i 
melanogaster Meig.) in canned tomatoes. Preliminary .lans indicated 
two major phases of activity, including, first, the biological studies 
to determine more definitely the habits of the insect; and, second, 
the mechanical improvements in the field and in the factory that will 
be necessary to eliminate the maggots from the canned oroduct. With 
Dr. E. N. Cory, of the University of Maryland, as chairman, the con- 
mittee consists of members of the Tri-State Packers' association, 
entomologists, anc representatives of the boards of health of the 
three States concerned, together with members of the U. S. Devart- 
ment of Agriculture. 
FOREST INSECTS 
New predator on mountain pine beetle.--W. D. Bedard, of the 
Coeur d'alene, Idaho, field laboratory, reports that the larvae of 
an anthomyiid (Phaonia, n. sp.) are predacious and feed mostly on 
larvae of the mountain »ine beetle. This fly has a l-year life cycle 
with no apparent variations. adults are must abundant during July, 
at which time the egys ara laid. Larvae are found only in the trees 
attacked by D. monticolae during June, and are most abundant on the 
moist underside of windfalls. The winter is passed beneath the bark 
of these trees as mature larvae, and pupation takes place during the 
following May and June. The average length of the pupal stadium was 
ed days for 21 larvae reared in the laboratory. 
Insects associated with Oregon pine bark beetle.--H. J. Rust, 
of the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, field laboratory, who is bringing to a close 
intensive life-history studies of Ips oregoni EBich. conducted during 
the last three field seasons, reports a large number of insects as- 
sociated with this bark beetle. «a total of 110 s,ecies are listed, 
which are grouped as follows: Coleoptera, represented by 34 species; 
Hymenoptera, 9; Hemiptera, 3; Diptera, 6; and Arachnida, 4. Arachnida 
rank first in order of importance, with two egg-destroying mites, and 
Hymenoptera next with two very beneficial parasites, Pachyceras 
eccoptogastri Ratz. and Coeloides dendroctoni Cush. The combined 
feeding activities of all parasitic and ,redacious associates throughout 
the season reduce the potential broods of the Oregon engraver beetle 
from 30 to 65 percent. 

Past winter favorable to bark beetles in California.--Specialists 
at the Berkeley, Calif., field laboratory re»ort that during the winter 
of 1932-33 there were low temperatures that resulted in the highest 
kill of bark beetle populations ever recorded in California. In con- 
trast, the winter of 1943-34 has been extremely mila with no cold 
s,ells even approaching the lethal tem ,eratures for overwintering 
broods of the mountain pine beetle and western pine beetle. Tempera- 
tures above normal have stimulated development, with the result that 
by the middle of March broods in all localities are very far advanced 
for the season. a recent survey of General Grant Park by D. DeLeon 
