• ^J> *o N o° ,Qf ^0 f\^ $*, ^ 0' v . ■v^* ^ V ^ V ^ EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. [Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, natural size.] Gypsy Moth, Porthetria dispar (L.). Fig. i. Female with the wings spread. 2. Female with the wings folded. 3. Male with the wings spread. 4. Male with the wings folded. 5. Pupa. 6. Caterpillar. Full grown. 7. Caterpillar. 8. Cluster of eggs on bark. 9. Several eggs enlarged. 10. One egg greatly enlarged. Plate I .1 ■; #3 A Drawn by Joseph Bridgham Geo.H.'Walker &Co.,Boston. GYPSY MOTH. The Gypsy Moth. PORTHETRIA DISPAR (LlNN.). A Report of the Work of destroying the insect in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, together with an Account of its History and Habits both in Massachusetts and Europe. By Edward H. Forbush, Field Director in Charge of the Work of destroying the Gypst Moth, Ornithologist to the State Board of Agriculture, former President of the Worcester Natural History Society, etc., Charles H. Fbrnald, A.M., Ph.D., Professor of Zoology in the Massachusetts Agricultural College, Entomologist to the State Board of Agriculture, Entomologist to the Hatch Experi- ment Station, etc. Published under the direction of the State Board of Agriculture by authority of the legislature. BOSTON : WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS, 18 Post Office Square. 1896. 387270 •29 rr 0l3^o <0 LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. Boston, Jan. 1, 1896. To the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. Gentlemen : — We have the honor to submit herewith the report on the gypsy moth, which has been prepared under our direction, as authorized by chapter 71, Resolves of 1894. Respectfully, E. W. WOOD, AUGUSTUS PRATT, F. W. SARGENT, J. G. AVERY, S. S. STETSON, WM. R. SESSIONS, Committee on the Gypsy Moth. CONTENTS. Page Prkface, ix The Gypsy Moth, Porthetria dispar (L.). Part I., E. H. Forbush. The gypsy moth : its history in America, 3 Its introduction, 3 The unnoticed increase of the moth, 4 Influences that at first retarded its increase, 5 The first destructive appearance of the moth, 7 The outbreak of 1889 10 The swarming caterpillars become a serious nuisance 14 The destructiveness of the moth, 23 How the people fought the moth, 28 The matter brought to the attention of the public at large, .... 32 The commission of 1890, 38 The work of 1891 45 The work of 1892, 62 The work of 1893, 68 The work of 1894, 72 The work of 1895 83 The number of men employed and work done, 1890 to 1894 inclusive, . . 89 The increase and distribution of the gypsy moth, ' 94 The rate of increase, 94 Distribution as affected by food supply and other natural causes, . . 97 The connection of distribution and population, 99 The distribution of the moth by man's agency, 100 A study of the methods and routes of transportation, 106 The effect of the work of extermination on the distribution of the gypsy moth, 113 Methods used for destroying the gypsy moth, . 117 The destruction of the eggs, 117 The destruction of the caterpillars, 126 Measures for destroying all forms of the moth, 164 A summary of the methods most useful to the farmer, .... 194 The annual inspection, 196 Measures for the information of the public, 198 Natural enemies of the gypsy moth, 203 Insect-eating birds, 203 Birds seen to feed upon the gypsy moth, 207 The progress of extermination, 244 The Gypsy Moth, Porthetria dispar (L.). Part II., C. H. Fernald. Scientific and common names, 255 Bibliography, 257 Distribution in other countries, 267 The gypsy moth in England, 268 Injuries in the old world, 273 Methods of destroying the gypsy moth in Europe, 284 viii CONTENTS. Page The eggs, 288 Scattered eggs, • $ PLATE V. Residence of J. O. Clark, No. 11 Myrtle Street, Medford. The picture shows a portion of the yard formerly occupied by fruit trees killed in 1889 by the gypsy moth. TREES KILLED AND CUT DOWN. 25 near our window, and as we ate supper in the early evening we could distinctly hear the caterpillars chewing among the leaves. In the night-time I have frequently heard their " chip-chip- chipping " out in the shade trees on the street. In a yard adjoin- ing ours there is another apple tree which is more than half dead because of the ravages of the caterpillars. It used to bear splendid Baldwins, but last year there were not more than a dozen apples on the tree. The caterpillars used to strip it twice a year up to two years ago, when their numbers were greatly reduced. For two years in succession the caterpillars stripped two maple trees in front of our house. They ate all of the leaf except the ribs. We had two shade trees cut down which were in a dying condition because of the ravages of the caterpillars. This was some five or six years ago. On Otis Street also we had two trees which we cut down because the caterpillars ate them so badly. In Mrs. Kelly's yard there was a large balm of Gilead tree which was cut down because it was nothing more or less than a breeding place for the gypsy moth. The tree was a sight. The trunk and limbs were black with caterpillars. The tree stood close by Mrs. Kelly's house, and you can still see the discoloration under the eaves where the caterpillars clustered so thickly. Mrs. Meach, across the way, had a weeping willow cut down. (Mrs. Tuttle.) One of our sweet-apple trees died from the effects of the strip- ping by the caterpillars. The branches died one by one, but we let it stand one year, hoping that it would revive, but it did not. Our four Baldwin apple trees bore good crops until the caterpillars attacked them. By June you would not see a leaf on them, and they would remain in that leafless condition all summer. In the fall of 1892 we got our first crop of apples in seven years. (Miss E. A. McCarty.) A young maple which had been set out on the street in front of our house was stripped by the caterpillars and died. ... A young peach tree died, apparently because it was stripped by the cater- pillars. (Mrs. Flinn.) Two oaks on the street in front of our house were entirely stripped. The next year they did not leaf out, and were cut down. (J. W. Harlow, 58 Spring Street.) We cut down two cherry trees in our own yard because there were so many eggs, cocoons, etc., in the seams and holes. (Mrs. Snowdon.) I cut down three tall poplars in front of No. 19, where I now live, because they were so badly infested. I also cut down an apple tree because it attracted so many caterpillars and was so badly eaten. (William Taylor.) 26 THE GYPSY MOTH. I had several balm of Gilead trees cut down because they were so badly eaten by the caterpillars. (Walter Sherman.) Our four apple trees which we cut down because of the pest yielded the year before eleven or twelve barrels of fine Baldwin apples. (J. P. Dill.) An apple tree was stripped twice, and we had no fruit. The caterpillars so nearly killed the tree that it has since that time borne very little. (Miss C. E. Camp, 28 Myrtle Street.) Fruit, Garden Crops and Flowering Plants Destroyed. The caterpillars destroyed not only the foliage of trees, but also fruit and vegetables. The long period of feeding made it possible for the larvas to secure a great variety of food. AYhen the supply of leaves in the trees fell short (and oftentimes before) they attacked the gardens. Little was spared but the horse-chestnut trees and the grass in the fields, though even these were eaten to some extent. There was evidently some choice exhibited ; for instance, pear trees were not so badly injured as the apple, but eventually most forms of vegetable life in the caterpillars' path were either injured or entirely destroyed. When fruit trees were stripped of their leaves, the imma- ture fruit either failed to develop or dropped from the tree. In some cases the fruit itself was partially eaten by the vora- cious caterpillars. The destruction of berries was often as complete. Many vegetables were ruined. Flower gardens were destroyed, and even greenhouses were invaded and rose bushes and other flowering plants eaten. Our space per- mits but a portion of the evidence of such devastations in Medford : — They [the caterpillars] ate nearly everything green in the yard, killing my rose bushes and doing much damage to the vegetables. (Mrs. Belcher.) I had quite a little vegetable garden, which was nearly ruined by the caterpillars. They destroyed the cucumbers and ate the tops of the tomatoes. They also destroyed some flowering plants. (Wm, B. Harmon, 5 Spring Street.) They [the caterpillars] even nibbled the young green pears, and I lost a good many in that way. My large cherry tree, which usu- ally bears two bushels, was stripped clean for two years running, and I got no fruit. The caterpillars ate all the young tomato vines .F" CD oq ^ • p. en en SS'S' 2"d GARDEN CROPS DESTROYED. 27 and injured my rose bushes. . . . For three years previous to 1891 my Baldwin apple tree bore no fruit on account of the ravages of the moth. It was stripped every year. (Mrs. Follansbee.) At my place on Woburn Street I had a small bed of spinach and dandelions which the caterpillars completely destroyed. My tomatoes suffered a like fate. (Ex-Selectman Craig.) In 1889 I had twenty-seven hundred young carnation pinks set out of doors, and the biggest part of them were destroyed by the caterpillars. This was in June. They were eaten off close to the ground. In 1890 the gypsy moth appeared in my greenhouses, and the foliage of the bushes in one rose house was completely eaten up. (A. "W. Crockford, 81 Spring Street.) It was almost impossible to have plants or green things of any sort. The caterpillars would eat anything that they could get hold of. The rose bushes were stripped. My mother plants yearly beans, peas, etc., but that year we did not get much from them. The parsley also was almost all eaten. (Miss R. M. Angelbeek.) The rose bushes were completely stripped, all the leaves and blossoms being lost. Despite the utmost efforts of two of us, it was impossible to keep the rose bushes free of caterpillars. They were very fond of the deutzias in the garden, and completely ruined them. (Mrs. Ransom.) They seemed particularly destructive to the Porter apple tree. The apples very largely fell off, and the inside of those that re- mained on the tree was not fit to eat. . . . The caterpillars ate the leaves of a white rose bush and a syringa in our yard, and the latter died from the effects of the stripping. (Mrs. Benson.) Our vegetable garden was practically ruined by them, peas, beans, corn, etc., being eaten. The garden of our next-door neighbor, Mr. Camp, suffered a like fate. . . . Our raspberry bushes were also stripped of their leaves. We lived later on Lawrence Street, and here also the caterpillars were trouble- some. An umbrella bush in the yard was killed by them. (Mrs. Flinn.) My usual apple crop was from fifty to one hundred barrels yearly ; but the second year of the caterpillar plague I did not get more than forty barrels. The third year I do not think I got more than thirty barrels. (D. M. Richardson.) After they had eaten the foliage of trees, the caterpillars would devour almost any green thing. (J. N. French, 7 Lawrence Street.) They were the most ravenous worms I ever saw. They would eat almost everything, taking the apples and the elms first. (John Cotton, 16 Cotting Street.) 28 THE GYPSY MOTH. The caterpillars ate almost everything, feeding on small fruits and shrubbery as well as the trees. (Almon Black.) Our blackberry and raspberry bushes were badly eaten, and we got but little fruit from them that summer [1890]. (J. W. Harlow.) After eating the foliage of the trees, the caterpillars would at- tack the vegetables. (J. G. Wheeler.) The caterpillars even ate the grape-vine to some extent. (William Taylor.) How the People fought the Moth. No doubt the citizens of Medford did all that the people of any community would have done individually in righting the pest. Many of them owned their homes, and gave much attention to the care of their grounds. Each householder had a small lot of land, and most of them had gardens or small orchards to protect from insect ravages. There were many people in a given area each of whom had an interest in protecting his own small portion of that area. Many of these people spent most of their leisure time during the sum- mer months in fighting the caterpillars, killing great numbers of them. The number thus killed on Myrtle, Spring, Wash- ington, Park and Cross streets during a summer must have checked considerably the increase of the moth. Many peo- ple banded the trunks of their trees with tarred paper, to which they applied tree ink as a protection against the mi- grating worms. This was a partial success, if the bands were carefully watched and the caterpillars which gathered below them killed in time to prevent their crossing the bands by mere force of numbers. A considerable part of the fruit crop was saved in some orchards in this way, the tree ink having the effect of turning many caterpillars away from banded trees to those left unhanded. Yet, in spite of all checks, the moths on Myrtle Street increased and spread so as in time to overwhelm the town. It is known that people there fought them with fire, water and coal oil from five to eight years before they became prevalent in other parts of Medford. Extracts from statements graphically describing the meth- ods used are given herewith : — FOUGHT BY THE PEOPLE. 29 Many citizens scraped off all the caterpillars that they could, and killed them. The caterpillars were scraped off in masses as high up as a man could reach. Some people burned them off by means of a rag soaked in kerosene and tied to a pole. (Ex- Selectman Crowley.) At the time when the gypsy-moth caterpillars were thickest in this neighborhood I used to spend all my leisure time fighting them, and then failed to keep them down. . . . We used to take a can with a little kerosene in the bottom and pick the caterpillars off into it and later bury them in the ground. In a half -hour I have picked a canful off one apple tree. (Mrs. Ransom.) The caterpillars were of an enormous size, and would lie in clus- ters on the tree trunks. We used to scrape them off into a pail. (Mrs. Charles A. Lawrence, then living at 10 Cotting Street.) We used to destroy the caterpillars on the fences by pouring scalding water on them. We burned with kerosene those in the trees. We would go out several times a day and kill them. We also used to scrape them off into cans. (Mrs. A. H. Plummer, 14 Lawrence Street.) We spent hours killing caterpillars on them [street elms]. We would get two quarts off at a time. They were very large. They got into every crevice and under every piece of bark. Our neigh- bor across the way, Mrs. Turner, used to go out with a pail of hot water and poke the caterpillars into it with a stick. My son used to tie a rag soaked in kerosene around a pole and set it on fire and singe them off the trunks of the trees. (F. E. Foster.) I put a piece of stout paper about a foot wide around the tree at my place for the gypsy-moth larvae to go under. I visited it a number of days later and found the trunk of the tree under the paper to be entirely covered with the insects. There were hun- dreds of them. A neighbor, Mr. Dutton, tried a similar experi- ment with a strip of carpet, Avith like results. (James Bean.) We used to take lighted candles and run them along under the fence rails and scorch the eggs there. (Miss R. M. Angelbeek.) I had charge of this estate [Sparrell estate, Main Street], and I killed a great many caterpillars by brushing them off the trees with a broom and crushing them. After brushing them off the trees, I would wait half an hour and then there would be just as many again on the trees. I could have gathered a half-bushel of cater- pillars every evening through their season. (Richard Pierce.) I used to burn them in the trees with torches. . . . We killed them on fences with boiling water. (Mrs. Spinney.) We used to sweep them off into a dustpan and burn them, but in a short time they would be as thick as ever on the tree again. . . . 30 THE GYPSY MOTH. The next spring (1890) I found the apple trees in my own yard were pretty well infested with nests. I had my hired man scrape them all off with a putty knife. We collected them in a dish and burned them up in the furnace, where they snapped and crackled. (J. E. "Wellington, Wellington.) I fought the caterpillars in my own yard by placing cloths in the crotches and around the trunks of the trees. The caterpillars collected in great numbers under the cloths, and were then easily destroyed. (S. F. Weston, 11 Fountain Street.) We had both the steps and the fence split up and burned, so as to deprive the pest of its harboring places. I have frequently gathered half a coal-hodful of caterpillars from the fence within a short space of time. In twenty minutes they seemed to be just as thick as ever. We burned many pecks of them in all. (William B. Harmon.) In the evening, after the men had come home from work, you could see fires in all the yards, where they were burning cater- pillars. (Mrs. Fenton.) For four or five years I fought the gypsy-moth caterpillars, as did my neighbors, but could not keep them down. ... By put- ting tarred paper around the trees aud keeping the printers' ink fresh, I succeeded in a measure in keeping the caterpillars out of the trees. One tree which was very full of caterpillars I sprinkled with the garden hose and knocked the pests out of it. The tarred paper kept them from crawling up again, and they would collect in a mass below the band. (J. N. French.) When the caterpillars were very small the fences were black with them. We used to kill them on the fences by taking tea- kettles and walking along beside the rail and pouring boiling water on the vermin. . . . We would scrape them from the tree trunks with hoes and burn them with kerosene. We used to build little fires at the base of a tree and collect the eggs and burn them. (Mrs. Snowdon.) The greenhouse was full of them [caterpillars]. The warmth caused them to hatch out early. I destroyed most of them by picking off the leaves and burning them, and also by spraying with an emulsion of whale-oil soap, kerosene and ammonia. (A. W. Crockford.) For six weeks a great deal of our time was devoted to killino- these caterpillars. . . . We would go out in our yard time after time during the day and gather the caterpillars in dishes. Time and again I have stayed out in the yard for two hours at a time, catching caterpillars ; but in half an hour afterwards they seemed to be just as thick again. (Mrs. Hamlin.) PLATE VII. Cherry, red cedar and yellow pine trees attacked by the gypsy moth. From a photograph taken in Medford. INCREASING ON NEGLECTED ESTATES. 31 During the summer of which I speak (1889) my currant bushes were also attacked. They were covered with caterpillars, but I saved them by sprinkling them twice a day with a solution of soap- suds and kerosene. (J. C. Clark.) The Moth multiplies on Neglected Lands. Though there were many people who did their utmost to destroy the moths, there were others who made little effort in that direction. There was waste land which no one cared for, and in such places the moth increased apace, until the advances of the ravenous larvna could no longer be stayed by individual effort : — I think, if every one had taken hold and fought the moths in the beginning, they might have been stamped out right in the place where they originated. The trouble was that some people would not do anything. Some people on the street were tenants only, and therefore took little or no interest in the condition of their yards. I remember the case of one house which was vacant dur- ing one summer. The caterpillars in that yard were a sight. Another neighbor, not owning his house, and not intending to stay there, was overrun in a like manner. (William Taylor.) Other residents make similar statements : — A house near by being unoccupied, the caterpillars in the gar- den there had full swing, there being no one to fight them. This yard was a recruiting place for the whole neighborhood. No sooner would we get our own yard comparatively free than a lot more would crawl around on the fence from the other yard. (Mrs. Plummer.) One difficulty in fighting the caterpillars used to be that now and then a neighbor would not do anything to keep them down on his own land. As a consequence, the caterpillars, after stripping this man's trees and getting about three-quarters grown, would migrate into the other yards and be even more destructive, their voracity increasing with their size. (J. N. French.) The only way I suffered was because my neighbors were negli- gent. The caterpillars blew over on to my trees. ... I saw them coming from my neighbor's premises on a concrete walk extending along where my fruit trees grow. The walk was literally covered with these worms when they were about the size of your little finger, so that it appeared like a carpet. (J. O. Goodwin, before the legislative committee on Agriculture, Feb. 27, 1894.) 32 THE GYPSY MOTH. There were some people on Cross Street who used to do nothing in the way of fighting the caterpillars, and for that reason the work of individuals failed to cope with the pest. (Mrs. Spinney.) The Plague brought to the Attention of the Public at Large. Messrs. John Stetson, W. C. Craig, J. O. Goodwin and Dr. Pearl Martin, all of Mcdford, were among the first to call public attention to the ravages of the moth. Mr. Stetson first noticed the larva? of the moth in 1888 at his place on South Street, nearly a mile from the Trouvelot house. In June, 1889, when they began to defoliate the trees in his neighborhood, he took a specimen for identification to Hon. Wm. R. Sessions, secretary of the State Board of Agricult- ure. Mr. Sessions, being unable to identify it, advised sending specimens to the Hatch Experiment Station at Amherst. This was done, and the caterpillars were received at the station June 27. Professor Fernald, the entomologist of the station, was absent at that time in Europe, and no one at the station immediately recognized the species. After a thorough search through American entomological literature, the conclusion was reached that the insect was foreign. Recourse was then had to European works in the library of the entomologist, and after a slight search through the authorities, Mrs. Fernald and her son, Dr. H. T. Fernald, identified the caterpillars as those of Ocneria dispar, known in England as the "gypsy moth," in Germany as the " sponge spinner" or stem caterpillar, and in France as " le zigzag." Mr. Stetson was notified of the identification, and information regarding the outbreak was immediately sent to Professor Fernald. Later he observed in Germany the ravages of this insect, and consulted with European ento- mologists in regard to the matter. All these authorities regarded the gypsy moth as a serious pest, and the opinion was expressed that it would become far more destructive than the potato beetle, by reason of the number of its food plants.* In the mean time the people of Medford were becoming alarmed. * See Bulletin of tlie Hatch Experiment Station, November, 1889. IT IS FOUGHT BY THE TOWN. 33 TheMedford "Mercury" of June 28, 1889, contains this item : — The army-worm has struck Gl on wood and Park Street gardens, stripping trees of their foliage. About this time Mr. Craig, then one of the selectmen of Medford, became interested in the outbreak. The condition of the trees and gardens so alarmed him that he immediately brought the matter to the attention of the town officials. He writes : — In 1889 I was connected with the town government of Medford. Coining out one day on the train from Boston, I noticed that the trees in Olenwood had the appearance of having boon burned. I made a remark to the effect that the trees had been burned, when a lady said, " That is the work of the army- worm." In company with Mr. J. O. Ooodwin I investigated the matter, and found that the insects wmich were preying on the trees were not army-worms. Being a selectman, I conferred with the other members of the Board, but we had nothing to do with the trees on the streets or in the orchards of the town. Mr. Ooodwin and myself waited on the road commissioners and asked them to expend some money in stopping the ravages of the pests, which were the gypsy-moth caterpillars. The commissioners at that time had no money wdiich they could expend for such a purpose, but were in full sympathy with the movement and did all they could to further it. I saw ex-Senator Boynton, General Lawrence, J. Henry Norcross and other leading citizens in regard to the matter, and it was agreed that some action must be taken. ... It was the sentiment that the road commissioners should do wdiat they could to stop the rav- ages of the caterpillars. The alarming condition of the shade trees was considered sufficient cause for immediate action. At a meeting of the road commissioners on July 1, it was decided (pending action by the town authorities) to put fresh ink on the bands of the trees on the streets where the caterpillars were most numer- ous. These trees, in common with other street trees in the town, had been banded earlier in the year as a guard against the ravages of the canker-worm. The inking of the tree bands was done the next day, and at night " it was found 54 THE GYPSY MOTH. that thousands of the pests were bunched beneath the printers' ink" (Medford "Mercury," July 5). Though this protection of the trees had the effect of allevi- ating the injury to those protected, it hastened the diffusion of the caterpillars and drove them to other plants and to other localities where trees were not banded, thus extending the area of the injury until it included most of the trees in the eastern part of the town. There were some localities, however, that escaped the general devastation. At a town meeting held on July 15 it was voted, on petition of the road commissioners, to appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars for the care of shade trees. This appropriation of three hundred dollars was in addition to the usual appropri- ation of five hundred dollars for the care of shade trees made earlier in the year. It was expended under the direction of Dr. Pearl Martin, one of the road commissioners. A num- ber of men were employed in scraping off the egg clusters of the gypsy moth from shade trees, chiefly on Park and Salem streets, where the trees were badly infested. The eggs were burned with kerosene. In addition to the work done by the town, much effort and money were expended by citizens in the endeavor to free their premises of the moth. Professor Fernald, having meantime returned from Europe, visited Medford and viewed the infested district. Later, in company with Hon. Win. R. Sessions, secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, he visited and inspected Medford again. These two gentlemen waited on Chairman Wadleigh of the Board of Selectmen, and urged that the selectmen take action to petition the General Court for legislation authoriz- ing the State Board of Agriculture to exterminate the cater- pillars. This course was approved by the selectmen at their next meeting, October 25 ; but, as the Legislature was not then in session, no immediate action was taken. In November an illustrated bulletin on the gypsy moth was issued by Professor Fernald at the Hatch Experiment Station. By authority of the State Board of Agriculture and with the co-operation of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, an edi- tion of forty-five thousand copies was printed, and mailed to tax-payers in Medford and vicinity. The bulletin was printed in full in the Medford " Mercury" on December 6. PUBLIC INTEREST AROUSED. 35 The task of destroying the eggs, which had been delegated to the Medford road commissioners, was far greater than had been anticipated, and the money appropriated was soon ex- pended, while only a small part of the eggs had been destroyed. While the work was in progress Dr. Martin saw that the moths were so numerous and so widely distributed that the town authorities could not cope with them. At a meeting of the selectmen, December 10, he appeared in behalf of the road commissioners and advised applying to the Legislature for State aid. The Board voted that the clerk should communicate with Secretary Sessions of the State Board of Agriculture ' ' in relation to measures to be taken to place this matter properly before the next Legis- lature." At the next meeting of the selectmen, December 17, a communication was received from the Hatch Experiment Station, advising that the Legislature be petitioned for an appropriation to exterminate the moth. The clerk, reporting in regard to his interview with Secretary Sessions, recom- mended that petitions in favor of such an appropriation be circulated in Medford and vicinity for presentation to the Legislature. Messrs. Wadleigh and Lawrence were appointed a committee to draw up such petitions. Mr. Lawrence was also appointed a committee to confer with Secretary Ses- sions in regard to preparing a bill to be presented to the Legislature. In December, Prof. H. H. Goodell, president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, wrote to Governor-elect Brackett, urging that measures should be taken by the in- coming Legislature to provide for the extermination of the gypsy moth. In his message to the Legislature of 1830 Governor Brackett said : — A new enemy is at present threatening the agriculture, not only of our own State, but of the whole country. It is the gypsy moth, said to attack almost every variety of tree, as well as the farm and garden crops. The pest is spreading with great rapidity, and, if its eradication is to be attempted, immediate measures are of the utmost importance. 36 THE GYPSY MOTH. A petition for legislation for the extermination of the gypsy moth was presented to the Legislature by the select- men of Medford, Jan. 15, 1890. Other towns joined in the movement. On January 21, the selectmen of Arlington pre- sented a petition. Soon after, petitions were presented by the boards of selectmen of Everett, Winchester, Stoneham and Wakefield, and by city officials of Maiden and Somer- ville. A petition was presented from the State Board of Agriculture, headed by President Goodell of the Agricultural College ; also one from the Essex County Agricultural So- ciety. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society took an active part in the movement, petitioning the Legislature as follows : — The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, recognizing the dan- gers threatening the agricultural interests of the State by the sud- den appearance in the town of Medford of a dangerous insect pest, petitions the Legislature, in support of the petition of the citizens of Medford and adjacent towns, for State aid in stamping it out. The joint standing committee on Agriculture of the Massa- chusetts Legislature visited Medford early in 1890, and saw the masses of egg clusters on the trees.* Public interest having in the mean time been aroused, an act appropriating twenty-five thousand dollars "for the extermination of the Ocneria dispar or gypsy moth" was passed. f This was ac- complished mainly through the influence and untiring efforts of Mr. J. Henry Norcross of Medford, then a member of the House of Representatives, aided by hearty co-operation of Representatives from the neighboring towns. The act was approved March 14, 1890, and is here given in full : — [Chapter 95.] An Act to provide, against depredations by the insect known AS THE ocneria dispar or gypsy moth. Be it enacted, etc., as follows : Section 1 . The governor by and with the consent of the coun- cil is hereby authorized to appoint a commission of not exceeding three suitable and discreet persons, whose duty it shall be to pro- * " The walls and almost every tree were almost wholly covered with nests." ^Ex-Senator Low, before the legislative committee on Agriculture, Feb. 27, 1894.) f Dispar has now been referred to the genus Porthetria. PROVIDING AGAINST ITS DEPREDATIONS. 37 vide and carry into execution all possible and reasonable measures to prevent the spreading and to secure the extermination of the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth in this Commonwealth ; and to this end said commission shall have full authority to provide itself with all necessary material and appliances and to employ such compe- tent persons as it shall deem needful ; and shall also have the right in the execution of the purposes of this act to enter upon the lands of any person. Sect. 2. The owner of any land so entered upon, who shall suffer damage by such entry and acts done thereon by said com- mission or under its direction, may recover the same of the city or town in which the lands so claimed to have been damaged are sit- uate, by action of contract; but any benefits received by such entry and the acts done on such lands in the execution of the pur- poses of this act shall be determined by the court or jury before whom such action is heard, and the amount thereof shall be applied in reduction of said damages ; and the Commonwealth shall refund to said city or town one-half of the amount of the damages recovered. Sect. 3. Said commission shall have full authority to make from time to time such rules and regulations in furtherance of the purposes of this act as it shall deem needful ; which rules and regulations shall be published in one or more newspapers published in the county of Suffolk, and copies of such rules and regulations shall be posted in at least three public places in each city or town in which said ocneria dispar or gypsy moth shall be found by such commission to exist, and a copy thereof shall be filed with the city or town clerk of each city or town. Any person who shall know- ingly violate any of the provisions thereof shall be punished for each violation by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars. Sect. 4. Said commission shall keep a record of its transac- tions and a full account of all its expenditures, in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the governor and council, and shall also make return thereof to the governor and council at such time or times and in such form as shall be directed by the governor and council. The expenses incurred under this act shall be paid by the Commonwealth, except claims for damages by the entry upon the lands of any person and acts done thereon by said com- mission or by its direction, which shall be paid as provided in sec- tion two of this act. Sect. 5. The governor and council shall establish the rate of compensation of the commissioners appointed under this act, and the governor may terminate their commissions at his pleasure. Sect. 6. Any person who shall purposely resist or obstruct said commissioners or any person or persons under their emplov, 38 THE GYPSY MOTH. while engaged in the execution of the purposes of this act, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offence. Sect. 7. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly bring the insect known as the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth, or its nests or eggs, within this Commonwealth ; or for any person knowingly to transport said insect, or its nests or eggs, from any town or city to another town or city within this Commonwealth, except while engaged in and for the purposes of destroying them. Any person who shall offend against the provisions of this section of this act shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the house of correction not exceed- ing sixty days, or by both said fine and imprisonment. Sect. 8. To carry out the provisions of this act a sum not ex- ceeding twenty-five thousand dollars may be expended. Sect. 9. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Ap- proved March 14, 1890. The Commission of 1890. In accordance with the provisions of the act of March 14, Governor Brackett appointed a salaried commission, consist- ing of Warren W. Kawson of Arlington, then a prominent member of the State Board of Agriculture, Dr. Pearl Martin of Medford and J. Howard Bradley of Maiden. The commission organized in Medford, March 22, with the choice of Mr. Rawson as chairman and Mr. Bradley as secretary and general superintendent. The records show that in April, Mr. Samuel Henshaw of the Boston Society of Natural History was appointed entomologist to the com- mission. Headquarters were established in Medford, and meetings of the commission were held almost daily until the last of July and several times per month during the rest of the year. The commission began its labors by a partial inspection of the known infested district, for the purpose of discovering and marking the infested trees, shrubs and other objects. The infested trees were marked with a red tag. The moth was soon found in many localities outside the restricted dis- trict to which it was at first supposed to be confined. This district did not exceed one- half mile in width and one and one-half miles in length. The inspection of 1890 justified THE FIRST COMMISSION. 