30 Annals Entomological Sodety of America [Vol. IX, 



formidable mountain barrier. Prof. Lefroy informs us that in 

 India fierce dry heat is the insect's enemy and the greatest 

 check on insect life is that period before the rains when all is 

 parched and very hot. These are powerful adverse factors to 

 most foreign insects, although some, such as the cabbage white 

 {Pieris brassicce) and the wheat aphis (Toxoptera graminum) 

 have adapted themselves in different ways to the climatic 

 conditions. A statement which Prof. Lefroy has given of the 

 relative proportions of native and introduced insects indicates 

 very clearly the evident check on the ability of foreign insects 

 to become acclimatised to India. Of the crop pests, exclusive 

 of scale insects and mealy bugs, out of 213 species injurious in 

 some degree, two moths and six aphides are possible intro- 

 ductions. Out of 109 scale insects, 24 are probably introduced 

 and of the most injurious ones, eleven out of the fourteen, are 

 introduced; the introduced scale insects are comparatively 

 harmless as a rule in India. These facts afford an interesting 

 contrast to our experience in North America. 



New Zealand. 



The chief agricultural industry in New Zealand has been 

 sheep farming. But with development along other lines, par- 

 ticularly in horticulture, the country has suffered the fate of 

 all new countries dependent upon the importation of plants 

 from foreign countries, and foreign pests have been introduced. 

 At first these pests were not subjected to the methods that a 

 later developed intensive system of agriculture involves and 

 consequently they made some headway. 



While the entomological work of the government is largely 

 undertaken by the Government Biologist, Prof. T. W. Kirk, 

 the question of the control of insect pests is also dealt with by the 

 Fields and Experimental Farms Division and by the Orchards, 

 Garden and Apiaries Division. The latter Division administers 

 the inspection laws, involving the fumigation and inspection of 

 imported fruits and plants and the spreading of useful insects. 

 The Biological Section of the Department of Agriculture inves- 

 tigates, so far as its other duties permit, injurious insects in 

 addition to conducting general identification work. 



