~4u 
markable phenomenon was the failure of about 50 rer cent of the caterpil- 
lars in the New England area to develop more than one ceneration. This 
fact, of course, may be partly responsible for the comparatively slight 
natural spread of the insect which evidently has occurred. 
During the past summer a substation has been maintained at Ritzville, 
Wash}, in cooperation with the State Agricultural College, for the pur- 
pose of investigating the wireworms attacking wheat in the Columbia Plat- 
6au region. As a result of these investirations, it has been decided to 
maintain this station during the winter in order to be in readiness to 
push the work in the very early spring, as it has been fbund that the in- 
sects do practically all their feeding during the early spring months, . 
while woisture is most abundant. A tenporary laboratory building has 
been secured in order to provide for the biological work necessary in 
connection with these investigations. 
Rayu.ond C. Shannon, who has spent the summier on the wireworm work un- 
der Dr. A. L. Melander, has returned to Washington, D. C., and is tem- 
porarily employed by this branch of the Bureau, 
ee er Oe Or Oe cee er Oe ee Oe ee oe De ee oe ee 
TROPICAL AND-SUBTROPICAL FRUIT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
Ogi Marlatt, Entomologist in Charge HY | cy 
Wm. M, Mann visited Boston during the month for the purpose of com- 
paring ants which he had collected’ in Central America, and some which 
had been received by the Bureau from other sources, with specimens in 
the Wheeler collection, 
A. D. Borden has been cooperating with the farm adviser of Los Angeles 
County, Calif,, by giving talks and demonstrations on the cohtrol of the 
Argentine ant and mealybugs in cigsus groves, He revorts that such work 1s 
is stimulating the interest of the growers arid, as a result, requests for 
talks on control neasures are being recéived fron a number of farm centers, 
C. A. Weigel gave an illustrated talk on the chrysanthemum midge at a 
recent meeting of the Philadelphia Florists! Club. ; 
Oe ee Oe Ot eee OF oe my ere me ee ee see ee 
TRUCK CROP INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
bees Chittenden, Entomologist in Charge 
Neale F, Howard, who has for some time been stationed at Bowline Green, 
Ohio, under this division, is being transferred to Birmingham, Ala., @ffec- 
tive Noveaber 15, to take up research work in connection with the recent 
introduction of the Mexican Bean beetle or bean ladybird in Alabama, 

