1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 215 



I may state at the first, as a result of this examination, that I was 

 greatly pleased with the thoroughness of the work, and am fully con- 

 vinced that it is being done with the utmost care possible and that the 

 methods seem to be adapted as perfectly as possible to secure the 

 desired results. One of the first questions that arises in the mind 

 of an entomologist is whether there may be danger that with the de- 

 sired parasites there may be introduced other insects that may be detri- 

 mental either as pests in general or as a hindrance to the most success- 

 ful activity of the desired parasites. The importance of the first is 

 fully shown by the devastation caused by the two species which it is 

 your special effort to control, as well as by numerous other instances 

 of introduced species that have proven destructive pests in various 

 parts of the country. For the latter it is only necessary to realize the 

 great activity of hyperparasites to appreciate that their exclusion is a 

 matter of the greatest concern if the work of the primary parasites is 

 to be made effective. With regard to precautions taken against undesir- 

 able insects, I failed to discover any point in which it seemed to me 

 that there should be any reason for changes in the methods adopted. 

 From the time that the insects are gathered in their native haunts in 

 Europe until they reach Saugus there is evidently the greatest care not 

 to permit the opening of packages or the possible escape of insects 

 en route. The packages coming from Russia, which are opened by 

 the postal authorities there, are the only exceptions that I could dis- 

 cover to the rule to guard against the escape of the insects. The 

 possibilities of any serious introduction in this connection are very 

 remote, however, since the packages after leaving the vessels in which 

 they are transported are transferred so directly to the laboratory in 

 tight bags, that even with broken packages the escape of any insect 

 so that it could survive is nearly impossible. The methods of liberating 

 and separating the desired parasites are so perfect, the precautions 

 against their escape so complete, that it seems impossible that the intro- 

 duction of any pest could be possible. At any rate, I could not imagine 

 any more perfect system that could be devised for the purpose. The 

 one source of danger, that of carelessness by some indifferent em- 

 ployee, must be guarded against by the continued employment of thor- 

 oughly trustworthy individuals, who appreciate the responsibility of 

 the work in which they are engaged. 



That great success is secured in obtaining parasites is shown in the 

 securing of various kinds that were under observation at the time of 

 my visit. After securing the parasites, the next serious problem, of 

 course, is their multiplication and establishment in such locations and 

 tinder such conditions that their survival may be assured. This prob- 

 lem has evidently received the most careful attention, and in the 

 placing of parasites it is evident that the greatest care has been taken 

 to secure such locations and such favorable conditions as may furnish 

 the very best opportunity for the successful establishment in the field. 



