168 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '07 



Economic Entomology. 



By Owen S. Paxson, Devon, Pa. 



Generally speaking, I am very much opposed to the practise 

 of economic entomology as a usual thing or by the public. 

 Such depredations as are caused by the Rocky Mountain locust, 

 gypsy moth and San Jose scale are indeed serious, and, as these 

 insects affect large areas, it is necessary to exterminate the 

 pests, at least for the welfare of the human race. If allowed 

 to continue they would become unbearable, for their natural 

 enemies or foods are wholly or practically destroyed. The 

 magnitude of the calamity is alone the reason for my change 

 of mind. These cases of such paramount importance should be 

 fought by scientific people. In fact, I think that all points 

 on entomology should be in their hands and under their judg- 

 ment, and not in that of the populace, who know nothing about 

 such matters, and, when once started on these raids, cannot 

 be stopped, except after years of trouble and expenditure. 



No one living in North America two hundred years ago 

 thought that the millions of birds then inhabiting the vast 

 wilderness, could or would be destroyed in the way they have 

 been. Why do not insects run such a chance, although re- 

 producing themselves much more easily and in vaster propor- 

 tions? It may sound foolish, but I thoroughly believe it will 

 happen at a date not far distant ; that is, if civilization will 

 persist in carrying out its present plans. This continual clear- 

 ing and burning leaves few places for insects to transform in 

 or undergo their metamorphoses. All land around our large 

 cities is persistently watched. The majority of private places 

 are kept nearly as clean as a rug, for the leaves, rubbish and 

 trees are continually disturbed. Thus we kill almost all the life 

 and destroy the hibernating places around us. Even the ad- 

 joining fields, meadows and woodlands are watched on a smal- 

 ler scale. They are frequently ploughed or burned over, thus 

 destroying in a single day countless hordes, which serve as 

 food for the wild life. Besides the destruction caused by man, 

 the insects have all their natural enemies to contend with. 



Year after year ground is reclaimed, so to speak, from nature, 



