PAE gers 
Prof. 0. G. Anderson, of Purdue University, is temporarily employ- 
ed at the Japanese beetle laboratory at Moorestown. 
The larval surveys conducted during the late spring and early sunm-— 
mer of the present year at numerous stations within the heavily infested 
area indicate a marked reduction of Japanese beetle population at all sta- 
tions where the beetle has been long established and a decided increase in 
the newer stations. In other words, there is an increase in the stations 
lying near the periphery of the heavily infested area and which have only 
recently been invaded by the insect. This increase hasbeen especially 
noteworthy in northern and northwestern sections of Philadelphia and in 
neighboring counties in Pennsylvania situated north and northwest of that 
City. There seems to be no question that the center of beetle population 
has shifted within the past few years from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and 
that it now coincides with an area roughly defined by such localities as 
Bustleton, Somerton, Philmont, Bethayres, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, and the 
northern suburbs of the city of Philadelphia. 
Periodic events of the seasonal history of the Japanese beetle have 
‘taken place in the present year at very nearly the same time as in 1927, 
both years being much alike as regards the number of temperature units ac— 
cumulated during the spring. In this year the earliest indication of the 
advent of the period of metamorphosis was obtained on May 28, when larvae 
in the prepupal condition were first found. The first pupa was taken on 
June 7, and on June 11 the first adults were obtained at two stations 
within the limits of the city of Philadelphia. In New Jersey the earli- 
est verified record of an adult was made on June 15, when an adult was 
taken in Moorestown. Beetles continued very scarce in the vicinity of 
Moorestown until as late as June 25, when they began to be moderately 
numerous in limited areas. By the end of the month they had not become 
sufficiently abundant to do any obvious damage. 
An unusually large proportion of the Japanese beetle larvae hatch—- 
ed in 1927 passed the winter in the first and second instars, doubtless 
owing to the unusually low temperature prevailing in August of that year. 
August is ordinarily the month in which the vastly greater number of 
larvae pass through the first two instars; and the unseasonable tempera— 
tures during that month in 1927 were doubtless responsible for tne un- 
usually large number of larvae failing to complete their growth before the 
advent of winter forced all the larvae into winter dormancy. 
A radio talk, "Methods of Japanese Beetle Control," was delivered 
June 1 through Station WIP, Philadelphia, by L. B. Smith, in connection 
with a suppression campaign inaugurated by the Pennsylvania Department 
of Agriculture and the Extension Service. 
