TTniversity of the State of New York 



New York State Museum 



Frederick J. H. Merrill Director 

 Ephraim Porter Felt State Entomolosfist 



Bulletin 68 

 ENTOMOLOGY 18 



AQUATIC INSECTS IN NEW YORK STATE 



PREFACE 



It is very gratifying to present the public with such a material 

 addition to our knowledge of the aquatic insects of the State, an 

 ecological group which has received almost no attention except 

 from those engaged in a systematic study of the adults. There 

 is no doubt that insects form an important part of the suste- 

 nance of some of our most valued food fishes, as shown by Dr 

 Needham's studies of the food contents of trout stomachs. Mr 

 Johannsen's systematic and biologic study of these minute spe- 

 cies will do much toward making possible their identification 

 in the immature as well as the adult condition. The ability to 

 identify young or immature forms is exceedingly important 

 when studying aquatic insects, and the great attention given 

 to the early stages is the most valuable feature of this collec- 

 tion of papers. The publication of this bulletin marks another 

 important step in an investigation on the value of insects as 

 fish food. The consummation of this, as has been previously 

 pointed out, is a work of years; and it is hoped that each season 

 may be marked by substantial progress. 



The acquisition of new facts is a laborious process; and the 

 several authors are to be congratulated on their success. 



This collection of papers will prove not only a source of in- 

 formation but also an inspiration to ail subsequent workers. 



E. P. Felt 

 State Entomologist 