39 the commissioners in the assumption that fifty square miles of territory were then more or less infested. It soon became apparent that the appropriation of twenty- five thousand dollars would be entirely insufficient for the needs of the season's work, chief of which was the expensive item of spraying. On May 9, in a communication addressed to Governor Brackett, the commission reported having found the infested territory " some sixteen times as large as first represented," and asked for an additional appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars. This appropriation was made by the Legislature and approved June 3, 1890. The force of employees was increased as the season advanced, and reached its maximum strength in June, eighty-nine men being employed from June 16 to 28. During the month of April many eggs of the moth were scraped from the trees and destroyed by the employees of the commission. Early in May the spraying of infested trees and foliage with Paris green was begun and continued until about the middle of July. This was the principal work of the summer. Fifteen teams were in use, and spraying was done in Medford, Maiden, Arlington, Chelsea and Everett. The greatest amount of spraying was done in the Glenwood and Wellington sections of Medford and the Edgeworth dis- trict of Maiden. Another feature of the season's work was the guarding of highways leading out of Medford and Maiden, with the view to preventing the further dissemination of the moth by means of vehicles. About a dozen special policemen were em- ployed in this duty from early in June until the last of July. They were on duty twelve hours in the day. Caterpillars of the moth were found on many vehicles going out of the in- fested district. Large kerosene torches were used during the summer to burn the clustering caterpillars. Considerable cutting and burning of infested trees and bushes was also done, the chief work of this sort being in the badly infested woodland north and south of the railroad at Glenwood. About twenty acres of ground were thus cleared. In September and October a few men were engaged in scraping eggs from the trees in Medford, Maiden, Somerville, 40 THE GYPSY MOTH. Arlington, Everett, Cambridge and Chelsea. In November the force was slightly increased, and an inspection was made of certain parts of the infested territory. The cavities of some trees along the highways were closed with cement. On December 6 all men in the employ of the commission were discharged, and the field work of 1890 closed. The Abundance and Deslructiveness of the Moth in 1890. Keferring to the work of 1890 and the numbers of the moth, Mr. E. J. Cadey, an ex-employee of the commission, said : — At the time when the commission first started I saw the eggs of the moth on trees in such numbers that the trees had a spongy appearance, and the men who gathered them used large-sized pails, holding about a peck. Some days we filled these pails twice and occasionally three times. Especially was this the case at the Wel- lington willows, in Glenwood, where the moths originated. The walls of an old shed were one yellow mass of eggs. Early in the summer, previous to the spraying season, on sixteen acres of woodland and brush on land of Mr. Pinkert near the Boston & Maine Railroad, there was not a green leaf to be seen. We after- wards cut these sixteen acres. There were five or six willows on the corner of Spring and Magoun streets that were so thickly covered with pupa? that the bark could not be seen. In 1890 I do not think there was a whole leaf in Medford, and the people com- plained of a very disagreeable stench. Mr. William Enwright, who was also employed by the commission in 1890, writes : — I was sent to Glenwood to the brick yards. Here I found the bricks completely covered with the caterpillars. Nearly opposite here, on Lawrence Street, there was an old barn literally covered inside and out with nests and caterpillars. Trees were com- pletely stripped. The streets and sidewalks were so covered that it was almost impossible to step without crushing some of the caterpillars. In the fall of the first year, when we were cleaning the nests from the rubbish, we used shovels to shovel them into cans. You could not walk in the woodland without being covered with caterpillars. In 1890 Mr. Bradley drove his horse through the woods, and the horse's mane and tail were covered with caterpillars. ITS RAVAGES IN 1890. 41 Mr. G. T. Pierce, who was employed in 1890, writes : — "When I was working at Dr. Newton's place on Highland Ave- nue, Somerville, on seventeen or eighteen apple trees you could not find a leaf that had enough left of it to call it a leaf. Most of them were only a stub of the midrib. In a large bunch of willows at Wellington, which the old commission cut down almost the first thing they did, the trunks were literally covered with egg clusters from the ground up, so that I doubt if you could find many places where you could put your hand on the surface of the tree without covering one or more nests. Mr. C. S. Mixter, an ex-employee, testified as fol- lows : — In one place in Chelsea the nests were so thick in 1890 that you could not put your finger down without striking a nest. We scraped the nests off. We had several panfuls. Despite the great destruction of the moth by the commis- sion during the work of 1890, the ravages of the creature in Medford were still serious. Although the injury wrought was not as widespread as in 1889, the stripping of trees and the consequent loss of fruit crops still continued. On Spring Street, in 1890, the moths appear to have been at their worst. Mr. W. B. Harmon, of No. 55 Spring Street, says : — In the summer of 1890 the caterpillars destroyed all our fruit. They attacked and stripped the apple trees first, and then turned their attention to the pear trees, which they also stripped. The young fruit was entirely ruined, and we had nothing that fall. The trees in places were actually black with the caterpillars. They would collect in great bunches, and we would sweep them off with a broom. . . . We could not step out of doors, either upon the grass or the walk, without crushing the caterpillars under foot. Over our front door the house was black with them. We would clean them off every morning, but in an hour it would be black again. People could not come in that way. It is no exag- geration to say that there were pecks of the caterpillars under the doorsteps and on the fence. . . . The next lot to ours was a vacant brush lot. It actually swarmed with caterpillars, and they came from there into our yard by thousands. 42 THE GYPSY MOTH. Other residents of the neighborhood give similar testi- mony : — In 1890 we lived on Spring Street, and that year the caterpillars seemed to be at their worst. You could not go along the street after dark without getting them all over you. (Mrs. Fenton.) Four years ago (1890) I saw the gypsy-moth caterpillars by the thousand on the Sherman lot on Spring Street. I never saw such a sight. Their eggs were as thick on the big willows as spawn in a fish. (A. W. Crockford.) In 1889 the washing on our clothes reel seemed to have a dingy appearance, and I found tiny black worms on the clothes. These would blow over from the Myrtle Street yard adjoining. They were young gypsy-moth caterpillars, although at that time I did not know what they were. The next year they appeared in our yard by swarms. The board walks were completely covered with them. It was impossible to walk without crushing them under foot. On going out of doors they would get on one's clothing. Our trees and other green things were stripped twice and leafed out twice. The foliage of everything that was set out in our yard was riddled; the woodbine alone escaped. We became dis- couraged, and let things go. The grape-vine suffered. One morning Mr. Merrill picked caterpillars for an hour and a half off one rose bush. The trunk of the umbrella tree in the yard was completely hidden by the mass of caterpillars stuck together. I scraped the caterpillars off into a tin can, but in a short time they were just as thick again on the trunk. Some of our small fruit trees which were stripped at that time have not done much since. In that year (1890) if you went down the street with a sun um- brella, the caterpillars would drop down on it just like rain. (Mrs. E. E. Merrill, Lawrence Street.) In 1890 the street trees were badly injured by the gypsy-moth caterpillars. At night in the lindens in front of the house there was a noise like the gentle falling of rain. This was the noise of the caterpillars eating the leaves. (Mrs. Plummer.) In 1890 the whole place was full of gypsy-moth caterpillars. I think I scraped off half a peck of caterpillars from the sills of the house and from under the porch and from off the trees. (E. Loeffler, Lawrence Street.) The caterpillars did much damage in the Cross Street neighborhood. Says Mr. J. C. Miller : — The next year (1890) all the orchards in this section were com- pletely ravaged, and there was no fruit. The caterpillars simply ITS KAVAGES IN 1890. 43 swarmed. I destroyed thousands of them by burning them with rags soaked in kerosene. I spent many hours in destroying them, but without making any perceptible difference in their numbers. They were over everything, and even got into the cellars. Some of my apple trees overhang my shop. In the evening when the caterpillars were liveliest the noise of their droppings falling on the shingles sounded like a steady shower. The gutter was brim- ful and running over with the droppings. Other sections of the town were afflicted in like manner : — In 1890 the apple trees on Fulton Street, Allen Court and Fountain Street were more or less stripped by the gypsy-moth caterpillars. Some of the apple trees were wholly denuded of their foliage, and the crops in some cases were lost. In some cases the limbs of the apple trees were killed by the ravages of the caterpillars. Even pear trees were sometimes badly eaten, and cherries also suffered. The leaves were completely destroyed on a little German willow in my yard. Rose bushes were very badly eaten. (S. F. Weston.) The large elm in front of my house was full of caterpillars in 1890. The leaves were riddled and many were cut off. We would sweep up daily these bits and fragments of leaves which fell from the tree, but the next day the ground beneath would be littered with them again. This elm stands in front of the piazza, and many caterpillars came from the tree upon the house. They were so thick that we could not sit out on the piazza at all that summer. When we opened the front door they would string down all over one. The caterpillars at one time were so thick on a fence on Salem Street that I could have run my hand along the top rail and scooped them up. In this same year a maple tree standing in front of my house on Allen Court was badly eaten by the cater- pillars. You could hear them eating up in the tree. (Mrs. P. N. Ryder, Salem Street.) The gypsy-moth caterpillars were very numerous in 1890 on the Sparrell estate, No. 90 Main Street. . . . As evening came on you would see them everywhere on the ground heading for the trees. I have heard the noise of their feeding after dark. They kept coming into my yard from the yards of other people who paid less attention to destroying them. The leaves of the trees were just as if they had been scorched. One tree did not bear for several years. (Richard Pierce.) In 1890 I saw the caterpillars clustering in a mass on the body of an elm tree on South Street. I destroyed a great many of these by burning. (John Hutchins, 16 South Street.) 44 THE GYPSY MOTH. Four years ago (1890) in the yards on the north side of Cotting Street the gypsy-moth caterpillars stripped the trees bare of their leaves. (John Cotton.) In 1890 I fought the pest. They came on to my place in mill- ions in April. The top of my fence rail would be covered with gypsy-moth caterpillars about as small as ants. ... I would take a brush broom and fight them perhaps an hour and a half. I would destroy them in the morning, and at noon would find as many more and clean them every one from my premises. At night I went through the same operation. I destroyed undoubt- edly millions. (W. W. Fifield, before the legislative joint stand- ing committee on Agriculture.) Residents of Edgeworth make similar statements : — The caterpillars were very thick on the house in 1890. When I went out of my side door I had to take a broom and brush them off the platform. I killed quarts that summer. At the next house they were just as bad. I swept them off above the door again and again, and they seemed to be back again as thick as ever in five minutes. An apple tree back of the house looked as if the leaves had all been burned. A few blossoms would come out and then wither away. I saw the gypsy-moth men burn the cater- pillars by the pailful. (Mrs. B. Wallace, West Street, Edge- worth.) In 1890 they were also plentiful, although not as thick as in 1889. I got few if an} T apples in either year. The caterpillars were larger than your little finger. They would lie thickly to- gether on the trunks of the trees. In the evening they were so thick that they would drop down on the steps from above the door. (William McLaughlin, 107 Oakland Street.) THE WORK OF 1891. 45 The Wokk of 1891. Appointment of the Second Commission. Governor Russell, having removed on Feb. 15, 1891, the salaried commission for the extermination of the gypsy moth, appointed another commission which organized as follows : Prof. N. S. Shaler of Harvard University, chairman, Francis H. Appleton of Peabody, secretary, both members of the State Board of Agriculture, and Hon. Win. R. Sessions, secretary of that Board. These gentlemen served without remuneration, accepting office with the understanding that legislation would be asked for with reference to placing the work under the control of the State Board of Agriculture, where they believed it properly belonged. The new com- missioners, having received information of their appoint- ment by the governor, lost no time in obtaining information from the best authorities in regard to the possibility of ex- terminating the moth and the best methods of procedure. They received their commission on March 4, and the same day held a conference at the office of the State Board of Ag- riculture, with several eminent entomologists. Many promi- nent men from the towns in the region infested by the gypsy moth were also invited to attend. Among those present were Professor Riley, entomologist of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, Professor Fernald, entomologist of the Hatch Experiment Station and of the Board of Agriculture, Mr. Samuel Scudder of Cambridge, Mayor Wiggin of Maiden, Chairman L. S. Gould of the selectmen of Melrose, Select- man W. C. Craig of Medford and W. A. Pierce of Arling- ton. The prevailing opinion of the entomologists was that recourse must be had to spraying with some of the arsenites in order to bring about the extermination of the moth. (See Appendix A for a report of the conference . ) Preliminary Arrangements . On March 12 the commissioners invited the members of the first commission to a consultation at the office of the State Board of Agriculture. Ex-Commissioners Rawson and 46 THE GYPSY MOTH. Bradley met with the commissioners. They gave the com- mission such information as they possessed in regard to the habits of the moth, the methods used in controlling it and preventing its spread, its distribution and the extent of terri- tory infested by it. They also outlined on a map the territory known by them to be infested by the moth. (See map.) The " director of field work" who was appointed on that day was present and consulted with the commissioners in regard to taldng immediate steps for the eradication of the moth. In view of the conflicting opinions expressed in regard to the effectiveness of spraying as a means of extermination, it was decided to organize at once a force of men, and to destroy as many of the eggs of the gypsy moth as possible before the time for hatching arrived. The director took the train at once for Amherst, and visited the Hatch Experiment Station, where two days were spent in consultation with the entomologist, Prof. C. H. Fernald, and in examining insecti- cide appliances and the literature germane to the subject. It had been proposed by the commissioners that the di- rector secure the services of some of the students or gradu- ates of the Massachusetts Agricultural College as assistants. Through the good offices of Professor Fernald and Dr. H. H. Goodell, president of the college, in advising the students, several young men were induced to engage in the work of extermination. Some of these students had studied eco- nomic entomology under the guidance of the entomologist, and were especially fitted for the work in hand. From that time Professor Fernald's advice and assistance were always freely sought by the committee and director, and as freely given. All plans made were submitted to him for approval, and were only perfected after a careful consideration of his recommendations. The students who had been engaged were released in a few days from their college engagements, and on March 19 nine of them reported at the office of the State Board of Agriculture and received instructions. In the mean time the office and storehouse, which had been used by the first commission, had been opened, an inventory of prop- erty taken, and a hasty inspection made of the infested region by the director, in company with Ex-Commissioner Bradley. A few experienced men had also been employed. h ? *«»% ' a ' \ , -< / Uj ■> 3 / Q. / 1 \ " I - £ I O '-^ v o 3 D <- ^ ,' A i THE WORK OF 1891. 47 On March 20 actual work in the field was begun. The director and sixteen men visited the farm of Mr. Gilman Osgood in Belmont, which was the only locality in that town known by the first commission to be infested. It was then sup- posed that this was an isolated moth colony, and an attempt was made to stamp it out by gathering the eggs.* During the day, however, other colonies were found in Belmont. Tlie Work delegated to the Board of Agriculture. The commission of 1891 was superseded after a few weeks by the State Board of Agriculture, the act (chapter 210, Acts of 1891) placing the work in the hands of the Board being approved April 1 7 . The act follows : — [Acts of 1891, Chapter 210.] An Act to provide against depredations by the insect known as the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth. Be it enacted, etc., as folloics: Section 1. The state board of agriculture is hereby authorized, empowered aud directed to provide and carry into execution all reasonable measures to prevent the spreading and to secure the extermination of the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth in this Common- wealth ; and to this end said board shall have full authority to provide all necessary material and appliances, and to employ such competent persons, servants and agents as it shall from time to time deem necessary in the carrying out the purposes of this act ; and said board shall also have the right itself or by any persons, servants or agents employed by it under the provisions of this act to enter upon the lands of any person. Sect. 2. The owner of any land so entered upon, who shall suffer damage by such entry and acts done thereon by said state board of agriculture or under its direction, may recover the same of the city or town in which the lands so claimed to have been damaged are situate, by action of contract ; but any benefits received by such entry and the acts done on such lands in the execution of the purposes of this act shall be determined by the court or jury before whom such action is heard, and the amount thereof shall be applied in reduction of said damages ; and the Commonwealth shall refund to said city or town one-half of the amount of the damages recovered. * The attempt to eradicate the colony was not at that time successful, hut was ac- complished later. The moths were found that season in many localities in Belmont. 48 THE GYPSY MOTH. Sect. 3. Said state board of agriculture shall have full authority to make from time to time such rules aud regulations in furtherance of the purposes of this act as it shall deem needful, which rules and regulations shall be published in one or more newspapers published in the county of Suffolk ; and copies of such rules and regulations shall be posted in at least three public places in each city or town in which said ocneria dispar or gypsy moth shall be found by said board to exist and a copy thereof shall be filed with the city clerk of each such city and with the town clerk of each such town ; and any person who shall knowingly violate any of the provisions thereof shall be punished for each violation by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars. Sect. 4. Said state board of agriculture shall keep a record of its transactions and a full account of all its expenditures under this act, and shall by its chairman or secretary make report thereof, with such recommendations and suggestions as said board shall deem necessary, on or before the fourth Wednesday in January, to the general court. Sect. 5. Said state board of agriculture shall establish the rate of compensation of any persons, servants or agents employed by it under this act. Sect. 6. Any person who shall purposely resist or obstruct said state board of agriculture, or any persons, servants or agents em- ployed by it under the provisions of this act, while engaged in the execution of the purposes of this act, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offence. Sect. 7. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to bring the insect known as the ocneria dispar or gypsy moth, or its nests or eggs, within this Commonwealth ; or for any person knowingly to transport said insect, or its nests or eggs, from any town or city to another town or city within this Commonwealth. Any person who shall offend against the provisions of this section shall be pun- ished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or by imprison- ment in the house of correction not exceeding sixty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Sect. 8. The said state board of agriculture may exercise all the duties and powers herein conferred upon said board, by and through its secretary and such members of said board as it may designate and appoint to have in charge, in conjunction with its secretary, the execution of the purposes of this act. Sect. 9. All moneys heretofore appropriated or authorized to be expended under the provisions of chapters ninety-five and one hundred and fifty-seven of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety or by any other act, and not heretofore expended, are A NEW STATUTE. 49 hereby appropriated and authorized to be expended by the said board in carrying out the purposes of this act. Sect. 10. All the property acquired and records kept under the provisions of said chapter ninety-five of the acts of the year eigh- teen hundred and ninety shall be delivered into the custody of said board, and said board is authorized to take, receive and use the same for the purposes of this act. Sect. 11. Chapter ninety-five of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety is hereby repealed, but all claims for damages under said chapter ninety-five for entry upon and acts done on the lands of any person may be prosecuted, as therein provided, against the city or town wherein the lands entered upon are situate, and the damages shall be ascertained and one-half of the amount thereof recovered against any city or town shall be refunded to such city or town as provided in said chapter ninety-five. [Ap- proved April 17, 1891. A special meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held on April 28, and Messrs. Sessions, Shaler and Appleton were appointed a committee in accordance with the provi- sions of section 8 of the act. This committee organized on May 19, with the choice of Mr. Sessions as chairman and secretary. The committee continued the work which it had begun as a commission, confirming the appointment of the field directory and directed that the work being done in the field should be continued. A code of rules and regulations for the public was adopted. (See Appendix B.) At the time of appointment of the second commission there remained unexpended of the ap- propriation of 1890 the sum of $24,460.68. On May 19 $11,003.22 only remained. On June 30 an additional ap- propriation of $50,000 was made by the Legislature. Mapping the Infested Region. In apportioning the territory to different inspectors, it was found necessary to make a hasty survey of the field and to plat it on maps of the towns known to be infested and those contiguous to them. These maps were divided into sections of such size as could be conveniently carried by the men engaged in field work. For convenience these sections were so drawn as to be bounded by town lines, streets and 50 THE GYPSY MOTH. railways, or by natural bounds, such as streams and lakes. Each map was accompanied by a written description of the boundaries of the section which it represented. The work was done, under the supervision of the director, by Mr. J. O. Goodwin of Medford, an experienced engineer, well acquainted with the topography of the region. It was in- tended so to divide the region that each inspector or foreman could be held responsible for a certain tract or section with definite and well-marked boundaries. Each section in each town was numbered. Each inspector, on entering the field, was required to run the boundaries of the section allotted to him, and mark the section number prominently with white paint on fixed objects at each angle of the boundary. To avoid any possible confusion of lines, each inspector was also required to ' ' blaze " or mark the line with white paint wherever it was not otherwise easily distinguishable. When this system was extended into the towns farthest from the infested centre, it was not found necessary to divide such towns into sections on account of the comparatively small number of moth colonies found in them. They were treated, therefore, as sections, and an inspector with a gang of men was placed in charge of each. If, however, it was found, on close inspection, that a town that had not been " sectioned" was badly infested, and would require several gangs of men, it was then " sectioned." Each inspector was required occa- sionally to sketch maps ; also to locate and mark infested localities on section maps, and to make such additions to the maps as were from time to time necessitated by the con- struction of new streets or railways in the infested towns. Organization and Instruction of the Field Force. Whenever suitable men could be found they were added to the force. Some of the most capable men of the force of 1890 were re-employed. Others, whose previous expe- rience in field study in entomology or kindred sciences had fitted them for careful observation, were engaged and trained to act as inspectors. When field operations were commenced the eggs of the moth were the only living form of the pest. The men were taught how to recognize and destroy them, and to THE INSTRUCTION OF EMPLOYEES. 51 distinguish them from those of native moths. They were taught to observe all evidences of the presence of the gypsy moth, and were requested to secure by personal observation as the season advanced all possible information in regard to its habits. When the inspectors had gained sufficient knowl- edge to enable them properly to instruct others, laborers were employed, and each inspector was put in charge of a few men, over whom he was given full authority with in- structions to recommend the discharge of anv man who proved inefficient or untrustworthy. Each inspector was given a short time in which to instruct his men by engaging them in practical work in the worst-infested portions of Maiden and Medford. Then a section (indicated by a map) was allotted him, with instructions to inspect it and destroy the eggs therein. When eggs were found on a tree or other object, certain characters were marked upon it with white paint, and the locality was designated on the map. As the season advanced and the extent of the region occu- pied by the moth became known, it was found necessary to employ two hundred and fifty men, and distribute them over this region. It became evident that it was impossible for one man to keep the entire field under supervision. Six superintendents were then selected from among the most efficient of the inspectors. Each of these was required to supervise the work in several towns. When spraying began, one man was placed in charge of tools and supplies, including spraying apparatus and teams. A code of rules and regula- tions was prepared and printed early in the season, and copies were distributed among the employees. (See Appendix B.) Daily Reports and Records. Each inspector was instructed to make out daily a written report of the work done by himself and men, and to incor- porate in these reports his observations on the habits of the moth and its parasites, notes on its distribution and all useful information acquired by him in regard to the moth or methods of eradicating it. In these reports the number of trees, buildings, fences, walls, hedges and other objects inspected daily was recorded ; the number of each on which the moth was found ; the number of each form of the moth 52 THE GYPSY MOTH. found and destroyed by hand on each estate ; the number of trees cut or treated by banding, burlapping, cementing or scraping; and the number of acres of brush or woodland burned over. Mention was also made of any work left unfinished for the time being, or thought to be necessary later. Whenever the moths were found in a locality not before known to be infested, the inspector was required to sketch on the day's report a map of the locality, marking the colony in a manner prescribed and in such a way that it could be found at once by one not familiar with the place. The name of the inspector appears on each of his daily reports, together with the names of his men. The number of hours per day that each man works is also recorded on the report. The reports are filed, and by them it is pos- sible to determine which inspector and men are responsible for any work done at any point on a given day in any year, and to fix the responsibility should any omission of duty or any misdemeanor occur on the part of the employees. An account with each infested estate is kept in the office in books known as " section books." The section books in which the records of field work are kept now number seventy-eight, of one hundred pages each. On the first page of each book the bounds and a general de- scription of the section are given, and the work done in it and the results attained for the year are recorded on the succeeding pages. There is also a " blue print " map marked in such a way as to designate each infested locality. (See Appendix C.) It is possible by consulting these books to learn how much work has been done on each infested estate, how many units of each form of the moth have been killed by hand, and whether the moth has been eradicated from that locality or not. There is thus kept a complete record of the progress made. The Spring Inspection. An inspection of the infested region was begun in March, with a view of determining its extent. This inspection com- menced in Medford and Maiden near the centre of the region, and extended to the surrounding towns as the organization of the force was perfected and its size increased. Each THE SPRING INSPECTION. 53 inspector was first sent with his squad to inspect a section in one of the towns then known to be infested. He was in- structed to inspect the entire territory within the boundaries of the section, and destroy all the eggs found therein. It was at once seen that the moth was most numerous along the thoroughfares. A few of the most expert men were sent into the towns nearest Maiden and Medford to examine the roadsides and mark any colonies found. These men speedily found the moth in Lexington, Winchester, Wakefield, Melrose, Revere and Saugus, thus greatly adding to the knowledge of the extent of the infested region. Work was hurried forward in all these towns. The eggs were cut or scraped from the trees with knives, gathered into cans and burned with oil in small stoves made for the purpose. Rubbish and undergrowth containing eggs were also de- stroyed by fire. As much more territory was found infested than was at first estimated, it was found impossible to secure and train men enough to make a thorough search of the entire region and destroy all the eggs before hatching time. As it was necessary to determine as soon as possible how far the moth had become disseminated, a portion of the work in Maiden and Medford was given up, and the men who had been engaged in destroying eggs there were sent into the outlying towns. For this reason, when the eggs began hatching a considerable area yet remained in a few of the inner towns where the eggs had not been destroyed. Many eggs which had been scattered about, both by the work of the first commission in the fall of 1890 and by the work in the spring of 1891, hatched, and caterpillars began to appear in large numbers over a wide area. When work was begun the time remaining for this inspection and egg killing did not exceed six weeks, as the eggs begin hatching before May 1. Yet in that short time the moths had been found far beyond the utmost limits of the region previously known as infested. The Condition in which the Infested Region was found in 1891. When work was begun by the second commission the eggs of the moth were found in great numbers upon the trees in 54 THE GYPSY MOTH. certain localities in which little work had been done in the fall of 1890 by the first commission. In some of these places the bark of the trees was so covered with egg clusters that it presented a yellowish appearance. This was the case only in parts of Medford and at a few points in Maiden. Wherever the first commission had worked the previous autumn, few egg clusters were found on the trees. It was decided, however, to make a thorough search of all localities wherever it was practicable. With this in view, the base boards of fences were taken off, plank walks raised, the steps of houses torn up and cellars and buildings entered. In such places the eggs of the moth were found concealed in great numbers. In some cases quarts of eggs were taken out from beneath piazzas or flights of steps. Many eggs were also found in some cellars. As the inspection pro- gressed, a few badly infested localities were found in other towns and many eggs were destroyed. In most of these towns the moths had not been colonized long enough to become numerous, but were found in isolated colonies along the roads. Such inspections as were made of woodlands revealed in most cases comparatively few colonies, most of them small and isolated. A careful estimate has been made from the daily reports of inspectors, which shows the number of egg clusters destroyed during the first six weeks of 1891 to be 757,760. The num- ber of eggs contained in these clusters would probably be from three to five hundred millions. The Enforcement of Police Regulations. When in May the caterpillars were seen to be dropping by their threads from the trees upon passing teams and vehicles, it was deemed necessary to do something to check their distribution in this manner. The method (used by the commission of 1890) of guarding the roads leading out of the worst-infested district was tried. The police were required to inspect all horses and vehicles going out of the infested district, record all facts regarding their destination, and destroy any caterpillars found upon them. They were also required to enforce the regulations of the department in regard to the hauling of hay or manure without covers, and SPRAYING. 