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TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL PLANT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
A. C. Baker, Senior Entomologist, in Charge 
Farly in September Dr. Baker returned to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for the 
purpose of organizing a force to handle the eradication of the Mexican fruit worm, Up to 
this time energies had been devoted to maintaining a host-free period by the destruction of 
all remaining host fruits in the Valley. The present season's maturing crop demanded the 
second phase of the Department's efforts, i.e., careful inspection of all groves and certi— 
fication of fruit for interstate movement. The skeleton of the organization established is 
composed of the following personnel, It is being filled out by temporary men in the respec— 
tive districts as required. 
Field Headguarters, 503 Baxter Building, Harlingen, Tex. Telephone 592. Paul A. 
Hoidale, in charge of project; K. H. Townsend, in charge of administrative office; Miss 
Emma Roe, stenographer. 
District Inspectors. Brownsville, A. V. Smith; San Benito, Adolph Thomae; Harlin— 
gen, W. R. Hurd; La Feria, J. M. Worsham; Mercedes, W. W. Decell; Weslaco, E.F. Pepper; Donna, | 
J. U. Gilmore; Pharr, J. W. Patterson; McAllen, K. B. McKenney; Mission, L.G. Plyler and D. W. 
Grimes. Mr. Gilmore and Mr. McKenney have been temporarily transferred from Truck Crop Insect | 
Investigations. Mr. Worsham is a State employe who has been assigned in cooperative arrange— 


ment by Mr. McDonald, State Entomologist. 
Determination. Brownsville, F. H, Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin is an employe of the Fed— 
eral Horticultural Board, who works as an integral part of the organization in determining 
all larvae found. 
James Zetek, who has been in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, advising in connection | 
with the program of eradication of the Mexican fruit worm, made a visit in September to the 
Mexican district about Tampico to report on the area as a possible location for a labora— | 
tory for the study of this insect. After returning to the Valley for a short time, he 
visited the laboratory in New Orleans and returned to his home station at Ancon, C. Z. His 
knowleoge of tropical fruits and fruit flies, as well as his fluent Spanish, was of much 
value in connection with the whole program. 

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I. Molino, of the Canal Zone laboratory, arrived in the United States on extended 
leave in the early part of October. After visiting museums in New York and Boston, and a 
trip to Chicago, he will report for duty in New Orleans on December 1. After becoming ac— 
guainted with the work in New Orleans he will visit the Florida laboratory to familiarize 
himself with citrus conditions there, and will spend some time at the contemplated Mexican 
laboratory before returning to the Canal Zone. Mr. Molino is a native Panaman and his 
familiarity with Latin-American conditions will enable him to assist materially in the 
organization of the Mexican work. G 
Dr. S. B. Fracker, in charge of Domestic Quarantines of the Federal Horticultural 
Board, visited the field laboratory at New Orleans in the last week in October. Dr. Fracker 
was on his way to Texas, where he will study the Mexican fruit worm and pink boll worm situa- 
tions. 
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