168 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan 



DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



H. T, FERNALD. 



During- the year 1912 the work in the dei')artment of ento- 

 mology has been mainly devoted to the prosecution of projects 

 already begun, with few additions to the list. 



The insect collection has been somewhat added to and main- 

 tained in its previous good condition. Its constant use for ref- 

 erence by every one working on insects at the college, and by 

 many from outside, has been very noticeable, and its value for 

 this purpose is constantly increasing as it becomes more com- 

 plete. 



The number of letters of inquiry received during the year 

 has been so large as to require," on an average, several hours' 

 attention each day, and, as was the case last year, has covered 

 many topics. Most of these inquiries have not been about the 

 more noticeable insects, but about what may be termed those of 

 secondary prominence, for though destructive they are not as 

 liable to attract attention. As less is naturally known about 

 these insects than about the more evident ones, more time has 

 necessarily been required to give the information desired than 

 was the case a few years ago, and in some instances personal 

 visits have been required in order to fully understand conditions 

 before the best advice as to treatment could be given. 



Under the Hatch act further observations on the dates of 

 hatching of the young of the oyster-shell, pine-leaf and scurfy 

 scales have been made, and experiments on the control of the 

 onion maggot have been begun. These last are reported on more 

 fully elsewhere. Tests of various insecticides have been made 

 and are also reported elsewhere. Methods for the protection of 



