156 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 12 



least one limitation that is certain to make itself felt at the beginning 

 of the campaign. That factor is the lack of accurate scientific knowl- 

 edge of the pest that is causing the outbreak: its life-history, the 

 intricacies of its habits, its preferences as to food plants, and, in turn, 

 the life-history and habits of its insect enemies. 



Seldom, I think, shall we find available complete knowledge as to 

 the majority of these vitally important points. " If the pest has 

 been introduced from another country we shall certainly have to work 

 out a detailed study of it in this country, not only because recorded 

 information about it in its native habitat will likely be scanty, but 

 because its behavior and its reaction to natural enemies may be a new 

 story here. Clearly, this knowledge must be had before a well- 

 grounded campaign of control can be undertaken. 



The agencies that may undertake such a study are available in 

 various quarters,- — in our state experiment stations, the state colleges, 

 the state divisions of insect suppression, where such exist, and the 

 Bureau of Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture. 

 Whatever of these agencies charge themselves with the study, there 

 should be correlation between their work and the efforts of those who 

 have the campaign of control laid on them. Men who are at work on 

 the control side of the problem, if they are scientifically trained, will 

 discover new details that need elucidation and will help to interpret 

 scientific facts as they come to light. Men in investigational work, if 

 in touch with those charged with control, will help preserve an atmos- 

 phere of inquiry. Certainly, each will do the better work under the 

 influence of close relationship. 



Control measures themselves may, of course, be vested in various 

 individuals or institutions. The entire undertaking may be laid on 

 the Federal Bureau of Entomology. It may devolve solely on the 

 state official in whose jurisdiction the outbreak has begun. We have 

 had examples of both plans. 



If the insect is one of great importance, especially if it is an intro- 

 duced pest that has gained a foothold in only a limited locality but 

 promises to spread to many other states or throughout the country, 

 then it would seem clear that the larger part of a campaign of control 

 should be undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Entomology. A 

 lesser part may be undertaken by such states as are at the moment 

 concerned. 



Two arguments may be offered against this theory. A state remote 

 from the outbreak may urge that it should not be called on to help 

 finance control of a pest that is two or three thousand miles away and 

 may never reach its borders at all. It may argue further, that the 

 area which has been so unfortunate as to acquire the pest is not entitled 



