EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF 

 ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



MORNING SESSION, AUGUST 21, 189G. 



The association was convened in the lecture hall of the Library 

 buildiDg, Buffalo, Is. Y. The following officers and members were 

 present: 



President, C. EL Fernald; vice-president, F. M. Webster; secretary, 

 0. L. Marlatt; M. F. Adams, C. J. S. Bethune, R. A. Cooley, James 

 Fletcher, E. H. Forbusli, 0. W. Hargitt, A. D. Hopkins, L. O. Howard, 

 J. A. Lintner, W. G. Johnson, D. S. Kellicott, A. H. Kirkland, G. H. 

 Perkins, F. W. Rane, M. V. Slingerland, J. B. Smith. 



The following entomologists, not members of the association, were 

 also present: 



W. S. Blatchly, C. D. Zimmerman, E. P. Van Duzee, Ottomar Rein- 

 ecke, 0. W. Neeclham. 



There were also present at the meetings a number of zoologists and 

 other visitors, the attendance averaging from 25 to 30 persons. 



The association was called to order by the president, and the presen- 

 tation of his annual address immediately followed. 



THE EVOLUTION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



By C. H Fernald, Amherst, Mass. 



The earliest accounts of injuries caused by insects, so far as I have 

 seen, are contained in the Old Testament, but nowhere in this work is 

 it stated that attempts of any kind were made to destroy the insects 

 or hold them in check in any way. In many instances the visitations 

 of insects in large numbers were looked upon as plagues sent by the 

 Almighty. Three of the plagues of Egypt, portrayed so vividly in the 

 book of Exodus, were caused by insects — one by lice, one by flies, and 

 one by locusts — but in each case Pharaoh looked for and sought relief 

 only by Divine interposition through the good influences of Moses, " the 

 great lawgiver." 



In the book of Joel sundry judgments of God are declared, among 

 which the devastations of insects are referred to with some detail. 

 The prophet seems to take a pessimistic view of their work, but no 

 hint is given or even suggested of any method of checking their 

 ravages. 



