REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1899 549 
VOLUNTARY ENTOMOLOGIC SERVICE OF 
NEW YORK STATE 
The establishment of this service was the result of the conviction that 
the office should be brought into closer relations with the public it is 
designed to serve, and that, if properly managed, such an organization 
would result in bringing together much valuable information. It was 
the aim not only to obtain facts of immediate value, that is, those 
relating to the destructiveness of a pest, its occurrence in numbers, etc. 
but also to begin records which in the course of time would prove of 
great service in determining to some extent the causes governing the 
distribution of insects and their relative abundance, or effecting changes 
in habit. 
A circular letter was prepared in the winter months and sent to parties 
in all sections of the state. It outlined the work as follows: 
To all interested in entomology : 
New York state with its enormous and varied agricultural interests 
suffers immense losses yearly from the depredations of insects. Its large 
area renders it impossible for one man, or even a moderate force of men, 
to observe properly the many insects within its borders, and warn the 
inhabitants of threatened loss by their attacks. In order to bring this 
office into closer relations with the public and render it of greater practical 
value, it is desired to establish an auxiliary force of voluntary observers 
who will serve without pay, and send short reports to the state ento- 
mologist weekly during the growing season and less frequently at other 
times. Though few entomologists will be able to take up this work, 
many valuable facts regarding the relative abundance of insects, the 
extent of their depredations, the effect of climate, soil and altitude, the 
distribution and spread of insect pests, etc., may be collected from all 
sections of the state. As necessity arises, directions will be issued in 
regard to what insects should be looked for and where the observations 
should be made. 
Voluntary observers will be appointed by the regents on the recom- 
mendation of the state entomologist, and will receive copies of future 
state entomologic publications. Each person will be given due credit 
in these publications for all his observations and contributions of speci- 
mens, and in the course of a year should learn many valuable facts, as 
all inquiries for further information concerning an insect or in regard to 
its identity will be cheerfully answered. ‘Those wishing to join in this 
volunteer service are respectfully requested to communicate at once with 
the undersigned, and, as an earnest of what may be expected in the 
future, to send in a few of their more important observations on insects 
of last year. All observations should be recorded, as they are always of 
value, and the absence of records is difficult to supply in later years. 
Soon after the appointments are made, appropriate stationery will be sent 
to those selected. 
