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






Number 90 October.,..1921 
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TRUCK-CROP INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
F., H. Chittenden, Entomologist in Charge 
Prof. H. F. Wickham, special field agent in Mexican bean beetle investigations, 
returned, September 21, from a preliminary survey of the Mexican bean beetle in its 
native home, southern Mexico. Professor Wickham entered Mexico August 6, and 
' proceeded to Mexico City, which was made the headquarters for the investigations 
undertaken. Many observations were made on the growing of beans in the lowlands 
and in the mountains extending as far as an altitude of 10,000 feet. A number 
of varieties of beans were secured for experimental purposes, and observations, 
with special reference to securing natural enemies and parasites, were begun. 
In the vicinity of Cuernavaca the bean beetle occurred abundantly on wild 
legumes and was a most important bean pest. Near Orizaba the few beans found 
in cultivation were badly damaged. The beetle was not found in the vicinity 
of Guadalajara in Jalisco, although its nonoccurrence is not explained. A 
single specimen of a dipterous parasite of the larvae hitherto unknown was 
collected. Some promising information was obtained which completely justifies a 
more extensive investigation during the coming summer. 
J. E. Graf, entomologist in charge of field control, Mexican bean beetle, 
recently visited Washington (October 6 to 16) for the purpose of conference with 
regard to: the Mexican bean beetle. 
L. W. Brannon, D. M. Dowdell, jr., H. B. Lancaster, and F. R. White, 
_temporary field assistants in Mexican bean beetle control, have accepted 
probationary appointments as plant quarantine inspectors with this office. 
M. H. Atwood, F. I. Jeffrey, and E. G. Small, formerly temporary field 
assistants in Mexican bean beetle coritrol, have accepted appointment as plant 
quarantine inspectors with the Federal Horticultural Board. 
R. H. Turner and W. P. Whitlock, field assistants in Mexican bean beetle 
control, have resigned to return to college. 
F. P. Bickley, engaged in Mexican bean beetle control, has been appointed 5 
scientific assistant pending certification. 

STORED-PRODUCT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
E. A. Back, Entomologist in Charge 
i S. E. McClendon of Thomasville, Ga., recently spent several days in 
Washington, D. C. 
Bernard Smit, who has had a’ temporary appointment as assistant in the 
‘bean weevil investigations at Alhambra, Calif., has returned to Cornell 
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