NATIONAL CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS 431 



NATIONAL CONTKOL OF INTEODUCED INSECT PESTS 



By Professor E. DWIGHT SANDERSON 



NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE 



THE boll weevil in Texas and the gypsy and brown-tail moths in 

 New England are raising some points in the relations between 

 the states and the federal government in insect control which seem to 

 involve new principles, whose discussion may not be untimely. 



Here we have insects which the infested states fail to control, either 

 through inability or neglect, and they spread beyond their boundaries. 

 Quarantines against them are comparatively useless, unless the insects 

 are controlled in the badly infested regions. But why should one state 

 tax itself to subdue a pest which is causing it loss and others gain from 

 increased prices, as in the case with the cotton boll weevil, to prevent 

 it from spreading to them ? On the other hand, if it is possible for 

 the state to do so, is the national government justified in assuming the 

 task if it had the authority? Congress makes appropriations to aid 

 in the study of insect pests for the information of the inhabitants of 

 uninfested states, but can it legislate so that a federal official may have 

 authority to proceed in preventing the introduction, or exterminating 

 or controlling any pest which threatens to invade other states and to 

 seriously threaten their welfare? These are new entomological ques- 

 tions of a broad nature which circumstances have forced upon us and 

 which must be solved in the near future. 



The writer's first impression, which seems to be the prevailing one, 

 was that the federal government has no authority to make any regula- 

 tions toward exterminating or controlling an insect pest within a state, 

 except under the laws of that state. Further study of the subject, in 

 relation to the federal control of similar matters of public health and 

 welfare, has forced the conclusion that this view is essentially incor- 

 rect and that the national government may have full authority con- 

 ferred upon it by congress under the constitution for handling the 

 whole situation. 



A few points concerning the history of legislation against insect 

 pests in this country may be mentioned to show its present status. 

 Legislation against insect pests in the east was undoubtedly brought 

 about by the introduction and dissemination of the San Jose scale on 

 nursery stock in the early nineties. State after state passed laws con- 

 cerning nursery inspection and the importation of nursery stock and 

 some concerning inspection of orchards, etc. Some were good; others 



