Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-08
MEXICO AIDS
u. s. TO STUDY
MORALES FLY
Buildings For Labora-
tory Given Workers;
Elaborate Expe l.
ments Being Made

"a
agriculture against the Morelos fruit
fly is actually under way now, il the
form Of extensive laboratories in
Mexico, for the purpose Of studying
the fruit fly at its source, and of
finding out everything that can be
learned Of possible methods of Grad
seating il completely.
The latest angles of the work there
we're brought out in a conference at
Washington between DR.. "A. q. Baker.
senior entomologist Of the u. s.
bureau Of entomology, and r. A. Hoi-
dale, in charge Of the fruit fly Grad
ication and prevention work in the
Valley. The salient features OF il
were explained by Mr.. Hoidale upon
his return from Washington.
DR.. Baker has left Washington for
the Pacific coast.
DR.. Baker left the Valley several
months ago with a number of assist
ants to undertake the work in the
southern republic. He met with un-
usual success in arranging for the
work there. and has secured the full
est cooperation from all Of the Mex
lean authorities, he informed Mr..
Hoidale.
Mexico Cooperating
So interested was the Mexican gov
eminent in the research outlined by
DR.. Baker that two large concrete
buildings were at once placed at the
disposal Of his commission, and a
sufficient sun appropriated to put
these in shape for laboratory quar-
ters.
AS a result Of this cooperation Of
Mexico, the American entomologists
have thoroughly modern laboratories
in which to conduct their investiga-
tions, and they have installed equip
ment which will permit attacking a
number Of more obscure points in the
life Of the fruit worm. the solution
of which will be Of great practical
value.
DIR. Baker emphasized the fact
that IL is difficult to realize the
breadth Of the field necessary TO
cover in connection with studies of
this nature" Mr.. Hoidale said. In
the first place, there is the question
of the food of the insects. the kinds
of fruit attacked, and the stages Of
ripening which the fly will accept.
This requires a chemical study Of the
ingredients Of different fruits at diff
ferent stages Of maturity, and the
correlation Of this with the activity
Of the fly. Other points too demand
chemical knowledge and a chemical
laboratory is therefore part Of the
equipment provided.
Study Climate
But q knowledge of the food OF
the fly would be Of little value If we
did not know the influence Of differ
ent climatic conditions on its growth
and survival. This is being studied
in two ways. First, local field sta
tions are established in the different
climatic regions where the fly IL
known 70 occur; and information in
regard 70 these regions and the con-
ditions Of growth Of the fly in them
Is gathered in detail. From an an
alysis of the record obtained, an at
tempt Is made 20 gauge the import
anee OF the different climatic in
fluences on the development of the
pest.
Then an exact check of the ideas
suggested is made in the main lab
oratories. These are provided with
equipment in which temperature,
moisture, light, atmospheric pressure.
and air velocity may be controlled.
IL is possible. therefore, to duplicate
any set Of climatic conditions, and 10
study the development Of the pest
under these conditions, as well as to
check on theories resulting from
field studies. Likewise climatic CON
ditions in the different fruit grow
ing regions in the United States can
be duplicated, and the fly can be
studied under these conditions with
out hazard of any kind 70 the indus
try.
The Importance Of these instru-
,ments, called BY the e-ntomologists
~"incubators," was emphasized. In
the high altitude Of Mexico City they
can be made TO reproduce the exact
atmospheric conditions OF the Valley.
including winds, sunshine, air pres
sure, humidity, and temperature.
The machines are one of the latest
developments in this work, and there
are few men in the country who can
manipulate them.
Learn Possible Damage
II has heretofore been almost i'm
possible to study the fruit pest with
regard TO the damage il might do in
California or Florida. But these in
struments will enable the entomolo-
gists to ascertain definitely what the
insect would do in those sections.
in this way advance information
may be obtained as to what We nav
expect IL the fly gains access 10 any
of the other fruit growing sections Of
our country" Mr.. Hoidale said, and
with this information in hand, we
will be In a position 20 handle any
such situation with intelligence. In
formation of this kind will naturally
be of much value to the Mexican Of
ficials who are attempting 70 fight
the fly in different sections Of Mex
ico."
And the possibility that Mexico
may launch into a general eradication
campaign OF the pest in that section,
and hence completely remove the
menace TO the United States is men
toned.
Then there is another angle that
the Investigations in Mexico are tax
ing, DR.. Baker tells me-" Mr.. Hoidale
said. insects from widely scattered
points in the republic show certain
differences. II is possible that these
represent local geographic races.
which differ in their action on host
fruits. All of this must be worked
out, first as 10 the fact Of the differ
ences. and secondly, as 10 the ability
Of the supposed races 70 attack
fruits Of different kinds. Insects,
therefore. are being obtained from
all possible localities. and these are
forwarded to the central laboratory
for minute microscopic study of their
structural differences. Special equip
ment has been providede to permit
recording Of small variations in the
specimens obtained in the study.
Field Stations Important
"In much of this work the Mex
lean government, represented by the
Oficina para Defensa Agricola. is