s 
/ 
ascertained in reference to the production of any useful crop, or the 
culture of a plant, has more or less bearing upon the subject of eco¬ 
nomic entomology. And the same is true in reference to every new 
feature in farming or horticulture. Each year, as I close my report, 
and deliver it for publication, I feel more and more impressed with the 
necessity of being more practical. I have, therefore, felt it necessary 
in this case to explain why my report has been devoted chiefly to a 
limited group of insects, and for the scientific treatment of the subject. 
As before intimated, one object has been to spread before the people 
of our state as rapidly as possible the means of obtaining a general 
knowledge of the science of entomology, and to this end I have de¬ 
voted a part of each report to a manual of economic entomology. In 
the first this part was devoted to the Coleoptera , or beetles, found to be 
injurious in our state; in the second report it was devoted to the Lep- 
idoptera , or butterflies and moths, whose caterpillars are found to be 
more or less injurious. The present report is devoted chiefly to the 
history, habits a nd descriptio n of the various species of plant-lice found 
m our country, all of which are injurious t o iflants^ As~but little at- 
tention has heretofore been paid to these insects by the entomologists 
of our country, I had to depend very largely upon my own observa¬ 
tions, describing for the first time a large number of the species men-' 
tioned. 
As this family presents some of the most singular characteristics of 
the entire class, and requires a somewhat peculiar nomenclature, it was 
necessary that I should devote considerable space to the discussion and 
explanation of these points. I have also endeavored in this part of 
my reports to so treat the groups taken up that it would not be nec¬ 
essary to go over them again, but to make them, when taken together, 
a manual for reference hereafter. 
At the close of the report will be found, notes of the year, and 
mention of special insects found injurious during the past season in 
our state. 
Allow me, through you, to thank the board for the honor they have 
conferred upon me, by selecting me as Entomologist. It was especially 
gratifying as it indicated that my labors as State Entomologist had at 
least been satisfactory. I shall be pleased at any time to have the 
board direct me as to particular investigations they desire made in my 
department, as I will thus have ray attention called more particularly 
to what is considered most important. 
It was recently suggested to me by a member of the board that it 
might be well to study anew the comparatively few species wdiich Dr. 
LeBaron aptly designated “first class,” as injurious insects. The sug¬ 
gestion I think is a good one, and as it coincides with the plan I have 
had in view for the past two years, I propose to devote my attention 
chiefly to it during the next year. 
This is a work which cannot be finished in a single season, but re¬ 
quires time and favorable opportunities in order to obtain satisfactory 
results. 
I wish here to tender my thanks to the Governor and various state 
officers, yourself, Secretary Fisher and the board, for favors received, 
