om Eh 
Ke L. Cockerham, C. E. Smith, and M. M. High have reported that the 
recent cold snap in the Gulf Coast regions, in addition to causing serious 
damage to many of the truck crops, has caused a high rortaiity ameng some of © 
the senitropical forms of truck-crop insects, such as the belted cucumber 
beetle (Diabrotica balteata), the Australian tomato weevil (Desiantha nociva), 
and the sweet—potato weevil (Cylas furmicarius). 
E. Graywood Smyth, formerly Special Field Agent, has been appointed 
Collaborator in order that he may complete his notes of his recent expedition 
to Mexico in search for parasites of the Mexican bean beetle, 
T. He Jones, for many years Collaborator with this branch, has had 
his appointment terminated. Mr. Jones is now connected with the Gipsy Moth 
Investigations of the Bureau, 
N. F. Howard, in charge of the Birmingham laboratory, Mexican bean. 
beetle investigations, presented a paper on the bean beetle before the meeting 
of the Cotton States Entcmologists. On the last day of this meeting many 
of the visiting entomologists visited the laboratory. 
R. E. Campbell, Entomologist, Alhambra, Calif., advises as follows 
regarding the discovery of the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano, 
in California. oar 
On November 20, 1923, several fields of Chinese Giant bell peppers near 
La Habra, Calif., were found to de badly infested with the pepper weevil. In 
one field practically all of the peppers were so badly damaged that the amount 
marketable would not even pay for the cost of the seed. In other fields, plant— 
ed earlier, and which made 2 vigorous growth, a little more than half the crop 
was picked before it was damagede In this district alone the loss was estimated 
to be in excess of $12,000, a M4 | | 
Later an examination of pepper fields in the San Fernando Valley showed 
the presence of the weevils, but in not more than 10 per cent of the pods. 
An infestation was also reported from eastern Orange. County, in an 
isolated field where peppers had been grown previously, but on a very small 
scale. This field was about 30 miles southeast of the La Habra infestation, 
while those in the San Fernando Valley were about 50 miles northeast. . 
Growers report similar damage in previous years, but so, insignificant. 
that the cause was not investigated. The only other records of this insect 
in the United States are from Texas and New Mexico. 

FRUIT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
A. L. Quaintance, Entomologist in Charge 
E. A. McGregor, who was connected with the Bureau for a number of years, 
has been reappointed and assigned to duty at Lindsay, Calif., where he will 
continue the field operations under way against the citrus thrips, work which 
was formerly conducted by A. J. Flebut, who recently resigned from the services 
Pe 