55 other matters relating to team traffic. The police outposts were inspected by Professor Shaler of the committee in charge of the work, by the director and by the superintend- ents, and it was soon seen that the method was impracti- cable. A perfect cordon could not be maintained, and the results obtained were not proportionate to the expense incurred. At the end of two weeks the plan was abandoned. In the mean time some good had been done by destroying caterpillars found on vehicles, and by gaining a knowledge of the destination of the teaming between badly infested localities and towns outside of the known infested district. This knowledge was utilized in the fall inspection. Spraying . In April the director's office was removed to Maiden, at a point near the centre of the infested region and having better railway communications with the surrounding towns. More commodious rooms were here secured, and experimenting with insecticides was begun. Most economic entomologists concurred in recommending spraying with arsenical poisons for killing all leaf-eating larvae. Following such advice, ex- periments with arsenites were begun. An early supply of gypsy-moth larvae was obtained by artificial hatching, and the experimental work was continued during the spring and summer, the experiments with Paris green giving the best results. In the laboratory it was found that young cater- pillars, fed upon plants to which this poison had been properly applied, died within a few days. In later experi- ments it was noticed that a considerable proportion of the larger caterpillars survived. In the experimental work in the laboratory, no injury to the foliage was observed when a mixture of one pound of this poison to one hundred and fifty gallons of water was used. Glucose was also added to retain the poison upon the leaves. When it became evident that Paris green was the most effective of the arsenites, preparations were made for its use on an extensive scale. In the first part of May teamsters were employed, and twenty spraying outfits were put upon the road in Medford. The number of men and teams was soon found to be insufficient. Ten additional spraying out- 56 THE GYPSY MOTH. fits were purchased, and the capacity of each was doubled by improved appliances. Each outfit with the accompanying squad of men was under the immediate charge of an inspect- or. When the apparatus had been tested and the men had gained the skill necessary for its intelligent use, the entire force was sent to the periphery of the region then known to be occupied by the moth and ordered to work toward the centre. The infested area was thus sprayed until the middle of July. At that date numbers of caterpillars were fully grown and had stopped feeding ; some had pupated and others were wandering from tree to tree. Other means were then used for the destruction of both caterpillars and pupae. * Considerable opposition to the use of Paris green for spraying was manifested by many people living in the in- fested towns. A mass meeting of opponents of the spraying was held in Medford. One citizen, who attempted to cut the hose attached to one of the spraying tanks, and threat- ened with violence the employees of the Board who had entered upon his land, was arrested and fined. Others neu- tralized the effects of the spraying by turning the garden hose upon trees and shrubs that had been sprayed, and washing off the solution. The opposition to the spraying affected the results of the work unfavorably to a consider- able extent. In June a bulletin of information was issued by the State Board of Agriculture, containing quotations from Professor Riley and other economic entomologists as to the lack of danger to man or beast attending the use of Paris green. This bulletin was distributed freely among the people of the district, but it failed to allay the popular prejudice against the spraying. During the spraying season Professor Eiley and Mr. Sam- uel Henshaw (at that time an entomological agent of the United States Department of Agriculture) visited the dis- trict and inspected and criticised the operations in the field. It became evident before the close of the season that the spraying, while reducing the numbers of the moth, could not be relied upon as a means of extermination, for many caterpillars survived its effects. In June, when the cater- pillars had reached the fourth molt and begun to cluster in PLATE X. Trees stripped by caterpillars of the gypsy moth, Arlington, Mass. From a photograph taken July 9, 1891. THE SUMMER WORK. 57 cavities of the tree trunks and in other hiding places, they were destroyed by spraying with insecticides which killed them by contact. The arsenites have no effect when used in this way. Burlap bands were also placed about the trees to serve as artificial hiding places for the caterpillars, and many were destroyed beneath the bands. This method was so successful that it was generally adopted, and more than sixty-eight thousand trees were banded during the season. Entomological Work. On June 18 Prof. Charles H. Fernald was appointed en- tomological adviser to the committee. Arrangements were made by which he could give a portion of his time to the work, and one of his assistants, Mr. E. P. Felt, was em- ployed in making observations and experiments. Professor Fernald critically examined the field work, reported thereon, and made frequent subsequent visits of inspection to the in- fested territory, directing the experiments and giving advice concerning the work in the field. At his suggestion the in- spectors were directed to watch for parasites of the moth in its various stages. Several parasites were discovered. All dead pupre found during the season in the central towns were collected and preserved, in order that the parasites preying upon them might be obtained. The dead pupae found in the outer towns of the infested territory were left on the trees, that the parasites might escape from them and continue their work. The inspectors were encouraged in their observations on the habits and life history of the moth. The feeding habits were made the subject of especially careful observa- tion, and all the information thus gained was recorded and tabulated for future use. Numbers and Destructiveness of the Moth in the Summer of 1891. Though a great number of eggs had been burned in the spring, and thousands of caterpillars had been killed by spraying, burning, burlapping and other means, they were still so numerous in the summer of 1891 that some dam- age was done in certain localities. A few trees in some orchards in Maiden and Medford were almost defoliated. 58 THE GYPSY MOTH. In one case in Medford three apple trees which had been sprayed were only saved from defoliation by the use of con- tact insecticides. Two bushels of dead larvae and pupa? were gathered from the ground beneath these trees. The injury was most severe wherever a locality had been over- looked in the spring inspection, and numerous eggs thereby allowed to hatch. Early in June a colony of moths was found in a small grove of trees in Arlington. Although the trees were sprayed twice with a mixture of Paris green and water (two pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons), the foliage was entirely destroyed, and the caterpillars then spread in all directions through the fields, eating the grass as they went. In spite of all that was done to stay them, many reached the woodland one-eighth of a mile away. Others, having de- foliated the trees, clustered in masses on the trunks and branches and about and upon the rocks beneath. These were finally destroyed by fire. After the larvae upon the trees and undergrowth had been destroyed, the stones beneath the trees were overhauled and pupae were gathered at the rate of about eleven hundred per hour per man. There were similar but less destructive outbreaks in other parts of Arlington, and in Winchester, Chelsea and Melrose, but the one of greatest magnitude occurred in Swampscott. This was beyond the range of the spring inspection, and the colony was found in July by an inspector who had been sent out to search that region for caterpillars. It was situated on a hillside near Humphrey Street. There were several trees infested in a yard and others in a small orchard on a hillside in the rear. Back of the orchard was a pasture somewhat overgrown with trees and shrubs. On the east and extend- ing over the highest point of the hill there was woodland composed of a great variety of trees, both deciduous and coniferous. Beginning at the edge of the orchard a dense undergrowth or jungle of creeping vines and bushes extended into the woodland. When this colony was first found the caterpillars had be- gun eating the foliage of nearly all species of trees and plants in the immediate vicinity of the house and outbuild- ings, and were fast spreading into the woodland and pasture. A gang of men was sent to the spot with a spraying tank ° a ' a hr) P- 33 B E O P ff CD << 3 CD to t; Si & ED ►ti 6 D p CO P «J P - P< -> r+ P F p ct m UJ r+ -i cow coo CD P. rT ■< RAVAGES OF 1891. 59 which was set on a hill near by. Water was drawn by a hose from a near hydrant, and the trees, shrubbery and vege- tation in the whole neighborhood were sprayed heavily with Paris green. As this did not appear to check the ravages of the larva?, the locality was resprayed at once. Within a few days of the time of the last spraying nearly every green leaf on several acres was eaten by the caterpillars. This destruction continued incessantly, and the injury spread in all directions. Six gangs of men were despatched at once with orders to surround the infested locality and work from the outside to the centre, and burn with an oil spray all undergrowth and everything on which the larva? could feed, destroying at the same time with the fire all the cater- pillars possible. This treatment effectually checked their diffusion, thereby preventing further injury. The pupa? were raked off the worst-infested trunks and burned or other- wise destroyed. Mr. C. R. Drew of Medford, writing of the numbers of the moth in 1891 at his place, says : — There seemed to be almost millions of gypsy-moth caterpillars in 1891 at the corner of Fountain and Salem streets, where I then lived. They very nearly destroyed a blue pearmain apple tree. It bore no fruit that year. This tree blossomed out in the spring, but when it began to leaf out the caterpillars attacked it and every vestige of green disappeared. It looked as if fire had run through the tree. Several sweet-apple trees were also badly eaten. You could hear the noise of the caterpillars eating in the trees at dusk. They were so thick that you could scrape them off anywhere. They crawled all over the concrete, and we crushed them as we walked. We had seats on the grass under the trees, but we could not sit there because the. caterpillars dropped down so thickly. It was possible daily to gather a half water-bucketful of them, but the next day they would be just as bad. Mr. L. B. Sanderson, an employee of the Board, re- ports : — At Mr. Drew's yard we got one day twenty-two quarts of catei*- pillars. Such cases, however, were exceptional, for the greater portion of moths in the worst-infested places were destroyed 60 THE GYPSY MOTH. by the agents of the Board of Agriculture before serious injury had been done. Fall Inspection and Egg Gathering. In September, when the moths had laid their eggs, the force of men was reduced. The most expert employees were retained, and these were engaged in destroying eggs in the worst-infested districts of Maiden and Medford, until, by practice, they had become efficient in this sort of work. As soon as the leaves had fallen from deciduous trees, the men were sent into the towns and cities beyond the region which the moth was known to occupy, and the inspection, which had been interrupted in the spring by the growing leaves, was continued. An inspector was assigned to each town, and instructed to inspect that town hastily, and if moths were found there to proceed immediately to the next, and so on until a wide belt of territory around the infested region had been inspected in which no moths could be found. Eighteen towns and three cities outside of the known infested region were thus inspected in November and December. The moths were found in each of the cities and in four of the towns, and it was reported to the Legislature that whereas in the spring the moths had been supposed to be confined to a few towns, they were now known to be in thirty townships, as follows : Arlington, Belmont, Beverly, Brighton (Ward 25, Boston), Cambridge, Charlestown (Wards 3, 4 and 5, Boston), Chelsea, East Boston (Wards 1 and 2, Boston), Everett, Lexington, Lynn, Lynnfield, Maiden, Marblehead, Medford, Melrose, Peabody, Reading, Revere, Salem, Swampscott, Saugus, Somerville, Stoneham, Waltham, Wakefield, Watertown, Winchester, Winthrbp and Woburn. Results of the Work. During the season of 1891 the work carried on was effective, inasmuch as it destroyed all the large colonies of the moth, and protected the fruit and shade trees of the State from further injury. The spraying and other treatment of the trees redoubled the fruit crop of the district. The measures used disposed of the annual increase of the moth, and reduced the numbers originally found by about ninety per cent. RESULTS OF THE WORK OF 1891. 61 The inspection of 1891 gave a closely approximate idea of the size of the region infested by the moth, as it has not since been found in any numbers or to any distance outside of the boundaries then laid down. As the work was neces- sarily hurried in order to complete it by Jan. 1, 1892, so that the size of the infested region might be reported to the Legislature, many small colonies were overlooked. Thus, though the approximate area of the infested region was determined, its condition was not thoroughly known at the close of 1891. It was seen early in the season that the appropriation made would not be sufficient to exterminate the moth in one year, but it was thought that $75,000 was all that could be used to advantage until such time as the exact area and condition of the infested region could be ascertained. 62 THE GYPSY MOTH. The Work of 1892. On the first of January, 1892, there remained of the appropriation of 1891 the sura of $5,213.13. This could have been used to good advantage before January 1, but it was thought to be of more importance to retain it, so that the most expert men might be kept at work until such time as another appropriation would become available. The nucleus of an organization was thus maintained during the winter. Early in January, 1892, when the Legislature con- vened, the State Board of Agriculture by its secretary made a report recommending an appropriation of $75,000 for the year. Though the money available in 1891 had proved in- sufficient to maintain as large a force as was needed to obtain the best results, the committee deemed it unwise to recom- mend more than $75,000 for the work of 1892. The experience of 1891 had determined that spraying with arsenical insecticides (the method which had been most strongly recommended by the best authorities) was a failure as a means of extermination. The experimental work of the first year had not resulted in providing a better insecticide, and further experiments were necessary. Again, much difficulty had been experienced in securing efficient and trustworthy men. It was evident that a large portion of another season must be occupied in selecting and training a body of men which could be used in organizing a larger force. Although the moths had been found scattered over a region of two hundred square miles, there was considerable doubt as to whether the extent of the infested area had yet been determined. Though the outlook was not altogether en- couraging, nine-tenths of the moths in the region found infested had been destroyed, and there was no immediate danger from them so long as they were kept under control. The committee were confident that the moths could be con- trolled and their numbers at the same time still further reduced with the amount of money recommended, while in the mean time experimental work could be carried on to determine the policy for the future. THE WORK OF 1892. 63 Only forty of the most efficient men had been retained from the field force of 1891, and by reason of delay in granting the appropriation, the committee were obliged to discharge them all. Some of the most capable of these men soon obtained employment elsewhere, and this loss reduced the efficiency of the working force. Very little work was accomplished during the month of February. Finally, on March 1, an act authorizing an appropriation of $75,000 was passed by the Legislature. This made it possible to make arrangements to resume field work, although unseasonable snow-storms still further delayed the spring inspection. The old method of scraping the eggs from the trees and burning them was discarded, and the eggs were left on the trees and treated with acids or creosote. The scattering of eggs was thus avoided. The experimental work of 1891 resulted in the trial in the field in 1892 of several new insecticides. None of them, however, proved generally effective, although bromine and chlorine were useful in destroying eggs in hollow trees. Professor Fernald had recommended in December, 1891, ' ' that the nests of the gypsy moth hereafter gathered be pre- served in such a way that the eggs of parasites that may have been laid in such eggs of the gypsy moth be allowed an opportunity to develop into the perfect insect." This plan was put into operation early in 1892 in the towns of Maiden and Medford. All the eggs gathered were taken to a central point in each town, and were there kept in a closed case until all were hatched. As only a single specimen of an egg parasite was obtained in this way, the plan was aban- doned. Owing to the lateness of the appropriation, which caused delay in examining and employing men, and the unseason- able weather, it was impossible before hatching time to make a thorough inspection of the infested region, but an attempt was made to destroy all egg clusters found along the roads. This was done to prevent the spreading of the caterpillars. This method was intended to take the place of police out- posts on the roads. It was a preventive measure, for, if the eggs were removed from the trees, there would be no cater- pillars to spin or drop down upon the passing vehicles and 64 THE GYPSY MOTH. teams. It was in this manner that the moths had been dis- tributed in former years. Wherever large trees near high- ways had been cleared of eggs, they were banded with tree ink or with "Raupenleim" ("insect lime") to prevent the cater- pillars ascending them from the ground. This was intended to keep the moth out of such trees for the season. Very little spraying was done during 1892. Two spraying outfits were kept busy for a short time, and were sent from place to place wherever the caterpillars appeared in considerable num- bers. The trees in such localities were sprayed when the caterpillars were small, and many of the latter were killed. This served to lessen the dissemination. The method of burlapping trees was used in place of spraying, and was ex- tensively employed over most of the infested region. The force of employees, numbering two hundred and thirty-four during the spring inspection, was afterwards reduced, but was again increased during the inspection of burlaps. The ap- propriation was not sufficient, however, to provide enough men to thoroughly examine the burlaps. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, burlapping and hand-killing during the summer disposed of nine-tenths of the gypsy moths in the places known to be infested, and in many localities they were exterminated by this work alone. During the fall inspection an attempt was made to search the country thoroughly, but again the lack of money was felt, and it was found necessary soon after the first of Sep- tember to discharge a large proportion of the force. Only about forty of the most expert men could be retained. It was impossible with this number of men to make a thorough examination of the entire infested region. A great deal of effort was devoted to determining whether the moth had spread farther than had been reported in 1891. A consider- able proportion of the later expenditure of the year was thus used in the towns immediately surrounding the infested region. But the moth was not discovered in any other towns in 1892. The infested region was so well covered by the distribu- tion of the force that no serious outbreak of the moth occurred in 1892. Enough had now been learned of the condition of the infested territory to convince the committee LARGER APPROPRIATIONS NEEDED. 65 that larger appropriations were needed. They believed that they had now learned by experience how to eradicate the moth. A large number of colonies had already been exter- minated, and it had been proved that the moths could be ex- terminated wherever they were found. The committee in its annual report to the Board recommended that an appropri- ation of $165,000 be granted for the work of 1893. The report was accepted by the Board, and presented to the Legislature of 1893. The report begins as follows : — In presenting the report of the gypsy moth department of the State Board of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 210, Acts of 1891, the committee desires to call attention to the fact that this effort to exterminate the Ocneria dispar is the first attempt on a large scale ever made in this Commonwealth to destroy a species of insect, consequently there was no trustworthy experience to guide the work. As it was an imported insect, its habits and peculiarities in this country had to be ascertained before the most effective methods of destruction could be deter- mined. Much of the work that has been done may be considered as in a measure experimental. As we have become more familiar with the extent of the territory invaded by the moth, the magnitude of the task has become more apparent. When the Legislature made the first appropriation, it was supposed that the moth occupied but a small part of one town. Careful inquiry has shown that it infests thirty cities and towns. From our observations we have no doubt that it was in nearly everyone of these localities in 1890, when the campaign of extermination was commenced.* During the year much had been done toward inspecting the towns on the borders of the infested district. Of this, the committee reports : — Much effort, involving a large expenditure, has been devoted to the inspection of territory outside the infested limit. Numerous letters have been received from different parts of the State and from adjoining States, to the effect that supposed gypsy moths bad been found. These notices have in all cases led to an inspec- tion of the suspected locality. The towns just outside those * Report of the State Board of Agriculture on the Extermination of the Gypsy Moth, January, 1893, page 5. 66 THE GYPSY MOTH. infested have also received some attention, but in no case has the gypsy moth been found outside of the limits reported last year.* Such expert men as could be spared from other work had been detailed to examine as much as possible of the large wooded region in the infested territory, so that its condition might be reported on as fully as possible to the Legislature. The woodland was found to be more or less infested, but its exact condition could not be determined, owing to a lack of money and trained men. On what was known of its condi- tion, the committee based their recommendation for a larger appropriation, setting forth their plans in regard to it in the following words : — We desire to present to the Legislature the state of the problem and various plans for solving it, with an estimate of the cost of each class of work for the next year. There are large areas of woodland in the infested towns. There are points in these forested districts known to be infested. There are probably other points where colonies have been established, and possibly many such. The dense growth of the underbrush in this woodland, and the thick carpet of dead leaves on the ground, make perfect inspection almost impossible. There are about four hundred acres of this woodland, which will, if it is allowed to remain, continue to be an uncertain element in our problem. If the timber could be felled and burned on the ground during the winter and early spring, and the ground carefully burned over twice during the summer, that element would be eliminated. We estimate the cost of this work at $125 per acre, or a total of $50,000 ; but we are confronted with the fact that most of the forest is situated in Medford, Maiden, Arlington, Melrose, Win- chester and Stoneham, and that much of it is valued for prospective parks. Its destruction would be considered a calamity by the in- habitants of these places. We believe that with sufficient means, and in several years' time, these forest lands can be cleared of moths without destroy- ing the timber. To accomplish it all the underbrush and all the decayed and worthless trees must be cut and destroyed by fire, the ground burned over, and the whole carefully inspected at least twice each year. Burlaps must be placed wherever the moth appears or has been found previous to the clearing up. The latter * Report of the State Board of Agriculture on the Extermination of the Gypsy Moth, January, 1893, page 6. A LARGER APPROPRIATION URGED. 67 plan will in the aggregate cost more than the former, but, as the work need not necessarily be all clone at once, and as it could be done in connection with the other work of the department, utilizing the time of the men in the winter and early spring, it may be the best plan to pursue.* The conimittee had undertaken to secure as full informa- tion as possible in regard to European experience with the gypsy moth and the methods used in Europe to combat it, as well as the probabilities regarding its future in this coun- try and the destruction which would be caused by it if it were allowed to spread unchecked except by individual effort. The information thus gained was tersely embodied in the report to the Legislature, as a warning to show what might be expected in the future. Tables of damage done to crops in the United States by insects were presented in the field director's report. The entomologist, who had at first grave doubts of the possibility of complete extermination, stated in his report that he had been led to believe that such a thing was really possible, provided the work were continued for several years w T ith sufficient appropriations to keep the entire territory under careful supervision. The State Board of Agriculture, approving the action of its committee, urged that the appropriation recommended be granted, and that every effort be made at once to rid the State of the pest. * Report of the State Board of Aguculiure on the Extermination of the Gypsy Moth, January, 1893, page 7. 68 THE GYPSY MOTH. The Work of 1893. Pursuant to the recommendation of the State Board of Agriculture, the joint standing committee on agriculture of the Legislature of 1893 reported a resolve appropriating $165,000 for the extermination of the gypsy moth. While this resolve was before the committee on finance, the com- mittee on the extermination of the gypsy moth voted "to suggest to the committee on finance that they advise the appointment of a committee of three or five of the Legislat- ure to investigate the work of the committee of the Board of Agriculture during the year 1893, and make such a report to the next Legislature as in their judgment seems wise." No such committee was appointed. Members of the Board of Agriculture appeared before the committee on finance to advocate the appropriation of $165,000. Expert entomol- ogists and many citizens of the infested district also appeared or sent communications, advising that every possible effort be made to exterminate the moth, and that the Board of Agriculture be given the full appropriation. But the finance committee reported in favor of reducing the amount to $100,000. There was considerable delay in granting this appropria- tion, and, as the money remaining from 1892 was nearly exhausted, it became necessary to suspend all field work. While the work was thus suspended and the committee was awaiting an appropriation, as in 1892, several of the most experienced men obtained other situations. This loss reduced the efficiency of the force. By reason of the delay several weeks of the best working time of the year passed unutilized. On April 12 an appropriation of $100,000 was made by the Legislature. A resolve was also sent to Congress by the Legislature, asking for $100,000 additional to continue the work. This resolve got no further than the committee room, and was never entertained by Congress. As soon as the appropriation became available, field work was again commenced. The force of men was increased as fast as was compatible with their proper examination and training. VISITS FROM ENTOMOLOGISTS. 69 The short time remaining before egg-hatching time was util- ized in destroying eggs in the worst- infested towns, and searching for them in the outer and less-infested towns. The trees in infested localities were banded with burlaps. During the summer the burlaps in the outer towns were visited daily, and the trees were occasionally examined, both by the regular men and by special inspectors. By this means the moth was almost completely eradicated from such towns, and in some of these towns no eff2;s were 7 Co found during the autumn. Owing to the insufficiency of the appropriation and the consequent lack of men, the burlaps in the central towns were not as often visited. As the effec- tiveness of this method depends on daily visits to the bands, the results here were not as satisfactory as in the outer towns, but the moths were held in check and somewhat reduced in numbers. During the summer an experiment in trapping the male moths was tried, with a view of determining whether the number of fertile eggs would be decreased thereby. Experi- ments with insecticides during the season proved the useful- ness of a new insecticide, — arsenate of lead. Raupenlehn was used to a considerable extent in 1893, as it was during 1892, but was not found so effective, perhaps by reason of its inferior quality. In May the committee voted to request Professor Fernald to invite six of the most prominent entomologists in the ad- joining States to visit the infested region and critically examine the field and office work, and report the results of their observations. Prof. Clarence M. Weed, D.Sc, of the New Hampshire State College, Dr. A. S. Packard of Brown University, Dr. J. A. Lintner, State entomologist of New York, Professor John B. Smith of Rutgers College, State entomologist of New Jersey, and Dr. H. T. Fernald, profes- sor of zoology at the Pennsylvania State College, visited the territory in the summer, examined and criticised the work, and reported upon it. Their reports will be found in Apr pendix D. The recommendations of these entomologists were carefully considered by Professor Fernald and the director, who reported to the committee that the suggestions made should be carried out as far as practicable. 70 THE GYPSY MOTH. With the increased force provided by the larger appropria- tion, it was possible to accomplish in 1893 much more than had been done in former years. Every effort was made to determine how far the moth had spread, and whether it had passed beyond the limits of the region known to be infested in 1891. Careful inspection was made of a large number of towns on the borderline of the infested region, which resulted in small colonies being found in three places just outside the line drawn in 1891. It was evident that these colonies had been in existence for several years, even before the work of extermination was begun. One other colony was found at Franklin Park in Boston. This had evidently been growing for at least four or five years. Efforts were made to exter- minate the moth from the outer belt of towns of the infested region. These efforts were so successful that at the end of the year no form of the moth was found in any of the follow- ing towns: Beverly, Brighton, Burlington, Charlestown, Danvers, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Reading, Waltham and Watertown. During the season more than eight hundred colonies of the moth had been exterminated. But a detailed search of certain portions of the woodland in the infested region, which had been suspected but had not been known before to be infested, revealed small colonies scattered here and there, indicating that while a large proportion of the force had been concentrated upon the outer towns with a view to exterminating the moth there, the problem had been increas- ing from within by the spreading of the moths into the woodlands in the interior towns. The Board of Agriculture in its annual report on the gypsy-moth work to the Legislature again advised that everything possible be done to exterminate the moth, and recommended that $165,000 be appropriated for the work of the ensuing year. The magnitude of the work and the possibility of destruction to the forests were stated, and the plans for dealing with the moth in the woodland were described. Statements from citizens were given showing the destruction of trees and garden plants which had been accom- plished by the moth in Massachusetts during the years before the State began the work of extermination. THE INFESTED REGION REDUCED. 71 It was shown in the report that the region occupied by the moth had been considerably reduced by the work already done, and the belief of the committee was stated that with the appropriation asked for still more could be accomplished toward reducing the infested area. The report described the probable condition of the parks, woodlands and farms of the State should the moth be allowed to go on unchecked. Every effort was made to place fully before the Legislat- ure the necessity of continuing the work with a view to extermination. 72 THE GYPSY MOTH. The Work of 1894. Remembering the experience of former years, and con- sidering the likelihood of similar delay on the part of the Legislature and a consequent embarrassment of the work, the committee had laid their plans for 1893 so as to retain a considerable portion of that year's appropriation with which to begin the season of 1894. On Jan. 1, 1894, $29,744.69 of that appropriation remained unexpended. This was re- tained in order that the most expert men of the force of 1893 could be employed until such a time as the Legislature should make another appropriation. There were eighty-three men at work on January 1. Early in the year, Prof. N. S. Shaler, who had been a mem- ber of the committee from its organization in 1891 and who had been most active and prominent in the work, was obliged to resign from the Board of Agriculture on account of the press- ure of other duties. Since his resignation, however, he has kindly given his advice and assistance whenever called upon. On January 16, an order was presented to the Legislature by Representative Bullock of Fall River, which was after- wards adopted. This appears below, together with the answer made to it by the Board of Agriculture : — Ordered, That the State Board of Agriculture be instructed to report in writing to the General Court, on or before the first day of February next, the following facts aud estimates relative to the work of exterminating the gypsy moth : — 1. The amount appropriated and amount expended annually for such purpose since the work began. 2. The amount per year which, in the estimation of said Board, it will be necessary to expend upon such work during the next ten years. 3. Whether, in the estimation of said Board, it will be neces- sary to continue the work of extermination for an indefinite period. 4. If it will not be necessary to continue said work for an in- definite period, what is the probable limit of time during which it will be necessary to continue said work, and what will be the probable necessary expenditure therefor, in the aggregate, after the expiration of ten years from date. THE EXPENSE OF THE WORK. 73 Reply by the Board. