
oh, 
Predacious nmugeots apt to be mistaken for injurious forns.- The recent 
acquisition of two species of Musdidag, rsported as having been resred from 
beans the present season, has sugeested that a note be rade public in 
regard to the habits of these soecies, They are identified as Muscina 
assimilis Fall. and M. stadulans Fail. by Dr. J. M. Aldrich, who states 
that both species are predacious in the larva staze upon other dipterous 
darvae. He writes that while quite small they may feed on decomposing vege 
Stable matter, but that they soon turn from this habit and prey upon larvae 
belonging to such genera as Fannia, Drosophila, and phorids, which in turn 
attack decouposing vegetables, and refers to Keilin (Parasitology, v. 9, p. 
325-450, 405, 415; 1917). He also calls attention to the fact that field 
workers often send these parasites in as flies merely because adults are 
found in cages where they have been rearing some phytophagous forms and 
have allowed rott4ng vegetable matter to accumlate, 
BFE sa peccpmiec ei Mile niin as 
INSECT PEST SURVEY 
J. A. Hysiop, Entomologist in Charge 
In response to resolutions adopted at the Chicago meetings, December 
29-31 of the American Association of Economic Entomologists, the Bureau has 
undertaken to begin once more an Insect Pest Survey. The objects of this 
survey will be the collecting and disseminating of information of the sta- 
tus of insect pests throughout the country, includibgsboth native and well- 
established foreigh pests, and those of more recent introduction; to give 
inforration on the first appearance of migratory pests so that where pos- 
sible precautionary measures can be taken; to accumlate whenever possible 
information on fall and winter conditions of such pests as a basis for 
forecasts. An additional important feature of the work of this survey will 
be the preparation of a report on careful estimates of damage occasioned by 
insect pests to the more irportant crops. 
In the absence of any present Federal appropriation fo support such a 
survey, the work of each State must necessarily be condusted by State offi- 
cials and through available State organizations and the existing force of 
field workers of the Burean of Entomology. 
The plan of organization sugeested will involve for this Bureau the 
general supervision of the work as already indicated and the issuance of 
the information in the form of monthly reports, to be supplemented by a 
comprehensive annual report, and special reports on particular crop pests 
from time to tine. The annual summaries will include seasonal, geographic, 
and ecologic maps, correlated weather and abundance tables, and damage es-~ 
ticates, 
With respect to the work which will fali to the States, it is proposed 
that this Bureau shall designate a State collaborator, or collaborators, 
who will have full charge and direction of all survey work in each State, 
including the collection of all reports from their assistants, county agents, 
farmers, and others, and the preparation of same for monthly reports and, in 
