«-~20= 


Forrest County, Miss., during the first week of June. 
In the vicinity of College Station, Tex., R. W. Moreland reports weevils are 
about as abundant in the Brazos River bottoms as last year, the infestations 
ranging from 0 percent to 3 percent. The infestation in the upland cotton ranged 
from 5 percent to 26 percent in comparison to e percent to 43 percent last year. 
The cotton in this vicinity is also 2 to 4 weeks later than last year and the 
survivel in the hibernation cages indicates a heavy winter carry-over, Our hiber- 
nation cages at Eufaula, Ckla., also indicate a,cuch higher survival than last 
year ani Cc. F, Stiles, of ‘the Oklahoma Experinent Station, reports a heavier 
weevil population and more inquiries concerning control measures than have been 
received for several years, 
Cotton flea hoppers.-As reported last month by K. P. Ewing, Port Lavaca, 
Tex., it seemed that the flea hopper (Psallus seriatus Reut.) population would 
be greatly reduced by the croton clean-up in Calhoun County. However, following 
8 rain on May 6, there was a heavy migration of hoppers to the cotton fields in 
this area, The migration to the cotton is shown by the catch on the flight 
screéius and the sudden increase in numbers of adult hoppers collected on cotton 
plants by bud examinations. During April an average of 6.58 hoppers were caught 
per screen. Beginning with May 7 there was a sudden increase, and an average of 
185 hoppers per screen were taken during the month, Sinilarly, field inspections 
showed an average of 0.86 adults per 100 buds during the week of April 30 to May 5. 
The next week, May 7 to 12, the number incréased to 40,9, and for the weel of 
May 14 to 19, to 65.7 per 100 buds. Up to this time most of the hoppers were 
adults, with only 2,7 to 6.4 nymphs per 100 buds. During the week of May 21 to 
26 there was a high increase of first-instar ond second-inster hymphs, with an 
average count of 55 per 100 buds, which had increased to 96 by June 2. To further 
complicate matters and increase the domage, about 20 percent of the acreage in 
the county is "early" cotton and 80 percent "late cotton, and the hoppers showed — 
a distinct preference for the early, or large plants. Although more hoppers were — 
caught on the screens in the late fields than in the early fields, showing a 
‘promiscuous migration, the oldest and largest cotton was nore attractive, and 
most of the migrating hoppers found their way to the "early" fields, 
INSECTS AFFECTING MAN AND ANIMALS 
Tobacco products investigatica.--In May 11 field tests for control of the 
fowl tick (Arcos minidtus*Xoel:) were carrie? outrkth tobacco by-products -at 
Uvalde, Tex., under the jJlirection of D. C. Parman. Most of these tests have been 
with the tobacco extracts, but 4 tests have been made with the high-boiling frac. 
tions of tobaccoestem oils. ‘These oils have been given some quite severe tests 
to determine if they were toxic to poultry. No toxic effects have been observed 
to the end of the month and the oils kill all stages of the tick, including the 
€ses, even though they were in places where the oil did not reach them. While 
no comperative tests have been made, it appears that these oils are as toxic to 
the fowl tick as are creosote or anthracene oils that have been used in the past. 
One test was made with a tobacco extract on spraying the carcass of.a large horse. 
This spray was indicate? to kill all blowfly larvae of a very heavy infestation 
anc.to prévent further breeding of flies in the carcass. While the. spray was 
fresh-—from 2 to 4 days! old—-large numbers of adult flies were poisoned. It is 
hoped that further tésts can be made of the extract as a carcass’ spray.” 
Mosquito control work in Georgia and Florida,—-On May 1 a meeting, called. by 
Mr. Newnan; was held in Orlando for the instruction of the resional supervisors 
recently appointed under the Public Works fund of the Public Health Service for 
the supervision of FERA mosquito control and sanitation work, The meeting was 
