Bulletin [No. 68 (June 1925)]

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GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY

JUN~, 1925

ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
STATE ENTOMOLOGIST
l"
FOR
1924

ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Baptist Orphanage Print ShoP-Hapeville, Ga.

GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY

Org-anization

RON. J. J. BROWN, Chairman, Atlanta

RON. R. C. BERCKMANS Macon

RON T. G. HUDSON Americus

Staft'

IRA W. WILLIAMS, Atlanta

State Entomologist

W. W. CHASE, Corn~lia
Entom~logist " _

E . F. GROSSMAN, Thomasville Entomologist

HALIARD de La PARELbE, atlanta

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/

Entomologist

GEO. C. DECKER, Albany Entomologist

~
~ 0. C. BOYD, Thomasville
Plaiit Pathologist

JEFF CHAFFIN, Atlanta Chief Inspector

B. M. GADDIS, Valdosta Research
J. M. MOLLOY, Macon Field Agent
ROY ROGERS, Baxley Inspector
S. V. BROWN, Baxtey Inspector
V. C. DURHAM, Savannah Inspector

J. C. MANESS, Atlanta Field Agent
C. H. GADDIS, Albany Research
W. H. LEONARD, Thomasville Supt. Station
M. S. YEOMANS, Atlanta Inspector
W. L. NEESE, Atlanta Sec.-Treas .
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
STATE ENTOMOLOGIST
FOR 1924

To the Honorable Members of the Georgia State Board of l!.:ntomology and the General Assembly:

REPORT OF THE GEOHGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY
SUM~ARY O:fi' INSPECTION AND OFFICE WORK, 1924

Pounds of calcium arsenate distributed to thou-

sands of Georgia cotton growers__________________---- 3,500,000

Circulars and bulietins d-istributed and mailed out

on request ----------------- 88,400 Letters written on official work ------- 12,520

Parcels of nursery stock and plants inspected at

terminal inspection stations ----------- 25,441

Parcels treated and passed --------- 2,192

Parcels destroyed or returned to shipper --

269

Field inspection of sweet potatoes...-------- 1,965

Storage inspections of sweet potatoes.............................. 1,853

Plant bed inspections of sweet potatoes -----

832

Nurseries and- greenhouses inspected --------

221

Colonies of bees inspected ---------------- 9,850

Colonies found infected with foulbrood and

destroyed ---------------

15

Inspection tags issued for nursery stock, apiaries

and sweet potato plants ---------- 6,420,000

Duplicate certificates furnished- to be filed with

other states ---------------- Samples of insects and diseases received for

5,842

identification -------------Feet of moving picture film on insect pest and

1,642

pla nt disease control made and now being dis-

tributed in theatres and rural d-istricts through-

out the ~tate -------------------Orchards, g:-> rdens and fields examined and advice

2,300

given in the control of insects and diseases............ 1,360

Lectures and- addresses on insect and plant disease

control ----------

138

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PUBLICATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF
ENTOMOLOGY, 1924
Annual Report of the State Entomologist, (Bulletin 65). Crop Pest aBd -~ursery Laws of Georgia and Regulations of State Boar~ of Entomology (Bulletin 66). Sweet Potato Seed Improvement and Disease Control, (Bulletin 67). Spraying and Dusting Watermelons for Anthracnose control. The Use of Oil Emulsion Insecticides. Mexican Bean Beetle in Georgia. Eight circular letters on boll weevil control and the use of calcium arsenate. A two-reel educational moving picture entitled "War on Plant Parasites," displaying the major crop pests and showing the methods of control.
REPORT OF FIELD WORK
The work of the Georgia State Board of Entomology has been efficiently prosecuted during the past year along the same general lines as in the past. However, the organization found it necessary to undertake a number of new projects. The work in each instance has been undertaken with one end in view; Namely: the endeavor to prevent the introduction and dissemination; to control and eradicate injurious insect pests and diseases.
ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH
During the year a very injurious insect of the peach, apple, pear, etc., known as the Oriental fruit moth, was disC0vered in the state. It was evidently introduced through the shipment of late apples from Virginia or New Jersey. Fortunately, it was di5covered before it made its appearance in any of the commercial orchard of the state. Realiz-
4

