830 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 



Shade tree insects (nos. 252-67). This group, illustrated by 16 

 species, naturally conies very close to the preceding. It has 

 been limited largely in the present instance to those species 

 which are rarely of economic importance except when attacking 

 shade trees; and, as these are among our most valuable assets, 

 the group is of great economic importance. It includes such de- 

 structive pests as the sugar maple borer, leopard moth, elm bark 

 borer, elm bark louse, elm leaf beetle, white marked tussock moth, 

 bag worm, and others, all very injurious to highly prized shade 

 trees. Most of them can be controlled without excessive expense. 

 For detailed accounts of these pests the reader is referred to the 

 New York state museum bulletins 20 and 27, to the 12th report 

 of the state entomologist and to his papers in the 4th and 5th 

 reports of the fisheries, game and forest commissioners of New 

 York. 



Work of gall insects (nos. 268-97). This is a small collection 

 of deformities produced in plants by 30 species of insects belong- 

 ing to three different orders. It illustrates the effect a com- 

 paratively insignificant insect may have on plant tissues, and in 

 the study of the collection a number of interesting biologic 

 problems are presented to the mind of the student. 



Systematic collection (nos. 298-931). This assemblage of 634 

 species occupies nearly one third of the entire space devoted to 

 the display of insects. It is arranged according to what are 

 believed to be the natural affinities of the species. That is, the 

 more closely related are put next to each other, so far as possible. 

 There is nothing very new in the collection, but it accomplishes 

 its object in giving the casual observer some idea of the immense 

 number and variety of forms found in the insect world. Such 

 a collection can make no pretense to completeness, as will be 

 seen at once, when it is remembered that our best authorities 

 estimate that between one and 10 million different species of 

 insects now exist in the world. It has special value, however, 

 to residents of New York state, since the more common native 

 forms are very fully represented. This is of particular advantage 

 in showing to some extent how many insects occur in a locality,. 



