EMPIRE ENTOMOLOGY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1925, Page 7

EMPIRE ENTOMOLOGY

CONFERENCE IN LONDON INSECT PESTS (FROM OUR OWN COBRBSPONDENT.) LONDON, 16th June. Delegates to the second Imperial Entomological Conference came from all parts of the Empire, including Mr. J. T. Anderson (Kenya), Lieut.-Colonel R. Eccles Snowden (Tasmania), Mr. L. D. Cleare (British Guiana), Sir Joseph Cook (Australia), Mr, G. H. Corbett (Straits Settlement and Federated Malay States), Mr. T. Bambridge Fletcher (India), Mr. A. Gibson (Canada), Mr, E. E. Green (Ceylon), Mr. 11. Hargreaves (Uganda), Mr. H. H. King (Sudan), Mr. C. H. Knowles (Gold Coast), Mr. C. P. Lounsbury (South Africa, and ! Southern Rhodesia), Mr. J. G. Myers (New Zealand), Mr. A. W. Pomeroy (Nigeria), Mr. D..W. Scotland (Sierra Leone), Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton (Tanganyika), Mr. F. W. Urich (Trinidad), and Professor Warrington Yorke (JN'orthern Rhodesia), with Dr. G. A. K. Marshall, Director of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology. They were received at l-he rooms of the Geological Society, Burlington House, by Lord Buxton, and a private business meeting followed, at which a memorandum on the work and finances of the Imperial Bureau was presented and discussed. Various methods of controlling insect pests which prey on the world's crops were discussed, and some interesting matter was contributed on the control of cotton crop-pests, grain crop insects, and fruit and timber parasites. Dr. R. H. M'Dougall, Reader of Entomology, Edinburgh University, presided. The effect of insect migration as a factor in pest outbreaks was dealt with by Dr. Bambridge Fletcher. He emphasised the economic importance of prevention in the breeding of insects and the need of the migratory habits of certain insects being carefully noted and control methods devised. Preventive methods well known and in practice were directed to keeping within bounds insects .which would otherwise assume destructive numbers. But, after all, these measured had been effectively taken, their calculations were upset by what could only be a large influx into a district of an Insect. Such a theory might seeiij to bo far-fetched at first sight, especially as it was very difficult of proof in most cases, but they found in India an accumulation of cases for which such an explanation seemed the only one possible. The migration of insects was, of course, merely an accentuated form of dispersal which was more or less normal in the case of most winged insects, but it was not usually realised what an important and constant factor this dispersal was. The dispersal was, to some extent, governed by the action of upper wind and currents. It was evident that in the case of crop pests, their anticipations of the recurrence of the insects might be set .at naught, not as a result of abnormal breeding locally but of immigration from othei? localities which might be at a considerable distance. Mr. C. B; Williams urged the economic importance of learning more about the migration of insect pestg, os the whole system of control was affected if it were proved that insects could leave a country and then return when least expected. NOVEL USE OF AEROPLANES Mr. Gibson read a paper on the methods adopted in Canada to deal with insect peats by the Federal and Provincial Departments of Agriculture, and'said that from 1919 to 1923 crops hud been saved to the value of 77,000,000 dollars at an expenditure of 1,700,000 dollars. Slides were shown of the trench method of dealing with caterpillars, in which a trench is cut in the path of the invading caterpillar, and acts as a trap. Arsenical dust was blown extensively on orchards to kill the apple maggot, and the apple sucker, recently introduced from Europe, had been very successfully combatted by developing an apple fungus which was used in an orchard afflicted with the pest, and cleared, the pest out in ten days to a fortnight. The corn bore had also been dealt with by the introduction of a parasite deadly to the pest, and one and a hatf million parasites had been liberated for that purpose in colonies of five to ten thousand. The bud-worm had been most destructive of timber, and seven billion feet had been killed by that pest in ten years. Aeroplanes were used to scout for diseased timber, and in two to three hours could carry out work which would require twij to three months by ordinary methods. UNITY OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS Dealing with cotton growing in Nigeria, Mr. Pomeroy said that the application, of economic entomology as a practical science was of comparatively recent date, and there was a tendency to expect results in the twinkling of a scientific eye. One of the main objects which that conference could achieve was a greater unity of economic entomologists as A whole. Unless they could unite in their aims and impress more clearly on the Government the value of their branch of agricultural research, they could not hope as individuals to aspire to the status and emoluments which were accorded to other scientific specialists, and especially the administrative branch of agricultural departments. Tho importance of entomology in association with agriculture, particularly in tropical countries, was also emphasised. Dr. G. A. K. Marshall said there was no ■ question that as the development of the tropics extended, the fight with insects would become more severe. Damage amounting to many millions a year was done by insect pests iirtropical and sub-tropical parts of the Empire, and something must be done to check that waste. Tlie weak spot was that the average agriculturist had not appreciated the fact that economic entomology must be used to prevent insects ever becoming pests. Where possible they should induce planters and farmers to introduce entomological inspection into the management of their crops. Large growers should lie encouraged to employ trained' men for preventive work. Dr. J. W. Munro .spoke on the orgiinisntion of forest entomology, and Mr. C. 15. Williams described the entomological organisation in Egypt. Mr. '.I.'. J. Anderson spoke on insect posts in Kenya. Tn a recent- debate mi Kenya, in tlio House of Lords, lie K.'iid. llic .appointment of a new. Imperial Committee was fureshadowed. nnrl the, encouragement of native onltiva"lion was mentioned as one of the points to lie considered. He suggested that before any such increase in cultivation, either native or European, was iidvised or- encouraged, adequate provinion should be made beforehand for (he control of insect pests. The education and qualifications of an economic entomologist were discussed. mid Mr. H. H. King (Sudan), introducing the- subject, said his duties would include the devising, organisation, and carrying out of measures for controlling insect pests, and on tho foresight of the entomologist might depend the prosperity of the country. He must inspire confidence and convince others of the need of precautionary

