REPORT 



To His Excellency, J. L. Beveridge, Governor of Illinois : 



Sir : — I have the honor to present herewith my first report as State 

 Entomologist. 



I am happy to state that during the past season, and to a great ex- 

 tent the previous season, our State was generally less troubled with 

 injurious insects than the two or three years preceding 1875. It is 

 true that certain limited localities suffered from the depredations of 

 the army worms in 1875, also the wire worms and canker worms, and 

 a few other species ; and in 1876 the orchards, vineyards, nurseries, 

 and small fruits suffered to a considerable extent from their ordinary 

 pests, and also from two or three species not heretofore troublesome in 

 this State ; but our farmers have, as a rule, suffered less than usual, 

 and we have not been visited to any material extent by that terrible 

 pest, the chinch bug, nor have we, notwithstanding the fears of many, 

 been visited by that terrible scourge of the trans-Mississippi regions, 

 the k< Destructive Locust." I am glad that I can state that so far the 

 conclusions of entomologists in reference to the extension eastward of 

 the migrations of these locusts or grasshoppers have been confirmed. 

 I can assure you that a careful study of the character and habits of 

 these insects has satisfied me that the opinion first expressed by Mr. 

 Walsh, the first State Entomologist of Illinois, that these pests would 

 never invade our State, is correct. Some remarkable climatic changes 

 in 1874 and 1875 caused an unusual migration of this destructive 

 species, and also some remarkable changes in our native species, indi- 

 cating a disposition even among them to migrate ; but the present 

 season shows, just as I predicted would be the case, a retrograde move- 

 ment to the normal condition. I therefore think it is unnecessary 

 for this State to take any steps in reference to protecting our agricul- 

 turalists against the attacks of the Western destructive grasshoppers, as 

 the strong probability, I might say certainty, is that they will never 

 visit us in sufficient numbers to do any more injury than our native 

 species. As to what part this State should take in any joint action 

 by the Western States in reference to this plague is not for me to say. 



Having been for some years previous to my appointment to this 

 office engaged in special scientific work relating chiefly to a single 

 department of entomology, it became necessary for me to make a 

 thorough survey of the entomological field, in order to ascertain the 



