60 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



or other insects acting as carriers of this infection, and at the invi- 

 tation of Dr Haven Emerson, commissioner of health, New York 

 City, the Entomologist attended a conference for the purpose of 

 outlining a fly survey. This work was placed in charge of an 

 entomologist employed by the department of health of the city of 

 New York, and the details of the investigation will be made public 

 later. 



Gall midges. An unusual number of economic and compara- 

 tively unknown species belonging to this group have been brought 

 to our attention during the past year, and the probabilities are that 

 there will be more rather than less injury of this character in the 

 future. The studies of these interesting forms have been continued 

 and a number of new species, mostly reared, and several new 

 genera described. 



Key to insect galls. The studies of gall midges have resulted 

 in many insect galls being submitted for identification and, as a 

 matter of convenience, an illustrated key of these deformations 

 has been prepared. This tabulates about 1400 galls in relation to 

 their food plants, gives the principal characters of each deformi- 

 ty and a reference to the best or more accessible description. 

 The key has greatly facilitated the naming of galls and it is believed 

 that its publication will materially increase the interest in this 

 branch of natural history. 



Lectures. The Entomologist has delivered a number of lec- 

 tures on insects, mostly economic species, before various agricul- 

 tural and horticultural gatherings, some of them being in coopera- 

 tion with the Bureau of Farmers' Institutes or the county farm 

 bureau agents. Several lectures have also been given under the 

 auspices of local welfare associations. 



Publications. A number of brief, popular accounts regarding 

 such common pests as the apple tent caterpillar, pear thrips, white 

 grubs and grasshoppers have been prepared and widely circulated 

 through the press. The Entomologist's report contains a list of 

 his more important publications during the year. 



The increased interest in agriculture and nature study resulted 

 in a large demand from school teachers for information relating 

 to insects, and as a consequence the editions of certain more 

 popular bulletins and reprints, some dating back a number of years, 

 were exhausted the past summer. These publications could hardly 

 have been placed to better advantage. 