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In response to an order of the Legislature under date of Jan. 15, 1894, the State Board of Agriculture, by its gypsy moth com- mittee, presents the following " facts and estimates relative to the work of exterminating the gypsy moth." The amounts of appro- priations and expenditures have been reported in the several annual reports of the committee, and a summary of the same ap- pears in the report of the work of 1893, now in the hands of the Legislature. The original bills and pay-rolls, showing the details of all expenditures, may be found in the office of the State Auditor in the State House. The following is a condensed account of the appropriations made and the amounts expended annually : — Appropriations. March 14, 1890, $25,000 00 June 3, 1890, 25,000 00 June 3, 1891 50,000 00 1892 75,000 00 1893, 100,000 00 Total appropriated, $275,000 00 Expended in 1890 by First Commission. Salary of commissioners, $3,118 27 Wages of employees, 15,278 32 Other expenses, 7,142 73 Total expended in 1890 $25,539 32 Expended in 1891 by Second Commission. Balance of salaries due members of first commission, .... $630 95 Salary of director, one and one-half months, 300 00 Wages of employees, . . . .10,147 97 Other expenses, including travelling expenses, teaming, rent, supplies and tools, 2,378 54 $13,457 46 Amounts carried forward, .... $13,457 46 $25,539 32 74 THE GYPSY MOTH. Amounts brought forward, .... $13,457 46 $25,539 32 Extended in 1891 by the State Board of Agriculture. Expenses of committee in charge of the work, $121 53 Director's salary, seven and one-half months, 1,500 00 Advising entomologist's salary and ex- penses, . . ... 280 84 AVages of employees, .... 41,096 86 Other expenses, including travelling expenses, teaming, rent, supplies and tools, 12,790 86 55,790 09 Total expended in 1891, .... 69,247 55 Extended in 1892 by the State Board op Agriculture. Expenses of the committee in charge of the work, $130 49 Director's salary, 2,400 00 Advising entomologist's salary and expenses, . 525 60 Wages of employees, 59,505 03 Other expenses, including travelling expenses, teaming, rent, supplies and tools, . . . 11,979 84 74,540 96 Expended in 1893 by the State Board of Agriculture. Expenses of committee in charge of the work, Director's salary, ...... Advising entomologist's salary and expenses, Wages of employees, Other expenses, including travelling expenses teaming, rent, supplies and tools, Total expended to Jan. 1, 1894, The estimates called for must, from the nature of the attending circumstances, be only opinions. The plans for the work of 1893, for which an appropriation of 1165,000 was asked, contemplated a careful tree to tree search of all the forest land within the in- fested territory. This search would have cost a very large sum ; but as only sixty per cent, of the sum asked was appropriated, this, with much other work planned for the central district, was necessarily postponed. It was decided that the work of extermi- nation in the outer infested towns and the inspection of the terri- tory surrounding them still further out was most necessary and would contribute most toward extermination. Were the uncer- . $110 28 . 2,400 00 730 16 . 59,039 65 . 13,647 39 75,927 48 . $245,255 31 FUTURE EXPENSE ESTIMATED. 75 taiuties which confront us in the condition of these forest lands eliminated, our opinions would more nearly approximate to the character of estimates made by experts when all the conditions of a problem are known. In 1893 considerable progress toward extermination was made. Ten towns were apparently cleared, comprising more than one-third of the territory originally infested. In 1894, with the appropriation asked for ($165,000), the committee ought to be able to bring into the same category Swampscott, Salem, Peabody, Wakefield, Woburn, Lexington, Winthrop and Franklin Park. This would leave Belmont, Arlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, East Boston, Ever- ett, Lynn, Maiden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus, Somerville, Stoneham and Winchester still infested. Several of these towns should be very nearly or quite cleared in 1894. But we have, in our estimates, left them with the list of probably uncleared. If, in 1895, $150,000 is appropriated, the work of that year should clear all towns but Arlington, Chelsea, Everett, Maiden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus and Somerville. The moth in these towns should then be brought to the verge of extermination so that, with an appropriation of $100,000, the work of 1896 would be quite likely to bring them very near to the condition of the cleared towns. During all this time a large amount of this money must be expended in closely inspecting the towns supposed to be cleared. In 1897 an appropriation of $50,000 would be necessary to provide for the completion of the work in the last-mentioned towns and for the necessary careful reinspection of the whole territory. We think this appropriation would also provide means to stamp out any possible remains of colonies supposed to be exterminated that might be found by the careful reinspection. For the five succeeding years we believe that an average annual appropriation of $25,000 would be necessary to continue the care- ful inspection of the whole territory and provide the means to deal with any colonies that may possibly have been overlooked. While it is our opinion that it is quite possible to exterminate the moth if large appropriations, such as have been mentioned, are granted for the next few years, we believe it also probable that should an appropriation of only $50,000 per year be granted the work would have to be continued indefinitely, as a very large proportion of such an appropriation would necessarily be expended in watching the outside territory and taking measures to prevent the spreading of the insect. Another method of estimating the pi'obable future cost of exter- mination would be to multiply the average cost of extermination per estate in the towns already cleared by the number of estates 76 THE GYPSY MOTH. still infested. We estimate the number of estates still infested at eight thousand. Our records show that the average cost of exter- mination, per estate, in the towns cleared has been $41.10. At the same rate, the cost of exterminating the moth from eight thousand estates would be $328,800. This statement is made on the assumption that the estates yet infested are now in no worse condition than were those which had been cleared. This computa- tion does not include the large sum which must necessarily be expended in inspecting territory already cleared, that outside which must be watched, and the cost of reinspection for several years of these eight thousand estates after extermination is believed to have been accomplished. In the opinion of the committee the above-mentioned estimates afford the closest approximation to a forecast that can well be made. It is proper, however, to state that the questions asked by the Legislature cannot be answered with certainty. Respectfully submitted, Per order of the Gypsy Moth Committee of the State Board of Agriculture, Wm. P. Sessions, Chairman. Jan. 29, 1894. At the annual meeting of the Board of Agriculture on February 8, new by-laws were adopted, affecting a reorgan- ization of the Board. The committee in charge of the gypsy- moth work was thereafter known as the " committee on the gypsy moth, insects and birds," and its number was increased to six. The following is the article under which this committee acts : — It shall be charged with the duties of the gypsy moth committee, as provided for in chapter 210 of the Acts of 1891. All matters I'elating to birds and insects shall be referred to this committee, who shall report to the Board from time to time. The following; members of the Board were elected to serve upon this committee : E. W. Wood of Newton, Chairman, Wm. R. Sessions of Hampden, Francis H. Appleton of Pea- body, Wm. H. Bowker of Boston, F. W. Sargent of Ames- bury, and Augustus Pratt of North Middleborough. MR. APPLETON'S RESIGNATION. 77 In the mean time the recommendation of the Board for an appropriation of $165,000 for the work of the year had been considered by the legislative committees. The joint stand- ing committee on agriculture had unanimously endorsed the recommendation and had reported a bill to the House provid- ing for an appropriation of $1G5,000. The committee on the gypsy moth, insects and birds, together with many citizens from the infested district, appeared before the committee on expenditures and urged that the full amount of the appro- priation be granted. But the latter committee, disregarding the recommendation of the committee on agriculture, reported a bill recommending an appropriation of $100,000. The committee on the gypsy moth, insects and birds also urged that a committee of the Legislature, consisting of three or five, be appointed to fully investigate the gypsy-moth work during the season and report to the next Legislature. This was not done. When it became known later that the Legislature had not approved the recommendation of the committee, and that only $100,000 had been appropriated, Mr. Francis H. Appleton, one of the original members of the committee, tendered to the Board of Agriculture his resignation as a member of the committee. The reasons given by Mr. Appleton were that inasmuch as the committee had plainly stated that a certain sum must be available in order to do all possible toward extermination in one year, and as the committee was required by law to use ' ' all possible and reasonable measures " to secure the extermination of the moth, and as with the $100,- 000 the committee could do no more, in his opinion, than to continue the suppression of the moth, he felt it incumbent upon him to resign rather than to attempt a task which he believed impossible to accomplish with a less sum than had been recommended. As the committee had been elected by the Board and del- egated to this work, and as the Board would have no meeting during the spring or summer, the other members of the com- mittee considered it their duty to do all that was possible with the appropriation made, and report the result to the Board at its next annual meeting with such recommendations as should at that time seem best. 78 THE GYPSY MOTH. On June 1 9 the executive committee of the State Board of Agriculture petitioned for an additional appropriation of $65,000, but the petition was referred by the Legislature to the next General Court. The work of destroying the eggs of the moth had been carried on, whenever the weather permitted, in January, February, March and April. During these months the Leg- islature had been considering the advisability of making the appropriation recommended by the committee in charge of the work. On March 6 the committee held a joint meeting with the Metropolitan Park Commission. Arrangements were made so that the work of the Board of Agriculture in the Middlesex Fells might not conflict with the plans of the Park Commission. The public forest reservation controlled by the Park Commission and situated in Maiden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester, includes most of the Middlesex Fells. On May 1, the appropriation of 1893 having been ex- pended, all field work was discontinued. Nothing was done in the field from that time until May 23, when the Legis- lature appropriated $100,000. More than three weeks of the best working time of the season were thus lost. Those portions of the infested region in which it had been planned to destroy the eggs or young caterpillars were left entirely unguarded and the caterpillars hatched and scattered over the surrounding country. Thus the delay of the appropria- tion made the work far more costly. Trained and experi- enced employees were obliged to seek positions elsewhere, and the indirect loss and delay occasioned were as detrimen- tal to the work as the loss of time when the men were laid off. " This enforced suspension of the work was most unfort- unate, occurring as it did when the men were destroying the egg-clusters at the rate of thousands per day. Before work was resumed the remaining eggs had hatched and the larvae had scattered. Had the work not been thus inter- rupted, it would have been possible in many places to destroy these young larvae en masse by means of burning."* * Fourth Report .of the Board of Agriculture on the work of Extermination of the Gypsy Moth, January, 1S95. VISITS OF ENTOMOLOGISTS. 79 As soon as possible after the appropriation was available all those experienced and trustworthy men who could be reached were re-employed. The trees were burlapped and all haste made to prepare the infested trees for the summer work. In many places the caterpillars appeared in large numbers and it required the work of the entire season to hold them in check. The hatching and scattering of the caterpillars, which the delay of the appropriation allowed, necessitated the burlap- ping of a greater number of trees and the employment of a larger force for the summer. There were 624,673 trees bur- lapped during the summer and 265 men were of necessity em- ployed to attend the burlaps. The result was the destruction at a great expense of a great number of caterpillars, many of which would not have existed had the appropriation been made at an earlier date. A large part of the appropriation having been used in burlapping trees and killing caterpillars during the summer, it became necessary to discharge a large part of the force at the end of the burlapping season on August 25. Thirty-three men were then discharged and others were discharged in September, so that by October 1 only 133 men remained. This force was entirely insufficient to inspect thoroughly the 220 square miles in the known infested region, to say nothing of the belt of territory outside of it which the committee believed ought to be inspected. The men were kept at work during every day when it was possi- ble to work to advantage, and everything was done that could be done with the small force remaining to inspect the outer towns of the infested region. It was found necessary again to neglect the central towns to a certain extent that the outer towns might be inspected as thoroughly as possible and that the moth's spreading might be prevented. In June Dr. George H. Perkins of the University of Ver- mont, entomologist of the Vermont State Agricultural Ex- periment Station, visited the infested region upon invitation of the committee and inspected the work. In July Prof. F. L. Harvey, botanist and entomologist of the Experiment Station at the Maine State College, Prof. J. Henry Comstock of Cornell University, formerly United States entomologist, and Mr. L. O. Howard, entomologist of the United States 80 THE GYPSY MOTH. Department of Agriculture, examined the infested region and inspected the work. These gentlemen gave the com- mittee the benefit of their criticism and advice in the field, and Professors Perkins, Harvey and Comstock made written reports to the committee. (See Appendix E.) Mr. Howard, later, in his annual address before the sixth annual meeting of the Association of Economic Entomolo- gists, of which he was president, gave his impressions and opinions of the work. (See Appendix E.) During the summer the experiment in trapping male moths was tried on a larger scale than in 1893. While mauy moths were destroyed, the results as a whole were not suc- cessful enough to warrant the adoption of the method in field work. Arsenate of lead (first experimented with in 1893) was used in spraying to a limited extent during the spring. While more effective than Paris green, it was determined that it could not be depended upon to exter- minate. The fall inspection in Boston revealed the presence of moths in three sections of the city not before known to be infested — Roxbury, Dorchester and the city proper. One colony was found in each section. Two of them had been established evidently for several years, but the demands of the work elsewhere had hitherto prevented an inspection of this large territory. The inspection of towns which had been apparently cleared in 1893 revealed a few egg-clusters or other forms of the moth in all of them. A careful search of a portion of the unexplored wooded region revealed a number of small col' onies in the Lynn field woods. With this exception very few moths were found in any of these towns. The discovery of the moths in these towns emphasized the necessity of keeping them under surveillance for a few years after they had been apparently cleared and as long as there were moths in any of the adjacent towns. The discovery of the moths in the Lynnfield woods verified the prediction which the committee made in 1893, of the probability of the moth's existence in the wooded region, and showed the necessity of a sufficient appropriation to thor- oughly search the woodland. The committee in its report CONDITION OF THE REGION. 81 to the Legislature stated the condition of the infested region as follows : — In ten of the outer towns the moth has been apparently extermi- nated ; in five more it has been very nearly exterminated. More than a thousand well-marked moth colonies have been stamped out of existence. In all of the infested towns such sections as have been worked over year after year by the employees of the State Board of Agriculture are now nearly cleared of the moth, and the general condition of the inhabited and cultivated lands is better than ever before. Against this favorable condition of such portions of these towns we must place the fact which has been revealed by the inspection of the past season, — that the woodlands in many of the towns are much more generally infested than has been hitherto supposed. Scattered colonies of the moth are known in the woods of Lexington, Winchester, Arlington, Belmont, Stoneham, Medford, Wakefield, Melrose, Maiden, Lynn- field, Saugus, Revere, Swampscott, Lynn and Salem. This condition of the forested lands is due to the fact that there has not been money enough to provide for destruction of these colonies whenever found. It has been impossible, with the means at our command, to make a thorough search of all this woodland ; but during the past season special efforts have been made to in- spect it so far as was possible under the circumstances, and enough is now known to justify the presumption that colonies of the moth are scattered through the woods from Lexington to the sea. Though many of the colonies found have apparently had their origin within two or three years, many others originated at least ten years since. The woodland which is thus more or less infested probably covers fifty square miles of the central and north-central portions of the infested district. In the attempt to exterminate the gypsy moth it was early ascertained that the species was spread over a region many times greater than that which was at first known to be infested, and that it was not confined to lands under cultivation, but had penetrated to some extent into the woodlands. These discoveries made it certain that extermination would be extremely difficult, requiring years for accomplishment even under the most favorable condi- tions. The best methods known and used at first were not effect- ual in securing extermination, and the methods which later proved effective were so expensive that they could not be carried out over so large an area without larger appropriations than those which have been granted. Although the extent of the infested region, the existence of the 82 THE GYPSY MOTH. moths in the woods and the great expense of exterminative methods have been all repeatedly presented to the Legislature in the annual reports of this Board, the amount appropriated for each of the past two years has been only about two-thirds of that recommended by the Board as absolutely necessary to do all that could be done to advantage under the circumstances. The law requires the Board " to use all reasonable measures to prevent the spreading and to secure the extermination " of the moth. The Board has apparently been successful in preventing the spread of the moth and has considerably lessened the area known to be infested. It has never had an appropriation sulli- ciently large to do all that might have been done in one year toward the extermination of the moth. If the work is to be carried on under the present statute, and the policy of extermination is to be continued, we believe that two hundred thousand dollars should be appropriated for the work of the coming year. The committee believes that the work of extermination should be continued, but is also firmly of the opinion that, if the Legis- lature is unwilling to appropriate the sum necessary for an aggres- sive campaign for extermination, the law should be changed so that the Board of Agriculture shall be required to conduct the work only along the line of preventing the spread of the gypsy moth. The committee further believes that, if the Legislature is unwilling to provide sufficient funds for restricting the spread of the gypsy moth and holding it in check, the work should be dis- continued entirely. The committee is not in favor of appropri- ating inadequate funds for the work in hand. It seems unjust to require the extermination of the pest while providing inadequate means for the purpose. The Board of Agriculture has recom- mended for each of the past two years an appropriation of one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, believing that sum was absolutely required for the successful prosecution of the work. The Legislature has appropriated only one hundred thousand dollars, or about sixty per cent, of the sum asked for each of these years.* * Fourth Report of the State Board of Agriculture on the work of Extermination of the Gypsy Moth, January, 1895. PLATE XIII. Oak and pine woods attacked by the gypsy moth. From a photograph taken in Lexington, July 11, 1895. THE WORK OF 1895. 83 The Work of 1895. The Legislature of 1894 had adopted a resolve request- ing the senators and representatives from Massachusetts in the Congress of the United States to urge upon Congress the necessity of prompt and vigorous action to exterminate the gypsy moth, and to use their influence to secure from Con- gress an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars to assist this Commonwealth in defraying the necessary ex- penses of the work. The Board of Agriculture was notified by the agricultural committee of the United States Senate that a hearing would be given on Friday, Jan. 4, 1895, upon the resolve presented by the Massachusetts Legislature. A committee consisting of Francis H. Appleton, vice-president, and Wm. R. Ses- sions, secretary, of the Board of Agriculture, accompanied by the director of field work, appeared on January 5 before the Senate committee on agriculture, and also before the committee on agriculture of the United States House of Representatives, at a special hearing upon a resolution in- troduced into Congress by Hon. William Cogswell, which provided for the appropriation asked for by the resolution of the Massachusetts Legislature. The committee also pre- sented the matter to Hon. J. Sterling Morton, secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. Later, a re- solve appropriating forty thousand dollars for the extermina- tion of the gypsy moth passed the United States Senate but was defeated in a conference committee chosen from both houses. At the annual meeting of the Board of Agriculture, Feb. 6, 1895, Mr. Wm. H. Bowker, a member of the committee on the gypsy moth, insects and birds, retired from the Board, his term having expired on that day. Mr. Bowker had been a prominent member of the Board, and its reorganization was the outcome of his suggestions. The two vacancies in the membership of the committee, left by the resignation in 1894 of Mr, Appleton and the retirement of Mr. Bowker, 84 THE GYPSY MOTH. were filled by the election of Messrs. John G. Avery of Spencer and S. S. Stetson of Lakeville. The report of the Board of Agriculture, containing a recom- mendation for an appropriation of two hundred thousand dol- lars, was presented to the legislative committee on agriculture immediately after its organization in January. Some oppo- sition to the appropriation developed in the committee, and the time and attention of the members were occupied for some weeks with other important measures. This committee held public hearings during the week beginning February 11, at which hundreds of citizens from the infested towns were present. The preponderance of sentiment was in favor of granting the appropriation asked for. On March 21 the committee finally acted upon the matter, and reported a resolve calling for an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Although this amount was looked upon by the Board of Agriculture as entirely inadequate, there appeared to be fully as much danger to the work by delay in making the appropriation as by reduction of its size. The committee on the gypsy moth, insects and birds therefore endeavored to urge upon the General Court the immediate passage of the bill as reported by the committee on agri- culture. But it was not until May 17 that the appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars finally became avail- able. Early in the year the appropriation of 1894 was nearly exhausted and on February 6 the field force was discharged. The work of destroying the eggs of the moth, which should have been carried on during the spring in those portions of the infested towns not wholly cleared of them in the fall, was thereby brought to an end. Thus the experience of 1894 was repeated, but the amount of working time (three months) lost in 1895, owing to the lateness of the appropriation, was much greater than in the previous year. The discontinuance of the field work in 1895 was especially disastrous because occurring in an early spring which later developments showed was par- ticularly favorable for the moths' increase. The great mul- tiplication of the numbers of the moth which occurred during this favorable season, their scattering abroad and the con- sequent injury to trees by their feeding, might have been prevented by destroying the eggs in the spring. PLATE XIV. Oak trees stripped by caterpillars of the gypsy moth, Sar- gent Street, Dorchester. (Ward 16, Boston.) From a photograph taken July 24, 1895. DELAY IN LEGISLATION. 85 When it became evident that there would be considerable delay in legislation, the committee authorized the director to employ as a nucleus of an organization such experienced men as were willing to wait for their pay until such time as the Legislature should make an appropriation: The office force was employed ; the records were closed up ; examinations of applicants for positions on the force were begun ; arrange- ments were made for the purchase of supplies ; and other preliminaries, providing for the early employment of a full force of men, were arranged. When the appropriation became available, it was too late in the season to accom- plish much by the destruction of eggs, for most of them had hatched. As the men were nit at work, those who were inexperienced were given a week or more of training in clearing up infested woodlands and cutting and burning brush. They were then organized into burlapping gangs and employed in placing burlap bands around the trees in infested localities. It was found necessary to increase the force as rapidly as the careful selection and examination of men allowed, for the caterpillars of the moth were appearing numerously wherever the egg-clusters had not been destroyed. As the season advanced the great increase in the numbers of the moth was noticeable. More men than were ever before employed in the work were engaged to meet the emergency. On July 20 three hundred and fifty men were at work, and even with this force it was not possible to prevent occasional injury to foliage in certain places. A swarm of caterpillars appeared in one locality in Dorchester, within a few rods of the point where the inspection of the winter previous had ceased on account of snow. Many of the trees in an oak grove were defoliated before the presence of the caterpillars was dis- covered. Immediate steps were taken to destroy them and in a short time some eighteen bushels of caterpillars were killed in this locality. Various points in the woods of Lexington and Woburn were found to be swarming with the caterpillars of the gypsy moth. Here they defoliated several acres of woodland. Later in the season similar colonies were discovered in the woods of Medford, one being situated in the southern por- 86 THE GYPSY MOTH. tion of the metropolitan park reservation known as the Middlesex Fells. Others were found in the Saugus woods. In some of the localities where the moth appeared in num- bers in the woods the injury extended over from one to three acres, leaving the trees as bare as in winter. Wherever the forest was defoliated in this manner the infested trees presented from a distance the appearance of having been killed by fire. These reddish patches on the hillsides stood out strongly in contrast with the green of the summer foliage by which they were surrounded. On enter- ing one of these infested spots during the time when the caterpillars were feeding, one was immediately struck by the rustling sound caused by their movements and the falling of their droppings and the bits of foliage which they were con- tinually cutting from the leaves. A little later in the season, during the warmer part of the day, the male moths fluttered in swarms about the trees while the white females were scat- tered over the trunks and branches of trees and upon the dry leaves on the ground. Nearly all species of trees and most herbaceous plants in this badly infested woodland were stripped by the caterpil- lars. In some places they ate the foliage of the pines, both young and old. Some of these trees appear now to be dy- ing. But on account of the unusually rapid development of the moths this season, their consequent maturing and ces- sation of feeding, the trees were not continually stripped throughout the summer ; therefore the deciduous trees began to throw out new foliage late in July and early in August, when the female moths were laying their eggs. This rapid development of the moths during the past season appears to be unprecedented in this country so far as can be ascertained. As the probable result, a second brood of the moths appeared in one locality in Woburn. Young caterpillars were found leaving the egg-clusters in the first weeks of September. As the summer waned, many localities in the woods were found where the egg-clusters of the moth were quite numer- ous, bidding fair, if not destroyed, to produce a brood of caterpillars during 1896 which may prove even more de- structive than those of the present season. This condition of affairs fulfilled the predictions which the Wgtgf000^t/9flt0Kf^i0tti PLATE XV. Woodland colony of the gypsy moth as seen at a distance of one-third of a mile. The light area in the woods in the background shows the appearance of a defoliated tract as compared with the surrounding uninfested trees. From a photo- graph taken in Woburn, July 19, 1895. THE WOODS INFESTED. 87 committee made to the Legislature in former years, namely, that the moths were distributed generally through the wood- land in the inner towns of the infested region, and demon- strated that they might prove a serious danger to wooded parks and forests. Experts were sent into the woods to examine them as thoroughly as was possible during the summer. They discovered that a large portion of the Mid- dlesex Fells was more or less infested by the moth. At least one thousand acres of this reservation now appear to be in this condition. In Saugus a tract of about the same size appears to be similarly affected, and another even larger, situated in Woburn, Lexington and Arlington, is also more or less infested. There are at least three thousand acres of woodland in the foregoing towns that are now known to be infested by the gypsy moth. This condition had been sus- pected, but the appropriation had never been sufficient to watch the cultivated lands and highways and also to care for the forested region. Throughout the season of 1895, as in previous seasons, experiments on insecticides were conducted in the field and observations were made on the habits of the moth and its enemies. A small building was erected in the Maiden woods for use as an experiment station, and to facilitate the breeding of parasites and predaceous insects to be used for experimental purposes. In all probability the results ob- tained from observations and experiments in 1895 are more valuable than those of former years. The experiments and their results are treated of in the report of the entomologist. In some localities, where the moths were numerous upon valuable ornamental shrubs or trees, the foliage was sprayed with arsenate of lead. Where it was used at a strength of thirty pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons of water all the caterpillars appeared to be destroyed. During the season fire was used with good effect in many cases to check the ravages of the caterpillars in waste land. At the time of going to press little can be said of the results of the work of 1895. It may be predicted, however, that considering the phenomenal increase of the moths in those sections where egg killing was not done in the spring because of the delay of the appropriation, and considering 88 THE GYPSY MOTH. also the large number of men employed later, the results of the season's work will show a greater number of the dif- ferent forms of the moth destroyed than at any time since 1891. We have long feared that unless appropriations suffi- cient for complete eradication were granted, some favorable season might give the moths a sudden impetus which would cause them to increase beyond immediate control. Such an emergency has arisen, and in the centres of population, in cultivated lands and along the highways, it has been fully met. It is true that in the woodland where the greatest infestation occurred some injury was done for a time by the moths, but, in such places, they are now under control, and with vigor- ous measures they may be entirely exterminated from these localities within two or three years. Yet there is a large wooded region in the north-central towns which never has been thoroughly cared for and never can be unless larger appropriations are made. In many portions of this wood- land the moths are doubtless steadily increasing in numbers, and all that has been done or can be done there, with the means thus far furnished by the Commonwealth, is to check them whenever they appear in such numbers as to threaten serious injury to the trees. The results of the work of 1895 will be presented in the next annual report to the Legislature. NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES. 89 The Number of Men employed and Work done, 1890 to 1894 Inclusive. In order to give an opportunity for comparing the number of employees and the amount of work done each year we give tables taken from the pay-rolls of 1890 and the reports of the years 1891 to 1894 inclusive : — 1890. Number of Number of Men. Men. Mar. 24-29, . 27 Aug. 4- 9, . 7 " 31-April 5, 57 " 11-16, . - April 7-12, . 74 " 18-23, . - " 14-19, . 62 " 25-30, . - " 21-26, . 59 Sept. 1-6, . - " 28-May 3, 51 " 8-13, . 2 May 5-10, . 53 " 15-20, . 2 " 12-17, . 36 " 22-27, . 4 " 19-24, . 65 " 29-0ct. 4, 5 " 26-31, . 72 Oct. 6-11, . 7 June 2- 7, . 76 " 13-18, . 5 9-14, . 88 " 20-25, . 18 " 16-21, . 89 " 27-Nov. 1, 40 " 23-28, . 89 Nov. 3- 8, . 25 " 30-July 5, 84 " 10-15, . 28 July 7-12, . 79 " 17-22, . 28 " 14-19, . 80 " 24-29, . 30 " 21-26, . 42 Dec. 1- 6, . 29 " 28-Aug. 2, 9 1891. Mar. 20, 21, . 16 June 22-27, . 217 " 23-28, . 40 " 29-July 4, 209 " 30-April 4, 103 July 6-11, . 192 April 5-11, . 129 " 13-18, . 170 " 13-18, . 140 " 20-25, . 104 " 20-25, . 146 " 27-Aug. 1, 106 " 26-May 2, 167 Aug. 3- 8, . 99 May 4- 9, . 173 " 10-15, . 98 " 11-16, . 199 " 17-22, . 96 " 18-23, . 195 " 24-29, . 88 " 25-30, . 211 " 31-Sept. 5, 83 June 1- 6, . 238 Sept. 7-12, . 75 8-13, . 242 " 14-19, . 73 " 14-20, . 211 " 21-26, . 67 90 THE GYPSY MOTH 1 8 9 1 — Concluded. Number of Number of Men. Men. Sept. 28-Oct. 3, 62 Nov. 16-21, . 45 Oct. 5-10, . 58 " 23-28, . 43 " 12-17, . 58 " 30-Dec. 5, 41 " 19-24, . 