February, '15] FERNALD: NEEDS IN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



39 



dered easy the introduction of the pests of other countries, and in spite 

 of all the laws, supervisory boards and inspectors now actively at work, 

 some of these pests at least are sure to shp in. To recognize these in 

 their different stages and to know what steps to take for their control 

 as soon as they appear are points becoming more important each day, 

 and any information which can be obtained on this subject would be 

 welcomed by every entomologist. It is to be hoped that speciahsts 

 connected with the Department of Agriculture may before long find it 

 possible to prepare a bulletin in which the worst pests of foreign lands 

 liable to reach and estabUsh themselves here may be dealt with in 

 detail, and that illustrations of the different stages of these insects 

 may be given to aid in their recognition. 



The nun moth, to take a^particular case, is regarded as a serious pest 

 in Europe. When we consider the often difficult conditions under 

 which our inspectors of imported nursery stock work: in places 

 poorly lighted, or as night comes on; with work enough often for three 

 men, and only one to do it; with plants so dense that it is often impos- 

 sible to get at every part; with earth at the roots, which should not 

 be removed: and too often also, with only a most general idea of what 

 may possibly be found; under such conditions as these, we can hardly 

 be surprised if some day the nun moth may escape observation, and 

 before discovery, establish itself in this country, and what is true of 

 this insect is true of many others. Sooner or later then, the American 

 entomologist must to some degree become a world entomologist and 

 the sooner his training covers this broader field, the better, for in the 

 opinion of the speaker, the time must ultimately come when in spite 

 of laws and inspections the pests of one country will become the pests 

 of all others except where climate, lack of food, or other natural con- 

 ditions operate to prevent it. 



Whatever fine the economic entomologist may pursue, it is evident 

 that to reach the best results, more thorough work will be required. 

 The study of a pest without finding a satisfactory method of control 

 means either that the investigation was not complete, or else that our 

 knowledge of control methods is defective. Frequently both are true. 

 To obtain results of the kind desired, more careful and thorough — I 

 may say monographic — work will be necessary. For this a natural 

 aptitude, coupled with thorough training are essential to the worker, 

 and in the long run the great results will be mainly achieved by men 

 of this type. Persistence, attention to details, not knowing when at 

 any moment one of the smallest of these may provide a solution of the 

 problem, an active, inductive mind, and extreme patience in working 

 are factors essential to success. 



But whatever the work may be, when success has been attained, 



