80 



come as innocuous, as are now a score of what were once some of 

 I he worst pests here. 



For some of these latter one mav now go^ a long day's march 

 in search without success. So far as the economic entomologist is 

 concerned they are practically non-existent, and the ordinary man 

 has even forgotten that they ever existed. 



I further helieve that even with the aid of the natural enemies 

 availahle here on the spot, that hy a constant watching for an in- 

 crease of the pest and by transporting large numbers of the most 

 efficient of its enemies to a spot threatened with a bad outbreak, 

 the damage done by leaf hopper could be reduced to small propor- 

 tions. Obviously in the long run it will prove much more econ- 

 omical to send away for additional natural enemies. A few, or it 

 may be even one, species of parasite or predaceous insect success- 

 fully introduced would render it unnecessary to pay further at- 

 tention to the pest. 



It is amusing to read the advice given by the leading English- 

 speaking entomologist of a former day, the late Prof. Westwood 

 of Oxford, to the Grenadan planters on a bad outbreak of leaf- 

 liopper occurring in their island. 



"1 can see," he says, "but little ground for coming to any other 

 conclusion than that man will not be permitted to frustrate the in- 

 tention of Providence, but that we must look alone with submission 

 to that Power for the removal of these pests." 



No doubt the religious feeling which inspired the above re:naiks 

 is very pleasing to contemplate, but the advice to do nothing is now 

 a little out of date, not to say ridiculous, in the light of our pres- 

 ent knowledge. It must, however, be remembered that this ad- 

 vice was given three-quarters of a century ago (1833) and econ- 

 omic entomology has advanced somewhat since those days. 



