20 CROP PEST COMMISSION OP 



Numbers of cattle and other animals are pastured in this 

 country, the pasturage being furnished both by the marshes 

 and by the higher grounds adjacent. The result is the stock are 

 bitten and tormented by mosquitoes during the night and by the 

 labanids and other flies during the day. 



THE NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE TABANIDAE. 



The natural enemies of this family number several species, 

 belonging to different orders of insects. A knowledge of the life 

 histories . and habits of these natural enemies is of value, for 

 the same reason that a, knowledge of the life histories and habits 

 of injurious insects is of value. One of the first things attempted 

 when a new insect pest is noted is to work out its life history 

 in detail. When this is accomplished the entomologist is in a 

 position to use his judgment as to when and how insecticides 

 should be applied to give the best results, or if the species is one 

 that will not 'yield to insecticides, his acquaintance with it will 

 u> ually give him that information ; in other words, a species must 

 be studied in detail before the possibilities connected with its 

 control can be thoroughly and accurately discussed or remedial 

 measures effectively put into practice. 



A thorough study of beneficial forms, which include natural 

 enemies of insects, reveals in a sense what they may accomplish 

 under the most favorable circumstances, and. so far as it does 

 this, suggests the advisability of making conditions more favor- 

 able for their increase. If a complete account of one of these 

 species is published in an accessible place, acquaintance with it 

 i< usually increased, and a general inclination to protect it is 

 ir. a measure established. 



THE HORSK (HARD. 



( MoHctluhi Carolina Drury. ) 



This species is commonly called horse guard where 1 have 

 been in Louisiana, but E. S. G. Titus refers to it as the "cicada 

 v/asp," and says it has frequently been seen killing cicadas. 



Much has been written regarding the habits of the preda- 

 ceous wasps, and surely they are worthy of every consideration 

 as natural enemies of insects and some other invertebrates. They 