61 Dec. 7-12, . 41 " 26-31, . 59 " 14-19, . 42 Nov. 2- 7, . 44 " 21-26, . 42 " 9-14, . 44 " 28-Jan. 2, 42 1892. Jan. 4- 9, . 46 July 4- 9, . . . 95 " 11-16, . 46 11-16, . 102 " 18-23, . 47 U 18-23, . 120 " 25-30, . 48 u 25-30, . 120 Feb. 1- 6, . 48 Aug. 1- 6, . 126 8-13, . 48 U 8-13, . 129 " 15-20, . 31 it 15-20, . 122 " 22-27, . 68 " 22-27, . 107 " 29-Mar. 5, 88 " 29-Sept. 3, . 107 Mar. 7-12, . 111 Sept. 5-10, . 97 " 14-19, . 127 " 12-17, . 95 " 21-26, . 141 (S 19-24, . 37 " 28-April 2, 191 tC 26-30, . 33 April 4- 9, . 219 Oct. 3- 8, . 38 " 11-16, . 234 a 10-15, . 36 " 18-23, . 233 " 17-22, . 37 " 25-30, . 230 " 24-29, . 37 May 2- 7, . 232 « 31-Nov. 5, . 38 9-14, . 183 Nov. 7-12, . 38 " 16-21, . 140 (s 14-19, . 37 " 23-28, . 140 " 21-26, . 34 " 30-June 4, 91 tt 28-Dec. 3, . 36 June 6-11, 90 Dec. 5-10, . 36 " 13-18, . 87 it 12-17, . 35 " 20-25, . 89 It 19-24, . 34 " 27-July 2, 93 u 26-31, . 33 1893. Jan. 2- 7, . 30 Mar. 20-25, . 8 9-14, . 28 " 27-April 1, 27 " 16-21, . 28 April 3- 8, . 44 " 23-28, . 27 " 10-15, 93 " 29-Feb. 4, 25 " 17-22, 115 Feb. 6-11, . 24 " 24-29, 125 " 13-18, . 24 May 1- 6, 128 " 20-25, . 22 8-13, 132 " 27-Mar. 4, 25 " 15-20, 132 Mar. 6-11, . 25 " 22-27, 132 " 13-18, . — " 29-June 3, 131 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES. 91 1893 — Concluded. Number of Number of Men. Men. June 5-10, . 128 Sept. 18-23, . 93 " 12-17, . 131 " 25-30, . 89 " 19-24, . 132 Oct. 2- 7, . 86 " 26-July 1, 149 9-14, . 85 July 3- 8, . 153 " 16-21, . 89 " 10-15, . 154 " 23-28, . 88 " 17-22, . 147 " 30-Nov. 4, 88 " 24-29, . 151 Nov. 6-11, . 88 " 3l-Aug. 5, 146 " 13-18, . 88 Aug. 7-12, . 144 " 20-25, . 85 " 14-19, . 126 " 27-Dec. 2, 85 " 21-26, . 125 Dec. 4- 9, . 85 " 28-Sept. 2, 121 " 11-16, . 86 Sept. 4- 9, . 101 " 18-23, . 85 " 11-16, . 95 1 " 25-30, . 83 1894. Jan. 1- 6, 82 June 25-30, . 261 8-13, . 86 July 2- 7, . 265 " 15-20, . 85 9-14, . 270 " 22-27, . 86 " 16-21, . 265 " 29-Feb. 3, 83 " 23-28, . 270 Feb. 5-10, . 82 " 30-Aug. 4, 261 " 12-13, . 82 Aug. 6-11, . 266 " 14-17, . 23 " 13-18, . 260 " 19-24, . 81 " 20-25, . 216 " 26-Mar. 3, 81 " 27-Sept. 1, 15 Mar. 5-10, . 82 Sept. 3- 8, . 16 " 12-17, . 84 " 10-15, . 147 " 19-24, . 85 " 17-22, . 148 " 26-31, . 91 " 24-29, . 133 April 2- 7, . 95- Oct. 1- 6, . 133 9-14, . 121 " 8-13, . 131 " 16-21, . 157 " 15-20, . 123 " 23-28, . 159 " 22-27, . 125 " 30-May 1, 156 " 29-Nov. 3, 128 May 2- 9, . 15 Nov. 5-10, . 128 " 10-12, . 164 " 12-17, . 133 " 14-19, . 173 " 19-24, . 133 " 21-26, . 213 " 26-Dec. 1, 132 " 28-June 2, 228 Dec. 3- 8, . 132 June 4-9, 230 " 10-15, . 134 " 11-16, . 229 " 17-22, . 135 " 18-23, . 225 " 24-29, . 132 Summary of Work done during Four Years. During the year 1890 no account of the number of dif- ferent forms of the moth destroyed was kept by the first 92 THE GYPSY MOTH. commission, and the reports of the work are not in a form that can be used in making tables of the kind given below. It would have been almost impossible to keep any accurate account of the immense numbers of the moth destroyed during 1890. This was also true of the first few months of 1891. Therefore no figures or estimates of the numbers killed during those years are given in the tables. The egg-clusters destroyed during the first weeks of 1891 were estimated at eight cart-loads. During the latter part of that year a systematic account was kept of the number of the different forms of the moth found on each infested estate, and from that and the other accounts of the season, a somewhat incomplete table of the work of 1891 has been made. A fuller account is given of the work of the succeeding years. Yet even this summary cannot be considered as complete, for the tables pertain mainly to the hand work done annually, and only such figures are given as from their nature can be accurately recorded. Obviously no account could be kept of the number of moths destroyed by spraying, fire and other wholesale measures. It will be seen that though a larger number of men was employed in 1893 and 1894 than in 1892, fewer trees were found infested in the later years, although the number of the different forms of the moth killed by hand was larger. This may be chiefly accounted for by the extension of the work into woodlands in the inner towns, where the moths had increased unmolested. In badly infested places in the woods the number of moths per tree was very great. Many caterpillars, pupae and egg-clusters were destroyed in bushes and young growth. This greatly swelled the sum total of forms of the moth destroyed. The larger appropriation of 1894 made this woodland work possible. Trees (fruit, shade and forest) : — Inspected, Found to be infested with caterpillars, pupa;, moths or eggs, . Cleared of eggs Cemented, Banded (insect lime or tree ink), • 3,591,982 213,828 212,432 19,296 12,000 2,109,852 108,428 99,989 12,172 21,251 4,108,494 44,716 2,068 4,583 19,453 6,828,229 48,752 2,176 7,844 SUMMARY OF WORK. 93 1893. Trees (fruit, shade and forest) — Con. Burlapped, Sprayed, Trimmed, Scraped, Cut, Acres of brush land and woodland cut and burned over Buildings: — Inspected, Found to be infested, .... Cleared of eggs Wooden fences: — Inspected, Found to be infested, .... Cleared of eggs, Stone walls : — Inspected, Found to be infested, .... Cleared of eggs, Number of each form of the moth destroyed by hand . — Caterpillars, Pupas, Moths Hatched or infertile egg-clusters, Unhatcbed and probably fertile egg- clusters, 68,720 177,415 120 87,536 3,647 3,574 53,219 6,808 6,570 110,108 7,372 395 115 22,102 1,557 1,427 24,936 2,365 2,159 2,213 672 354 935,656 80,021 9,338 40,954 99,790 419,434 5,145 1,906 2,406 4,055 184 8,828 348 232 15,092 713 541 814 225 93 1,173,351 77,029 5,655 6,868 46,101 624,673 14,857 8,618 6,068 10,296 3364, 27,430 508 55 35,276 798 99 1,620 423 44 1,153,560 92,225 18,084 18,036 94,706 94 THE GYPSY MOTH. The Increase and Distribution of the Gypsy Moth. The Rate of Increase. The study of the increase and dissemination of the gypsy moth in Massachusetts is most interesting. Perhaps there never has been a case where the origin and advance of an insect invasion could be more readily traced. As the moth appears to be confined as yet to a comparatively small area, and as the region has been examined more or less thoroughly for five successive years, the opportunities offered for the study of the multiplication and distribution of the insect have been unequalled. When it is considered that the number of eggs deposited by the female averages from 450 to 600, that 1,000 cater- pillars have been seen to hatch from a single egg-cluster, and that at least one egg-cluster has been found containing over 1,400 eggs, there can be no doubt that the reproductive powers of the moth are enormous. Mr. A. H. Kirkland has made calculations which show that in eight years the unre- stricted increase of a single pair of gypsy moths would be sufficient to devour all vegetation in the United States. This, of course, could never occur in nature, and is mentioned here merely to give an idea of the reproductive capacity of the insect. It seems remarkable at first sight that an insect of such reproductive powers, which had been in existence in the State for twenty years, unrestrained by any organized effort on the part of man, did not spread over a greater territory than thirty townships, or about two hundred and twenty square miles. Some of the causes which at first checked its increase and limited its diffusion in Medford have already been set forth (pages 5-7 ) . Most of the checks which at first served to prevent the excessive multiplication of the gypsy moth in Medford operate effectively to-day wherever the species is iso- lated. True, it has now become acclimated. But any small isolated moth colony still suffers greatly from the attacks ITS RATE OF INCREASE. 95 of its natural enemies and from the struggle with other adverse influences which encompass it. The normal rate of increase in such isolated colonies as are found to-day in the outer towns of the infested district is seen to be small. The annual increase can be readily ascertained by noting the relative number of egg-clusters laid in successive years, the unhatched or latest clusters being easily distinguished from the hatched or "old" clusters, and the age of these latter, whether one, two, three or more years, being indi- cated by their state of preservation. The ratio of the aver- age annual increase of ten such colonies was found to be 6.42, — that is, six or seven egg-clusters on an average may be found in the second season to one of the first season. Though even at this rate of increase the progeny of a single pair of moths would be numerically enormous within twenty years,* yet for the first few years, under normal con- ditions, the increase of a small and isolated moth colony is not great enough to work any serious or extended injury. The great army of moths does not advance rapidly by the skirmish line, as it were, but only by the main body, for a great increase and rapid spread to a distance can only occur where the moths have become so numerous over a consider- able area as to have nearly reached the limit of their food supply. Conditions favoring Rapid Increase. When any colony under average normal conditions has grown to a considerable size and then receives an added impetus from exceptionally favorable conditions, its power of multiplication and its expansive energy are greatly aug- mented and its annual increase rises above all calculations.! Under such influences hundreds of egg-clusters will appear in the fall where few were to be seen in the spring, and thousands are found where scores only were known before. It is probable that the season of 1889 was particularly favor- * At this ratio the number of egg-clusters produced in the twentieth year would be 14,148,179,507,899,404. t The increase of these large colonies seems to be limited only by the supply of food. Whenever food becomes scarce many of the moths are less prolific. The larvae which do not find sufficient food either die or develop early, and the female moths lay fewer eggs than those which transform from well-nourished caterpillars. 96 THE GYPSY MOTH. able for the moths' increase. The season of 1894 and that of 1895 appear also to have furnished conditions especially favorable for an abnormal multiplication of the insect. The operation of the causes of these sudden outbreaks is not fully understood. It is evident, however, that the warm, pleasant spring weather of the past two years (1894 and 1895) hastened the development of the caterpillars, thereby shortening their term of life. The length of life of the caterpillar varies from six to twelve weeks. During cold, rainy weather the caterpillars eat little and grow slowly. During warm, dry weather they consume much more food and grow with great rapidity. In the unusually warm spring and early summer of 1895 many of the caterpillars moulted a less number of times than usual, and their length of life did not exceed six or seven weeks. Under these conditions they proved more quickly injurious to foliage than in a more normal season, and were more completely destructive within any given area in which their numbers were great. And they were not so long exposed to the attacks of their enemies. While it may be true that the parasitic enemies of the moth will also develop rapidly under conditions that hasten the growth of their host, birds and other vertebrate enemies will secure fewer of the moths in six or seven weeks than in ten or twelve. This would probably be true of many predaceous insects. It is believed that dry weather is unfavorable for vegetable parasites of insects, but to what extent the caterpillars are affected by them in a humid season it is impossible to say. The past two years have been ' ' canker worm years " in the infested region. Many of the birds which habitually feed on the caterpillars of the gypsy moth have been largely occupied during May and the early part of June in catch- ing canker worms, which they seem to prefer, turning their attention to the gypsy-moth caterpillars in the latter part of June and July, when the canker worms have disappeared. The birds, therefore, have not been as useful in checking the increase of the gypsy moth as in years when the canker worms were less numerous. A few of the restraining influences which have been less active than usual during the past two years have been men- t< CO ™ o» y means of vehicles there were other means of distribution more strictly local. The caterpillars were carried about to some extent on the clothing of pedestrians and on the backs of cattle, goats, dogs and other animals. While the spread of the moth has been mainly due to the transportation of the caterpillars, the eggs of the creature were also carried about in various ways. Wood was cut from infested trees and carried with eggs upon it from one town to another. Packing cases and barrels left under in- fested trees are sometimes selected by the female moth as receptacles in which to deposit her eggs. Barrels and cases which had been exposed to such infestation were not only shipped about through the infested region but were some- times sent to a considerable distance outside. If an e^ir- Co cluster laid on an article thus shipped escaped destruction en route, there would be danger of the seed of a new colony being planted at the article's place of destination. Instances of Distribution by Man. It was learned in 1891 that the area occupied by the moth was practically included within the boundaries of thirty town- ships. Since that time it has been found outside of this boundary in a few isolated cases only, each of which was accounted for by the existence of driving or teaming from the infested district. The moth had reached these places during the few years previous to 1891, when it was most 104 THE GYPSY MOTH. abundant in Medford. These years of its greatest abundance were also the years of its greatest diffusion, for during the period when it was most numerous on trees, about buildings and along highways, many more caterpillars were carried out on vehicles from the worst infested localities than at any time before or since. From the small size and general appear- ance of most of the colonies found in 1891 at a distance from Medford, it was apparent that they had originated but two or three seasons previous to that time. On further inspec- tion it became evident that the moth had become widely distributed in 1888, 1889 and 1890 over the region occu- pied by it in 1891. Most of this diffusion to a distance from Maiden and Medford was accounted for by teaming and driving to and from the district originally infested. Therefore, it may be termed the primary distribution, as it was caused by trans- portation direct from the towns first infested. Here and there, however, large colonies were found that must have been growing for eight or ten years. These colonies, if on or near highways, had already become centres of infestation from which the moths had been distributed widely, not only along the roads leading out of the infested locality but also back toward the originally infested centre by means of vehicles bound toward Boston. This spreading from these colonies may be called a secondary diffusion. Of this there are some interesting examples. From the large colony in Swampscott (see page 58) the moths were not only dis- tributed on to Marblehead but they were 'also taken back into Lyun. The Lynn residence of the owner of the place where the Swampscott colony was situated was found in 1892 to have been recently infested, and it was learned that the owner had been accustomed to drive frequently to the Swampscott place and leave his horse and buggy in the yard under the infested trees. Early in 1891 a colony was found in North Cambridge in the yard of Muller Brothers' tannery. As thirty-five thousand egg-clusters were taken there the colony must have originated several years previous to 1891. Dead horses were frequently carted from Maiden and Medford to the Muller place, where there were at that time facilities for making such use of these DISTRIBUTION BY MAN. 105 remains as was compatible with their character, age and general utility. It is probable that the moths were originally carried there on the wagons which were used for this dolo- rous traffic. The Cambridge almshouse was situated a few rods in the rear of the tannery. The city swill was hauled from all parts of Cambridge to this almshouse and was then distributed for miles around to farmers and others who kept hosjs. These swill-takers' wagons in going and comma; were obliged to pass under the branches of some badly infested trees that overhang the street. A tide-water stream ran through the tannery yard. An inspection revealed that the trees along the stream for many rods were infested. Here was a secondary centre of distribution of the first magnitude. Persistent efforts were made to stamp out this colony. When this had been done the locality was carefully watched. As the country roundabout was inspected the moths were found scattered all over neighboring portions of Cambridge, Somer- ville and Arlington. In 1893 a list of the persons to whose places swill had been teamed was secured from Capt. M. L. Eldridge, superintendent of the almshouse. This comprised the names of nearly three hundred people residing in the following towns : Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Brighton, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lin- coln, Medford, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Winchester and Woburn. The places of more than fifty people in the list have since been found to be infested. The results of the investigation did not indicate that in all cases they had become infested by the carriage of swill, for it was seen that some places to which swill had been hauled during the months when the caterpillars were numerous upon trees were not infested, while others to which swill had been hauled in the winter only were infested. Yet it seems probable from all the data obtained from inquiry in these localities that more than half the infested places had received infestation from the hauling of swill from the almshouse. Localities in the infested district that are much visited on account of their historical associations are usually found in- fested, and if cleared of the moth are likely to become re- infested. Many eminent men have been buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, which lies partly in Cambridge and partly 106 THE GYPSY MOTH. in Watertown. This cemetery is often thronged with visitors from far and near. It was well cleared of the moths in 1892 and 1893, but in 1895 the caterpillars appeared again in such quantities near the graves of the poets Lowell and Longfellow that much effort was required on the part of the workmen employed by the Board to prevent serious injury to the trees in the cemetery. Though Charlestown was cleared of the moths in the first three years of the work, they were found in 1895 at Monument Square. These grounds about Bunker Hill monument are much frequented. Many people coming from other parts of the infested region have visited the monument within a year. The carnival in Charlestown on the 17th of June, a time when the cater- pillars are most numerous, draws thousands of people from the region round about to the vicinity of the monument. A Study of the Methods and Routes of Trans- portation. In 1891 hasty inspection of the infested region finally revealed its apparent extent. This inspection was carried on until, in 1893, a wide belt around the region had been examined. The question whether the moths had been transported to any distance beyond this belt in sufficient numbers to continue the existence of the species and thus form other centres of distribution remained unsolved. It was not possible under the appropriations made to extend the search over the entire Commonwealth. As it was evi- dent that the moth was distributed principally by man, a study was made first of the nature and direction of the traffic and travel which had caused the dissemination of the moth through the region known to be infested ; next a study was made of such similar traffic as extended to a distance from the infested region and which, therefore, might expose other localities to infestation. In studying methods of transportation special attention was paid to the steady and constant traffic back and forth between points within and without the heart of the infested district. Information was also secured as to the character, routes and destination of outward freight shipments by road and rail, and of the vast miscellaneous traffic and pleasure driving DISTRIBUTION BY MAN. 107 over the road. Inquiries were first made in the inner and worst infested towns. Supplementary and additional infor- mation was gathered later outside the infested district in those localities known to have had more or less communication with the "danger tract" of the infested region during the greatest prevalence of the moth. This ' ' danger tract" was the heart of the infested region (Medford and Maiden) because the swarm- ing numbers of the caterpillars there had made possible their frequent transportation by vehicles to other points. At first there was not so much danger of such transportation from anywhere else in the infested district because of the com- parative scarcity of the moths in other localities and the usual small size of their colonies. This study shed a flood of light upon the manner of the distribution of the moths in the territory originally infested from Medford, and explained the existence of many colonies in woods and other retired places. It also indicated the places which had been most exposed to infestation in the territory lying beyond the known limits of the moth's spread. The investigation of the transportation of the moth was confined mainly to the traffic and communication to the north, east and west of Medford. The great bulk of all driving over the road and the still greater proportion of " dangerous" or constant traffic was to the north and west and along the North Shore to the north-east, and consequently the moth had been diffused farther in those directions. There is little constant and direct teaming traffic to any other southern point than Boston, and the latter place,, by reason of the small number of trees in its business sections, was a com- paratively safe point for the reception of such traffic. In the inquiry in regard to the traffic over the road, all information possible was obtained concerning the routes of expressmen and movers, market-gardeners, farmers, milk, hay and w r ood dealers, swill-takers, butchers, peddlers and junk men. Local boards of health and milk inspectors in and around Boston furnished information by means of which those engaged in the milk business and in swill taking were » . . . located and their routes ascertained. Much information was secured in regard to the great market-gardeners' traffic over the road between Boston and towns within the infested district 108 THE GYPSY MOTH. or to the north and west of it. Information was sought in regard to excursions and picnics to the groves situated on all sides of the worst infested district. Much knowledge was obtained in regard to the grounds used by church and Sunday school picnic parties from Maiden, Medford, Revere, Somer- ville, Cambridge, Arlington, Melrose, Lynn and Everett. Places of great public resort, like militia and camp-meeting grounds, were also noted and were later examined. Facts bearing upon the hauling of wood to or through the infested district were carefully gathered. Inquiries were made of expressmen and movers in regard to the destination of families which had moved from badly infested localities, and as to the large amount of summer moving and teaming along the North Shore, and the amount of teaming over the road weekly, monthly or yearly between the infested district and centres of traffic like Lawrence and Lowell. The matters of ship- ments of nursery stock and greenhouse plants over the road and of towns visited and routes taken bj r peddlers and junk dealers were also investigated. A vast amount of facts bearing on the subject of miscellaneous driving was also obtained. The inquiry was not entirely confined to the heart of the infested district but was extended to less infested places like Lynn and Salem. The scope of the whole in- vestigation quickly broadened. Clues obtained within the infested district were followed out, and this led to much additional inquiry in many towns to the north-east, north and west of the infested region. Every possible fact and item bearing upon the subject of communication with the moth-region were obtained. It was not difficult in country towns to learn who were the regular and who the occasional visitors to or from the infested district and what was the nature of their business. The lines of travel were also easily learned. In cities like Lawrence and Lowell which, although farther away, were in a sense exposed because of their being centres of population, lists were obtained of teamsters and movers who went more or less frequently to the district to the south and the character of their business was learned. These local teamsters as a rule made their return trips empty handed, and thus the danger of moth transportation, except by the vehicle itself, was avoided. DISTRIBUTION BY MAN. 109 The investigation and the subsequent inspection based thereon revealed the important fact that the most dangerous traffic was that going only a short distance from the centre of the infested district. A large proportion of this did not even go out of the district, and nearly all the re- mainder went but little farther. The proof of this is ample. The most dangerous traffic is the steady and constant traffic back and forth between the same points which, by its regu- larity, makes possible the occasional transportation of cater- pillars to the same locality. This regular traffic includes the trips of market-gardeners, farmers, milkmen, swill-takers and others living in the outer towns of the infested district or in the towns next beyond, who go daily or weekly in and out of the heart of the infested district or through it to Boston and return. Nearly all of the foregoing classes of people live comparatively near the heart of the infested dis- trict. None of them live very far away. In a word, in proportion as the distance from the heart of the infested dis- trict increased, the regularity and frequency of traffic to and fro decreased, and in the same ratio the danger of moth transportations and consequent possible establishment of new colonies diminished. The work of four years has proved that new colonies at a distance from the infested centre have owed their origin and rise, not to a single transportation of the moth but to various cases of the sort which have been made possible by steady communication over the road between two points. Even pleasure driving, when con- stant and frequent between an infested locality and one out- side, has been responsible for the establishment of a new colony. In the study of traffic and driving of all sorts over the road, the question of routes became of the utmost impor- tance. The vast aggregate amount of wheeling by its very existence caused the roadsides of all main highways and the neighborhoods of hotels, village stores, blacksmith shops and watering troughs to become more or less exposed, the danger, of course, decreasing as the distance increased from the infested district. There were two reasons for this : first, the great bulk of all wheeling, miscellaneous as well as regular, did not go to a great distance ; second, the ma- 110 THE GYPSY MOTH. jority of larva? transported on vehicles are undoubtedly shaken or brushed off before many miles are traversed. The possible danger attaching to freight shipments by rail from Maiden and Medford was investigated by an examina- tion of "freight forwarded" books at the various stations. The examination of these books revealed the origin, character and destination of shipments since 1880. The origin and character of shipments immediately revealed the danger, if any, attaching to them. To illustrate : Manufactures and household goods, constituting the bulk of shipments, com- ing as they do from in-doors, are practically safe shipments ; while articles which have been exposed out of doors, such as empty boxes, nursery stock, bricks, stones, scrap iron or builders' materials, may, if coming from an infested locality, be dangerous shipments. In this connection the matter of date of shipment was important. Some articles, by reason of their place of origin, might be dangerous shipments only during the larval season ; others, only during the months when the eggs arc the only living form of the moth. Fi- nally, the examination of the freight books revealed the receivers of goods (whether in or out of the infested district) . The danger of moth transportation on freight sent by rail was shown by the investigation to be very slight. The proportion of shipments which on account of their character or frequency might be considered as dangerous was extremely small.* The destination of these being known, it was possible to do supplementary work in the nature of inquiry and inspection at these points of destination. In most cases such work was done. The matter of shipments of bricks from Medford deserves special mention in this connection both because of its intrinsic importance and as an illustration of the methods of inquiry pursued. The premises of the Anderson Pressed Brick Company were in the past badly infested. Shipments of brick had been made to many points outside the infested territory. Most cases were investigated and an inspection made at the places to which the brick had been shipped. In this work the agents of the Board visited a number of towns * This is equally true of freight shipments over the highway. DISTRIBUTION BY MAN. Ill widely scattered over the State. Although the danger of the transportation of the moth in the egg form had appeared serious, no trace of the insect was anywhere found.* In addition to the freight shipments, another danger of moth transportation lay in the possibility of the cars them- selves carrying some form of the moth. This might happen in case a car had stood for some time on a siding near infested trees or other objects. Two instances are recorded where egg-clusters have been found on freight cars standing on sidings. This led to an inquiry into the condition of rail- road sidings, whether treeless or not, and if the latter, whether infested or not. It was obvious that if moths were transported by cars and new colonies started, these would be found along the lines of railroad, probably at sidings and stations. This later led to the inspection, as a measure of precaution, of the lines of railroad running north and west out of the infested district, the eastern and western divisions of the Boston & Maine road being followed out as far as Portland, Me., the southern division as far as Concord, N. H., and the Fitchburg road as far as Fitchburg. In the matter of possible danger of moth transportation by cars, the shipment of wood to the Bay State Brick Company in Medford de- serves mention. The premises of this brick company are infested. Thousands of cords of wood are shipped there yearly from New Hampshire points, and the same platform cars were in the past often sent back and forth again and again. A certain amount of danger had unquestionably attached to this species of traffic. The places of shipment in New Hampshire were consequently visited and the sidings in their neighborhood carefully examined, but no trace of the moth was found. In this work additional information was secured whenever possible as to any communication between outside points and the infested region. This inspection of suspected localities outside the State was rendered necessary in connection with the policy of extermination, which pro- ceeded on the theory that the moth was confined to a limited area in the State of Massachusetts. * The danger of transportation of eggs was lessened by the fact that the finest bricks, the only ones sent to a distance, were cleaned before being shipped. 112 THE GYPSY MOTH. At the height of the caterpillar plague in Medford, it is said that it was almost impossible for people going through the streets leading to the Glenwood station of the Medford branch railroad to avoid carrying caterpillars which dropped down upon their clothing from the wayside trees. (See the statement of Mr. Sylvester Lacy on page 17.) As the rail- road ran only from Medford to Boston, there was not as much danger of the caterpillars being transported to a dis- tance by means of the luggage and clothing of passengers as there would have been had the railroad passed through Medford to other parts of the State or to other States. Nevertheless, during 1888, 1889 and 1890 very many cater- pillars undoubtedly were carried in this way not only to Boston but to other parts of the State. Even in 1891 cater- pillars were thus frequently carried. An agent of the Board of Agriculture stated to the writer that in 1891 he took a gypsy-moth caterpillar from the cloak of a lady standing in front of the ticket office in the western division station of the Boston & Maine Railroad in Boston. The lady had come from Medford and had just bought a ticket for North- ampton, a city in the Connecticut valley. Had the cater- pillar not been removed from her cloak, it might have been carried a long distance, or if left upon the cars it might have escaped observation, dropping off eventually at some point along the road. If such cases have frequently occurred the question at once arises, why have not moth colonies been formed far and wide? While at first sight it would seem probable that they have been thus formed, yet upon con- sideration it is seen that the carriage of caterpillars in this way to a distance is not necessarily dangerous. The farther a caterpillar is carried from others of its kind the less be- comes the probability of its reproduction. The female moth does not fly. With favoring winds in open country the male can find the female, by means of his sensory organs, at a distance of about half a mile. The change of cars which was necessary in Boston, and the radiation of the railroads to the north, east, south and west, served to decrease the chances of propagation, for the farther a caterpillar was carried from Boston the greater became the distance which separated it, not only from the infested region, but from other lines of DISTRIBUTION BY MAN. 113 railroad leading out of Boston on which other caterpillars might be carried out. Thus, though many caterpillars might be accidentally carried to a long distance outside the infested region, there was very little probability that any number of such individuals would be dropped within half a mile of each other. Furthermore, the chances that isolated caterpillars would complete their transformations and emerge as perfect insects are very small. Therefore, there would be hardly a possibility of a colony being started by the accidental trans- portation of caterpillars to a distance unless it should be proved that parthenogenesis (the reproduction of the species by the virgin female) occurs.* If, however, the moths should at any time become abnormally numerous on the line of an extended railway, their chances of accidental distribution by regular and constant travel would greatly increase and a wide dissemination would almost certainly follow. So far, notwithstanding the unhindered carriage of caterpillars in this way on the Medford branch railroad for several years previous to 1892, no evidence of the moths' existence at a distance from the infested towns has ever been found alon«: the lines of other railroads. The Effect of the Work of Extermination on the Distribution of the Moth. While the work of destroying the gypsy moth has much reduced the numbers of the moths and the extent of territory occupied by them, it has been necessary to exercise great care to avoid accidental distribution of the caterpillars by the workmen. The work of spraying is responsible for some slight local scattering of the caterpillars. When the branches of a tree are disturbed by the sprayers, many of the caterpillars spin down and either fall to the ground or are carried about upon the clothing of the workmen or others passing beneath the tree. Unless great care is taken they may be carried from place to place on the spraying team. Those falling to the ground * Observations so far made in this country have not revealed a case of partheno- genesis in this species, but, on the contrary, many instances have shown isolation to result in extermination. A few European instances of parthenogenesis have been recorded. 