SUMMER MEETING. 49 



a measure from contact with insecticides. Like all other aphids it has 



a number of natural enemies, such as lady-bird beetles and syrphus 



fly and lace-wing fly larvte, which in the course of the seasons almost, 



but never quite, exterminate it. But these seldom come to the aid of 



the fruit-grower in time to save his crops. 



Mary E. Murtfeldt. 



Entomology as a Career. 



The Study of Insects is Becoming a Very Important Business. 



Economic entomology is that branch of the science which, looking 

 beyond the mere collection and classification of insects, has to do with 

 the control of those which injuriously affect agricultural products. Its 

 importance is shown by the fact that its bibliography fills a volume of 

 450 pages, while the Association of Economic Entomologists numbers 



some 60 active members. That the achievements of its students or 



■t 



professors are remarkable is shown by the statement made in a recent 

 address by the Dominion Entomologist of Canada, that a saving of 

 $400,000 worth of agricultural products was made in li^orth Dakota 

 and Minnesota during 1891 by the adoption of certain measures recom- 

 mended to farmers by oflBcial entomologists. 



Entomology as a hobby is now widely pursued by young people, 

 and no department of natural history is more attractive, says the 

 " Youth's Companion." But the biologic study of insects, though of 

 the first importance to the economic entomologist, is to him only the 

 first step. 



The life history of a given pest known, he aims to devise some 

 means to control it. Some of the achievements in this line are, in a 

 general way, well known. 



The Colorado potato beetle is practically under the thumb of Paris 

 green. The codling moth, whose larva infests our apples, is readily 

 controlled by spraying the trees with the same poison at the proper 

 season. So with many other pests of the farmer and fruit-grower. 

 But as Prof. Eiley estimates that one-tenth of our agricultural pro- 

 ducts is annually ruined by insects, it is evident that plenty of work 

 remains to be done in this direction. 



The total annual loss from insects in the United States is placed 

 by the best entomological authorities at about $380,000,000. As the 

 entomologists of the various state agricultural experiment stations and 

 of the National Department of Agriculture pursue their investigations 

 further, this enormous loss will be greatly reduced. 



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