ing the seriousness .of the pest and the danger that threatened the peach industry; the Georgia State Board of Entomology immediat ely began eradicative measures. The Department was unable to secure sufccient funds to eradicate the insect, so all available funds and energy were expended toward the eradication in the Fort Valley and Macon vicinities. All t r ees that are host plants of the insect were pulled up and destroyed in this vicinity. The pest was eradicated or brought under control to such an extent, in this locality or peach area, until its spr ead has been retarded.
This will allow time f or the working out of some control measures. The insect wiJ undoubtedly spread over the entire state wit hin the next year or so.
At the present time the Georgia State Board of Entomology is conducting extensive experiments in its control. Every known insecticide likely to control the Oriental fruit moth is being tested out this year with the hope of finding some practical method of control. Very favorable results are being obtained from some of the experiments.
THE PECAN NUT CASE BEARER
The pecan industry in Georgia has grown rapidly until at the present it is one of the chief crops of the southern counties. As is often the case, the concentrated planting of pecans favored the increase in number and abundance of insect pests attacking the crop. There are about 90 species of insects known to attack the pecan, many of these are at present very destructive in certain sections of the state and the others form a potential menace as they may at any time increase to destructive proportions. The growers of Georgia suffer an annual loss of many thousands of dollars due to the ravages of insect pests and as young plantings come into bearing and present pests increase their range of destruction, the annual loss is bound to run into millions of dollars.
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The pecan nut case be2.rer , which has beGn present in South Georgia for several years, h as reached Stich proporticns in destructiveness untir the last t wo pecan crops have been practically dest r oy ed through the ravages of this pest. All common or popular insecticides have proven of little value in its control. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of nuts are being d~stro yed in Georgia each year by this pest.
To protect this g:reat industry and prevent if possible the great calamity which would eventually destroy it, the Georgia State Board of Entomology has established at Albany, Georgia, an experiment station for the study of pecan insects, diseases and cultural problems. At present the work at this station is consider ably h andicapped by the lack of funds, but we are working steadily and look forward to some very inter esting and helpful results.
An experienced entomologist has been placed in charge of the work, all promising insecticides and means of control are being tested out. Special attention is being devoted to the study of rearing of parasites of the nut case bearer. The biological control measures now under way cover a large field including study if climatic conditions, host resistance, rearing and distribution of beneficial parasites, and many other f actors. Experiments are also being conducted in the control of the pecan nut weevil by soil f umigation. Some valuable data has already been obtained and it is hoped that in a short time the pecan growers can be given relief from this destructive pest.
THE COTTON FLEA
A very small but destructive insect known as the Cotton Flea, made its appearance in the vicinity of Americus in 1924. Several hundred acres of cotton was destroyed as a result. This small bug punctures the young squares and they drop before blooming, causing a total crop failure. In
6

ucldng th8 juices from the pbnt the insect transmits a :poison which causes the cotton plant to dwarf or put on an abnormal growth making a str~ight stalk without limbs or fruit.
This is a new insect and ver y little is known about it. ,.Ihe first r eport of its attacking cotton came from Texas about two years ago. There is evidently some other host :pbnt on which it feeds and passes the winter months. The Board of Entomology conducted a few experiments in defo liating and other control methods for this pest last year, but lack of funds, prohibited the continuance of these exp eriments. , Scientific experiments in the control of this insect should be conducted so that a means of control will be available before the pest covers the entire state and :probably causes millions of dollars damage.
QUARANTINE DEPARTMENT
The work of inspecting nursery stock, plants and other :products likely to intro.duce injurious insect pests and diseases into Georgia is handled by the Quarantine Department. Competent Inspectors are stationed at Atlanta, Albany, Macon and Savannah, for the purpose of inspecting all plants and nursery stock entering the state by boat, r ail, or parcel post. Each package is opened and thoroughly inspected and in many cases all soil removed from the roots. In this way the quarantines and embargoes relative to the Pink Bollworm of cotton, Japanese beetle, fruit flies and other injurious insect pests and diseases are rigidly enforced. With several thousand shipments being inspected each year, ten percent of which are infested with some injurious nisect or disease, it is obvious that the Quarantine Department is the first line of defense and ranked as the most important branch of the Department. There is seldom a month passes but what some insect or disease not yet present in Georgia is intercepted. We might mention the fact that on two separate occasions the Pink Bollworm of cotton,
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which is reputed to be much more InJUrious than the boll weevil has been intercepted in parcel post shipments of seed cotton intercepted in Atlanta. With the- Pink Bollworm, J apanese beetle, f oreign fruit flies, and many other insects that would cause millions of dollars damage if introduced into Georgia, threatening us daily, it is highly important that the Quarantine Department, operate with an air-tight efficiency. From year to year pests that threat en our agricultural industries become more numerous and devastating. Any day one of the Inspectors at a Quarantine station may intercept an insect that would cause many thouS<inds of dollars' loss if introduced into the State. To the Quarantine Inspectors of the Board of Entomolcgy, the agricultural interests must necessarily look for protection from the many injurious pests not yet present in Georgia.
The following is a summary of the work accomplished by the Quarantine Department during the year.
SHIPS AND VESSELS INSPECTED:
From Foreign Ports --- 208 From U . S. Ports .............................................................................. 44
Total...................---- 252 NUMBER OF PARCEL5 INSPECTED:
Arriving by water:
Passed -10424 Treated and p assed -- 2020 Returned to shipper ---- 8 Contraband destroyed .................................................................. 9
Total....------12461 Arriving by land, express, freight:
Passed - --1664 Treated and passed ----- 88 Returned to shipper --- 72 Contraband destroyed --- 32
Total..........-------1856 Arriving by mail:
Passed ------10640 Trea ted and passed ........................................................................... 84 Returned to shipper --- 108 Contraband destroyed --- 40
Total......................----10872
GRAND TOTAL OF PARCELS INSPECTEP ----25441
No. of parcels on hand pending determination as to final disposition 5
8