114 THE GYPSY MOTH. frequently crawl to other trees, and if later these trees are sprayed many of the caterpillars crawl still farther. It is almost impossible to avoid scattering the moths when spray- ing is resorted to, which makes it necessary to spray all vegetation near an infested spot, that the scattering cater- pillars may find poisoned food. As the work of burlapping has progressed since 1891 the proportion of caterpillars seeking the shelter of the burlap appears to have diminished. Many either remain in the tops of trees or seek out places near the ground in which to secrete themselves. There also seems to be a tendency to scatter farther and farther from the infested localities. These habits may have been induced by the frequent dis- turbing of the caterpillars in the work of burlapping, or here may be another illustration of the survival of the fittest. When the caterpillars are very young and while the workmen are placing the burlap bands about the trees they are likely to dislodge some of the caterpillars which, felling upon their clothing, may be carried about from place to place. To lessen the risk of such carriage the workmen in summer are dressed in a uniform suit of a light color so that any dark object falling upon them may contrast strongly with their clothing. The men are also cautioned to examine carefully each other's clothing when leaving an infested place. Notwithstanding this precaution it is possible that a few localities from which the moths have been entirely exterminated have become re- infested in this way, for occasionally a place in which no form of the moth has been found for a year or two becomes again infested. In such cases from one to three or four caterpillars have been found during the season, not a suffi- cient number to indicate that eggs had been laid there in the previous season. The Distribution Restricted and Changed. As far as the work of extermination has proceeded it has radically changed the distribution of the moth. It is often the case that the most persistent and thorough work will not exterminate the moths from a locality in one year. It is necessary to search a locality for several years in order to be assured that the moths are all destroyed and no seed is ITS DISTRIBUTION CHANGED. 115 left. But we have now sufficient data for the belief that the moths found in most colonies in the outer towns in 1891, 1892 and 1893 have been exterminated. In this way the outward spread of the moth to new territory has been restricted. It has been necessary, as a part of the policy pur- sued in preventing the spreading of the moth towards towns outside the boundary of the infested region, to search carefully the borders of highways and streets in towns and cities, as it was from cultivated grounds in populous towns and by high- ways leading from the towns that the moths were mostly dis- tributed. As the moths in the woods spread slowly, and were less liable to transportation outside the infested region than those in the residential and business sections, work was con- centrated upon these districts to the neglect of the woodland. As has already been stated, the centres of distribution in 1891 coincided with the centres of population, and in the attempt to clear these centres and prevent injury to valuable trees and plants the larger part of each appropriation was used. From what was learned yearly by the woodland searchers it was be- lieved that the moths were increasing and spreading in the woods. The committee in charge of the work stated this be- lief year after year to the legislative committees and strongly urged in their reports to the Legislature that more money be appropriated for the inspection of the woodlands and the destruction of the moths within their borders. Sufficient appropriations not being forthcoming the result of the neg- lect of the woodland is now shown in the present distribution of the moth. The normal diffusion from centres coinciding with the centres of population has given place to a much slower dissemination from centres situated in the woodlands of the north-central infested towns. Though much work has been done in these woodlands it has been from necessity superficial and has merely resulted in partially holding the moths in check. In some localities where the woods were not searched the increase and spread have been unimpeded because the colonies were not known. In the report of the work of the year 1894, made by the Board of Agriculture to the Legislature, it was stated as probable that the moths were scattered through the woods from Lexington to the sea. That this probability has be- 116 THE GYPSY MOTH. come a certainty is shown by the developments of the season of 1895. As has before been stated, there are in this region three centres of infestation of at least a thousand acres each. (See page 87 . ) These centres are included in a belt of wood- land a mile in width, which is all more or less infested, reaching with some interruptions from East Lexington to Salem, a distance of about eighteen miles. As compared with 1889 the moths in open and cultivated lands are now much reduced in numbers in the worst in- fested sections and are elsewhere extinct or comparatively rare. On the other hand, in the belt of woodland north of the centre of the infested region they occupy more ground than in 1889, and the number of badly infested places is greater. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EGGS. 117 Methods Used for Destroying the Gypsy Moth. The Destruction or the Eggs. As the egg-clusters of the gypsy moth are of a conspicuous color and may be found upon trees and other objects during at least eight months of the year, the possibility of stopping the moth's increase by destroying great numbers of cater- pillars in embryo becomes apparent. In each buff egg-cluster temptingly displayed upon the tree trunks during the fall, winter and spring there are from three hundred to fourteen hundred potential caterpillars. Destroy the egg-cluster and apparently you have disposed of the coming, brood. You have prevented the hatching of the eggs and the consequent spreading of the caterpillars which otherwise would have scattered abroad, feeding upon nearly all kinds of trees, shrubs and garden plants. Obviously it is safer, easier and less expensive to destroy the egg-cluster in which the brood is united and stationary than to find and destroy the cater- pillars after they have hatched and scattered. The destruc- tion of eggs may not always secure extermination, as the female imago sometimes scatters fertile eggs upon the ground, and concealed egg-clusters may sometimes be overlooked. Yet persistent and thorough egg-destruction in the autumn, winter and spring may be relied upon to so reduce the num- ber of the moths that they will do comparatively little injury in the ensuing summer. Egg-killing is recommended by many European authors as the first and chief method of pre- venting the ravages of the moth. Bechstein wrote in 1804: "The clusters of eggs can be looked for from the last of September or October to March, upon the trunks of trees, walls, hedges and fences, and may be crushed or knocked off into a pot and burned by kindling a fire upon them." * Canon Schmidberger, who wrote the papers on ' * Insects * " Vollstandige Naturgeschichte der schadlichen Forstinsekten," Leipzic, 1804, page 372. 118 THE GYPSY MOTH. Injurious to Fruit Trees " for Vincent Kollar's work, pub- lished at Vienna, Austria, says : " With respect to destroy- ing these insects, the first thing that is necessary is to find out the egg-masses and destroy them."* This method is quite generally employed in European countries where the gypsy moth is plentiful. We have con- ducted a considerable foreign correspondence to determine what methods are now in use in European countries to check the ravages of the moth. Under date of Aug. 29, 1895, Dr. Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro writes from Lis- bon, Portugal: "We generally endeavor to kill the larvae at about the end of June, or to destroy the cottony discs which enclose the eggs during autumn, by scraping the trunks of the trees, the walls, etc., and then crushing or burning them, or sometimes even covering them with a thick layer of coal tar by means of brushes." Professor Henry of the School of Forestry at Nancy, France, writes under date of July 27, 1895: "The best thing to do is to kill the heavy female wherever it is met with, and especially to coat the egg-clusters, generally very easily seen, with a thick coat of tar by means of a brush at the end of a pole." Prof. N. Nasonov writes from Warsaw University Mu- seum of Zoology in Kussia, Aug. 7, 1895, stating that the first method used is scraping the bark from the trees after the deposit of the eggs. Prof. Max. Fingerling writes from Leipzic, Germany, on Aug. 9, 1895 : " The best method of holding the insects in check is by destroying their eggs. In this particular case nature has provided a means in the easily recognizable egg- clusters." When in 1891 the people of the infested region were con- sulted by the agents of the second commission for the exter- mination of the gypsy moth, it was found that there existed among them a strong prejudice against spraying, and also a belief that it was not effective with the gypsy moth. Gather- ing the eggs was believed by those who had fought the moth in Medford to be the most effective method of destruction * " A Treatise on Injurious Insects," by Vincent Kollar, English translation by J. and M. Loudon, London, 1840, page 202. BURNING THE EGGS. 119 then in use. Egg-killing was begun by the commissioners, who, fearing that spraying might not prove effective, deter- mined to leave no stone unturned, but to give all promising methods a thorough trial. Burning the Eggs. Professor Fernald had recommended in 1889 that the eggs of the moth be scraped from the trees and burned. This was the most effectual method of egg-killing pursued by the first commission. During the spring of 1891 it was used by the second commission and later by the employees of the State Board of Agriculture. The eggs were scraped off or cut away from the objects upon which they rested, placed in tin cans and burned in stoves or brush tires. A fierce heat is required to ensure their destruction. When exposed to such heat they finally burst with a snapping like a bunch of miniature fire-crackers or the cracking of corn in a popper. Whenever the eggs were very numerous in undergrowth or waste land, fire was run through the dead leaves and debris as an experiment ; but this method seemed to have little effect, as the heat was not sufficiently intense. The hairy covering of the egg-clusters seems to possess remarkable non-conductive properties, rendering the eggs almost imper- vious for a time to sudden intense heat. Even with the hottest fire that can be applied to the egg-clusters, some minutes are required to destroy them utterly. A running brush fire merely scorched the outside of the cluster, killing perhaps a few of the eggs in the external layer, but leaving the majority uninjured. Experiments were next made with crude petroleum, by spraying it over the ground and vegeta- tion by means of watering pots and then igniting it. The fire thus made was fierce enough to destroy the small under- growth and the upper layer of leaves, together with most of the eggs, but such egg-clusters as remained under roots or rocks were not injured. Considerable oil was wasted by soaking into the ground, and the remainder did not give the degree of heat which is obtained by atomizing. Experi- ments were then made with a view of perfecting a burning machine which would incinerate all undergrowth in a given tract. The first experiments were not entirely successful, 120 THE GYPSY MOTH. as the machines were either too cumbersome or could not be used on rough or uneven ground. It was found necessary to provide an apparatus which would distribute the oil in a spray, as when thus thrown in fine particles in the air and ignited, it formed an extremely hot gas flame and was con- sumed to the best advantage. For economy's sake such an apparatus must be light enough to be carried and operated by two men, as wagons could not be driven over much of the ground upon which this work was done. Experiments were made with the cyclone nozzle. ( Plate XXVII. , Fig. 2. ) An oil spray from this nozzle when ignited was found to give a very hot and effective flame. Crude oil was first used as a burning fluid, but as it is very objectionable on account of its rank odor, ' ' paraf- fine gas " oil was substituted later. This oil has less odor and burns to better advantage , but is somewhat more expensive. A fifteen-gallon tank which could be readily carried about by two men was pro- vided. On such a tank a Johnson pump with a fine strainer placed over the .suction pipe was mounted, and a short hose of the kind made for the delivery of oil was attached. Ordinary rubber hose is worthless for such a purpose, as it is soon destroyed by the corrosive action of the oil, and in the mean time the disintegrated particles frequently clog the nozzle.* A pole, consisting of an iron pipe twelve feet long, braced by being surrounded by wood for three-fourths of its length, was coupled to the hose. (See Fig. 1.) No solder could be used in the fittings of the pipe or nozzle, Fig. 1. The cyclone burner. * The best " oil hose " that can be obtained will soon become corroded, clogging the nozzle. If an " automatic clearing nozzle " could be devised which would with- stand the heat, much time might be saved which is now necessarily used in clearing the nozzle. BURNING THE EGGS. 121 as the fierce heat of the flame would fuse it. The wooden cylinder into which the pipe was thrust was one and one- fourth inches in diameter. The wood, being a non-conductor of heat, was of great convenience in handling the pole. The end of the pipe was fitted with a cyclone nozzle. The aper- ture of this nozzle is very small, hence the value of the strainer before mentioned, which prevents the entrance of foreign substances with the oil and a consequent clogging of the nozzle. The two men handling this apparatus filled the tank with oil and then carried it to the spot where the burning was to be done. One man then operated the pump while the other handled the pole and nozzle. As soon as the pump was started a fine spray of oil was thrown into the air and ignited by a match. By means of the pole the resulting fierce flame was carried among the undergrowth and over the ground, destroying every living thing in its path. When this work was carefully done, no eggs escaped except such as were hidden in ledges or holes in the ground. An at- tempt was made also with this apparatus to destroy eggs which had been deposited in stone walls. (See Plate XVIII.) Though this was partially successful in so far as the fire reached and destroyed most of the eggs, those which were deposited under the lower stones of the wall were un- harmed, even though in many cases the stones were cracked and broken by the heat. As it sometimes became necessary to use this apparatus in burning out walls near growing crops, a sheet-iron screen was set up between the flame and the growing vegetables to protect them from the heat, being moved along the wall as the work progressed. Burning was thus done without any resultant injury to the gardens. This machine, which has been christened the " cyclone burner," would be most useful in checking invasions of crawling pests like the army worm. Fire was also used in hollow trees, the eggs hidden within them being destroyed by burning out the decayed wood. If this is judiciously done, there will be no injury to the tree. Unless great care is used, however, to extinguish the flame in time, there is much danger of destroying apple trees in this way. Cherry, oak and willow trees have rarely been injured by burning out cavities ; indeed, some old trees appear to 122 THE GYPSY MOTH. have been benefited by such burning, as they have shown a better growth during the season following. Oil is poured in at the top of the hollow, and a sufficient aperture made at the bottom to ensure a good draft. The oil is then lighted, and the draft in the funnel thus made fans the flame until the decayed wood has been consumed. This should be done only in the winter, when the sap is dor- mant, and the fire should be extinguished before it has done serious injury to the live wood. This treatment is unnec- essary in cavities so accessible that the eggs and dead wood may be removed by other means. The naphtha burner, an instrument commonly used by painters and plumbers, was used in 1891 as a substitute for the scraping of eggs from trees and rocks, which sometimes resulted in their being scattered. This burner is supplied with an air pump, and furnishes an air-blast flame of an ex- tremely fierce heat. If this flame is applied directly to the egg-cluster, it will reduce it to ashes on the tree, although occasionally eggs exposed to such great heat will burst, possibly scattering others. The burner should be used only on the trunks of large trees having thick bark, or in such cavities in trees or rocks as cannot be reached by other methods. Killing the Eggs with Chemicals. Early in the work of 1891 it was seen to be impossible to detach the egg-masses from their various places of deposit without occasionally scattering and losing some of the eggs. Experiments made during the following winter proved that eggs scattered and exposed to the vicissitudes of the season were not all destroyed by frost or snow, but that about two- thirds of them hatched in the spring. It was seen that it would be wiser and safer to destroy the eggs without re- moval, and experiments were made with that end in view. The most successful method at first used was the application of acids which in combination destroyed the eggs. The apparatus was designed and the method invented by Mr. F. C. Moulton, a chemist employed in the gypsy-moth work. The apparatus (Fig. 2) was composed of a small tin case hold- ing two bottles, each of them having a rubber stopper with two glass tubes, each of which projected into the bottle as USE OF ACIDS AND CREOSOTE. 123 Fig. 2. Acid apparatus. well as out at the top of the cork, where it was bent at a right angle. One of the tubes in each bottle was drawn down to a point with a small aperture, and served as a discharge pipe. The other was connected with a rubber tube having a mouth-piece of glass. One of the bottles held a mixture of phenol or carbolic acid and turpentine (fifty per cent, of each) ; the other, chemi- cally pure nitric acid. By blowing into the mouth-piece of the bottle containing the carbolic acid mixture, a jet of this acid was thrown upon the egg-mass. This carbolic acid at once penetrated the cluster and in all probability de- stroyed the life of the eggs. To render the destruction of all the eggs an abso- lute certainty, a jet of nitric acid from the other bottle was then thrown in the same manner upon the mass. While nitric acid of itself will not penetrate the egg-clusters, it is alone sufficient to kill the eggs if they are divested of their hairy covering and immersed in it. The two acids in combi- nation reacted and produced an extreme heat and corrosion, and a few applications entirely destroyed the egg-cluster. While this apparatus was being used in the field, experi- ments were made to find some simpler method of destroying the eggs. Although the acids were effective, they were expensive and there was some danger of injuring the men using them. Clothes, ropes, tools and apparatus were also injured by the fumes of acids which were kept with them in the tool boxes. The experiments finally resulted in the choice for use in the field of a cheap creosote oil manufactured by the Carolina Oil and Creosote Company, Wilmington, N. C. This oil was recommended for trial by Prof. N. S. Shaler. It requires neither preparation nor complex apparatus, but can be drawn from the barrel into cans and applied with a brush. If a cluster is thoroughly soaked with this liquid, it penetrates and kills all the eggs, and is very effective except in the coldest weather, when it may sometimes thicken. It may then be made more penetrative by being mixed with 124 THE GYPSY MOTH. carbolic acid and turpentine, as follows : creosote oil, fifty per cent. ; carbolic acid, twenty per cent. ; spirits of turpen- tine, twenty per cent. ; coal tar, ten per cent. The coal tar is always added to color the egg-clusters, so that those which have been treated may be distinguished. The creosote itself is not strongly colored, and often fades after application, leaving the egg-clusters of their original color. Tar is used in preference to ordinary pigments because it mixes well with the creosote, and does not settle to the bottom of the can but is held in suspension. Almost any mixture of sufficient penetrative qualities and containing considerable carbolic acid will kill the eggs. A pocket receptacle has been devised for convenience in carrying paint and creosote and applying them to infested objects. This consists of a tin can or box (Figs. 3 and 4) , in which two tubes are fastened. One of these tubes contains creosote and the other white paint. Each of these tubes is stopped at the mouth by a cork through which the handle of a small paint brush is thrust. The space inside the can and about the tubes is packed with cotton waste (Fig. 4), Avhich receives all drippings from the tubes. Paint and creosote can be carried thus in the pocket with little danger to the clothing. Fig. 3. Paint and creosote can.* Fig. 4. A sectional view, show- ing manner of packing. When a tree or other object is found infested, it is marked with paint to indicate the fact. The egg-clusters are then treated with the creosote. In woodland in outer towns each * Every tool issued to workmen in the field has its number stamped upon it. PLATE XIX. Treating egg-clusters with creosote. IMPLEMENTS USED. 125 eggr-cluster when treated is surrounded with a ring of white paint to prominently mark its location, (see Plate XIX.). The most recent preventive method used in Europe is the covering of the eggs with a coat of tar or with raupenleim, a substance much used to prevent caterpillars from ascending trees. Though these substances, as well as varnish, have been used here experimentally with some success, the use of creosote oil is much to be preferred, as it penetrates the eggs at once and destroys their life, while the other sub- stances merely prevent the larvae from emerging, provided the covering remains intact. Destroying the Eggs by Gases. Experiments were made to find some agent other than fire that would destroy the eggs in hollow trees. A little bro- mine or chlorine poured into the hollow of a tree, branch or stump will destroy all animal life within the hollow if the cavity can be thoroughly sealed or closed. Implements used in the Search for the Eggs. Each inspector is provided with a small binocular glass of opera size, which he carries in a leather case suspended by a strap from his shoulder. By means of this he is able while on the ground to distinguish the eggs of the gypsy moth from those of other insects when attached to the higher limbs of large trees. This glass is useful in dark or cloudy weather, as well as in the morning or evening twilight of the short winter days. Its use often renders tree climb- ing unnecessary, and thus much time is saved. Each man is provided with a pocket mirror so constructed that the glass, if broken, can be quickly and cheaply replaced (Fig. 5). This is extremely useful in many ways during the search for eggs. Whenever the lower rail of a board or picket fence is so near the ground that its under side cannot be seen, a mirror placed at a slight angle underneath will reflect the whole lower surface for several feet, and show any which may be deposited there. egg-clusters Fig. 5. Pocket mirror. 126 THE GYPSY MOTH. Mirrors are also useful in reflecting sunlight into the holes and cavities of trees and rocks, so as to determine whether or not the eggs are hidden within these recesses. Occasionally hol- lows in the under surfaces of high limbs are inspected from the ground by the combined use of the opera and hand glasses, the hand glass throwing the light into the hollow, and the opera glass enabling the inspector to determine its contents. During the spring of 1891 the egg-clusters, being then very numerous, were found in almost every conceivable situation. They were deposited on the under surface of steps, under piazzas, floors, beneath the baseboards offences, in hollow fence posts, in sheds, out-buildings, cisterns, con- ductors, ventilators, basements, cellars, chimneys and many other places both within and without dwellings. Their num- bers in many such places were so great that it was deemed unsafe to allow them to hatch, lest the caterpillars should prove very destructive before their ravages could be stayed. Boards were therefore removed from fences, steps and buildings, and this work required the use of such implements as crow-bars, pinch-bars and hammers. Dark lanterns were frequently required fig. e. cleaning knives. j n ce rj arSj under piazzas and in barns. Special knives with blades bent at different angles were made for removing the eggs from the recesses of fences and trees. With the aid of such implements most of the hidden eggs were found and destroyed. The Destruction of Caterpillars. When the larvse first emerge from the eggs, they usually remain for several hours on the outside of the egg-cluster, or if the weather becomes cold or stormy, for two or three days. While in this position they may be quickly destroyed by the flame of a naphtha burner or by an application of creosote or kerosene. Banding Trees. After the eggs on trees have been destroyed, the young caterpillars which hatch elsewhere may be kept from ascend- BANDING TREES. 127 ing the trees by encircling the trunks with some appliance or substance which the larvae cannot cross.* The protection of large trees by banding is most important as their size favors the distribution of the moth, rendering it both diffi- cult and expensive to care for them. Such trees are often situated near buildings, lumber piles, ledges, accumulations of loose rock or other objects which offer many hiding places to the caterpillars and other forms of the gypsy moth. Occasionally sheds or hencoops are built about the trunks of trees. When such places of shelter as are not readily accessible to the workmen are thus offered to the moth, the caterpillars must be prevented from ascend- ing the trees, and either destroyed by starvation or driven to other quarters. Where there is no other vegetation near, this may be accomplished by banding the trees in the early spring. If there is no other food in the vicinity, the young caterpillars prevented from ascending the trees will starve. If there are other trees within crawling distance which are so located and environed as to have no shelter about them inaccessible to man, the migration of the caterpillars thither will facilitate their destruction by the workmen. In wood- lands, if the eggs upon the trees are destroyed and the trees well banded previous to the hatching of eggs, which may have been overlooked on the ground, and all vegetation on the ground is killed by means of the cyclone burner soon after the caterpillars appear, extermination will result. The method of burning caterpillars in infested brush is shown in Plate XX. Bands are most useful for these purposes when put on just before the young caterpillars appear. They will then be fresh and sticky when the young larvae are weak and unable to crawl far if deprived of the sustaining and strengthening nourishment which they eagerly seek. Before the hatching of the eggs in 1891 and 1892 many of the large street trees in Maiden and Medford and some in Somerville were banded with strips of tarred paper. This work was first undertaken in Medford. It was proposed by the selectmen of that town as a means of protecting the trees from the gypsy moth and * In 1891 bands of loose cotton batting were experimented with for this purpose, but they did not prevent the larger caterpillars from ascending the trees. 128 THE GYPSY MOTH. the canker-worm, and a part of the expense was borne by the town. The bark of the tree was first scraped or planed at a height of about six feet from the ground, so that a reasonably smooth surface about six inches wide was formed extending around the trunk. A band of cotton waste was then placed on the smooth surface about the trunk, and a band of tarred paper about the cotton. A cord about the paper drew it closely to the cotton waste, which was thus pressed firmly against the tree. This waste was placed beneath the paper to prevent the newly hatched caterpillars (which can pass through very minute crevices) from crawling under it and so on up the tree. The tarred paper was then covered with a mixture con- sisting of three parts tree ink, one part pine tar and one part petroleum (residuum oil) . The cotton waste prevented this mixture from penetrating to the bark of the tree. Fig. 7 shows the band about the tree with the string removed and a piece torn away to show the cotton packing. The black band represents that part of the paper which was covered with the mixture. Tacks and staples were used where necessary to draw the paper and string closely to the tree. It was necessary at first to apply several coats of the mixt- ure, so that the tarred paper might become so well saturated that it would not absorb subsequent applications. When this was effected, an application was made at least twice a week for the rest of the season where trees on dusty streets were banded, but it was not required so often (except in very hot, dry weather) in orchards or woodland. As a result of the banding, most of the caterpillars were kept out of trees along the streets, and therefore there was little danger of their being distributed along the highways in such numbers as in former years. In badly infested localities this method cau only be effective when the eggs on the trees have been destroyed and a large part of the egg-clusters in the vicinity gathered. Otherwise, the massing caterpillars will bridge the tarred paper with their bodies and on this bridge others will cross, or else the young caterpillars will be borne on the Fia. 7. Tarred paper band. THE USE OF INSECT LIME. 129 wind from the branches of one tree to those of another, ren- dering all precautions useless. In banding, all poles, dead trees and other objects which in any way communicate with banded trees must be removed or banded. Where the limbs of trees touch houses, fences, rocks or the earth, they must be so trimmed as to prevent such contact. Unless all such means of communication are cut otf, banding will not produce the desired effect. Much discrimination must be used in banding trees in cultivated lands, lest the caterpillars be driven from trees and scattered abroad among shrubbery, weeds or garden crops, where they cannot be so readily dealt with. Raupenleim Bands. In 1891 Mr. B. F. Fernow, chief of the Division of For- restry of the United States Department of Agriculture, recommended that "raupenleim" or "insect lime," a Ger- man preparation for the protection of trees, be used in this work.* A sample was ordered, but it arrived too late in the season to be experimented with that year. In 1892 experiments were made, and later thirteen and one-half tons of the "leim" were ordered and used in banding 40,704 trees during that season and the next. The raupenleim used in 1892 was very effectual, but much of the importation of 1893 was apparently inferior in quality to that used the previous year, and the results obtained were anything but gratifying. If results similar to those of 1892 can be secured, this material will be of great value for use in this country against such insects as the canker-worms, which pupate in the ground and whose female imagoes are wingless. Raupenleim was used in the gypsy-moth work to take the place of the tarred paper bands. The advantages obtained from its use are that when of a good quality and properly placed upon the tree, it will remain soft and viscid for several months, and during that time will prevent the ascent of nearly all larvae and also wingless female imagoes. The sub- * Raupenleim, translated literally, would read " caterpillar glue." According to Webster, lime (a viscous substance) is akin to the German word "leim." It is used here in connection with the word insect in much the same sense as it is used in connection with bird as "bird-lime." 130 THE GYPSY MOTH. stance has been used abroad, especially in Germany, for several years past. The government forestry authorities of Bavaria employ it to prevent the ascent of the nun moth. This insect in 1890 devastated the German forests to such an extent that ' * three thousand men were employed to check its ravages, and in one instance it was necessary to cut and burn a strip of timber four miles broad by five miles long to prevent further devastation." * It was ascertained by experiment that the application of this insect lime did not injure the trees, nor has any injury been observed to trees where it has been used in this country. Though the death of three or four young trees has been reported and credited to the injury caused by liming, it is possible that the primary injury was caused by too deep scrap- ing of the bark. In such a case the oil contained in the lime might penetrate the liber and cambium of the inner bark and eventually destroy the life of the tree. There is no necessity for scraping a smooth-barked tree. Though over 40,000 trees have been banded in the work in Massachusetts, these are the only cases where injury is believed to have resulted. This agrees with the experience of the foresters in Ger- many, f * Dr. R. Hartig in " Forstlich — naturwissenchaftliche Zeitschrift," January, 1892. t " The excellent results of the lime-rings for the prevention of larva? ascending the stem and feeding on the foliage of our forest trees has been proven during the past ten years. Not content with this, however, — for it became our duty to see if the lime itself did not injure the tree, — we examined the different layers of the bark, and can confidently assert that no harm to the most tender trees has been done by liming them. " We firmly believe that the man who scrapes the bark off the trees can do more harm in one hour than he could by ringing trees with lime the rest of the year ; and we would therefore recommend for the work, men who know the difference between the inner and outer bark of trees infested, and especially warn them to be careful of smooth-barked trees, from which they have to remove only such mosses and lichens as are found on them. On the trees — Dr. R. Hartig says — that were limed twenty- five years ago no bad results have been observed. In fact, on the part of the tree where the ring was laid on, the growth of wood was larger than either above or below, which he ascribes to the action of the lime on the outer bark, softening it somewhat and giving freer circulation of the sap in the inner bark. " Only in instances where the bark was scraped to the quick has the lime pene- trated, and therefore all harm must be ascribed to the scraping knife and not to the lime. " There is, therefore, no occasion for alarm as regards the ringing of trees with insect lime to preserve them from the ravages of insects of all kinds." — (Translated from "Forstlich — naturwissenchaftliche Zeitschrift," July 7, 1892.) LIME MACHINES. 