1930 ] 
The Food of Insects 
13 
Since human behavior is conventionally regulated by pro- 
hibitions, punishments and legislative action of endless va- 
riety, it is quite natural that the immigration of insects 
should have come to the attention of law-makers as a fit 
subject for similarly paternal consideration. The protection 
of the human population from communicable diseases by 
restricting the movements of diseased persons has been so 
satisfactorily effected by quarantine measures that exclu- 
datory regulations have been instituted to protect countries 
from invasion by insects from other regions, without a 
clear statement that the two situations are neither identical 
nor essentially similar. Thus, such regulations have been 
based upon the inspection of host plants or other materials. 
The success of these has not been all that might have been 
hoped and there is a wide divergence of opinion as to 
whether the results attained are in any sense commensurate 
with the great expense and hardships entailed. It is quite 
clear that the absolute exclusion of insects is a much more 
difficult undertaking than the interception of cases of hu- 
man disease. Human beings are dealt with legally and 
otherwise as individuals and besides, the success of public 
health measures does not depend upon absolute exclusion 
for all time. There is no question that such measures must 
aid somewhat to delay the introduction of insect pests where 
some natural geographical barrier to animal or plant mi- 
gration exists. As time goes on, as transportation increases 
and speeds up and as movement becomes our main interest, 
the poor old oceans, mountains and deserts are rapidly 
losing their importance as separating faunas and floras. 
In our own country during the past few years there has also 
been an increasing movement to prevent the spread of par- 
ticular species of insects between states or other artificially 
limited areas where absolutely no natural barriers exist. 
This in itself is a most commendable endeavor when it can 
be carried on unostentatiously and at reasonable expendi- 
ture, since it serves to delay the otherwise extremely rapid 
naturalization of insects over contiguous areas. In some 
instances it is obvious that such quarantines may become 
oppressive and entail expenditures and economic conse- 
quences to communities that are not at all warranted by any 
advantages that might reasonably be expected to accrue 