SWEET POTATO AND NURSERY INSPECTION
Since the pa::;sage of the reglllation requiring the inspection and certification of sweet potato plants offered for sale, this industry has grown by leaps and bound$. Georgia certified sweet potato plants are in great demand all over the south. At the present time there are fifteen hundred certified growers in the state who are supplying about threefourths of the plants used in the southern states. Three i ;-:spections are made each year for these fifteen-hundred g rowers and by strict r equirements the Board of Entomology, with the cooperation of the growers, has succeeded in eradicating and controlling the sweet potato diseases to such an extent that Georgia ranks fil'st in production and . her certified plants are recog_, ized for mel'it and demanded all over the south.
The inspEitions of nurseries and greenhouses has been conducted along the same lines as in the past. The acreage in nursery stock and number of greenhouses are gradually increasing from year to year. The enforcement of strict nursery requirements and the 1922 law making it necessary for each nurseryman, both in-state and out-of-state, to file a bond for one thousand dollars, before doing business in Georgia, has naturally raised the quality of nursery stock offered for sale in the state. Most of the unscrupulous nurserymen have been weeded out and many larger nursery firms have opened up in Georgia on account of the strict requirements and fact that only clean, healthy stock, true to name is allowed to move in the state.
Georgia does not require the inspection of tomato plants but several of the northern states do. In order to meet the . requirements of these states, the Board of Entomology approves the location of the seed beds and inspects and certifies hundreds of acres of plants grown for northern markets.
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FIELD STATIONS

The rapid development of the bright leaf tobacco industry in Georgia made it necessary for the Board of Entomology to establish a fi~ld tobacco station at Valdosta for the purpose of conducting experiment s in the control of the various tabacco insects and diseases, paying particular attention to Black Fire and Wild Fire. A competent pathologist and an entomologist are in charge 0f the work and valuable information in the control of the tobacco insects and diseases is issued to the growers in the form of circulars from time to time during the year. Climatic and geographic conditions, soil nutrition and many other factors play an important role in the development of tobacco insects and diseases. Because of the newness of the industry in Georgia little work has been done in breeding or the selection of varieties best suited for our state. F ertilizer formulas and cultural methods have been borrowed from older tobacco telt s. In view of these facts it is necessary for us to make a series of variety and fertilizer tests in connection with the tobacco disease control work. With the rapid increase in tobacco acreag8 it is very necessary that this station be maintained and the control work continued.

At the Thomasville Station numbers of scientific experi-

ments are conducted in the control of the boll weevil a~. we! l

as the testing out of all boll weevil poisons offered for sale.

Dozens of new boll weevil remedies are tested out each

yE:ar. Any new discoveries or control measures are given

out to the cotton farmers immediately. We would like to

mention the information obtained in 1924, to the effect that

the boll weevil collects sufficient calcium arsenate poison on

the snout to cause death, simply by crawling over a leaf on

which the dust has been applied. This is very valuable in-

formation and furnishes an insight into the correct methods of control. It explains and proves the uselessness of the ap-

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plication of a liquid spray in boll weevil control. It was also found that calci um arsenat e when mixed with lime or some other filler 50-50 gives complete control and just as good results as str aight calcium ar senate. This will mean a great saving to the cot ton f armers.

In addition to boll wevil control work the Thomasville St:ltion conducts extensive experiment s in the control of insects and diesases attacl~ing th e wat ermelon and other truck crops.

