76 E. P. Stebbing — Economic Entomology. [Apr. 



problem it must have well defined, and ascertainable data, and quotations 

 are given supporting the opinion that these data are not indicated by 

 ground level observations. Further as all the variations occur within 

 the Indian boundaries the necessary information is probably available 

 without reference to foreign sources. 



3. Economic Entomology : Its study, aims, and objects. — By E. P. 

 Stubbing, I.F.S., F.L.S. 



The necessity for the serious study of Economic Entomology in a great 

 agricultural country like India has forced itself into prominence during 

 the last few years, and now that active steps are being taken in the matter 

 it may prove of interest to consider what such a study really involves 

 and the nature of the results to be expected from it. 



Economic Eutomology may be defined as the study of the life-his- 

 tories of Injurious Insects with a view to instituting remedial measures 

 against them. As we shall see later, this latter branch of the subject 

 involves the study of, firstly, the life-histories of insects predaceous upon, 

 or parasitic upon, or in, the pests; and, secondly, the experiment- 

 ing with various insecticides with a view to testing their practical etii- 

 ciency before recommending them for general use. The aid of the Eco- 

 nomic Botanist will be required to identify Insect fungi which may 

 live as parasites upon our insect foes; for the study of such and the pre- 

 paration and stocking of cultures may give us a terribly efficient weapon 

 against these minute enemies. The mention of the Economic Botanist 

 leads me to a small digression. It lias not, I think, been generally under- 

 stood in India, and the country by no means stands alone in this respect, 

 that there is a vast gulf between the Science of Botany and that of Ento- 

 mology and consequently between the Botanist and the Entomologist. I 

 allude here only to the economic aspect of the work in both cases. No 

 man can hope to be an expert in both save in some small country and area 

 whose flora and insect fauna are already known. In India this ideal 

 state of affairs is very far ahead. The fields before both experts are 

 vast and almost untouched and require years of patient working and obser- 

 vation to achieve the results that will be of such benefit to the country at 

 large. The man who endeavours to specialise in both may do well enough 

 as a beginning, just as one man can run the secretariat of a budding State. 

 As the latter flourishes the one-man rule has to give way, departments are 

 formed, and the work parcelled up. The revenue man, receiving a paper on 

 financial matters, promptly labels it ' Fiuance ' and sends it off to its proper 

 quarter. The Economic Botanist and the Economic Entomologist are in 

 much the same relation to one auother. They can help each other, but 

 each requires all his time for his own particular subject, and, if a true 



