RAVAGES OF INSECTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5317, 24 August 1928, Page 1

RAVAGES OF INSECTS.

£100,000,000 YEARLY LN AMERICA.

The fiavuges of insects, estimated at oyer £400,000,000 annually in the United States alo.ne, .are being studied comprehensively by world scientists at the fourth ni't.erna,tional congress of entomology meeting at Cornell University.

The gathering has brought an alumnus of Cornell University, Dr. L. O. Howard, senior entomologist of the Department of Agriculture, When asked to comment on the importance of the congress and ,the work being dbne by entomologists, Dr. Howard said :—

“Few people realise tr.e critical situation which exists at the present times. Men and nation,s have* always struggled among themselves. War, has sjeemed to be a necessity growing out. of the ambitreon of the human race. But there is a war between all humanity and certain forces that arc arrayed against it, the bacteria and protozoa that carry d'sease, and the enormous forces of injurious insect 8 ; which attack us from very point and which attack us from every point an,d rivals in the control of nature.

“We have ignored; these creatures to, a certain extent; on account of the>r small size, but their size, is, one of the great elements of danger, one o.f the great elements of .success in existence and multiplication.

“Let all the departments of biqlogy in all our universities, and colleges begin a concerted movement to train the men; needed 'n this defensive and offensive campaign.”