The Reidsville Station has been devoted principally to cotton variety tests and the development of disease and wilt resistant strains, along with this work the Board of Entomology directs the illscct and disease control work on cotton far ms throughout t he state demonst rating the fact that a maximum cotton crop can be produced in spite of the boll wevil, wilt. and other dicsases and insects.

The Cornelia Station is devoted primarily to apples. Experiments in the contr ol of apple insects and disesases are conducted and spray schedules and control measures in the form of circulars are issued to the apple growers. The large apple industry in North Georgia is increasing in size

each year. With the many apple insects and diseases we

have to contend with it is very necessary that these control experiments be continued and placed on a more extensive

scale.

BEE DISEASE ERADICATION

The 1920 session of the General Assembly made it incumbent upon the Georgia State Board of Entomology to eradicate and to prevent, so far as possible, the introduction and dissemination of bee diseases. No additional or special appropriation was made for this work. One full time apiary Inspector was immediately placed on the work and as

a result the bee keeping industry has been greatly benefitted.

During the year 9,850 colonies of bees were inspected.

The American foul-brood was found present in three apiaries. Fifteen colonies were found infected and destroyed.
The industry is increasing in size and more inspection work should be installed as it is impossible for one man to

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cover the entire state. When foulbrood is found it is imnediately eradicated. A thorough inspection of all apiaries in the state should be made at least once a year until all diseases have been eradicated. To accomplish this several additional inspectors should be employed- during the summer months.
DISTRIBUTION OF CALCIUM ARSENATE By authority of the Legislature the Board is authorized to use $10,000 of its annual maintenance fund to buy and sell calcium arsenate to the farmers at cost. In the year 1923, the Board was unable to secure a contract and the farmer was charged from 16c to 20c per pound for calcium arsenate. All agencies formed a tr st, cornered the market and fixed the price. In 1924 the Board succeeded in breaking this combination and secured a contract for the state supply at llc to 12c. At this price the Board distributed over 3,000,000 pounds. Thereby saving the farmers more than $120,000. This year the Board has a contract at 8c to 8V2c per pound and will handle more than it did last year with more than an equal saving. All of this is done without extra cost to the state.
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GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY, Atlanta, Ga.
DETAIL OF RECEIPTS Jan. 1, 1924, to December 31, 1924.

RECEIVED FROM

Date E xplanation 1-1-24 Bal. 'l'rav. Exp. &

State State Tr. for Treasurer Calc-Arsenate Sundries Total

Advs. to Stations, 1923......$

$

$

1- 1-24 Warrant ..............................

10,000.00

1- 5-24 "

........................... 3,285.42

1-26-24

.............................. 5,49 7.03

2- 9-24

" ............................. 800.36

2-15-24

,, - 2,298.51

2-19-24

" .............................. 4,919.95

3-11-24

.............................. 1,500.00 .

3-29-24 4-16-24

7,092.45 " 2,056.85

4-3 0 -24

.............................. 6,803.95

5-26-24

............................ 1,799.16

7-26-24

" 9,180.27

5-31-24

" 7,189,89

6-28-24

............................. 7,199.40

7-26-24

.............................. 9,180.27

"

376.76

954.12 $ 954.12 10,000.00 3,285.42 5,497.03 800.36 2,298.51 4,919.95 1,500.00 7,092.45 2,056.85 6 803.95 1,799.16
9,1$0.27 7,189.89 7,19 9.4 0 9,1 80.27
376.76

Warrants for Entomologist

Serv. ......................................................... 3,000.00

3,000.00

Cornelia Station Product

Sales ...................................................... Reidsville Station

439.16

Product Sales .............................. Thomasville Station

2,256.13

Product Sales .............................. Valdosta Station

2,125.12

Product sales ..............................

1,182.32 6,002.73

W. W. Chase-Loan .....................
At!. & Low. :W. Bk. Loan......
Nursery Fund ................................. I. W. Williams-
Advance, Reidsville ...............
I. W. WilliamsAdvance, Thomasville

2,05'6.70 2,056.70 15,000.00 15,000.0()
1,502.00 1,502.00
253.18 253.18
15i.89 150.89

$63,000.00 $10,000.00 $25,919.62 $98,919.62
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GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY, Atlanta, Ga.
DETAIL OF DISBURSEMENTS JANUARY 1, 1924 TO DECEMBER 31, 1924

SALARIES-
State Entomologist ..................................................$ 3,000 Assistant Entomologist s ----- 13,738.76
Cotton Breeders, Field men, and Inspectors .............................................................. 22,295.52
General Office - 9,414.12 $48,448.40

