STORED-PRODUCT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
E. A. Back, Senior Entomologist, in Charge 
On February 17 W. D. Reed, of the Dried-Fruit Laboratory, Fresno, 
Calif., gave an address on the general subject of entomology, at the monthly 
meeting of the Students! Agricultural Club of the Fresno State College. 
Some time ago a shipment of dried fruits from California to Stockholm 
arrived at its destination in a badly infested condition. The shippers re- 
ceived.a translation of a report of its condition, made by Professor Tullgren, 
Chief of the Entomological Section of the Central Institution, Stockholm. [In 
February the California Dried Fruit Association submitted this report to 
J. C. Hamlin, in charge of the Dried-Fryit Laboratory, for his criticism. The 
data accumulated at Fresno relating to the biology of dried-fruit insects . 
enabled Mr. Hamlin to give needed and timely advice to those interested. 
As an outgrowth of the conference held at the War Department January 
7, for a consideration of possible investigations of moth-proofing solutions, 
including dyes, Messrs. Appel, dye chemist of the Bureau of Standards, Herrick, 
color chemist of the Bureau of Chemistry, and Back, entomologist, met in Feb- 
ruary to discuss the need of investigation of dyes and solutions in moth— 
proofing fabrics. As an outcome of this meeting the Bureau of Standards in- 
' formed the War Department that the Bureau of Entomology is well prepared to 
conduct any experiments with moth-proofing solutions that the War Department 
considers desirable. | dongs 
Dr. EH. A. Back spent February 23 in Hartford, Conn., consulting with 
a large brush-manufacturing: concern regarding its insect problems. Every 
firm which makes brushes and deals with bristles imported from China is con- 
fronted at times with serious problems of that kind., | 
A. 0. Larson, of the bean weevil investigations, Alhambra, Calif., 
Spent the month of February in Washington, summarizing notes and reviewing 
literature. ae ni 
A conference was held in Dr. Quaintance's. office on January 4, at which 
were present representatives of the Bureau of Entomology, Federal Horticultural 
Board, U. S. Public Health Service, J. S. Department of Commerce, Emergency 
Fleet Corporation, Millers National Federation, Southwestern Millers’ Association, 
the ports of New Orleans and Galveston, and several railroads and marine in-_ 
surance underwriters. The purpose of the conference was.to dévise plans to bring 
about a Sanitary condition, with respect to the injury of flour by insects, of 
all agencies associated with the export of flour through the ports of New 
Orleans and Galveston. Thanks to the hearty cooperation of Federal agencies, 
the ships of the Emergency Fleet Corporation carrying flour from these ports 
were already being inspected and fumigated, and certificates of reasonable 
freedom from insects were being issued by the Federal Horticultural Board. 
The Bureau of Hntomology offered a service of insvection and certification of 
flour mills exporting flour, but since no funds were available for such work 
the millers planned that sufficient funds should be provided by the insurance 
companies writing policies against loss by weevils, and that the underwriters 
should be reimbursed by higher insurance rates charged the millers. . 
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