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THE DESTRUCTION OF INSECT LIFE BY THE ELECTRIC LAMPS. 



BY PROFESSOR CLAYPOLE, AKRON, OHIO. 



The following paper was also read for Professor Claypole " on the destruction of 

 insects by electric light." 



In the early part of the year 1885, an installation of about one hundred electric 

 lamps was established in the city of Akron, 0.* It soon became evident that these lamps 

 would prove a fine field for entomological work. Several members of our Scientific club 

 accordingly watched them through the summer with great success. One point that came 

 under my own observation seems deserving of notice as showing the enormous destruction 

 of insect life by this new mode of illumination. 



It was by no means an unnusual occurrence to find in the morning the glass globes 

 from a quarter to half full of various kinds of insects. Most of these were more or less 

 burnt, but from the charred mass good specimens were frequently obtained, and many in 

 a state sufficient for identification. 



A single instance will illustrate my purpose now. On different days I took from 

 every lamp examined more than one hundred specimens of the little grass moth (Crambus 

 mutabilis, Clem). This gives a total from 110 lamps of more than a million individuals 

 destroyed during the three months, or 100 days, of their occurrence. This large number 

 must be largely increased by those, probably as many, which were totally consumed, and 

 left no trace behind. 



Other insects were also destroyed in numbers nearly as great, especially several species 

 'of the Tiger Moths. 



It would most naturally be expected that so wholesale a slaughter of insects, the greater 

 part of which had probably not laid any eggs, would be followed by a diminution of their 

 number. Accordingly this season has somewhat disappointed our expectations from this 

 source. The swarms around the lamps have been much smaller than in 1885. 



It is also worthy of notice, that it has become a matter of common observation that 

 the number of insects coming into the houses during the summer evenings has been very 

 much reduced by, or since the introduction of the electric lamps* 



It may therefore follow that one result unexpected, and uncalculated, may follow the 

 change in the mode of illumination. We may largely reduce the number of our insect 

 plagues in towns. Of course, this can only apply to those that are attracted to the light — 

 a large number — but not the most annoying. The mosquito, for example, has no special 

 love for the lamps. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE 

 ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



The Club met at Buffalo, N.Y., on August 17th, 1886, at the rooms of the Buffalo 

 Society of Natural History, fourteen members being present. 



The session continued at intervals during the meeting of the A.A.A.S. The follow- 

 ing persons were in attendance during the meeting : — J. A. Lintner, Albany, N. Y. ; J. H. 

 Comstock, Ithaca, N.Y. : S. A. Forbes, Champaign, 111. ; L. M, Underwood, Syracuse, 

 N.Y. ; T. B. Stowell, Courtland, 111. ; Rev. R. Benjamin, Cincinnati, 0. ; E. W. Claypole, 

 Akron, 0. ; Dr. J. B. Tweedale, St. Thomas, Ont. ; D. S. Kellicott, E. M. Chamot, 

 O. Reinecke, C. D. Zimmerman, Ph. Fischer, E. P. Van Duzee, Buffalo. 



The Entomological Society of Ontario was duly represented by Mr. Wm, Saunders, 

 Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, Mr. J. Alston Moffat, and Mr. E. Baynes Reed. 



The President, Professor J. A. Lintner, took the chair, and Mr. E. B. Reed acted as 

 Secretary in the absence of Mr. J. B. Smith, of Washington. 



* See report of the Entomological Society of Ontario for 1885. page 19. 