measures. He thought it was important that a man should receive a grounding in agriculture. SPECIES NEW TO SCIENCE In the report it was stated that an important branch of the bureau's work consisted in the identification of insects sent in by. entomologists and . medical and veterinary officers from .'ill parts of the Empire. The number of collections received during the past five years had .been 1429, and the total ■ number of insects received had ■ been i 247,916. The contributors represented ■ Africa, tropical America, Asia, Austrai lia, New Zealand, the Pacific IsJand3, '■ and Europe, and the number of specific ■ identifications totalled 29,571. The steady increase of correspondents sending in material was noteworthy, as it afforded some indication of tho appre--1 ciation of the work done by the bureau. Of the insects received some 38,000 1 were blood-suckers; named collections of these and also many species of agricultural importance had been sent out' to numerous institutions where they were likely to prove of scientific or educative value. In addition to this, 67,700 specimens were presented to the British Museum, including the types of 903 species new to science. THE TSETSE FLY In the discussion of "Co-ordination of Effort in Tsetse-fly Investigations," Professor Warrington Yorke (professor of Parasitology in the University of Liverpool and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) said he had long felt the necessity- for co-operation of effort' if any definite advance of knowledge was to be achieved. He urged that the work of entomological and medical and veterinary research on the Trypanosomiasis problem should be combined under one central organisation, supported by pooled contributions from all the African colonies interested; that the personnel of the investigating commission or commissions should be large enough to ensure continuity of work in all directions; and that sufficient funds, should be placed at the disposal of the investigating commissions to allow of the employment of adequate. native labour so that experimental work could be undertaken on a sufficiently large scale. ■ ' • • Mr.- C. F. M. Swynnerton (Tanganyika) advocated in addition co-op-eration with foreign nations on their borders. LOCAL RESEARCH Dr. Andrew Balfour (Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) suggested that each colony should have a research department. Tho problem differed in different parts of Africa. Mr. Ormsby-Gore (Under-Secretary for the Colonies) said if they were to make any advance they had to get more money, a larger staff, and greater attention paid to the tsetse-fly. He was afraid if the problem was left entirely to scientists, however' eminent, they would have an uphill fight. They must enlist also the interest of politicians, : administrators, and commercially-mind- ■ ed people. He regarded the veterinary side of the question as of enormous im--1 portance. He was sure the public were 1 taking more interest in the question, 1 and lie would be glad to give all the 1 assistance that he could.