GUIDE TO THE INSECTS OF CON- 

 NECTICUT. 



PART I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



The present paper is the first of a series dealing with insects, 

 in which it is expected that ultimately the whole subject may be 

 treated. The desirability of a published guide to the insects 

 occurring within the boundaries of the state is beyond question ; 

 and this should include such notes regarding their characters, 

 distribution, and habits as may prove helpful in recognizing 

 them, so that if harmful they may be combated, or if beneficial 

 they may be encouraged. It is impossible at the present time 

 to prepare any accurate account of the species of all orders of 

 insects found in Connecticut, because little attention has been 

 given to some groups, and collections have not yet been made. 

 Probably the most feasible plan will be to take up separately 

 the insects in each order, or in some cases a single family may 

 become the subject of a separate bulletin. Those groups which 

 have received the most attention by collectors and students will 

 naturally be the first to receive treatment ; but the work must 

 be regarded as preliminary, as it will require the efforts of many 

 years to make it even approximately complete in all particulars. 



The authority for including certain species of insects as oc- 

 curring within the boundaries of the state is based upon 

 Connecticut material in the insect collection of the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station at New Haven. The material has been ac- 

 cumulating for sixteen years, though the chief portion of it 

 has been collected during the past nine years. Other important 

 collections are those of the United States National Museum, 

 Washington ; American Entomological Society, Philadelphia ; 

 American Museum of Natural History, New York; Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.; Boston Society of 



