80 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



within the meaning of this act, though necessary and forming the 

 foundation for the future development of the science. 



In the study of groups of insects we deal with w^hat is reallj' a 

 branch of systematic entomology, and which might properly be 

 styled systematic economic entomology. Under this head comes the 

 study of (1) taxonomic groups and (2) economic groups. If in 

 his work the economic entomologist finds that he can not proceed 

 further without a monographic revision of the family or genus with 

 Avhich he is most concerned, and if he is unable to secure the help 

 of a satisfactory specialist for such work, why should he not himself 

 undertake its revision, if he feels competent and able to do so? For 

 instance, is not Doctor Hopkins's work on tli^e Scolytida3 of funda- 

 mental economic importance? Would not careful systematic studies 

 of the Aphididse be of the greatest service to the economic entomolo- 

 gist, and can we ever be sure of just what we are dealing with in 

 this most interesting and much neglected family until we do have 

 such systematic work? Again, the economic entomologist constantly 

 receives numerous caterpillars and larvic of all orders, often of 

 economic imjiortance, which it is impossible for him to identify in the 

 immature stages and which he must therefore rear before he can sug- 

 gest remedial measures. These efforts at rearing are often unsuc- 

 cessful, in which cases much time and labor is spent for naught. 

 Systematic studies of insect larva>, with monographic work enabling 

 us to identify them, would be one of the greatest boons to the eco- 

 nomic worker and save much really unnecessary work. Is not the 

 systematic study of insect larvir, therefore, a proper field for research 

 by the economic entomologist, as related to agriculture? 



Again, we may investigate economic groups as regards their econ- 

 omy, considering either taxonomic groups which are of general 

 economic iuiportance, such as the barkbeetles, or groups of insects 

 affecting some one food plant, as coru insects, cotton insects, etc. 

 When such studies cover the whole field in such a Avay that general 

 Ujcthods of farm ])ractice or procedure are worked out which will 

 control all the common insect enemies of any imi:)ortaut cro]), are 

 they not worthy objects of true research? Doctor Forbes's Avork on 

 corn insects might furnish an example. It should be remeuibered, 

 however, that mere general observations uj^on any class of insects 

 and the comjnlation of a report upon them is not research; to come 

 under that term the Avork nnist be clearly defined, systematic, and 

 exhaustively studied. Probably nnich of such work upon groups 

 of insects may Avell be deferred until more careful studies of many 

 important individual pests lun-e been made, though it Avill furnish 

 an inviting field in the not far-distant future. 



It is the study of the principles underlying insect life and control 

 Avhich, it seems to the writer, furnishes a field for research but little 



