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roots and the top layer of the soil, and when any marauder is found send it to the 
experiment station for study and identification. 
Directions for sending such specimens I copy from Bulletin XIV on “Insects Inju- 
rious to Young Trees on Tree Claims,” just issued: 
‘‘ Whenever possible, insects should be packed alive in some tight tin box—the 
tighter the better, as air-holes are not needed—along with a supply of their appro- 
priate food sufficient to last them on the journey ; otherwise they generally die on 
the road and shrivel up. 
‘Send as full an account as possible of their habits; what part of the plant they 
infest, time of day when they are most active, amount of damage done, ete. 
‘Packages should be marked with the name of the sender and should be addressed 
to the entomologist of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebr.” 
It will aid very materially in forming conclusions if all people who have planted 
seed this season will send from time to time reports of the conditions of their beets 
to the experiment station, 
Address: 
H. H. NicwHoxson, 
Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebr. 
The very dry summer may have had considerable to do towards 
influencing much of the insect injury to the beets grown within the 
region designated, and some species of insects may have worked upon 
this plant that ordinarily would not have done so. In many localities 
various insects were observed to congregate among the leaf stems just 
above the ground that could not have been there for mischief, since — 
they were such forms as do not feed upon growing plants. Especially 
was this true in portions of the State where the drought was severest 
and where other refugees from the burning sun and parched soil were 
scarce or entirely wanting. In many of these localities a great variety 
of insect life was always sure to be found hidden away during the day- 
time in such places. Not only beetles but also representatives of such 
other orders as the Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, 
Diptera, and Lepidoptera were quite common in such localities. Even 
many water-inhabiting forms frequently occurred in company with the 
others, 
Of course all of these insects that were found on or about the roots 
of the beets were sent in to the station both by the field agents and 
by the various correspondents, who took an interest in the investiga- 
tions under way. To separate most of these “refugees” from such 
other forms as might possibly be there for mischief was, of course, quite 
easily done at the station by those who were accustomed to the habits 
of most of the insects under consideration. A few of them were, how- 
ever, more difficult to single out, and required Special study to decide 
positively, which in nearly every case was accomplished. 
In the study of this subject it was quickly demonstrated that almost 
all of the insect enemies of the sugar beet, as well as of the common 
garden and other varieties, were either weed feeders or else were such 
as are very general feeders. It was also ascertained that nearly if not 
quite all of the insects of whatsoever description that attack other 
