United States Entomological Commission
Encyclopedia
The United States Entomological Commission was established by an Act of Congress
in 1877 as a department under the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories
headed by Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden
. The commission was created to find a solution for the Rocky Mountain locust
that plagued much of the American West at that time. The original commission was allotted an $18,000 budget with a staff that included three skilled entomologists who were to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior
. The Entomological Commission’s first annual report to Congress was published in 1878; their last was printed in 1902.
The commission largely came about through the urging of two entomologists, Charles Valentine Riley
and Cyrus Thomas
both of whom, along with Alpheus Spring Packard
, became the first entomologist to serve on the commission; Dr. Riley as chief, Dr. Packard as secretary and Dr. Thomas as disbursing agent.
The United States Entomological Commission went on to assist American farmers and ranchers on a number of different threats until the dawn of the twentieth century. Its legacy, at least in part, can be gleamed from the numerous bulletins and near quarter century's worth of annual reports that today can be viewed online.
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
in 1877 as a department under the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories
United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories
The United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories was established by an act of Congress on 2 March, 1867 as an agency under the Department of the Interior tasked to complete a geographical survey of the State of Nebraska which had been admitted to the Union the day before...
headed by Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden
Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden was an American geologist noted for his pioneering surveying expeditions of the Rocky Mountains in the late 19th century. He was also a physician who served with the Union Army during the Civil War.-Early life:Ferdinand Hayden was born in Westfield, Massachusetts...
. The commission was created to find a solution for the Rocky Mountain locust
Rocky Mountain locust
The Rocky Mountain locust was the locust species that ranged through almost the entire western half of the United States until the end of the 19th century...
that plagued much of the American West at that time. The original commission was allotted an $18,000 budget with a staff that included three skilled entomologists who were to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
. The Entomological Commission’s first annual report to Congress was published in 1878; their last was printed in 1902.
The commission largely came about through the urging of two entomologists, Charles Valentine Riley
Charles Valentine Riley
Charles Valentine Riley was a British-born American entomologist and artist.-Early Life:The son of a Church of England minister, Charles Valentine Riley was born on 19 September, 1843 in London’s Chelsea district. When he was around eleven his parents, the Rev. Charles and Mary Riley, chose to...
and Cyrus Thomas
Cyrus Thomas
Cyrus Thomas was a U.S. ethnologist and entomologist prominent in the late 19th century and noted for his studies of the natural history of the American West.-Biography:Thomas was born in Kingsport, Tennessee...
both of whom, along with Alpheus Spring Packard
Alpheus Spring Packard
Alpheus Spring Packard, LL.D. was an American entomologist and palaeontologist. He was the son of Alpheus Spring Packard, Sr. and the brother of William Alfred Packard. He was born in Brunswick, Maine and was Professor of Zoology and Geology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island from...
, became the first entomologist to serve on the commission; Dr. Riley as chief, Dr. Packard as secretary and Dr. Thomas as disbursing agent.
The United States Entomological Commission went on to assist American farmers and ranchers on a number of different threats until the dawn of the twentieth century. Its legacy, at least in part, can be gleamed from the numerous bulletins and near quarter century's worth of annual reports that today can be viewed online.