88 
; :st be the first to take up and the last to lay down. Until the 
i ire subject of the life history, the relations, the economy, the 
ij .-elopment, and the conditions of health and disease, have been 
; stored, and without practical results—until they are, in fact, as 
il known as those of the horse, or the dog, we need not despair 
measures of relief against it. In short, the importance and dif- 
jilty of the subject are such as to call for the most patient , thor- 
ih and exhaustive research, before we abandon the contest as 
peless. 
t was in the spirit of these reflections, that I made a beginning 
ni the study of this insect, last July, and the first results of the 
tson’s work upon it are here reported. As the chinch-bug has 
m somewhat fully treated by my predecessors, in previous reports 
m this office, I have not thought it worth while to summarize 
! well-known facts respecting it, but will pass at once, without 
ther explanation or apology, to an account, first, of its history 
ring the present season; second, of various checks upon its in- 
ase, some of them newly-discovered; and third, of certain arti- 
al measures for its destruction, upon which I have begun to ex- 
‘iment. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
Che life histories of insects are the foundations of economic en- 
oology; these must be complete, definite and accurate, or all 
e is indefinite and uncertain. And as the histories of insects 
•y, according to latitude, and from year to year, it is necessary 
it they should be studied in various localities, and under different 
iditions. Without the knowledge thus acquired, we can neither cur¬ 
tly foresee the course of events respecting insect ravages, nor tell 
en and where we may attack their authors to the best advantage,— 
:1 yet, for various reasons, there is scarcely a single species of in- 
ious insect whose life history is certainly and completely known. 
,r lack of this definite and reliable knowledge, we are often left 
I grope in a fog, where we should see by the clearest light of day. 
e requirements of this subject are exceedingly simple. The secret 
successful method is, close and contmuous observation. A species 
jould be followed from week to week, and at times even from day 
day, throughout the year, and through its periods of scarcity as 
II as through those of its greatest abundance. The area super- 
ed should be the largest which it is possible to cover thoroughly, 
“I the time over which our observations are extended should be 
'g enough to give us a knowledge of the variations from the av- 
ge, due to differences of weather and other local or general con- 
ions. 
Respecting the cliinch-bug, a fairly complete life history, for an 
13rage year during its periods of abundance, has been made out, 
I some general knowledge has been gained of the bad effects of 
remely wet weather; but beyond this we have not heretofore 
u6. 
Is the year just closing has been in many respects an exceptional 
3, I have thought it worth while to give a somewhat full sum- 
|j,ry of our field notes on this insect, and we shall see that the 
