REPORT OF DHE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1912 If 
in such preparations, since the latter are permanent in character 
and, in most of the species mounted, necessary for the identifica- 
tion of the insect. 
The series of plant groups designed to serve as an embellishing 
and instructive feature of the enlarged exhibit now in preparation 
is practically completed. There has been special collecting for this 
exhibit. 
The more ample facilities of the new quarters bring added res- 
ponsibilities in the opportunity they offer of making the State col- 
lection of insects, both exhibit and reference, thoroughly representa- 
tive. The magnitude of such a task is appreciated by very few. 
The Entomologist recently assembled, with the cooperation of recog- 
nized authorities in various groups, the best obtainable figures as to 
the number of American insects. The data is tabulated below. 
Eivmenopteta | .2..41-: 26 o.- iO) @oo) = (Ohlone, ooeeaccocucgaconoe Q50 
Golemmicta woserisscscs secae Il 255 Neuroptera and Pseudoneu- 
ID) ohenclaertiat tka ccis coches che cholo Q 100 TOPUGHOM so ele e we ceote 2 000 
Siplonaptetial.. 4. .ssce +44. Tits; | ARmaseNNO eT! Sacweonsdocoeoc 118 
Wepidopterasy, os... swe se a 6n622 Othe smallltondennsy. eee 500 
lslemmip teaver. si. cccsc cise dake 3 328 a 
43 988 


A recent catalog of the insects of New Jersey, a state with a 
considerably smaller area and lacking the climatic and other diversi- . 
ties of New York, lists over 10,000 species. It seems to us con- 
servative to place the probable number of insect species existing in 
this State at twice that figure. A thoroughly representative col- 
lection of New York forms should therefore contain well toward 
20,000 native species, and since each has at least four well-marked 
stages, some 80,000 different forms. Many species and a great 
number of the stages are unknown. There is ample to occupy a 
well-equipped corps of entomologists for many years, not to men- 
tion the much additional labor involved in assembling and main- 
taining greatly enlarged entomological exhibits. 
Nursery inspection. The nursery inspection work conducted by 
the State Department of Agriculture has resulted in the office being 
requested to make numerous identifications and also recommenda- 
tions in regard to the policy which should be pursued by the State. 
Many of the specimens submitted for name were in poor condition, 
and as they may represent any stage in insect development and fre- 
quently originate in a foreign country, such determinations are 