131 A variety of machines have been devised in Europe for applying raupenleim to the trees. One of these, the " Eich- horn machine" (Fig. 8*), was imported by the Board and was used to some extent. It consists of a triangular wooden box with two handles, one of which is hinged and acts as a lever. At the apex of the box is an aperture of the size de- sired for applying the lime to the trunk of the tree. This receptacle being first filled with lime, a handle is grasped in each hand of the workman, Fig. 8. The Eichhom machine. who, by pressure brought to bear on both handles, forces the contents through the opening. In the mean time the machine is passed around the trunk, and a band of lime adheres to the bark. This machine can be used to advantage where the rings are put on at a height of three or four feet from the ground ; but where it is necessary to place them at a height of six feet or more, as on street trees, great strength is required to force the lime out, and the use of the machine is not practicable. In the machine as imported the aperture through which the lime passed was about one-fourth of an inch in width and one and one-half inches in length. It was found by experiment that the lime remained viscid for a longer time and was more effective in stopping the ascent of the gypsy-moth caterpillars if the band was made wider than the length of this opening, and of greatest thickness on the lower edge ; consequently the opening of each machine was enlarged to such dimensions as to deposit a band on the tree about one-half inch in thickness on the lower edge and two and one-half inches in width. The lime could be so put on by trowels or spades made for the purpose that the lower edge of the band projected more than half an inch from the bark. If this lower edge was made even thicker than this, and shaped at an acute angle, the oil, which gradually tried out from the surface of the band when exposed to the sun- * See also the single-handed Eichhorn machine, Plate XXII., Fig. 4. 132 THE GYPSY MOTH. light, would trickle down to the edge and hang there, form- ing an impassable obstacle to the caterpillars. The intent of the lime bands used in the work on the gypsy moth was to prevent any caterpillars from ascending the trees. If a few reached the branches and remained in the trees, passed through their transformations and laid their eggs, it is obvious that the bands would be worthless for the purpose for which they were intended, though even then they might be useful in controlling certain other caterpillars which frequently spin or drop to the ground, as they would prevent most of them from reascending the tree. But in a case where exter- mination is sought, and destruction of all gypsy caterpillars is a consequent necessity, it is imperative to prevent their ascending large trees. Quite frequently the bands were injured or displaced in some way by people or animals brushing against them, and often leaves or twigs from the trees dropped and stuck upon the bands, forming bridges over which the caterpillars could climb. To' lessen the chances of their reaching the branches, two or even three bands were sometimes put upon the same trunk, one above the other.* The same thing has been done in Germany during great invasions of the nun moth (Liparis monacha), and for this purpose a machine has been devised for applying insect lime at a greater height on trees than could be otherwise reached by hand from the ground. The Hochleim machine (Plate XXL, Fig. l)f is a tin cylinder attached to a long pole. A top that acts as a plunger is fitted to the cylinder and may be depressed by pulling on a cord that is fastened to a strong spiral spring. This spring is connected with iron wires which are attached to the upper part of the machine. When this is depressed, the lime is forced out at the bottom of the machine through a round hole bored in a brush which is fastened to one side, as seen in the figure. The lime, which must necessarily be of a more or less liquid consistency, is applied around the trunk of the * This would not be ordinarily necessary in protecting trees against attacks of native caterpillars. f Figures of the implements and machines appearing on plates XXI. and XXII. have been previously published, together with others, in "Die Nonne," by Dr. H. Nitsche, Ed. Holzel's Verlag, Vienna, 1892. PLATE XXI. PLATE XXII. Fig. 3 o LIME MACHINES. 133 tree with the brush. The tools (Plate XXL, Fig. 2, a, b, c) are also attached to poles, and are used for scraping and smoothing the bark at a height. Tool c has a scraper upon one side and a stiff brush upon the other. The lime hose (Plate XXL, Fig. 4) is an elongated cone-shaped bag made from some thick fabric. It has a mouth-piece at the small end for the outlet of the lime, while on the large end is attached a tin ring or cover, by means of which the bag may be filled and closed. This apparatus is carried by a strap or band passing over the right shoulder, and the lime is squeezed out by forward pressure of the right hand. It is inexpensive, easily carried and durable ; still, it cannot be entirely satis- factory, as the oil with which the lime is mixed will gradually work through the fabric and soil the clothing of the workman. The Eck lime hose is illustrated also (Plate XXL, Fig. 5), but, as the filling is done at the smaller end, requiring an expensive apparatus for forcing the lime in, it would hardly seem a desirable machine, although its cost in Germany m small (1 mark, about 25 cents). A very simple machine is a large tin cylinder (Plate XXL, Fig. 6) with a piston, the handle of which is pushed in by the man using it, who in this way drives the lime through the tin mouth-piece. This mouth-piece can be removed and others of different sizes can be substituted, according to the thickness and shape of the lime ring desired. The Seitz lime machine (Plate XXII. , Fig. 2) is a large tin apparatus holding about two and one-half quarts. The cover is fastened with a "bayonet" lock. The piston, which is geared, is worked back and forth by a geared wheel or cog fastened to the cover, and turned by a handle. This larger ap- paratus, rather heavy when filled, is carried crosswise in front of the workman, who turns the handle with his riirht hand. The Hauenstein lime machine (Plate XXII. , Fig. 3) is operated on the same principle as the last, except that the piston is driven forward by spring-power. The tin mouth- piece is connected with the main body of the machine by a piece of hemp hose, which is movable. The spring is drawn by the aid of a wire rope with a loop at its end. The work- man sets his foot in the loop, draws the machine upward and so draws the spring, which is arrested by a snap latch. The 134 THE GYPSY MOTH. machine is then filled. When in use the spring is released from the latch. Like the other machines, this machine is carried by a harness or carrying band. A simple utensil (Plate XXII., Fig. 1) is like the "Eich- horn" machine, a lime " squeezer," and consists of a wedge- shaped box, one side of which is movable and may be pressed into the opening formed by the four stationary walls of its other sides. Spades or trowels (Plate XXI., Fig. 3, a, b, c) are often used to apply the lime and shape the bands where the work is done by hand. Where a number of men are at work, a lime hod (Plate XXII., Fig. 5) is also used. This hod is carried by one man, who keeps several others supplied with the lime. There are some disadvantages in the use of insect lime. It is not cleanly, as under a hot sun more or less running oil exudes, especially on smooth-barked trees. Unless placed at a considerable height from the ground, cattle and horses frequently rub against it, plastering their coats in a very disagreeable manner. Complaints have been occasionally received that pet cats returning from excursions up the tree trunks have "tracked" the insect lime over their owners' carpets. Notwithstanding all care that has been used in the application of the material, certain spring overcoats and fine shawls have been ruined when the owners of these garments carelessly leaned against trees which had been banded. The insect lime does not adhere well to trees when they are wet, and occasionally heavy showers will cause it to drop off in lumps. These lumps when trod upon adhere to the shoes and are sometimes a source of considerable annoyance to housekeepers. Such accidents may be avoided by applying the lime when the trees are dry, and by forming the band with its upper edge bevelled toward the tree so as to shed water. It is then not likely to be displaced by rains. If the lime is used on trees standing on lawns, it is likely to prove a source of unpleasantness. Some complaints in regard to this have been received from owners of lawns and croquet grounds. Such objections to its use will apply, how- ever, to any material of the kind, and are not to be avoided as the lime is ordinarily used. It is sometimes recommended to place a band of stiff paper about the tree, turn up the LIME AND DENDROLENE. 135 lower edge in such a way as to form a trough and then apply the lime upon this. If this band of paper is placed at a considerable height, it may prevent many of the disagreeable accidents which otherwise frequently happen. Thus far we have had no experience in applying the lime in this manner. Other Uses, for Insect Lime. Dr. John B. Smith, entomologist of the New Jersey Ex- periment Station, in a paper read by him as president of the Association of Official Economic Entomologists at a meet- ing of that society held Aug. 27, 1895, in connection with the meeting at Springfield of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, gave the results of his experiments with raupenleim and a similar material, "den- drolene."* Dendrolene was invented by Prof. F. L. Nason of New Brunswick, who, at the request of Dr. Smith, experi- mented with a view of obtaining a material of home manu- facture possessing the insecticide and protective properties of the raupenleim. According to Dr. Smith, raupenleim and dendrolene are both crude petroleum products, though the raupenleim has some admixture of a substance resembling tar in color and odor ; but in both cases the base is, or seems to be, a very crude or impure vaseline, which has the appearance of the base of such lubricating mixtures as wheel-grease. Dr. Smith has used both substances on trees to prevent both the entrance and the emergence of certain tree borers. So far he has seen no injury to the tree resulting from the use of either material, even when large areas of bark were covered. While the raupenleim seemed more effective against borers, the dendrolene remained soft longer, making, as Dr. Smith says, "a perfect barrier against insects attempting to cross it." He also says that " such materials may be employed against scale insects on comparatively small trees where they cover only the trunks and larger branches, and where even a thin coating applied with a brush early in the season before the eggs have hatched or before reproduction has begun in the case of the viviparous species, will absolutely prevent the emergence of young. The appli- * See Bulletin of Experiment Station, New Jersey Agricultural College, No. Ill, Sept. 16, 1895. 136 THE GYPSY MOTH. cation of a coating on the trunks of peach trees made early in the season will prevent oviposition by the adult of the peach tree borer." But it may be questioned how far this covering; the bark with such a material can be carried with- out eventually injuring the tree. Our experiments go to prove that raupenleim will usually prevent the ascent of the female canker-worm moth. It is quite probable, however, that after wet or cold weather, some of the moths may cross the band before the warmth of the sun has rendered it viscid, as the lime hardens somewhat in such weather and does not again become soft until affected by the sun's warmth. Climbing cutworms and many other caterpillars have been caught on the bands. Most insects, however, seem to prefer to turn back rather than attempt to cross. The larger gypsy- moth caterpillars will cross when the bands have become somewhat hardened by rain or cool weather, but the smaller caterpillars seldom crawl over the bands. The raupenleim was therefore very useful for banding trees which had been cleared of the moth, providing the young caterpillars could be destroyed by fire or other means before they attained sufficient size and strength to cross the lime. The bands are useful also in preventing the ascent of such common pests as the tent caterpillar and tussock moth after trees have been cleared of the caterpillars or eggs of these species. * Dr. Smith says that as a protection against mice and hares, "dendro- lene will serve an entire season when put on one-fourth of an inch thick or more." As much cannot be said of the raupen- * The application of bands of insect lime appears to prevent the common tent caterpillars from crawling either up or dewn trees. A wild cherry tree which con- tained a great number of these caterpillars was banded with insect lime. When the caterpillars had devoured all the foliage upon the tree they crawled down the trunk to the band and there remained clustering upon the trunk within two feet of the upper edge of the band, where they died, apparently of starvation. This would indicate that by banding worthless trees infested by this insect it might be prevented from migrating to other trees, and compelled to perish from lack of suitable food. Yet no instance of this kind has been observed with any other insect, and no record was kept of the number of caterpillars originally on the tree, so it is impossible to tell how many may have escaped. It is not safe to base any conclusions on a single observation of this sort. It is given here merely to show the necessity of further observation and experiment with insect lime, which can probably be used in many ways as a preventive to insect attacks or an insecticide application. The application of the insect lime to egg-clusters has already been mentioned (page 125) , but it has been superseded in Massachusetts by more economical and effective measures (page 123). SPRAYING. 137 leini used for the gypsy-moth work, although the best of it remained in good condition from one to three months ; yet in some cases it became necessary to make two or three ap- plications during a season. During windy weather bands upon dusty streets require frequent attention and occasional renewal. Dr. Smith says that in no case has he ever ob- served any injurious effect of dendrolene upon the trees. Dendrolene is supplied by Prof. F. L. Nason, New Bruns- wick, N. J. Insect lime can be obtained of the Bowker Fertilizer Company, Boston, Mass., and of Wm. Menzel & Son, New York. /Spraying with Paris Green. When the second commission began work in the spring of 1891, it was learned that the efficacy of Paris green as an insecticide for the gypsy moth was doubted by many people in Medford. Experiments were therefore immediately begun to determine whether spraying with Paris green would kill the caterpillars. In April young caterpillars were hatched by artificial means in the office of the commission and fed upon leaves which had been carefully sprayed with a solution consisting of one pound of Paris green to one hundred and fifty gallons of water. Not only was the ordinary Paris green experimented with, but samples of finely bolted poison were secured. The experiments showed that the use of either quality of Paris green caused death. It was noticed, however, that the caterpillars which ate the leaves sprayed with the pulverized poison died soon after beginning to feed, or within twenty-four hours ; while those which ate of the leaves sprayed with the ordinary Paris green lived for several days, very few dying within twenty-four hours. The ma- jority lived three or four days and some even a longer time. Samples of both the pulverized and ordinary Paris green were analyzed and the analyses gave substantially the same amount of arsenic in each. From this it would appear that both were equally poisonous. Why they were not equally effective has not been fully determined. But as the ordinary Paris green was made up of fine crystals which were more or less insoluble, while a larger proportion of the finely powdered Paris green was apparently soluble in water, the 138 THE GYPSY MOTH. latter would be more quickly dissolved in the digestive fluids of the caterpillars. This subject, however, needs more scientific investigation, as the experiments made were too limited in scope to allow any conclusions to be based on the results. As it was found later that neither brand of Paris green gave as satisfactory results in the field as had been obtained in-doors, and as the use of this arsenite was finally given up, the subject of the comparative efficiency of the pulverized and the ordinary Paris green was not further investigated. The results obtained by in-door experiments with the pul- verized Paris green led to experiments on a larger scale in the field and accordingly a ton of this poison was purchased. Early in May spraying in the field was begun (see page 55). Most of the sprayers were supplied with the fine Paris green, which, though not proving as efficacious as in the laboratory, nevertheless killed many of the smaller caterpillars. As the spraying continued it was observed that a considerable pro- portion of the caterpillars of middle age were also destroyed. Sometimes, though rarely, persistent spraying appeared to destroy most of the larger caterpillars. By this time it had been determined by experiments in the laboratory that Paris green would not kill all the larger larvae ; yet as it had given better results than any other insecticide, it was thought best to continue its use at varying proportions in the field, and the poison was used at a strength of from one to four pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons of water. As a rule the spraying did not seriously burn the foliage when a solution was used consisting of one pound of Paris green to one hundred and fifty gallons of water; but with larger proportions of poison the foliage was considerably burned. The injury developed so rapidly that within a short time the leaves were all killed and the surviving larvae were obliged to go elsewhere to feed. Therefore, a strong Paris green mixt- ure had little better effect than a weak one. Lime was then used with the Paris green with a view of neutralizing the burning but considerable injury to the foliage still con- tinued. Though even when three or four pounds of the Paris green were used to a tank of water, many of the larger feeding EFFECTS OF SPRAYING. 139 caterpillars survived. Yet a difference in the effect of the spraying on the caterpillars was noticed. Occasionally in badly infested places so many of the caterpillars died within two or three days after the spraying that the people living on the infested estates were obliged for the sake of cleanliness to sweep up the dead from the walks and burn them. The unevenness in the effect of the spraying at once aroused suspicion that it might be caused by improper mixing or application of the insecticide. Although some inefficiency on the part of inexperienced sprayers was expected, a great difference in the effect of the insecticide was observed even when the poison was most thoroughly and carefully mixed and uniformly applied. Every effort was made during the spraying season to de- termine why the results of spraying were not uniform and satisfactory. The feeding caterpillars were watched day and night by many observers. The spraying was most carefully superintended and the conclusion finally arrived at was that under ordinary conditions spraying with Paris green for the gypsy moth was ineffective and unsatisfactory.* * In a few cases, where spraying was done just after a storm, an unusual mortality among the caterpillars was noticed during the next few days. At first it was thought that this result was due to the poison being more effective at such times, on account of its better retention on the foliage. It was known, also, that the caterpillars sought shelter and ate but little during rains, but that they fed ravenously during the warm, clear weather that frequently follows a storm. It was believed that the unusual amount of poisoned food taken at such a time, when the system was weakened by fasting, might have been sufficient to cause a greater mortality than usual. It was soon noted that the poison appeared to produce the same effect occasionally in dry weather or after light rains. This seemed to disprove the first hypothesis advanced, and raised the question whether the larvas, which sometimes succumbed in such numbers, were not first weakened by disease or other causes. In some cases the accuracy of the observations was doubted. It is difficult to make accurate observations on the results of such work done in the field. For instance, it is almost impossible to determine the proportion of larvte killed by spraying. When they disappear immediately after spraying, there is no certainty as to whether the spraying alone is responsible for their disappearance, or whether they have not been carried off by birds or predaceous insects, or have not crawled to other localities or to more congenial food. In some places, where the dead larvae fell to the ground in considerable numbers, most of them were immediately carried away by ants or other scavengers, which left few behind to tell of the results of the spraying. Cor- rect conclusions cannot be drawn where there is such liability of error, unless obser- vations recorded by many careful individuals and extending over a considerable period of time agree in the main. As no extended spraying with Paris green was done after 1891, the opportunity passed for an exhaustive study of the effect of meteorological or other conditions on the results of spraying. The cause of the apparent differences in the results of carefully conducted spraying with Paris green for the gypsy moth is a question which deserves further investigation. 140 THE GYPSY MOTH. It is interesting to note that while many of the gypsy caterpillars were apparently uninjured by the spraying, the canker-worms and tent caterpillars were almost exterminated, and the tussock moths (Orgyia leucostigma) disappeared. The trees of the infested region were never in better con- dition than at the end of the spraying season of 1891, and the fruit crop was larger than it had been for many years. Though this cannot all be credited to the spraying, the con- trast between sprayed and unsprayed trees was often very marked, the sprayed trees bearing more and finer fruit. During the spraying season thirty heavy spraying outfits were worked back and forth between the outer part of the infested region and its centre. Fifteen towns were thus covered. There were also a dozen light fifteen-gallon hand tanks which were sent into the outer towns. They were carried in wagons, two men being assigned to each wagon. The tanks and pumps used were the same as are used with the cyclone burner (Fig. 1, page 120). The men with the light outfits went to the outlying orchards and residences, where a few trees were infested. They filled their tanks at brooks or wells and carried them by hand to such infested spots as were not accessible by a team, sprayed the trees in the vicinity, reloaded the tanks upon the wagons and drove to the next infested place. In this way the isolated colonies in the outer towns were covered by the sprayers. The large tanks mounted upon wagons and handled by from four to six men were used mainly in towns where water service was available and were filled from hydrants or stand-pipes. The order was given to spray everything green within two hundred feet of an infested plant or tree. An adherence to this regulation caused the spraying of all vegetation in the worst infested towns. No extended spraying with Paris green has been done since 1891. While spraying with Paris green cannot be considered a successful method of extermination, it destroyed a consid- erable proportion of the number of very young caterpillars wherever it was done efficiently and in season. It thus checked the multiplication and assisted in preventing the spreading of the species. Though it failed to accomplish the end sought, it was certainly the most effectual method known at that time of disposing of the young caterpillars. LONDON PURPLE. 141 In looking back over an experience of five years we are unable to see how any better method of destroying the young larvae could have been devised from the knowledge of in- secticides then possessed. Spraying loith London Purple. London purple was used both in-doors and in the field in the season of 1891 but the results of the experiments with it were not as satisfactory as those reached with Paris green. While it was quite as effective as Paris green in destroying larvae, it injured the foliage more. London purple is more finely powdered and lighter than Paris green and requires less stirring. It also has the advantage of cheapness. The great objections to its use are its partial solubility in water, which causes burning of the leaves, and the unevenness of the effects produced by it. While one sample may give fairly satisfactory results, the next may not only burn the foliage badly but even the young fruit on fruit trees. According to Professor Bailey the arsenic in London purple is in the form of arsenite of calcium, which in some samples is about seventy- two per cent, of the whole compound. Over fifty per cent, of this arsenite or nearly forty per cent, of the London purple is quickly soluble in water. * The analysis of leaves injured by Paris green shows no arsenic in the texture of the leaf; but when leaves injured by London purple are analyzed, arsenic is found in their texture. This shows the penetrative powers of the latter poison. The London purple was used in the field to some extent, but the conclusion arrived at was that while, as it is ordinarily used, one might be justified in ex- perimenting with it upon his own premises, its use in public work on the premises of others was unwarrantable. Spraying with Arsenate of Lead. Although nearly all poisons known to us which can be used as insecticides have been experimented with during the past five years in the hope that something would be found which would prove fatal to the gypsy moth, only one which is more effective than Paris green has been discovered. This * See "Experiences in Spraying Plants" by Prof. L. H.Bailey, Report Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y., Bulletin 18, 1890. page 98. 142 THE GYPSY MOTH. is arsenate of lead, a poison slower in its action than the other, but which has three distinct advantages: (1) It can be used at any desired strength without serious injury to the foliage; (2) It is visible wherever used, as it forms a whitish coating on the leaves ; (3) It has adhesive quali- ties, given it, probably, by the acetate of lead, and therefore remains on the leaves for a much longer period than Paris green. When sufficient glucose was added to a strong mixt- ure of arsenate of lead, it withstood rainstorms and remained on the foliage during an entire season. When in 1891 it became evident that the arsenites would not accomplish the desired result, other means of destroying dispar were sought. Yet it could be hardly credited that the larva was indifferent to the action of arsenical poisons as ordinarily used, and the experiments of 1891 were duplicated during the season of 1892. They were performed by Pro- fessor Fernald and his assistants, but the results of these experiments confirmed those of 1891. When it was seen that the known arsenites could not be used at the requisite strength for killing gypsy-moth cater- pillars without serious injury to the foliage, Mr. F. C. Moulton, one of the inspectors employed in the field, who was also a chemist graduated from the State College of Agri- culture and Mechanic Arts, Orono, Me., was detailed to make experiments to determine what portion of the compound produced the caustic effect upon the foliage. The results of the experiments confirmed the conclusions of previous experimenters that the soluble arsenic burned the foliage. It was obvious that if a form of arsenic entirely and quickly soluble in water could be precipitated, it would become insoluble and obviate the burning. In the winter of 1892-93, at a hearing before the legis- lative joint standing committee on agriculture, a bill for the destruction of caterpillars within the State was considered. At this hearing Mr. Andrew H. Ward proposed the use of arsenate of soda as an insecticide. At the hearing we ob- tained from Mr. Ward the particulars in regard to the price of arsenate of soda and where it could be procured. Upon consultation with Professor Fernald (who had also been previously asked by Mr. Ward to try the insecticide ARSENATE OF LEAD. 143 properties of arsenate of soda), he advised experimenting with it. A sample was procured and was found to be entirely soluble in water. When used it burned the foliage to a greater extent than the other arsenical poisons. Mr. Moul- ton was detailed to find some material which would precipi- tate the arsenate of soda in water and thus obviate the burning. He proposed acetate of lead and after several experiments the desired result was obtained and the pro- portions were fixed. The effect of the mixture of acetate of lead with arsenate of soda in water is to throw down the arsenate of lead in a fine precipitate which is held well in suspension by the water and is therefore more evenly dis- tributed than Paris green. While the complete insolubility of arsenate of lead is an advantage as far as its effects on the plants are concerned, it is less effective on the insect than Paris green when used in equal quantities. Though the action of arsenate of lead is slower than that of Paris green and London purple, this may be partially accounted for by the smaller proportion of arsenic in the composition. Caterpillars poisoned with arsenate of lead have quite a different appearance from those poisoned with Paris green. Inflammation and the shedding of hair appear to be symptoms of poisoning by arsenate of lead. As it is slow in its action, it is well to apply it early in the life of the caterpillar or in great strength. The experience with arsenate of lead is in some respects analogous to that with Paris green. While in-doors there is no difficulty in destroying caterpillars with small quantities of the poison, the effects obtained out-doors are not so satis- factory. Indeed, it is only when applied at a strength of from twenty-five to thirty pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons of water that it appears to do exterminative work. This, to some extent, may be due to the difference in the material. The arsenate of lead used in the laboratory was furnished in the form of a fine dry precipitate. In the field the two poisons were furnished in a cruder state. They were added to the water and precipitation took place in the tank. The preparation was much less expensive when made in this way but was not as finely powdered. Indeed, it required considerable stirring in warm or hot water to dissolve the 144 THE GYPSY MOTH. lead sufficiently for it to pass through the strainers of the pump. When arsenate of lead has been applied in pro- portions of from twenty-five to thirty pounds to one hun- dred and fifty gallons of water, occasional burning has been noticed. This was due to the fact that the lead was not thoroughly dissolved, for in such cases there was a lack instead of an excess of acetate of lead in the mixture as it came from the nozzle. When applied in this strength it is a question whether it is safe to use it in pastures where cattle are feeding or near where poultry are quartered. It is evident that spraying with arsenate of lead should be used as an exterminative method only in exceptional cases where there is no danger to animals and where more drastic measures, such as fire, cannot be used. While it will un- doubtedly be useful with many other insects, we would not recommend that implicit reliance be placed upon it unless used early in the season and at a strength of at least three pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons of water. However, it will probably not be necessary to use it at this strength for all leaf-eating insects though some may require a greater strength. Many experimenters have made trials of this ma- terial since the formula was first published in the annual report of the State Board of Agriculture in 1894, but we are not aware that it has yet come into general use in practi- cal out-door work. Professor Fernald's experiments with arsenate of lead on the tent caterpillar indicate that it would be effective with this species in the field when used at a strength of one pound to one hundred and fifty gallons of water. It has given good results when used by him at the same strength for the Colorado potato beetle (Doryphora decemlineata, Say) . Larger quantities have been required for some other insects. At first sight it would seem that if it were necessary to use three pounds of arsenate of lead to one hundred and fifty gallons of water, the expense would be prohibitory. Yet it should be borne in mind that when mixed with glucose and properly applied to dry foliage, much of the solution will remain throughout most, or all, of the feeding season. Its application is not, therefore, as expensive as that of poisons which have to be applied three or more times during the season. SPRAYING APPARATUS. 145 By making a strong application early, the expense of the labor of making the later applications is done away with. Experiments being made by entomologists in different parts of the country will soon indicate the degree of usefulness of this arsenate in destroying different species of native and introduced leaf-eating insects. Practical use in the field later will determine its value as a general insecticide. In the field work of the Board of Agriculture the formula of arsenate of lead most used was sodic arsenate, 29.93 per cent., plumbic acetate, 70.07 per cent. Two quarts of glu- cose were generally added to 150 gallons of water to give better adhesive qualities. Professor Fernald directs that arsenate of lead can be prepared in the proportion of eleven ounces of acetate of lead and four ounces of arsenate of soda in water. Apparatus used for Spraying Large Shade and Forest Trees, Fig. 9. Spraying tank. The heavy spraying outfits used by the first commission in 1890 were again put in service by the State Board of 146 THE GYPSY MOTH. Agriculture in 1891, but were so improved and modified by labor-saving attachments as to render them doubly effective. For each of these outfits a tank or hogshead holding one hundred and sixty gallons (Fig. 9) is provided, bearing on its upper end a plank foot-board six feet long and one foot wide. A double-acting Douglass or Gould force-pump (see Plate XXV., Fig. 1, and Plate XXVI., Fig. 2) is mounted near the middle of the foot-board. Either of these pumps when well manned furnishes sufficient force for all kinds of spraying with several nozzles at once. The suction pipe of the pump descends into the tank at the side and reaches to within two inches of the bottom, where it is terminated by a fine wire gauze strainer made from No. 32 wire, woven forty or fifty meshes to the inch, which serves to exclude all foreign substances which may clog the pump or nozzle. The diame- ter of the strainer should not be less than twice that of the suction pipe. In the head of the tank is inserted a stirrer made from two pieces of two-inch spruce scantling, one six feet and the other two feet in length, the two being joined at right angles at the lower end of the longer piece. When placed in the tank the long arm is hinged on a bolt or rod at the opening in the head of the hogshead while the short arm swings just clear of the bottom. This lever projects above the top of the tank. By moving it back and forth the liquid is thoroughly agitated. The pump is operated by means of a powerful lever or brake worked by one or two men, according to the amount of pressure needed. It is connected by means of a Y coupling with two lines of hose upon which from two to six nozzles can be used. The men when pumping stand on the foot-board already mentioned. The whole apparatus is lashed on a wagon or cart and trans- ported from place to place as required. When in use one man operates each line of hose, the driver of the team usu- ally does the stirring, while the whole work of spraying is directed by an inspector. With this apparatus there is no difficulty in spraying at any required height. Two men on the brakes furnish force sufficient to throw a good spray from a Gem nozzle when held ninety feet from the ground. SPRAYING APPARATUS. 