Indiana Insect Survey 251 
AN INDIANA INSECT SURVEY. 
JOHN J. DAVIS. 
The scientific and economic value of a survey of the insect fauna 
of Indiana and the need of such a survey has been emphasized to the 
writer for several years, so much so, in fact, that plans were drawn 
up three or four years ago, the initial steps being taken before I be- 
came connected with Purdue University. These plans, made before 
learning of the Biological Survey Committee of this Academy, seem 
to be appropriate at the present time and will, I believe, fit in con- 
veniently with the plans of this committee. 
Briefly, the object of such a survey would be to explore, exploit, 
record, map, collect and study the insect fauna of Indiana; to deter- 
mine the occurrence and range of all insects of the state and to study 
their relation to plants, animals, human welfare, etc. Such a survey 
would include a study of the relation of insects to changing conditions, 
that is, swamp areas being reclaimed by drainage, peat bogs, sand 
areas, and the like, being put under cultivation for the first time, etc. 
It would also include studies of the small lake areas, caves, and similar 
places. In this connection it is planned to build up a working collection 
of insects representative of the state and of surrounding states and 
in time it is hoped that collections of insects, illustrating systematic, 
economic, biologic and ecologic groups, can be. prepared for distribu- 
tion to high schools and other public institutions. 
No very definite method of procedure has been formulated. In- 
diana is very fortunate in having had a number of the country’s best 
entomologists. Thomas Say, the father of American entomology, de- 
scribed and studied many species from Indiana during his residence at 
New Harmony, 1826 to 1834. One of the country’s best known economic 
entomologists, Francis Marian Webster, carried on his early work in 
Indiana. The lasting influence of Webster’s work on the agriculture of 
the state has been impressed upon the writer and more than one farmer 
of the older group has told me of the work which Webster did on his 
particular farm. More recent is the work of W. S. Blatchley and E. 
B. Williamson, both systematists without a peer. Blatchley’s monu- 
mental works on the Classification of Coleoptera and Orthoptera are 
recognized standards as are also Williamson’s equally classical Odonata 
studies. Besides Blatchley and Williamson, Indiana has other entomolo- 
gists, nationally recognized as authorities in their groups, including 
H. F. Dietz and H. C. Kinsey, authorities on the Coccidae and Cynipidae, 
respectively, H. E. Enders and E. J. Kohl who have specialized on the 
biting lice (Mallophaga), W. H. Larrimer on the Jassidae, Tals. dhe 
Painter on the Orthoptera, and the writer has studied the Scarabaeidae 
and Aphididae. 
Necessarily an insect survey of this nature requires a division of 
work and it was planned to appoint honorary curators for the different 
groups or orders, to serve without pay, who would co-operate in col- 
