Se e os. = 
Rags XP 
of the area where a rather spectacular outbreak developed during 1922 was 
made during the period from October 20 to 27. Because of the large grouping 
of yellow pine killed by D. brevicomis in 1922, a decline of infestation in 
1923 was expected, but the extent of the decline which actually occurred 
was beyond anything previously recorded in any infestation studied. On an 
area near Alder Springs where 120 trees were Spotted in the fall of 1922, 
only 4 trees were found this year, The 700-acre check on Elk Mountain, 
where e7 trees were killed in 1921, increased to 225 trees in 1922, but in 
1923 only % newly infested trees couid be found, only one of these being 
_infested by the fall brood, Everywhere the pine type was examined a similar 
condition was found. The outbreak has simply disappeared in thin air. .Mr, 
Person spent all of the time on the check area in an examination of bark to 
collect data regarding predators, degree of attack, and degree of emergence 
in the trees of 1921, 1922, and 1923. A summary of these data will probably 
bring out some important and interesting conclusions, 
J. £. Patterson, H. L. Person, and P. D. Sergent recently completed 
a survey of the slash on the Keno sector of the Greenspring Highvay, Oregon. 
This slash was made in May, June, and July, 1923, It consisted of the entire 
trees bucked to the side of the right-of-way. Of this slash 77 per cent was 
fir, both Douglas and white, The pine only was examined. The trees were 
mostly of medium to large diameters, and despite the fact that the slash 
examined is in stands where there has never been a heavy infestation (not 
over 10 trees per section), but 17 per cent of the trees had been heavily 
attacked by D. brevicomis. A preliminary analysis made by Mr. Person shows 
a brood mortality in this slash of 80 per cent and when the subsequent flight 
mortality of approximately 80 per cent is considered we find the breeding 
of the beetles in this slash has actually resulted in a considerable decrease 
in the infestation in the area traversed by the highway, 
Dr. H. E. Burke writes that at last a way has been found to make the 
cable beetle bore into the cable when we desire him to do so. Take an 
ordinary cabinet hinge, place it against the cable with the level sides 
of the screw holes facing the cable, place a beetle in the hole, cover with 
@ cover glass, and the beetle will bore into the cable every time. Face 
the bevel sides of the holes away from the cable and the beetles will not 
bore the cable but will attempt to bore the cover glass. All of this indi- 
cates that it is the contact stimulus which causes the insect to bore, 
SOUTHERN FIELD-CROP INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
J, L. Webb, Entomologist Acting in Charge 
Dr. W. D. Hunter and B. R. Coad went to New Orleans November 19 to 
attend a meeting of the permanent committee appointed by the National Boll 
Weevil Menace Convention in October, 
W. B. Williams of the Tallulah, La., laboratory has resigned to enter 
private business. 
