JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



OFFICIAL ORGAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS 



OCTOBER, 1912 



The editors will thankfully receive news items and other matter likely to be of In- 

 terest to subscribers. Papers will be published, so far as possible, in the order of re- 

 ception. All extended contributions, at least, should be in the. hands of the editor the 

 first of the month preceding publication. Reprints maj' be obtained at cost. Con- 

 tributors are requested to supply electrotypes for the larger illustrations so far as pos- 

 sible. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged. — Eds. 



The recent enactment of a National Plant Quarantine Act is a 

 great stride in applied or economic entomology and one which should 

 have been taken years ago. The Federal Government is now charged 

 with functions which could not be exercised by the various States and 

 all may look for a much greater protection from injurious insects. 

 Co-operation between National and State agencies should result in a 

 maximum elficiency at a minimum expenditure. Some were afraid 

 such a law might prove a serious hindrance to certain phases of the 

 nursery business. There is no denying that the welfare of all should 

 take precedence over the prosperity of a few. Nevertheless, the 

 administration of this law will doubtless go far to prove the groundless 

 character of these fears and show how the enactment can be inter- 

 preted in such a catholic spirit as to command the respect of all. 



The campaign against the house or tj^Dhoid fly has been in progress 

 for about a decade. The press has displayed a commendable interest, 

 many daihes and weeklies publishing brief timely warnings or direc- 

 tions for controlling the fly. We have at least two volumes on this 

 insect, a moving picture film, some local anti-fly ordinances, accom- 

 panied here and there bj- vigorous campaigns — and flies. This is no 

 implication that conditions have not bettered in some localities. It is 

 simply an invitation to pause and see what has been accomplished. 

 The educational campaign has been a necessary prelude to activity 

 and here and there, but only locally, have we seen an approach to a sys- 

 tematic attempt to control this familiar pest. Is it not time that the 

 more progressive sentiment of many communities, not excluding 

 States, was crystallized into ordinances and laws along the lines such 

 as those suggested by the Indiana State Board of Health for city and 

 villages? Most intelligent people accept in a placid manner, the state- 

 ments respecting the dangerous character of the fly, but in compara- 

 tively few instances does this result in action. Furthermore, it is 

 difficult to secure desirable activity so long as neighbors do not or 

 can not be compelled to assist in an undertaking which must depend 

 in large measure for success upon general adoption. Here is where 



