The importance of accurate identification of plant species or smaller units 
is obvious when it is recognized that generalizations concerning insect-host 
relationships should be based on precise identification. Generic identifications 
of plants often are insufficient. Likewise, the investigator should work with 
the smallest taxonomic unit possible in the insects. Associations, if they are 
to have validity in the future, may require that documented inflorescent bearing 
plant samples with associated insects be permanently preserved for future 
reference should taxonomic refinements or misidentifications suggest restudy. 
We found no reports which possessed all of the ideal characteristics 
although some approached closely (Balduf, 1959; Judd, 1961). Many reports gave 
only a list of the insects that had been collected on the plant and omitted any 
explanation of their true relationships, while others gave the life histories 
of a few insects with a list of other insects taken on the plant. 
An excellent example of a desired type of study is the report by Judd (1961) 
in which he correlates the occurrence of insects during the growth of skunk 
cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). This paper demonstrates that knowledge of the 
mechanisms by which insects are attracted to plants, or are held there, is an 
essential and intimate component of one's understanding of the plant-insect 
relationships. 
Several basic botanical references for the area covered which we found 
useful are: 
Anderson, Kling L. 1961. Common names of a selected list of plants. 
Agr. EXpe Sta. Kanse Sue hele hige Tech. Bul. 117:1-59. 
Fernald, M. L, 1950. Gray's manual of botany. 8th ed. Amer. Book Co., 
New York. 
Gleason, H. As 1952. The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora. New 
York Bot. Gard. 3 vols. 
Hitchcock, Ae S. 1950. Manual of grasses of the United States. Revised 
by Agnes Chase. 2nd ed. revised, Feb. 1951. U.S.D.A. Misc. Publ. 200. 
Hitchcock, C. Leo, Arthur Cronquist, Marion Ownbey, J. W. Thompson. 
1955—- . Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. Wash. Publs. 
Biol., ve 17, pts. 3-5. Univ. Wash. Press, Seattle. 
Kearney, T. Hi. and R. H. Peebles. 1942. Flowering plants and ferns of 
eee ae 
Arizona. U.S.D.A. Misc. Publ. 423:1-1069. 
Kelsey, He Pe and We As Dayton. 1942. Standardized plant names. J. Horace 
McFarland Co., Harrisburg, Pa. 
Munz, Philip and D. D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Rancho Santa Ana 
Botanic Garden. Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp. 
Rydberg, P. Ae 1954. Flora of the Rocky Mountains...2nd ed., revised. 
The Author, New York. 
