Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-27
HERMAN HORNiG
On Uses and Dangers Of Insects

ON OSeS ana hangers OF lnScCtS
TNSECT life plays far larger part in the
i affairs of men and countries than most
persons imagine, according TO Herman
liornig. city cntomoogiSt.
''Whilc it has been known for about 300
years, said Mr.. IIorng. THAT it was
possible for insects 10 carry and transmit
disease. the actual study with view to
countcrncting these effects is Of much later
date. Tho study Of insects is in three indi-
vidua periods. First. the insects were
found and classified. snmc rs beneficial ana
Others rs injurious From this elementary
entomology developed the second stage. that
Of economic entomology. and later came the
medical entomology. when the relation "i
various insects to human life was under
stood.
''Thc annual loss IN money in this coun
try through the devastation of insect liz" is
enormous and runs anywhere from S2iIO.
600. 600 10 $500. 100000 year. mostly
through loss in grain and timber. Much.
however. has hccn done to count"ract this.
Tho older generation will remember, Tor "X-
ample, how often they used 70 bite, into
wnrmy apples aud other fruit. and may
realize that this docs not happen now This
has been brought about by the control Of
insects through entomology.
Flies and Mosquitoes
''ln medical entomology the mosuuito and
the fly are prominent objects of study. al
though the science embraces all insects
which carry or transmit disease. Ih" worst
nfc,tiOn in the United States j. malaria.
which is transmitted by the malaria mos
quito. aud in the southern climates yellow
fever is transmitted by the yellow fever
mosquito.
"rho bubouir plague. ono Of The most
deadly and dreaded of diseases. r. trans
uissillr 10 human beings only after the
germ has pas>rd through III" body Of the
f"as which infcst rats. The germ. trans
mittrd directly from the infected rat 10 the
deadly (" hulnnn> aftcr it has passed
through the body of the RAT flea. There also
are certain other Diseases which IN" harm
less until the germ has passed through the
body Of an insect.
''Thc fly is II disease carrier. A. Tho IlnSt
common Species Of hy cannot bit" and 50
cannot inject germs into the blood, it car.
rrs them on th" feet tongu" and body,
and creates most Of the dnmngc by dcpoNil-
ing III" germs upon food nftcrwnrd con.
Srlmcd by human beings. All in all, insects
play very important part in the life and
the death Of propl".
Inscctology in the City
"Thc work Of insect control in Thiiadrl-
lhiu Wa. started in the Administration uf
Mayor I'Hmkcnhnrg. originally for the con-
troll Of mosquitoes. Later We fought the
tuSsork moths. which do especial damage
thr SUl1Hf'N. Now We also fNihlNp com
uIniIt nf house i'n"rl>. from which there is
much trouble. @: pcrialy from ilrus, during
the hot months. W" identify III" insects
complained Of and tell the p"opIc whether
they are beneficial or injurious.
"TAr premises are personally inspected
and much good has been accomplished by
the advice which we hay" given. We also
give ndvlrr rs TO rats. alt hOugh in this case
We do nothing officially. We simply tell
people how thcy can hest trap them and stop
'Ip The holes We also inspect stables which
are r"sponSiblr for the wholesale breeding
of flies and advise as to any matter Of
sanitation connected with insect work
$50 other form Of life Is 50 widely dis
tribuird as insects. There are more than
half a million species known, and they
cXiSt from the Arctic Circle to the Equator
and are found all over the globe.
Natures Insect Control
"\uy species Is destructive when it. comes
in great numbers. Natures control of in
scrts is by the birds ca Ing them, and they
also form the food Of certain parasites.
Some srnsons are worse than others for
certain insects, zach US the army worm. the
boil wecvl and others which do an immense
amount of damage to crops. At such times
they are destructive, whereas ut other times
they scarcely would be noticed
ut is always man who upscts the balance