TRAVELBoard Members ......................................................$ 392.90 Entomologist and Assistants .................. 6,041.13 Cotton Breeders, Field Men, and Inspectors ................................................................................. 10;331.25
Miscellaneous Office Expense ...............................:...................... 1,189.90 Bulletins and Circulars .................................................................... 711.39 Freight and Express ........................................................................... 98.59 Field Supplies .......................................................................................... 3,237.50 Field Expense ............................................................................................. 2,652.50 Library ..................................................................................-.......................... 33.36 Postage, Tel. & Tel. ............................................................................ 2,288.38 Stationery and Office Supplies ................................................ 2,311.73 Macon Terminal Inspection ............................................................ 683.62
Interest Account ------ 217.50

16,765.28

TOTAL GENERAL OFFICE EXPENSE............$78,636.15 ADVANCES FOR TRAVELJNG, ETC............................ 351.15 $78,989.30

EXPERIMENT STATIONS

CORNELIA-

Account I. W. Williams, Director...................................$ 559.16

Wages ...........................................................................$ 1,653.07

Freight and Express .............................................

5.49

Field Expense ......................................................... Field Supplies ........................................................... Office Supplies ..................................................... Postage, Tel. & Tel. ..........................................

97.75 1,138.49
174.58 104.47

Miscellaneous Expense .................................. 56.72 3,230.57

Footings carried forward ...............................................$ 3,789.73 $78,989.30
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DETAIL OF DISBURSEMENTS (Continued )
EXPE RIMENT STATIONS- (Continued)

Footings brought f orward ------$ 3,789.73 $78,989.30

REIDSVILLE-

Wages ........................................................................$ 1,580.52

Freight and E xpr ess ----- 10.90

Field Supplies ----- 87.2"5

Office Supplies ----------

4.05

Field E xpense ---- 7:.!.43

Post age, Tel. and Tel. --- 61.95

Miscellaneous E xpense -------- 232.14

Rent ----- 272.50 2,321.75

THOASVILLE--
Wages ----------$ 2,275.00 Seeds ----- 147.12 Sacks ----- 2.50 Freight and E xpress ................................. 131.71 Field E xpense --- 75.34 Field Supplies ----- 710.09
Office Supplies -- 70.85 Postag e, Tel. and Tel. .................................. 140.02
Travel .................. ------ 335.40 Miscellaneous E xpense ---- 12.10 Rent ------ 750.00

4,650.13

VALDOSTA-

Acct. I. W. Williams, Director ---$ 148.06

Wages --------$. 1,933.79

Seed -------

6. 55

Sacks ----- Freight a nd Express ----

31.50 66.30

Field E xpense ------ 712.29

Field Supplies - 496.33

Office Supplies ------ 85.27

Postage, Tel and Tel. - 189.32

Miscellaneous E xpense ----

8.70

Rent .................................................................................... 511.84 4,041.89 $14.951.56

$93,940.86

EXCESS RECEIPTS OVER DISBURSEMENTS......................-.....$ 4.978.76 ACCOUNTED FOR AS FOLLOWS :
Balance Unexpended Calcium Arsenate A/ c.........$ 4,056.26 Balance Atlanta & Lowry National Bank................. 922.50 $ 4,978.76

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GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY, Atlanta, Ga.
BANK BALANCE AND RECONCILEMENT WITH ATLANTA & LOWRY NATIONAL BANK AS AT DECEMBER 31, 1924

Balance-Bank Statement --$ 1,326.72 : 1- - - -

Less Outstanding Checks, as follows :

No. 110 ................................................. $ 166.66

No. 116 ................................

216. 66

No. 121 - 20.90

Total Outfrtanding ........................................................................$ 404.22 Balance-Cash Journal, Page 94 - 922.50

Total to Equal Bank Statement - $1,326.72
GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ENTOMOLOGY, Atlanta, Ga.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS, 1924
Received from Balance 1923 Advances to Stations and Traveling Expense.....-....................$ 954.12
State Treasurer, 1924 (See Detail Following) ...... 7.3,000.00 Sundry Sources, 1924 (See Detail Following) ............ 24,965.50

$98,919.62 Disbursed for all Purposes-
(See Detail Following) - .............................$93,940.86 Bal. Calcium Arsenate Fund ..................$ 4,056.26 Bal. Cash Atlanta & Lowry
National Bank .................................................. 922.50 4,978.76

$9'8,919.62
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