MONTHLY: LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF*ENTOMOLOGY~. 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT_OF AGRICULTURE 
Number 132: | ie ORS sient ena eer : April, 1925, 

STORED PRODUCT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
B. A. Back, Entomologist, in Charge 

In April, Sihutiy-ws in pursvit of other duties in connection with the 
bean- weevil investigations at Alhambra, Calif., C..K. Fisher examined at Chino, 
Calif., a stock of bean straw which had stood. out in.the open two winters and one 
Brmor ; Many black-eyed cowpeas were found infested with Bruchus.quarimacuiatus Lab. 
Enough weevils were found breeding in the seeds which had-escaped the threshing 
operation to furnish a source of infestation for the coming growing season. Last 
.fall an investigation of infestations in the Chino-region-showed that this same 
‘stock of bean straw was responsible for infeetation in 1924: of beans growing as 
far as one and a-quarter miles away. Mr. Fisher also found Bruchus obtectus Say 
: cen ne in another pork ‘of Ted kidney bean straw two years old. 
. > Dr. iol Hye Cotton spent a first week of AOL oa) St, Louis, con- 
‘tinuing tests of a vacuum chamber. _A prominent warehouseman of St. Louis has 
devised a room for the treatment of various commodities by vacuum for the pur- 
pose of killing insects infesting them. The April test was the outgrowth of 
previous tests conducted by Doctors Back and Cotton. Data secured indicate 
that all stages of common household pests,.as well as many other storage pests, 
‘can be killed by a 28- to 29-inch vacuum. . This vacuum chamber has been. exploited 
for several months, especially among the membership of various warehousing as- 
sociations, and the trade has exhibited great interest. 
“In April various manufacturers of curled-hair submitted samples of 
their products. The American Association of Upholstered Furniture. Manufac- 
turers have indicated interest in having tests made to determine how suscep- 
tible to the attack of clothes moths these upholstering products may be. It 
is hoped that the tests will be sufficiently Calica tinge to settle certain 
trade contentions. 
Dr. E..A. Back was present by invitation at the monthly supper and 
meeting of the New York Textile Colorists and Chemists, held April 24 at the 
‘Stewart Restaurant, New York Citys Special interest centered ina motion 
| picture on clothes. moths which was made in Germany at the expense of a commer- 
~ cial Company, interested in .one of the so- called mothproofing solutions known 
as "Eulan." The presentation of the film was accompanied by a talk DY cut. 
Mullin, a chemist of Camden, N. J. 
