255 
A NATIONAL INSECT PEST SURVEY AND ITS RELATION 
TO INDIANA. 
JOHN J. DAVIS. 
At the last annual meeting of the American Association of Eco- 
nomic Entomologists, it was recommended that a National Insect Pest 
Survey be organized under the direction of the Bureau of Entomology, 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, in co-operation with the official en- 
tomologists of the various states. Such a survey was intended to 
ascertain the extent of injuries caused by various insects, and their 
distribution, and to keep the entomologists throughout the country 
apprized of developments during the growing season, since such in- 
formation would undoubtedly prove of greatest value in forecasting 
probable insect troubles, and would aid in the early recognition of 
recent insect introductions and newly established pests. 
In response to the suggestion of the American Association of 
Economic Entomologists, Dr. L. O. Howard, Chief of the Federal Bu- 
reau of Entomology, organized an Insect Pest Survey under the direc- 
tion of Mr. J. A. Hyslop. The objects of this survey as outlined by 
Dr. Howard include collecting and disseminating information on the 
status of insect pests throughout the country including both native and 
foreign pests; to give information on the first appearance of migratory 
pests so that possible precautionary methods can be taken; to accumu- 
late information on fall and winter stages of such pests as a basis for 
forecasts; and to prepare reports and careful estimates of damage 
occasioned by insect pests. 
The plan of organization involves for the Federal Bureau the 
general supervision of the work and issuing information in the form 
of monthly and special reports, as well as annual reports which will 
include a summary of seasonal geographic ecologic maps correlated 
with weather and abundance, tables of damage estimates, etc. A state 
collaborator or insect pest reporter has been designated for each state 
and he in turn works in co-operation with other entomological agencies 
of the state. The state collaborators are expected to submit reports 
to the Bureau of Entomology regularly each month so that the data are 
received at the Washingon office no later than the 20th of the month. 
The information received from all the states is then compiled and 
published the first of each month under the title of “The Insect Pest 
Survey Bulletin.” The information needed for these reports includes 
name of insect, the crop or crops attacked, the seriousness of the in- 
festation, whether or not it is wide spread or local, the per cent of 
damage, other pertinent facts regarding the situation, the success or 
value of controls which may have been put into practice and name of 
observer. The importance of this survey to the people of the State of 
Indiana cannot be overestimated. The entomologist by carefully study- 
ing these reports from month to month, is soon able to determine in a 
