tup: axdial life of the group. 379 



chapter xxx. 

 ixaiportant economic insects: i>art one. 



The insect life of Hawaii is as yet far from being completely explored. 

 Howevei-. tlinnigh the patient researches of a number of specialists extending 

 over a period of years, the native and introduced fauna is becoming better 

 known, though all testify to the nuiny insect rareties as well as pests yet to 

 be found by almost any one who will search with patience and industry in the 

 rich fields offered bv the wonderful varietv of environments to be met with in 

 the islands. 



Importance of the Study op Insects. 



The study of the habits of insects by young pe()i)le as a part of their 

 school work, or on their holiday excursions, is especially to be commended, 

 since it is sure to result in the learning of many valuable lessons that deal with 

 the wonders of nature. Besides being of absorbing interest to old and young, 

 such study may lead the enthusiast to follow a pursuit in life that offers possi- 

 bilities of great usefulness and benefit to all. 



The tourist and visitor, however, whose conception of the islands 

 has been too literally based on some traveler's account wherein the 

 tropical forests are portrayed as "a wilderness jeweled with a myriad bril- 

 liant-colored butterflies," is sure to be disappointed on his first expedition 

 into the mountains of Hawaii. AVhile they are plentifully stocked with insect 

 life, unfortunately from some points of view it is not of the gorgeous and 

 showy kind that one is wont to associate with tropical islands. 



The few small dull-colored species the novice is able to collect on the first 

 day's outing are usually not such as to excite much enthusiasm for Hawaii as 

 an insect collector's paradise. Bvit on careful study of the daj-'s catch it will 

 be found that many of the insects belong to species that cannot be found else- 

 where in the world, and that many of them have habits of the most absorbing 

 interest. Further and more searching study of the fauna M'ill bring to light 

 peculiar local representatives of almost all of the great orders of insects. When 

 we consider the isolation of the islands, one is surprised to find represented 

 so great a proportion of the large number of families into Avhich the world's 

 more than three hundred thousand known species of insects have been 

 classified. 



Important Destructive Species. 



As there are several thousand species thai ai-e native to the isljiiids. a few 

 of wliicli are touched upon in a succeeding chapter, and since thei'e ar(^ several 

 hundred tliat have been introduced by accident or desio-u.i only the briefest 

 notice can be taken in this chaptei' of a few of Ihe more iinpoi'tant economic 

 species that, for one reason or a]U)tht'v, ai-e lial)U' to attract tlie attention of 



' As many as one hundred and thirty-six species being intercepted and prevented from landing at the 

 wharf during the biennial period ending December 31st. 1914. 



