FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



concerned. I once made an at-first-sight rash statement 

 to the effect that, every year, at least five hundred species 

 of insects are naturally in my back yard near New York 

 City. Some day I hope to prove it. Some of these 

 insects are not welcome. Although the American Museum 

 has no department of economic entomology, many of the 

 inquiries, which are made there about insects, concern 

 methods of control. I suppose, therefore, that "you," 

 also, may have unwelcome insect visitors and would like 

 some hints concerning their control. 



If the injury is serious, write to your State Entomologist 

 or to the Bureau of Entomology of the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture. They, especially the State Entomologist, 

 should know about serious outbreaks; they are fitted by 

 training and constant work along these lines to give good 

 advice and, if the occasion demands it, personal super- 

 vision. Furthermore, you have a right to do this; you 

 help to pay the salaries. 



Few insects are injurious in all the stages of their life- 

 history, and every one will admit that the fight against 

 injurious insects should start before the injury begins. 

 Mosquitoes and flies should be killed before they can fly; 

 the first meal of leaf-feeders should be their last, even if 

 they get that. All this requires a knowledge of the life- 

 histories so that we may know the best time to fight. 

 Fall or winter plowing may uncover pupas which are 

 hibernating in the ground, and kill them. If the insect 

 passes the winter in the egg stage, spraying, provided 

 spraying will kill the larvae, should be done just as the 

 eggs hatch. Therefore, we should know when that will be. 

 This your State Entomologist can tell you for your par- 

 ticular locality and I can not. 



Predaceous and parasitic insects are now "the one best 

 bet ' ' in economic entomology. Why cover our vegetation 

 with poison year after year if we can set insect friends to 

 killing insect enemies? This, again, is work for the pro- 

 fessional economic entomologist, although I have tried to 

 help you to distinguish friends from enemies. 



If possible, prevent breeding. This applies especially to 

 such enemies as mosquitoes and flies. Why live in a wire-and- 

 wood cage when draining swamps, putting fish in ponds, 



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