398 How Living Things Affect 0?ie Another unit vii 



3. What are the three or four most harmful insects in your neighbor- 

 hood? Study all the stages in their life history so that you may be able to 

 recognize them. Use pictures or charts and, if possible, actual specimens. 

 Where and in which season can each stage be found? At which stage is it 

 easiest to fight each insect? 



4. Explain why clothes should be sunned and well brushed before being 

 packed away for the summer. Why are sealed newspaper wrappings as 

 useful as cedarized bags in keeping moths from your clothes? If vou have 

 successfully prevented damage by clothes moths in your home report on 

 the methods used. 



5. What methods of fighting insects are in common use in your neigh- 

 borhood? If it is not possible to get this information from reliable adults 

 of your acquaintance, ask the class secretary to write to the State Agri- 

 cultural Station or the State Entomologist. 



6. Which of the following are the least and which the most important 

 in enabling an insect to spread over a large area? Explain and discuss. 



(a) Swift locomotion (e) Eating a plant that is widespread 



(b) Eating large amounts (f) Eating a large variety of food 



(c) Prolific reproduction (g) Having a hard body covering 



(d) Living in concealment (h) Resembling its surroundings 



7. Answer the following questions: 



(a) What connection might there be between insect pests and the in- 

 vention of the airplane and automobile? (b) Can you explain how insects 

 might affect birds, as well as man, both directly and indirectly? Be spe- 

 cific in your answer, (c) Would this be a better world to live in if all 

 insects were killed off? Explain your answer. 



Further Activities in Biology 



1. Make a collection of the harmful insects found in your neighbor- 

 hood. Mount them for display. These mounts should, if possible, illustrate 

 the insects' life histories and habits. 



2. Look through the list of titles of Farmer's Bulletins published by the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, as well as the publications of 

 your State Experiment Stations, and write for those that apply to the 

 study of insects. Many interesting articles may be found in the United 

 States Experiment Station Record. 



3. Prepare a full report to the class on three or four insects such as the 

 European corn borer, the Hessian fly, the Mediterranean fruit fly, or any 

 other that does great damage in your neighborhood. Consult books, gov- 

 ernment publications, and the World Almanac regarding insects. 



4. Gather infonuation on the vocational opportunities for the entomol- 

 ogist. Consult your state agricultural school. If you live near, perhaps you 

 could visit the school. 



5. You will find L. O. Howard's book, The Insect Menace, interesting 

 reading. Report to the class. 



