Oj Remedies against Insect Ravages, 425 



Art. VI. On the most advisable Methods for discovering Remedies 

 against the Ravages of Insects ; and a Notice of the Habits of 

 the Onion Fly. By J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L.S. &c. Read 

 before the Entomological Society, May 5. 1834. 



One of the most common, and at the same time most 

 weighty, charges brought against the entomologist is, that, 

 whilst he bestows endless labour and trouble on collecting 

 and preserving various kinds of insects, his attention is never, 

 or but very seldom indeed, directed to enquiries into the most 

 effectual remedies for those insect scourges which nature has 

 inflicted upon our vegetable productions. He is told, over 

 and over again, that, to make the science which he cultivates 

 more beneficial to society, and thereby more generally known, 

 a share of his attention must be occupied in prosecuting 

 experiments for the purpose of discovering how this or that 

 insect enemy may be combated in the most successful manner. 

 And, indeed, it must be admitted, that this is a charge too well 

 founded ; although, perhaps, a few observations may convince 

 those who are the most ready to bring it forward at every 

 opportunity, that it may be very greatly palliated. 



In the first place, therefore, it may be urged, that these 

 destructive insects, appearing, as they do, in occasional seasons, 

 in vast profusion, are produced in such myriads, for some 

 wise purpose, which we may not be permitted to understand. 

 They, like the locusts, of which so splendid a poetical de- 

 scription is recorded in the second chapter of the prophet 

 Joel, form portion of the army of the Almighty, wherewith 

 he scourges the nations; and, although the scientific researches 

 of mankind might discover means of destroying in some de- 

 gree their hosts, it may, perhaps, not unreasonably be supposed 

 either that he would not be allowed to frustrate the designs of 

 Providence, or that, if this evil were removed, others, perhaps 

 more weighty, might arise in their stead.* 



* [Man, it is true, fails occasionally to secure to himself all the fruits of 

 his own sowing ; but, nevertheless, 



" His portion in the good that Heaven bestows " 

 is undeniably a munificent one. Tn relief of his partial losses, no sentiment 

 is perhaps more healthy and more just than the unflattering one of our 

 great moral poet. Pope : — 



" Has God, thou fool, work'd solely for thy good. 

 Thy joy, thy pastime, thy attire, thy food ? 

 Who for thy table feeds the wanton fawn. 

 For him as kindly spreads the flow'ry lawn. 

 Is it for thee the lark ascends and sings ? 

 Joy tunes his voice, joy elevates his wings. 

 Is it for thee the linnet pours his throat ? 

 Loves of his own and raptures swell the note. 



