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Hawaiian Insects Five Volumes Published Out of Dozen Projected
THE first five volumes of “Insects of Hawaii” have been published by the University of Hawaii press. These enumerate about 1,100 species of insects and begin a series planned to cover the entire Hawaiian insect fauna, in from 12 to 15 volumes.
Their author, Elwood C. Zimmerman, is associate entomologist of the experiment station of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’
Association and curator of entomology at Bernice P. Bishop Museum, both in Honolulu. He began this study of the Hawaiian, insects in 1934, and is making good progress on one of the most exten sive entomological projects yet attempted by one scientist in the Pacific.
The first volume presents a detailed, 200page summary of the Hawaiian environ ment, and the origin and characteristics of the Hawaiian insects and their rela tionship to each other and this environ ment, with more than 50 illustrations. It traces the geologic history of the Hawaiian chain and presents a concise, comprehen sive account of the dispersal, speciation, evolution, and development of the plants and animals of these islands, with special emphasis on the insects.
Volume 2 deals with 371 species of the so-called “lower orders” of insects —Thysanura, Diplura, Protura, Collembola, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Dermaptera, Zorap tera, Corrodentia, Mallophaga, Anoplura, Odonata, and Thysanoptera. All known species in the Hawaiian islands are dis cussed, with keys for fcheir identification,
notes regarding where they came from, how they live, and what they do. Many of the species are illustrated, there being 228 cuts. There is an extensive biblio graphy following each order.
The 255 pages of volume 3 discuss 223 species of Heteroptera, or “true bugs.”
These include some good friends and dan gerous enemies of the agriculturist. Again, there are keys to families, genera, and species, notes, and 109 illustrations.
Volume 4 is concerned with 313 species of leafhoppers of the order Homoptera. Its 268 pages contain 109 illustrations.
Volume 5 completes the Homoptera, with 464 pages of discussion of 192 species of psyllids, aleyrodids, aphids, and scale insects found in Hawaii. Among the 238 illustrations are a number of double-page drawings by Professor F. G. Ferris, world authority on coccids, showing dorsal and ventral details of scales occurring in Hawaii.
The five volumes are attractively printed and may be obtained from the University of Hawaii press for 24 dollars for the five.
Mr. Zimmerman plans to continue pre paration of the manuscript regarding the other orders of Hawaiian insects. This work and the publication to date has been made possible through the co-operation of Bernice P. Bishop Museum, the Ha waiian Sugar Planters’ Association, and the University of Hawaii. —E.H.B.