131 



traffic of insect pests could alone deliver these islands trom llie- 

 lurking danger. 



Tims Prof. Woodwortb's stigma against the usefulness of 

 inspection as a protection to agriculture does not hold good in 

 our case, at least not thus far. The writer is quite convinced 

 that, excepting the species indicated, all the Coccids herein 

 enumerated were here prior to the inauguration of quarantine 

 inspection. With the possible exception of one or two none of 

 the species here listed is of economic consequence. In some 

 cases because the plants attacked have no economic worth, but 

 in the majority because they are kept in check by a variety 

 of Chalcid parasites, the list of which will also be materially 

 increased, if puldished, as compared with the late Dr. Ash- 

 mead's in the Fauna ITawaiiensis. 



The Feeding Habits of Hawaiian Lepidoptera. 



I Presidential Address] 



BY OTTO 11. SWEZEY. 



In the Lepidoptera Parts of the Fauna ITawaiiensis, very 

 little is given of the habits or biology of Hawaiian butterflies 

 and moths. Only an occasional instance is given of the food- 

 plants of the different species. During the past five years I 

 have made observations along this line which I consider well 

 worth recording. To know a moth when you catch it, to know 

 how, when and under what conditions to catch it, and how 

 to classify it, is knowing a good deal about it ; but it is knowing 

 a great deal more if you know the same moth in its younger 

 stages, and how and where these are passed. 



When a moth is known only in the adult stage, its interest 

 lies mainly in structural features and whether its coloration 

 makes it an object of beauty; but when its life history is known, 

 there are the additional items of interest its position with 

 respect to the economy of nature, also its economic aspect as to 

 whether friend or foe to human interests. 



Among the native trees, shrubs and plants of the Hawaiian 

 islands, are some which are especially subject to the attacks of 

 lepidopterous larvae, while there are others alhiost if not entirely 



Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc. II. No. 3, May, 1910. 



