present status of economic or practical entomology, and to acquaint 

 myself with the progress made therein during the last ten years. 



This was necessary in order that I might make use of what had 

 been ascertained and satisfactorily determined, and not spend time in 

 studying out anew what was already known. 



It was also necessary, in reference to our injurious species, that I 

 might know what remedies had been tried, and the results of these 

 experiments. 



Soon after entering upon this examination I became convinced that 

 the first and great need of our farmers and horticulturists is a manual 

 of economic entomology especially adapted to Illinois, something 

 similar to Dr. Harris' noted work on the Injurious Insects of Massa- 

 chusetts. A large number of the injurious species of our State, and 

 of the adjoining States of Iowa and Missouri, have been quite thor- 

 oughly examined, and their history and habits fully described and 

 remedies suggested by Messrs. Walsh, Le Baron, Shimer, Riley, Wier, 

 and myself ; but these articles are distributed through the various re- 

 ports of the State Entomologists, Agricultural and Horticultural Trans- 

 actions, Practical and American Entomologists, and various Western 

 agricultural and other papers. There are probably not ten persons in 

 Illinois who possess a full series of these reports and papers, nor a 

 sufficient number of them to include even the list of the most im- 

 portant species. The consequence of this is that those having one or two 

 copies of these reports, finding a species which they have some knowl- 

 edge of, turn to them to learn its habits and the remedies recom- 

 mended, but failing to find it, as it is not one of the few species men- 

 tioned therein, are disappointed, and lose faith in the value of the 

 Entomologist's work, although it maybe that the very species he is 

 hunting for is fully described in some report or article he does not 

 possess. 



If a manual, or report in the form of a manual, were prepared con- 

 taining brief descriptions and accounts of the history, habits of, and 

 remedies for all our injurious species worthy of note, it would form a 

 permanent work of reference, and would be a basis for all future re- 

 ports. During the short time I have been in office I have had abund- 

 ant evidence of the need of such a work in the many letters of inquiry 

 sent me in reference to species which have been thoroughly treated 

 in the reports of my predecessors. 



Such a work to be thoroughly and properly done requires time and 

 care, as we must first know what injurious species are found in Illi- 

 nois; and then it is necessary to ascertain their history and habits, 

 and what remedies have been tried, and the results, &c. ; but when 

 done, if carefully arranged, with proper tables and indexes, explana- 

 tions and glossary, and thoroughly illustrated by good figures, it would 

 be invaluable to our farmers, orchardists, vineyardists, gardeners, 

 florists, and nurserymen. 



Taking this view of the matter, I resolved to commence such a work, 

 although fully conscious I could not complete it this year. In the 

 report I now present will be found that part relating to the Coleoptera 

 or beetles, an order which includes a very large proportion of our in- 

 jurious species. 



