32 
AFTERNOON SESSION, FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1897. 
Upon motion of Mr. Howard, it was voted that at the close of the 
present session the meeting be adjourned to convene at Boston, August 
19-20, 1898. 
Upon motion of Mr. Rolts, the following resolution was adopted: 
Whereas the Association of Economic Entomologists is familiar with the eftorts 
being made by the State of Massachusetts to exterminate the gypsy moth; and 
Whereas on two former occasions it has indorsed this undertaking by public 
resolution; and 
Whereas the existence of the gypsy moth in Massachusetts is a standing menace, 
not only to the agricultural and forestry interests of that State, but to those of the 
country at large: Therefore be it 
Resolved, That this association would urge upon the people of Massachusetts the 
danger of dilatory measures, and the wisdom and great importance of providing 
liberally for the work of exterminating the gypsy moth. 
In the absence of Mr. Gillette, the secretary pro tem.read the following 
paper: 
VERNACULAR NAMES OF INSECTS. 
C. P. GILLETTE, Fort Collins, Colo. 
As a member of the committee on nomenclature of common names of 
the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment 
Stations, I wish to recommend only such names or regulations as will 
receive the support of the members of the Association of Economic 
Entomologists and of other entomological writers of prominence in the 
country. 
All who have written very much upon our insects, using vernacular 
names, must have been unable at times to decide what was.the best 
name to use or the proper way to write it. One writes -‘codlin moth” 
and another “codling moth;” we see “chinz bug,” “chinch bug” and 
“chinch-bug” all written by good authorities, and we may write 
‘““clover-hay worm,” ‘“‘clover hay worm” or “clover hay worm,” and in 
any of these cases there will be no confusion as to the insect referred 
to, but it seems to me that all will admit that it would be better to have 
a uniform method of writing each of these names. I know of no better 
guide in the writing of common names than the examples set by our 
ornithological brethren. While we write “lady-bug,” ‘bed-bug,” 
‘“eut-worm” and ‘‘clothes-moth,” they are writing * blackbird,” ‘“hum- 
mingbird,” “sparrowhawk,” and ‘‘bluejay.” The botanists, having a 
liking for both hyphens and capitals, write Wire-Grass, Pond. Lily, 
Indian-Corn, etc., but they combine many compound words into one, as 
Whortleberry, Strawberry, Ragweed, etc. There seems to be no reason 
why one method should be chosen in one branch of natural history and 
a different method in another branch. In fact, it can hardly be said 
that botanists or entomologists have a method. In both sciences the 
present workers seem simply to be following in the foot steps of those 
=e el 
