Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/391

 NEW JERSEY'S INSECTS s^S

��NEW JEESEY'S INSECTS By harry b. wbiss

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INASMUCH as the number of species of insects inhabiting the earth is far greater than that of all other animals grouped together, it is hardly necessary to state that New Jersey^s 10,530 species should not be taken as an indication that this state is an undesirable place in which to live. Other states have just as many, if not more. As the presence or absence of insects within the borders of a community or state may be responsible for the difference between sickness and health, irritation and comfort and poverty and wealth, the following questions naturally arise when such a large number of species is considered. Are all of them injurious? If not, of what use are the others? Are any of them beneficial and so on.

The following tables compiled chiefly from Smith's "List of the Insects of New Jersey '* and other papers dealing with the insect fauna of that state will serve to answer these questions. Ten thousand, five hundred and thirty is the number of species which has been recorded up to the present time. Many others, principally in certain obscure groups, remain to be found, but, on the whole. New Jersey has been rather well collected over and the above number is fairly representa- tive. The eight divisions used are those in which the species naturally fall. It would be possible of course to have a larger number of groups, but for a clear and quick understanding, a few only are desirable. Those insects whose habits vary considerably in the different stages have been placed according to their predominating mode of life..

The first group includes those of little or no economic importance, such as species of the Carrodentia which feed principally on lichens and moss, and the aquatic forms found in the Plecoptera, Ephemerida and Trichoptera, The second includes various species which infest stored products, food and otherwise, and those commonly known as household pests. The scavenger and third group embraces the feeders upon the products of decay, dead or dry animal and vegetable matter, and those which change or remove the form of animal and vegetable remains and aid in reducing such substances into shape for assimila- tion by plants. The fourth division consists of those which annoy, irritate or transmit diseases to vertebrates, while the fifth takes in all which are predaceous upon other insects. Those which feed upon liv-

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