mE, No. 1. January 1, 1914. 
A NEW DEPARTURE IN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



























' This past season the U. S. Bureau of Entomology undertook an 
itirely new method of entomological work, a work as unique as it 
us €conomic and as economic as has been the usual line of work in 
ie past. 
For some years past a caterpillar of the moth, Hemileuca oliviae, 
a8 been devastating certain portions of the cattle and sheep ranges 
; northeastern New Mexico, feeding upon the gramma grasses of this 
gion, Finally the pest began assuming such proportions and the 
rritory covered increased so rapidly that an urgent appeal was made 
by an investigation. In 1909 and 1910 Mr. C. N. Ainslie made a pre-— 
iminary survey and study of the species, the results of which were 
Bblished in Bulletin No. 85, Part V, of the Bureau of Entomology. Fol- 
OWing this study it was at once appreciated by the stockmen of the 
Srritory that unless natural barriers checked the spread, something 
Sfinite must be done in order to keep the pest from overrunning the 
razing areas of not only New Mexico but adjoining States, Accord- 
Mely, through the efforts of stockmen, Senators, and Representatives 
F the States interested, the last Congress appropriated a special 
um Of money for a thorough investigation of the insect, including 
lethods of control and means of preventing the spread of the depre- 
ator, 
In undertaking this investigation, a number of problems presented 
memselves to the ones who were planning the carrying out of the work. 
Ne of these was the fact that as the infested area is a grazing 
rea the country is sparsely settled and the towns are few, far between, 
ind of small population, thus making it difficult and practically im-— 
jossible to secure proper lodging and board for a force of men. This, 
sOgether with the fact that many of these towns have smail irrigated 
iréas surrounding them and thus no infestation of Hemileuca near by, 
lecessitated the organizing of a field party. This was finally 
bcGoOmplished, and in May (19135) tents were pitched and the camp for- 
ally opened, it being located on a 100,000-acre ranch belonging to ths 
ipringer Bros, about 18 miles from Raton, N. Mex,, and five miles from 
foehler, a@ small mining town on the Cow Creek Ranch. The camp had 
only prarie dogs, coyotes, and rattlesnakes for neighbors, and the 
mnéarest shade tree was miles away. | 
| At the beginning six men besides the writer and the Japanese 
mocoOk were assigned to the camp. Later in the summer two more men 
ere added to the force, so that as many as ten were included in the 
party. Five tents were used. One of these, 16x20 feet, war used as 
a cook tent. Three, 14x16 feet, were used as sleeping and laboratory 
gents and one of the same size for a supply tent, for equipment, etc, 
mOwing to the fact that we were located in a southern latitude the heat 
pof midday was often extreme while the high altitude, some 6,500 feet, 
peaused. cool and often cold nights. This midday warmth accompanied ty 
)Many heavy showers necessitated the equipment of our tents with tent 
flies, and the cool nights necessitated an abundant supply of bedding 
for our cots. The party was thus well protected against the elements. 
