( BAPTEB V. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL TO AGRICUL- 

 TURE. 



Economic Entomology relates to those insects which 

 prey on our crops; it comprises a study of their habits, 

 classification, and the remedies against their attacks; it also 

 includes ;i s1 udy of insect-parasites of t he domes! ic animals, 

 of man himself, as well as household pests. In short, this 

 branch of applied science treats of the habits and best 

 means of destroying any insect which is in any way in- 

 jurious to human interests. To Bucceed well in this applied 

 science one must he a close, patient observer ami of a prac- 

 tical turn (if mind. 



The number of injurious insects in the United States 

 large and increasing. Owing to the destructiveness of in- 

 troduced species,* the large areas devoted t<> special crops, 

 ami other causes, crops in this country seem far more liable 

 to insect-depredations than in the Old World, and the evil 

 is perhaps especially felt in the more recently settled por- 

 tions of the country. 



Prof. J. A. Lintner, the State Entomologist of New York, 

 in his first report remarks: "There is probably not a single 



* Tlic mosl obnoxious insects brought accidentally from Eui 

 are the following: the wheat-midge and Hessian fly; • n ant worm 



v i, it '/x r, ntricoa »), oyster-shell bark-louse, apple Aphis, bop-l< 

 grain Aphis, and several other species of plai lie coddliug- 



moth, c:iM>auv butterfly (Pieris raptr), cabbage mot] 

 puntella), currant-borer (AUgeria tipuliformis), aspara« clover- 



rool borer, onion-fly {Phortna ceparum), and several other realties; 

 also some of our cut-worms appear to have been from 



Europe. 



On the other hand, we have unwittingly sent 

 y\w lloxera. 



