REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I918 I3 



aphis, summer leaf feeders and the wheat midge and recording the 

 most recent developments. 



The main purpose of the undertaking was to secure early and accu- 

 rate reports of insect activities from all over the State, to summarize 

 the information thus obtained, distribute it promptly, and thus 

 effect material reduction in the serious losses annually inflicted by 

 these pests. Particular emphasis was laid upon the initial signs of 

 injury in order to promote control before much damage had been 

 caused. The more important crops received first attention, specially 

 the insect enemies of potatoes, such fruits as apples, pears, peaches 

 and cherries, cereal and forage crops and truck and garden crops. 



It is impossible, from the nature of the case, to give exact figures as 

 to the value of the service. The mere fact that a close watch was 

 kept for such injury is worth much in times when every effort should 

 be made to increase production. An estimate made in 19 13 placed 

 the approximate damage in this State to all farm crops at $20,000, 

 000 annually. The figures should be considerably higher now. Fur- 

 thermore there is need of discouraging unwise or misdirected efforts 

 against insects of little importance or the use of materials or methods 

 of doubtful efficiency. The Entomologist has constantly kept these 

 problems in mind and in working through farm bureau agents 

 has been able to do much in standardizing practices and increasing 

 production. 



The Entomologist has also served as collaborator with the Emer- 

 gency Entomological Service of the United States Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, thus assisting in improving conditions in the country as 

 a whole and at the same time bringing the state work into closer 

 touch with that of the Nation, to the mutual advantage of both. 



Gall insects. The " Key to American Insect Galls " has been 

 carried through the press. It is the only comprehensive tabulation 

 of these interesting deformities and since it deals primarily with the 

 more obvious swellings or plant malformations rather than with 

 the minute and highly complex gall makers themselves, it will 

 greatly facilitate the study of the interrelations between plants and 

 insects. There is also brought together and tabulated in this bulletin 

 data which are of great value in interpreting biological processes and 

 are not without their economic or practical bearing, since a number 

 of species comprised in this large group are pests of prime importance, 

 notably the Hessian fly and the wheat midge, the latter being much 

 more destructive in earlier years than at the present time. 



Some attention has been given to gall midges and a number of 

 interesting forms, including several new genera, have been described. 



