1921 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 47 



It follows from the above that the mere occurrence of immense numbers by 

 no means indicates impossibility of control or extermination. 



Secondly, it would appear that relatively minor changes in environment or 

 attacks limited to comparatively restricted areas might accomplish the apparently 

 impossible. 



Thirdly, although there were probably in the case of the larger animals 

 enumerated above, exceptional individuals which under certain conditions varied 

 widely from the normal habit, these departures were not sufficiently marked or 

 numerous to save the species from extinction. 



The possibilities of extermination demand more than a passing notice. The 

 layman is inclined to approach the subject with an easy confidence, unembarassed 

 by experience, while the expert, oppressed with the numerous possibilities of 

 exceptional behavior may conclude that nothing short of absolutely destroying 

 all life in the infested area will accomplish the desired results. There is a 

 possibility that the truth lies midway between these extremes 1 . 



Those familiar with the early efforts of the State of Massachusetts to exter- 

 minate the gypsy moth, will recall that attempts were made to destroy much of 

 the vegetation and great attention was given to killing the eggs and a little later, 

 larva?. It required more than ten years experience to show that a fairly speedy 

 elimination of the insect was possible without wholesale destruction of the vegeta- 

 tion, providing advantage was taken of the feeding limitations of the species. The 

 efficacy of these methods has been repeatedly demonstrated on relatively large 

 though restricted infestations. 



The State Plant Board of Florida has undertaken a very similar piece of 

 work and is exterminating an isolated infestation of the sweet potato weevil by 

 the application of modified agricultural methods and the elimination of con- 

 ditions favorable to the existence of the insect, and although this work has been 

 in progress for less than three years, the speaker has been informed by Plant 

 Commissioner Newell that the inspectors hope and are confident that 85 per cent, 

 of the previously infested farms will be found free from weevil this fall and the 

 possibilities are that portions of the infested tract may be freed from restrictions 

 another season. It is true that the wingless sweet potato weevil with its closely 

 restricted food habits offers exceptionally favorable opportunity for the demon- 

 stration of such measures and yet the present partial success of the undertaking 

 is striking evidence of the soundness of the policy and by no means proves its 

 inapplicability to insects well provided with wings and possessing more general 

 food habits. 



The attack along all lines upon the green Japanese beetle infestation in New 

 Jersey will soon disclose the possibilities of both control and eradicating in the 

 case of a very difficult insect, though it should be remembered that the really 

 early work against the gypsy moth appeared relatively hopeless and that the really 

 efficient methods were developed only after years of study and practical experience. 



The attempted eradication of the pink boll weevil in the south affords another 

 opportunity of demonstrating possibilities along this line. 



The systematic destruction of the ermine moth in nursery centeTs is relatively 

 easy and is a most practical method of preventing another potentially serious pest 

 becoming established in this country. 



The progressive extermination of the cattle tick from nearly 5>00',000' son are 

 miles of territory and the consequent elimination from this area of a very des- 

 tructive infection is along the same line though outside the usually accepted 



