The more extensive publications dealing with particular groups 

 of insects, which, though largely taxonomic in nature, vet contain 

 considerable information of value as regards host plants, biology, 

 and distribution, are those upon Lepidoptera by Nagano (114, 115, 

 117) and Matsumura (93), that upon Buprestidae by Mitsuhashi 

 (97). that upon Melolonthidae by Xiijima and Kinoshita (125), 

 that upon Platypodidae by Murayama (11§\, and those upon 

 Scolytidae by Niijima (122, 1:23). those upon the Homoptera of 

 Taiwan bv Schumacher (166) and Esaki (i4)« those upon the 

 Aphiidae by Kudo (52) and K. Takahashi (178. 179, 180. 181. 182), 

 that upon the Psyllidae by Kuwayama (74), and those upon the 

 Coccidae and Alevrodidae bv Ivuwana (57. 58. 61. 64, 65. 66. 67. 68, 

 69. 70. 71), 



The list of insect species attacking agricultural crops in Hokkaido, 

 published by Kuwayama (77). gives detailed distribution records of 

 the various pests as well as the known food plants. That for 

 Okinawa (Loo-choo Islands), the group of islands extending be- 

 tween Japan and Taiwan (Formosa), is largely based upon the list 

 published by Hirotaka (32). 



An interesting publication is that by Miyake (99). in which an 

 extended account is given of all of the species of insects known to 

 have been used for food or in medicine either in past times or at 

 present. Quite a number of insects are considered to be very pal- 

 atable articles of food, and in Nagano Prefecture the collection and 

 canning of the mature larvae and pupae of Vespa japonk-a is a 

 well-established industry. 



DISTRIBUTION RECORDS 



Accompanying the lists of insect species attacking the various 

 general groups of agricultural crops, as compiled in this circular. 

 is given the known distribution of each species in the central Asiatic 

 region. Though this publication deals primarily with Japan proper, 

 it presents also such data as are available regarding the insects of 

 Chosen (Korea). Taiwan (Formosa), and Okinawa, and their dis- 

 tribution to China has been noted where such records were available. 

 These distribution records have been compiled from a large variety 

 of publications, as the papers referred to following the species often 

 give only the sectional distribution. In various publication in the 

 past much confusion has resulted from the inclusion of Korean and 

 Formosan species in papers dealing with Japanese insects, but in 

 the accounts given herewith the records for Japan must be under- 

 stood to indicate only the main group of islands representing the 

 country geographically, rather than the political limits of the 

 Empire. 



In Japan one is impressed particularly with the great abundance 

 in the number of insect species which may be found and in their 

 relatively high numerical level. This is in contrast to the condition 

 which exists in tropical regions, where the number of species is usually 

 very large yet their numerical level is low. A considerable number 

 of the more important insect pests of the United States are apparently 

 native to Japan, and among these may be mentioned the gipsy moth, 

 the European corn borer, the Japanese beetle, and others of lesser 

 consequence. Many others, some of which are familiar to us in 



