The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-18
THE WAR
ON PESTS
Perkins Explains Work
Of Entomology
Division.

afternoon Professor X. l.. L. L q NILS,
the Territorial entomologist, outlines
the work already accomplished by his
department and also what it hopes to
do.
Prof Perkins says the chief work Of
the economic entomologists of these is
lands may be divided into two parts.
% The prevention of the Importation
of injurious insects or plant diseases
from other countries. (2) The de-
struction of injurious insects already
present in the islands.
Mr.. Perkins says that he has often
wondered that while means were con-
stant1y employed to reduce the inju-
rious insects already here, yet nothing
was done to keep out harmful pests.
"The injurious insects of today" he
says, ARE not those OF twelve years ago,
but more recent importations.
1T is also equally certain that of these
more recent importations. a very large
proportion, at any rate, might have been
kept out of the country, had there
been constantly an efficient inspecting
entomologist 1t is not that inspection
has not been made in the past, but that
it has of necessity been performed by
those who have been without the en-
genealogical knowledge necessary to
make it efficient. Even with the most
rigid inspection some new injurious
species, sooner or later, cannot be kept
out. In the last eighteen
months of four or FIVE consignments of
plants, sent with a certificate, declaring
them to be free from injurious insects,
four were found to be infested with
very injurious species. Two of these
consignments, indeed, brought insects.
which had they been specially imported
to damage this country, could hardly
have been better chosen.
at may be thought that the introduc-
ton of injurious insects into this coun-
try might be prevented by indiscrimin-
ate treatment of all plants introduced.
This, however, is impossible or mad
visable for two reasons. (a) A number
of injurious insects cannot be certainly
killed by any method of treatment with
out destroying the plant. OBJ Some
valuable plants in their natural condi-
ton, and many, when weakened by
long journey, will not stand the treat
ment necessary to kill insects, present
or suspected. Therefore critical exanl-
nation is necessary, and if insects,
which cannot certainly be destroyed by
treatment of the plants are present, the
plants must be destroyed by fire or
otherwise.
''At the present time | am personally
examining all large consignments of
plants Cat least those from more danger
Gus localities whenever possible), leav-
ing inspections of minor Importance to
one of my assistants. This plan IS
adopted because from long residence |
am naturally familiar with practically
all the species of insects of economic
importance, in these islands. and gen
orally with their distribution over the
several islands. For this reason | am
able to judge whether treatment is
necessary or whether a plant can safely
be admitted without treatment, while it
would be impossible for a comparative
stranger to decide such point in the
majority of cases. Unnecessary treat
ment, which, when plant is already
enfeebled after voyage, may easily
prove fatal, is to be avoided, and it is
polite that the public who import val
liable plants, often at great expense,
should feel assured that their importa-
tons are not subjected to treatment
without due cause.
AS | propose shortly to prepare a
bulletin on the subject of insects i'm
ported into these islands, during the
last eighteen months, it is unnecessary,
at present, to refer further to this sub
ject.
Co The destruction of injurious
insects already present.
There are two methods by which this
may be attained. (a) By artificial
means, Or (b) By the aid of natural
enemies of the injurious species When
ever possible the latter method is far
preferable. The use of the former,
though in some cases necessary, is
equivalent to confession of ignorance
on the part of the entomologist, or at
least of inability to apply his knowledge
Still to some extent it is necessary
TO use various kinds of liquids, in the
form of sprays, and we advise the use
OF such in special cases, and at cost
price properly made standard
remedies have been furnished to those
asking for them. Most of the injurious
insects for which such treatment is
necessary are ones of minor economic
Importance, and which do not cause suf-
fiCient loss to make it worth while send
itS ~ OtIICI COuIltIieS lot natural enc
mics. The two obvious disadvantages
of artificial remedies are, firstly, they
are costly and have to be regularly ap-
piled, year after year, or at even shorter
intervals: Secondly. they are wholly in
applicable against the majority of our
most injurious species.
"As matters stand there has always
been in the islands some question of
great economic Importance involving
large money interests confronting the
entomologist. and minor ones have to
take their chance of being settled in
cidentally to this. At the present time
four most important problems await
solution, and these probably can only be
attempted one at time.
'The Division of Entomology, under
the Board OF Commissioners was so
constituted that two of its members
should visit other countries in company,
in search OF beneficial insects; while