MONTHLY LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 
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Number 214 Activities for January February, 1932 
(Not for Publication) 
BUREAU ARTIST RETIRES 
Esther Hastings Hart, illustrator in the Bureau of Entomology, 
retired from the service on February 29 after 23 years' work in the 
Government. Miss Hart is a daughter of the late Dr. Ira Hart of Elmira, 
N. Y, She holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Elmira College, 
N. Y., and also took a four years' course in wood engraving at Cooper 
Institute, New York City, where she was associated with Mrs. Anna Bots- 
ford Comstock. Her first work in the Government was that of topographical 
draftsman in the U. S. Forest Service. She has served as artist in the . 
| Bureau of Entomology since 1911. She is a member of the Biological 
| society of Washington, the American Association of University Women, and 
the Washington Art and Archaeological Society. Her associates in the 
Division of Cereal and Forage. Insects gave her a luncheon on February 20 
at the Shoreham Hotel, and on February 25 a purse of gold was presented 
to her by about 140 of her colleagues and friends throughout the Bureau in 
Washington and in the field. 

INSECTS AFFECTING MAN AND ANIMALS 
"The mild temperatures and dry weather continued during the month" 
(January), according to a report from W. E&. Dove, who says, "Qn the 
warmer days adult sand-flies were numerous on both dogs and pigs at 
Savannah and Charleston (S. C.). The dry weather is favoring accumula- 
tions of sand-fly larvae in low places of drainage ditches at Charleston." 
In treatments for sand-fly larvae, "A fair degree of control was 
obtained at Jacksonville, Fla., by John B. Hull in a test on burning 
a breeding area," states Mr. Dove. "The area was saturated with dis- 
tillate oil and then burned. Before treatment there was an average 
of approximately 50 larvae to the quart. After treatment there was 
an average of approximately 3 to the quart. * * * At Charleston, S. C., 
a small marsh traversed by a road gave an average of approximately 149 
larvae per quart. After burning with distilate oil 5 quarts of the 
soil furnished only 7 larvae. Preliminary tests in the laboratory 
show that larvae subjected to a temperature of 50° C. for a period of 
15 minutes are readily killed. We are of the opinion that burning for 
concentrations of larvae is a practical procedure, Further studies 
are to be made with such treatments." 5 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE  §©* “<2 
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