188 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 6 



with a mean annual precipitation of 23.87 inches, an average humidity 

 of 62 per cent, an annual mean temperature of 44.7° F., and recorded 

 extremes of —21° and 93° F. The range in crop conditions is repre- 

 sented by the same points. On the Yuma mesa there is a body of 

 land destined to become famous for citrus and other tropical and sub- 

 tropical fruits, where injurious frosts are unknown, while at Flagstaff, 

 owing to the short growing season, deciduous fruit trees seldom suc- 

 ceed in setting and maturing a crop, sweet corn from the home garden 

 is a rarity, and the staple crops are limited to Irish potatoes and small 

 grains. In its crop limitations and possibilities, therefore, the state 

 of Arizona may be said to be fairly representative of the entire United 

 States, California being the only other state to be similarly situated. 



The same conditions which influence crops exert a corresponding 

 influence upon insect pests, more especially the native species. The 

 species introduced from other sections are in addition influenced in 

 their distribution by the isolated condition of our principal agricul- 

 tural districts, the Lower Colorado or Yuma Valley, the Salt River 

 Valley, the Gila Valley, the Verde Valley and the Little Colorado Val- ' 

 ley. Each of these is isolated by hundreds of miles of desert, forests 

 and ranges of mountains, while numerous smaller irrigation projects, 

 sub-irrigated valleys and dry farm sections are scattered over the 

 state. In general the favorable circumstances noted has not only 

 greatly delayed and restricted the distribution of insect pests thus 

 far introduced, but offers for the present and future the most favor- 

 able opportunities for the prevention of the introduction and spread of 

 pests not yet occurring in the state. 



Characteristic Insect Records. In outlining the entomological 

 conditions of the state as personally observed and as brought to my 

 attention through correspondence during the past three years, it is 

 only proper to explain that owing to the large amount of time which 

 has been required in the organization of an inspection service and in 

 the administration of our inspection law under the hampering influ- 

 ence of inadequate funds, comparatively little time has been available 

 for investigations and observations. With the more suitable pro- 

 visions for assistance and equipment obtained by means of a recent 

 amendment of the original law, known as the "Arizona Crop Pest Law 

 of 1912," more rapid progress in these lines is assured. Considering 

 the more important economic insects, grouped by orders regardless of 

 the crops affected, the following notes and observations will charac- 

 terize the entomological features and will show some of the entomolog- 

 ical peculiarities of the state of Arizona. 



Orthoptera. In common with most of the other Western states 

 we have grasshopper problems; alfalfa, young citrus trees and beans 



