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—_—— MONTHLY LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 


November, 1921 

Number 91 



TRUCK-CROP INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
F. H. Chittenden, Entomologist in Charge 

















C. EH. Smith, Scientific Assistant, in charge of the Baton Rouge, La., 
_ Station, reports under date of November 22 that an infestation of the sweet-potato 
' weevil at Blanchard, Caddo Parish, La., has recently been discovered. This ig a 
new infestation which has been definitely traced to slips grown at Longview, Tex., 
and is an excellent example of one of the most sorious methods of dispersal of the 
Bweet-potato weevil. Some growers in Texas, finding their crops unmarketable 
_ a8 vegetables through serious injury by the sweet-potato weevil, have developed the 
_ method of growing slips from the infested tubers and marketing their crops in this 
Manner. The danger is obvious and every step should be taken to guard against 
this manner of distribution. Another infestation at Welsh, Jefferson Davis Parish, 
i La., has been reported. This parish has not been previously known to be infested. 
C.-E. Smith reports that a fire in the experiment station buildings on 
_ November 2 destroyed the building in which he and T. H. Jones, Entomologist to the 
Louisiana Experimental Station, were quartered, together with all notes, photo- 
graphs, specimens, and scientific libraries belonging to both. Practically nothing 
was saved from the flames. Their notes and specimens covered a period of several 
“years work with truck-crop insects, both in Louisiana and in other portions of the 
United States, and constitute an irreparable loss. 
f 
é N. F. Howard, specialist in charge of research work, Mexican bean beetle 
investigations, reports. that two inspectors working under his direction on the 
hibernation of the bean beetle in the vicinity of Birmingham, Ala., recently 
discovered large numbers of this pest hibernating together in a manner hereto- 
‘fore unconfirmed, but to be expected in view of the habits of other coccinellids. 
‘Whether any economic significance may be attached to this habit is a matter of 
“speculation. It may,. however, indicate a vulnerable point in the life history 
of the pest. 
J. D. Waugh, formerly temporary field assistant in Mexican bean beetle 
| control, has accepted appointment as plant quarantine inspector with the Federal 
orticultural Board. 
F. R. White, plant quarantine inspector, has been transferred from Mexican 
“bean beetle investigations to sweet-potato weevil investigations and assigned to 
‘duty at Gulfport, Miss. 
FRUIT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
A. L. Quaintance, Entomologist in Charge 
A. D, Borden, who has been in charge of the Bureau’s laboratory at Alhambra, 
