50 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 36 



as is now so commonly the rule, but in relation to other agricultural subjects; in 

 other words he should use ecology in its broadest and practical sense, which is 

 nothing more than relations between insects and the innumerable conditions affect- 

 ing themselves and their hosts, and the economic application of these interrelations. 

 The student, whether he is specializing in entomology or along general agricultural 

 lines, should also be encouraged to read more of the general literature dealing 

 directly or indirectly with insect problems. I have in mind one article which to 

 me is a masterful essay, so scientifically accurate and yet so simply stated that it 

 could not but impress the student. I refer to a paper entitled " The Insect, the 

 Farmer, the Teacher, the Citizen, and the State," by Dr. S. A. Forbes. Other 

 papers which I have in mind which should be read by every student in entomology 

 which bear upon the problems discussed this evening are Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt's 

 capable address before the American Association of Economic Entomologists on 

 " Insect Behavior as a Factor in Applied Entomology " ; Crosby and Leonard's 

 paper suitably treating " The Farm Bureau as an Agency for Demonstrating the 

 Control of Injurious Insects " ; Forbes' address before the Entomological Society 

 of America on "The Ecological Foundations of Applied Entomology,'^ and the 

 timely discussions, one by Cooley on " Economic Entomology in the Service of 

 the Nation," a second by Felt on " Entomological Eesearch and Utility " and the 

 third by Forbes, " Entomology in Time of War." * 



These few remarks are given that we may think more of and possibly foresee 

 some of the problems which are to confront us as a consequence of the changing 

 conditions partly resulting from the war, and to emphasize the importance of giving 

 more consideration to our methods of publicity, and are not intended to suggest 

 any specific methods or changes. 



The insects of cereal and forage crops which have come to our attention the 

 past few years and which are likely to continue troublesome are not numerous 

 but are of immeasureable importance, and we will briefly discuss the different 

 problems individually. 



The Hessian Fly {Mayetiola destructor). 



The Hessian fly, supposedly introduced into this country by the Hessian 

 soldiers of Prussia, is, as Dr. Forbes has so truly put it, still a Hessian and is 

 without doubt the greatest insect menace to wheat production in the United 

 States. Especially at this time when wheat is so essential does this pest show 

 up as one of the most important, if not the most important and most pro-German 

 insect pest in the States. A year ago the Hessian fly was of little consequence, 

 and again this fall it is not suflaciently abundant to cause undue anxiety but from 

 past observations and the trend of conditions, and especially if we find the parasites 



*Forbes, S. A. " The Insect, the Farmer, the Teacher, the Citizen and the State." 

 Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History, 1915. 



Hewitt, C. Gordon. "Insect Behavior as a Factor in Applied Entomology.' Jour. 

 Econ. Ent.,'vol. 10, Feb., 1917, p. 81. 



Crosby, C. R., and Leonard, M. D. "The Farm Bureau as an Agency for Demon- 

 strating the Control of Injurious Insects." Jour. Econ. Ent.. Vol. 10, Feb., 1917, p. 20. 



Forbes, S. A. " The Ecological Foundations of Applied Entomology." Annals of 

 Ent. Soc. America, Vol. 8, Mar., 1915, p. 1. 



Cooley, R. A. " Economic Entomology in the Service of the Nation." Jour. Econ. 

 Ent, Vol. 11, Feb., 1918, p. 16. 



Felt, E. P. " Entomological Research and Utility." Scientific Monthly, Dec, 1917, 

 p. 551. 



Forbes, S. A. " Entomology in Time of War." Circular, Office of Illinois State 

 Entomologist, 1917. 



