE IDEALS 
WHICH YOUR FOREFATHERS HELD HIGHER THAN PERSONAL COMFORT WHEN THEY 
HELD THE LAND AGAINST INVADERS: 
WHAT DO THESE NAMES MEAN TO YOU? 
KING’S MOUNTAIN! CHAPULTEPC! GETTYSBURG! SANTIAGO! 
se nh si A eget eee eee 
INSECTS FOR BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY. 


eee ee 
As Entomologists are aware, very little of a definite character is known 
concerning bacterial diseases of insects in general. It will net be possible, 
therefore, in many instances to make at once a diagnosis of the disease condition 
present. To find and actually prove the cause of a disease more often requires 
years than months. Definite statements, therefore, regarding the cause of a 
‘diseasé¢ will not be possible for some time after the material is received. 
| In sending dead insects for bacteriological study, as a rule it will be 
well to use the medium or larger size glass vials, preferably those without the 
Neck. These can be sterilized by boiling ten or fifteen minutes in water, com- 
pletely dried and stoppered loosely with cotton. Ordinarily it is best to 
use a vial for each insect, sending, if convenient, from three to six dead of the 
disease in the first shipment. If in the dissase the body wall of the insect 
ruptures easily, 2 portion of the decaying mass may be smeared on the inner wall 
of the vial with a scalpel or similar instrument previously sterilized by boiling 
in water or by direct fleme and cooled. The smear soon dries preventing further 
growth of saprophytic germs. In case the body wall of the insect dead of the 
disease remains comparatively tough the entire remains should be put into the vial 
allowing the body wall to remain intact. After receiving the first shipment, the 
particular disease may requirs special directions regarding later shipments. Work 
on the disease will be facilitated if healthy, live insects of the same species as 
those that are diseased can be sent also. The method of sending such insects is 
left to the judgment of the sender. (Signed) G. F. White. 
REPORTS ON CEPHUS CINTUS WANTED BY C. N. AINSLIE, 
Will the field men of the Bureau of Entomology please keep watch for and 
Yeport on the presence of Cephus cinctus, This sawfly mines the stems of nearly 
all sorts of grasses and of some cereals, boring the stalk and filling it with a 
fine granular frass that is quite characteristic. These mined stems are usually 
cut squarely off near the surface of the ground, and the larva hibernates 
within the stub that remains in the earth. As a rule only the larger stems are 
attacked. Fallen stems noticed after September 1 should be split to learn if 
this fly is responsible, Any information that will aid in determining the distri- 
bution of this insect is earnestly requested. Material suspected of containing 