147 Thorough and constant stirring is the prime requisite for obtaining satisfactory and uniform results in spraying, as the arsenical compounds used do not enter into true solution with water, but having greater specific gravity remain in sus- pension only. For this reason the particles of the poison have a constant tendency to settle to the bottom of the tank. Therefore the strength of the solution varies according to the amount of agitation given it. Hence the necessity of a continuous stirring of the contents of the spraying tank even when the pump is not being used, as while it is being taken from one tree to another. Even with con- tinuous stirring the liquid issuing from the nozzle when the tank was nearly emptied usually contained more poison than that taken from a full tank or one half full. In most spraying machines the liquid is agitated only when the pump is in motion and the insecticide settles when the pump is not in use. It then becomes necessary to scrape the bottom of the tank and stir vigorously. Several kinds of hose were used in spraying. The half- inch, rubber-lined, cotton-covered Eureka howe was found to be most convenient for the heavy apparatus on account of its light weight. For light machines, where only one small nozzle is used to each line of hose, quarter-inch rubber tub- ing is large enough. Each spraying gang was supplied with eight pieces of hose, each fifty feet in length, which were used in two lines of two hundred feet each. These were sometimes united to form a single line so as to spray places which, from their locality, could not be reached otherwise. In general use, however, the two lines of hose were used simultaneously. A " shut off" was coupled on each line of hose near the pump and also at the nozzle. Not the least important part of the spraying apparatus is the nozzle. The desirable qualities of a nozzle for spraying large trees are that it shall throw voluminous jets of spray to a distance of eight or ten feet, clear itself readily, and be easily adjusted to varying distances, thus enabling the workmen to work rapidly. A series of tests was made with thirty-three different kinds of nozzles. The Lowell and Gem nozzles were found to be most effective. Both of these noz- 148 THE GYPSY MOTH. zles are operated on the same principle and both have been much used in the gypsy-moth work. A good climber us- ing the Gem nozzle can spray large trees both thoroughly and rapidly. When it is impossible to reach the ends of branches with a fine spray, a turn of the nozzle will cause a heavier spray to be thrown to a distance of ten or twelve feet. If neces- sity requires, this can be reduced to a stream which can be forced upward for thirty feet, where it will break into drops ; but when the foliage can be reached with a spray, the use of the stream should not be permitted, as such work does not give the best results. There are some objections to the use of these nozzles. They waste more or less of the liquid and do not distribute it so finely as some other nozzles. They also may tempt the workman to avoid climbing by substituting the stream for the spray where the branches are not easily accessible, thus im- pairing the efficiency of the spraying. Yet if the operations are superintended by competent men, this may be guarded against and the work done far more rapidly than with non- adjustable nozzles throwing a finer spray. The Lowell nozzle (Plate XXIV., Fig. 2) consists essen- tially of two brass tubes placed one within the other. The inner tube at its posterior end bears a coupling by means of which it is connected with the hose, while the anterior end terminates in a tapering point at the base of which on op- posite sides are two openings which allow the fluid to escape into the chamber between the tubes. The cone-shaped point of the inner tube tapers for about two-thirds of its length, at which point its diameter is abruptly enlarged and then tapers again at an increased angle to its apex. On the outside of the inner tube is a coarse screw thread which moves on a blunt screw inserted through the side of the outer tube and by this arrangement the latter is moved forward and backward. This outer tube, which is slightly shorter than the inner one, closes on the latter at the posterior end by means of a band of packing held in place by a movable nut. At its anterior end it is widened to form a bell-shaped opening which at the centre closes tightly around the tapering point of the inner tube. When in use the outer tube is slid forward by Plate XXIV. 4l§ ' "■-SSSr* Fig. I. Fig. 2. M2 I Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Plate XXV. Plate XXVI. Plate XXVIL Fig;. I. Ml' Mill Fig. 5. Fig. 4. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fiz. 6. SPKAYING APPARATUS. 149 a rotary motion on the screw bearing of the inner tube, and the spraying solution is forced out through the circular space thus opened between the point of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube, which surround it. By turning the outer tube the density of the spray and the dis- tance to which it can be thrown are regulated. The Gem nozzle (Plate XXIV., Fig. 4) is made on the same principle as the Lowell. In using these nozzles a strong pressure is required to insure a fine spray. For spraying orchard trees and shade trees of ordinary size, light hand ladders were found to be very serviceable. But when the tops of tall street elms were sprayed, extension ladders, thirty, forty or even sixty feet in length, were nec- essary. A heavy extension ladder sixty-five feet in length, such as is used by firemen, was purchased for the latter purpose. This ladder could be readily and skilfully handled by six men with the aid of blocks and tackle. The small hand ladders were carried on the spraying wagons and the larger ones by hand or upon wagons, hand-carts or wheels, as was most convenient. Ladders mounted permanently upon wheels could not be used to advantage on account of the uneven nature of the ground where much of the spraying was done. Ladders twenty to twenty-five feet in height with braces so made that they could be set up like step-ladders were used at first, but they were unwieldy and it was soon seen that more effective work could be done by using light ladders and climbing into the trees themselves. In climbing fruit and shade trees care must be taken not to injure the branches. Machinery for Spraying Orchard Trees and Garden Plants. Although in spraying small gardens and orchards any good tank or pump may be used, the heavy and more cumber- some outfits are not necessary. A small portable tank and pump which can be taken about by the operator, either attached to his person or upon a wheelbarrow, will suffice for all the spraying required in small estates. For spraying garden plants and small fruit trees the " knapsack pump," which is fastened on the shoulders, has been oiten recommended for use in small gardens and 150 THE GYPSY MOTH. orchards. The Gould handy knapsack spraying pump (Plate XXIV., Fig. 1) has been used experimentally in the gypsy-moth work and gives fairly good results. These knapsack sprayers, however, are inconvenient when spraying is required on a large scale as they do not carry sufficient liquid. The hand tank and pump used with the cyclone burner (page 120, Fig. 1) has been found very useful in spraying small orchards. With the pole attachment most of the trees can be sprayed from the ground. This tank may be carried and operated by two men. Gould's barrel sprayer is shown in Plate XXV., Fig. 2. It has been very useful in our experimental work, and could no doubt be used to advantage in spraying small orchards, gardens and field crops. It has the advantage of being movable without the aid of a horse. Its wide tires can be run over ground where it would not be possible for a horse to go without doing injury. In spraying in gardens where tender and valuable plants are grown or in orchards containing choice varieties of fruit trees, it is most essential that the liquid be thoroughly stirred, and especially that the spray be distributed evenly and in a fine mist, otherwise injury to the plant may result. Spraying may be done with the crudest implements. Corn- brooms and whitewash brushes have been used with good effect in some cases, but for uniformly good results we have seen nothing better than some of the modifications of the cyclone nozzle (Plate XXVII., Fig. 2). This nozzle was originally brought to public notice by Professor Riley, then chief of the United States Entomological Commission. When used in its original form, it throws a finer and more even spray than any nozzle which has come to our notice, yet it has faults which preclude its use except in very limited fields. It sprays very slowly and is frequently clogged by the coarser particles of the insecticide or by foreign sub- stances, the perforation through which the liquid passes out in spray being very small. It is then necessary to remove the cap and clear the nozzle. Therefore much time is con- sumed in its use. When first tried experimentally at Medford it was found that an hour was required to spray SPRAYING APPARATUS. 151 Fig. 10. Quadruple cyclone nozzle. thoroughly a large apple tree. Still the cyclone nozzle has been used to some advantage against the gypsy moth by uniting four nozzles in one (Fig. 10) and slightly enlarging their aper- tures. The nozzles radiate some- what so that the spray from the four covers a much larger field than that from only one. The amount of the spray thrown in a given time, as well as the area of the foliage covered, is more than quad- rupled. Yet clogging occurs more frequently on account of the greater number of nozzles. The Vermorel modification of the cyclone nozzle (Plate XXIII. , Fig. 1) is an improvement on the original inven- tion. It throws more liquid than the cyclone but gives a fine, even spray which, because of its fineness, cannot be projected to a distance. This spray will drift on the wind, however, so that spraj'ing can be done for some distance to the leeward of the operator. Though this nozzle uses less of the spraying fluid than the Gem or Lowell nozzles, it uses more than the cyclone and therefore will spray more rapidly than the latter. It distributes the spray more finely and evenly than the Gem or Lowell nozzles and gives better satisfaction in spraying small trees or shrubbery. Experi- ments indicate that in the number of caterpillars killed, there is a slight difference in favor of the Vermorel nozzle over the nozzles previously mentioned. Spraying may be done more rapidly by at- taching two or more nozzles to the same hose by means of the Y coup- ling (Fig. 11). The Vermorel nozzle consists of a short brass tube bent at right aogles, having a coupling at one end by means of which it is at- tached to the hose and at the other end entering at right angles a small cylinder, which is divided by a transverse partition into two chambers. Fig. 11. Y nozzle. 152 THE GYPSY MOTH. The stream from the hose is carried through the bent tube and enters at a tangent the anterior chamber of the cylinder. The posterior chamber serves as a packing box for a small brass rod which passes through the centre of the partition dividing the chambers, and lying in the axis of the cylinder, projects half its length in the rear, where it is terminated by a screw cap. Around the rod between this cap and the nut closing the packing box is a spiral spring which keeps the rod drawn back when not in use. The anterior part of the rod has a flange in front of the partition which prevents it from being drawn back out of the chamber and its anterior end has a fine needle point. The outer chamber of the noz- zle is closed by a screw cap, hollowed at its centre where it is perforated by a fine hole which serves as the exit for the spray. When this hole becomes clogged, it may be cleared by pressing on the cap or thumbpiece at the base of the rod, thus forcing the needle point out through the opening. The climax or Nixon nozzle is better adapted for spraying large orchard trees than the cyclone, as it throws a good spray to a considerable distance, but it is not adjustable like the Gem and Lowell nozzles. It is shown in Plate XXIV., Fig. 3. No. 1 shows the entire nozzle, No. 2 the nipple end of the same, and No. 3 the end of the nozzle, which screws over the nipple and is covered with a fine screen which breaks up the stream into spray. All these parts are fitted with standard pipe thread, and will fit corresponding sizes of gas pipe and hose coupling. They are made of various sizes which will produce spray from the density of a heavy fog to any coarseness that may be required, the smaller sizes giving the finest spray. The McGowen nozzle (Plate XXVII., Figs. 3, 4 and 5) has been used only experimentally in the gypsy-moth work. This is the only nozzle we have yet used which appears to give equal satisfaction in all kinds of spraying. It pos- sesses to some extent the qualities of all the nozzles previ- ously mentioned. It can be regulated at will to throw a fine spray, project a coarse spray to some distance, or send a stream to a considerable height, where it will break into fine drops. Its effective use, however, requires some skill and mechanical kuowledge on the part of the workman. SPRAYING APPARATUS. 153 Fig. 3 represents a side view of the nozzle and a cross section of the piston about three-fourths natural size. The cylinder u projects at right angles from the top of the tube 10. This cylinder is closed at the end by a bevelled block. The orifice v is closed by a sliding piston which is composed of one or two pieces. The cross section of the piston shown in Fig. 7 represents the form having two parts, an inner piston which can be screwed out, as represented by the dot- ted line e, and an outer part or sleeve c. By turning the screw s the spray can be changed instantly from a long- range spray suitable for orchards to a spray fine and mist- like. However the opening may be adjusted, it so remains, except when obstructions become lodged in the nozzle. The spring x is designed to hold the sliding valve in position except when obstructions are forced into the nozzle. As such obstructions prevent the passage of the fluid, the pres- sure upon the walls of the opening in the nozzle instantly increases. This forces the piston back from the outlet orifice so that the opening will admit the passage of any object not larger than one-fifth by three-sixteenths inch. When the obstruction passes out, the force of the spring sets the valve back into position and the nozzle works again as desired. The tension of the spring x can be varied by moving the ring z up or down. Figs. 4 and 5 represent two pistons, each composed of one piece. No. 4 is adapted for long-distance work; No. 5 is adapted for short-distance work, as it throws a very fine spray which cannot be forced to a dis- tance. These parts are made to be used where a change of spray is not desirable. All the pistons are interchangeable. Fig. 6, Plate XXVII., represents a lighter nozzle, designed for knapsack pumps. The spray is fan shaped. The advan- tages of such a nozzle are evident. When the spraying is done by means of a pole extension, such small particles as clog some other nozzles are quickly released without anv delay or stopping of the pump or lowering the pole to clear the nozzle. The extension nozzle consists of a metal pipe, sometimes inclosed in a bamboo pole. It is made to enable the opera- tor to raise the nozzle to a height of twelve feet or more from the ground, so that orchard trees may be sprayed with- 154 THE GYPSY MOTH. out climbing. The extension nozzles ordinarily made, being but five or six feet in length, are not particularly useful for this purpose, but may be used to advantage when the work- man stands on a firm step-ladder. In the work on the gypsy moth a light wooden pole twelve feet in length was used in orchard spraying. The nozzle and hose were attached to this pole by means of snap hooks, or the nozzle was secured to the end of the pole by means of a cap provided for the purpose. In using this pole the workman carried the lower end in a socket attached to a belt around the waist. Power Spraying Machines for Orchards and Field Crops. Several horse-power spraying machines have been pro- duced with the intent of saving time, labor and money to the user. In using such of these machines as we have seen, it is necessary to keep the horse moving in order to work the pump by horse power, and it is difficult to get sufficient power without driving too fast to give time for thoroughly spraying the trees in passing. Therefore in spraying trees the pump must be operated by hand. These machines are valuable in spraying potatoes and other crops grown on the ground. The "giant, automatic power sprayer" (Plate XXVI., Fig. 1) has been adopted for use in the gypsy-moth work, but as yet has not been thoroughly tested in the field. It consists of a sixty-gallon oak tank suspended between two wheels with wide tires. The diameter of the wheel is three and one-half feet. The frame is strongly made to enable the operator to use the machine upon rough ground. Endless sprocket gears attached to the wheels communicate the power to the handle of the pump by means of a shaft. The gear- ing may be thrown out of action in an instant to prevent waste when it is not desired to operate the sprayer. The pump can be disconnected from the horse-power machinery and operated by hand in spraying large trees. This sprayer in operation is shown in Plate XXVIII. Several steam spraying machines have been invented, but we have had no experience in their use. SPRAYING APPARATUS. 155 The Care of Spraying Machinery, The operations of spraying are frequently more or less delayed by minor accidents or imperfect working of parts of the machinery. The action of the insecticide mixtures corrodes certain parts and the pumps require constant at- tention to keep them in good working order. Unless their construction is understood by either the workmen or the man in charge, considerable delay and loss of time are occasioned by sending the pumps away for repairs or awaiting the services of experts called in to remedy the difficulty. Yet most of the trouble may be easily and quickly remedied if the men using the apparatus have a sufficient knowledge of the different parts of the pump to take out those that work imperfectly, repair and replace them. Most of the delays in the field are caused by either a clogging of the strainer in the tank, some obstruction in the valves or the wearing of the packing of the piston in the cylinder. Before the spraying apparatus is sent into the field in the spring, it should be thoroughly overhauled and tested. While the spraying is in progress, each of the spraying gangs should be furnished with a tool box containing wrenches, tools, packing and other materials which are use- ful in taking apart the pumps and making repairs. Mr. E. C. Ware, who superintended the spraying teams in 1891, gives the following information and directions in regard to the care of pumps in the field : — If a pump fails to throw a stream, it is well to put some clean water in at the top, as it is quite often the case that the valves are made or lined with leather, which, in drying, has become hard or warped out of shape. If the pump is an old one and the valves are of leather, it may require new valves before it can be made to work. If the pump still fails to operate satisfactorily, examine the strainer to see whether it has become clogged, as the trouble with the pump can be quite often found at the bottom of the strainer. If the pump has not been used for a day or two, the strainer may have become corroded. Sediment from the material used for spraying will sometimes dry on the meshes of the strainer so as to prevent the passing of the liquid through the pump. 156 THE GYPSY MOTH. When Paris green, lime, arsenate of lead or similar com- positions are used with glucose or other adhesive constituents, and the pump is not thoroughly cleaned after using, trouble with the valves may be expected. When the trouble cannot be found at the strainer, it is well to clean the valves thoroughly, being careful to put them back in their original positions, seeing that the packing is clean and in place before putting the screws back or screwing any nuts down. In tightening the nuts or screws, put them down until they come to an easy bearing all around ; after which go over them again and settle them down tightly. In case the pump should be a heavy one having a piston working through packing, and the liquid escapes around the piston, loosen the large nut and take out the ring which will be found pressed in by the nut. If the packing which will probably be found there is hard and dry, it will be well to replace it with some hemp packing such as is used by steam fitters (or if this is not at hand, with cotton wicking), saturating it with heavy oil or tallow mixed with a liberal supply of black lead (graphite). Soak the packing thoroughly and wind it loosely about the piston, pushing it in the mean time toward the pump until you have about as much wound on as the ring will push in without preventing the nut from catching. Then screw the nut up as far as it will go without preventing the pump from work- ing easily. It is not well to screw it up too tightly at first, but to turn it a little at a time, just enough to keep the pump from leaking. In connecting hose to pumps, it will be found necessary to use rubber washers at all connections to prevent leakage when couplings are screwed together. Wherever the cast- ings or other parts of the pump are broken by accident, much time may be saved if duplicate parts are kept ready for such an emergency. Before the pumps are stored at the end of the spraying season, they should be taken apart and care- fully cleaned and oiled. When to Spray for the Gypsy Moth. Spraying should be done early in the season, as soon as the leaves are well grown, for at that time there is least risk of injury to the foliage. The insecticide also will be WHEN TO SPRAY. 157 more effective if applied soon after the caterpillars hatch. As the young gypsy-moth caterpillars hatch at intervals from the latter part of April until the middle of June, and as the leaves are constantly growing during the early part of the season, thereby offering daily more fresh unpoisoned surface upon which the caterpillars may feed, it may be neces- sary to spray once or twice more in May or June. Spraying with the best insecticides known (arsenate of lead excepted), if done late in the season, has little effect on the gypsy- moth caterpillars where they are numerous, as they will strip all foliage from the trees before being seriously affected by the poison. The uselessness of such spraying is shown by the illustrations in plates IX., XI. and XVI. The caterpillars thus destroyed the foliage in the Swampscott woods early in August, after the trees had been sprayed twice with Paris green . * It is well not to spray fruit trees when in blossom. If sprayed at all at that time, the work should be done with a nozzle throwing a fine, mist-like spray. A coarser spray is likely to injure the blossoms, as well as to wash off the pollen. There is danger also of poisoning bees. Prof. F. M. Webster, entomologist of the Ohio experiment station, has experimented by spraying apple trees in full bloom and giving bees access under natural conditions to the sprayed blossoms. Many of the bees which visited the trees died suddenly, as well as the young larvae of a brood from uncapped cells. Arsenic was found in the contents of the abdomen as well as on the external parts. The bees all gave evidence of having died from the effects of arsenic which could only have been introduced from without the hive. If the pollen is washed off the blossoms by the spraying and the bees which distribute pollen are killed by the poison, the spraying of fruit trees when in blossom will affect their fruitfulness. Spraying should not be done during showers or after showers before the leaves dry, or when a heavy dew is on the foliage. When spraying is done during showers, * Many of the failures that have been recorded in spraying for other insects may be traced to the fact that the work was done too late, and not until after the injury was so serious that the spraying could not stop it in time to save the foliage. 158 THE GYPSY MOTH. much of the poison will be washed off or gather in spots. If the trees are sprayed in dry weather or at a time in the day when the leaves are dry, the poison adheres to the leaves as it falls and is thus most effective. Hoiv to Spray for the Gypsy Moth. In many cases spraying for insect pests is a failure. Where tender plants and choice fruit trees are sprayed, more harm than good is often done. This is not to be attributed, how- ever, to the method, but to either poor machinery or to ignorance or carelessness in the use of insecticides. When spraying is thoroughly and carefully done according to the rules given by the best authorities, it will almost always give good results with most leaf-eating insects. Yet, as has been shown, the most careful spraying with the best insecticides may fail to check the gypsy moth. If spraying is done when the caterpillars are young and feeding mostly on the lower surface of the leaves, it will be most effective. Use not less than fifteen pounds of arsenate of lead and two quarts of -glucose to one hundred and fifty gallons of water. Be sure that the acetate of lead is dissolved in water (warm if need be) before it enters the tank. Stir the mixture con- stantly and spray evenly and thoroughly with a fine spray. If this does not kill, double the dose. Spray fruit trees to as high a point as possible from the ground by the use of a long pole or extension with any nozzle which will throw a very fine spray, spraying always in such a way as to reach the under side of the leaves. On tall shade or forest trees spraying may be best accom- plished by the use of a ladder. A nozzle which will throw a coarse spray to a distance, like the Gem, Lowell, Nixon or McGowen, may be used. Often the lower limbs may be sprayed from the ground by means of a pole. The pole can- not be so well handled in the tree, and the workman can spray best by climbing up the main trunks and branches and spraying from below as he climbs. If the spraying is done later in the season, particular attention must be paid to the ends of the branches and to the tops of the trees, for many of the larger caterpillars crawl to the very tips of the branches and to the tops of the trees to feed. PLANTS INJURED. 159 Injury to Plants caused by Spraying. The strong prejudice against the use of Paris green for spraying which was met with in Medford in 1891 was partly caused by the belief that both trees and garden plants would be injured or killed thereby. This belief was shared by many people and was largely based upon the results of the work of the first commission, as observed in 1890. Many indi- viduals who had experimented with London purple and Paris green in an attempt to protect their trees had succeeded only in destroying the foliage. It is true that the foliage of many trees was injured in 1890, and that to a less extent this occurred in the work of 1891. Yet much of the appar- ent injury was effected by other causes than spraying. In the investigation of complaints that the foliage of trees had been burned, it was found that in some cases the injured trees had not been sprayed. In at least one case the sup- posed burning was caused by the effect of a late frost. A blight upon fruit trees early in the season closely resembled, upon superficial examination, the appearance produced by arsenical burning. Later in the season, during the drier portion of the summer, many leaves on trees, which had not been sprayed, turned yellow and fell, presenting much the same appearance as was observed on foMage which had been burned by spraying. Many reports were received that trees had been killed by spraying, but in most of these cases it was not clearly proved that death was not due to some other cause. Still there is evidence that some young trees were either killed by spraying or were so weakened by burning or defoliation resulting from spraying that they succumbed to the heat of the summer. Such a result is un- usual, however. An apple tree which was sprayed in 1890 with the contents of fifteen tanks of the Paris green mixture, each tank containing a pound of Paris green, was not per- manently injured. It is said that many young and tender plants in gardens were not only seriously injured but actually killed by spraying; yet where this happened it was prob- ably due to some ignorance or carelessness in the use of the insecticide. Some species of trees are more susceptible than others to the effects of the poison. The foliage of plum 160 THE GYPSY MOTH. trees and especially that of peach trees is often destroyed by an application which will not injure the apple or many other species. There appears to be a difference among varieties of trees of the same species in their susceptibility to poison, and some individuals of the same variety seem more susceptible to injury than others. This is also true of shrubs and garden plants. Causes of the Burning Effect. We have already stated that the burning of foliage by arsenites appears to be caused by the soluble arsenic in the insecticide ; yet it is known that poisons like Paris green, which are comparatively insoluble in water, will burn the foliage under natural conditions if applied in great strength. This seems to indicate that the arsenic on the leaf is dis- solved more or less by dews and rains, the dehydrating effects of the sun's rays, a moist atmosphere or the exhalations from the leaf, or by all combined. We have noted that although experiments with arsenites performed in a dry atmosphere in the laboratory produced no burn- ing effect, the same strength of material burned badly out of doors. Professor Fernald's experiments in the insectary indicate that Paris green burns more in warm damp weather than in cool dry weather.* The larger the amount of arsenic deposited on the leaf the greater will be the amount eventually dissolved, and the greater the burning effect. If the liquid is distributed evenly in minute drops over the leaf, there is less danger of burning than if it is distributed in large drops, or if the tree is so copiously showered as to cause the arsenic to settle and accumulate in spots upon the leaf. "Wherever such accumulations occur, the burning is the more serious and the injury spreads from the burned spots. Therefore, there will be the least burning from a fine spray, lightly and evenly distributed. How to prevent Burning the Foliage. What should be done and what avoided to prevent or lessen the burning of the foliage may be summarized as follows : — * Bulletin No. 19, Hatch Experiment Station, page 118, May, 1892. PREVENTION OF BURNING. 161 1. Avoid the use of London purple. 2. If Paris green is used, keep the spraying liquid con- stantly and thoroughly agitated. 3. Use only a very fine spray and distribute it lightly. This applies especially to tender plants and valuable fruit trees where burning may mean serious loss. 4. Do not let the spraying liquid stand in the tank but use it as soon as mixed. 5. Spray early in the season when the injury to leaves will be least. 6. If Paris green does not give good results, use arsenate of lead, which will not burn if properly mixed and applied. Reports of Injury to Man and Animals by Spraying. The prejudice against spraying in Medford and other towns was intensified by the belief that there was danger of fatal poisoning to man and animals. When the spraying was in progress, sensational reports were circulated. State- ments were made in the daily press that a man had died from the effects of chewing leaves taken from trees sprayed in Medford, and that a child had been fatally poisoned by eating bread and butter on which some of the spray had fallen from the trees. On this at least one newspaper editor advised his readers to shoot at sight the workmen employed in spraying. It was reported that there was great danger from eating sprayed fruit. Several quarts of cherries which had been taken from sprayed trees and preserved in jars were analyzed, and no trace of arsenic was found. Yet even before they were analyzed, it was reported that they had been sent to Amherst and that arsenic enough had been found on them to kill a dozen people. A large portion of the cherries on these trees were stolen by boys or given away, yet no im- mediate mortality occurred among the juveniles of the neigh- borhood. It was frequently reported that people had been badly poisoned by having a spray thrown in their faces. It is possible that this statement had some slight foundation in fact. While in eating fruit there is little danger of the con- sumption of sufficient poison to have any appreciable effect on the system, there is a certain amount of danger from the absorption or inhalation of arsenic, and great care should 162 THE GYPSY MOTH. be alwa3 r s exercised in its use. About ten per cent, of the men employed in spraying suffered more or less from arseni- cal poisoning. Some appeared to be much more susceptible to its effects than others. This subject is more fully treated in Appendix F, where instances of the ill effects produced by the careless use of arsenic are given. Numerous sensational tales were promulgated in regard to the effect produced on animals by eating grass or foliage poisoned with Paris green. That there is no danger of serious results to the larger domestic animals from ordinary spraying has been proved by Prof. A. J. Cook's experiments.* He fed to his horse and to sheep grass on which the poison had been allowed to drop copiously from sprayed trees. We have frequently fed a horse in the same way without any apparent harm to the animal. A Medio rd milkman was accustomed to take as a gift the grass which people feared to use, it having been cut on lawns where the trees had been sprayed. This grass formed the principal food of his cows during the summer and they showed no ill effects. At one farm in Somerville, where the trees were liberally sprayed, three cows suddenly died. A suit was threatened, but on account of lack of evidence it never came into court, f Several flocks of fowls were stricken with sudden mortality immediately after the trees which hung over hen yards had been sprayed. Fowls show a great sus- ceptibility to arsenical poisons. It is a question, however, whether the fowls were killed by eating poisoned caterpillars or grass on which the spraying liquid fell, or whether they did not die from some epidemic disease. The matter was not fully investigated, One instance was noted where a hen died just as the workmen walked into the yard to begin spraying. The owner was immediately notified so that the impression might be avoided that it was killed by Paris green. J * Bulletin No. 53, Agricultural College of Michigan Experiment Station, August, 1889. t Cows have fed without apparent injury on grass under trees which have been twice sprayed with arsenate of lead at a strength of fifteen pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons of water. % If wild birds are likely to be destroyed by eating poisoned vegetation or poisoned insects, the benefits derived from spraying must be largely discounted, as birds are most useful as insect destroyers. CONTACT INSECTICIDES. 163 Spraying with Contact Insecticides. When it was seen that spraying the foliage with Paris green had little effect on the larger gypsy-moth caterpillars, experiments were made with insecticides which were intended to kill by contact. This was done to find a means of dispos- ing of the masses of caterpillars which did not seem to be much affected by the use of Paris green and which clustered on many trees where fire could not be used. Contact in- secticides, when of a strength sufficient to kill the gypsy- moth caterpillars, are likely to cause injury when used on the foliage. Therefore they can only be used to advantage as a last resort where the caterpillars have stripped trees or where they are clustered in such numbers on the trunks as to make it less expensive to spray with an insecticide than to kill them by hand. Kerosene emulsion was first tried. A strong emulsion gave fairly good results but its preparation in the field was not economical. The only way in which it could be made to give satisfactory results was to mix it at a central point and distribute it to the different towns. When it was made in the field the men did not get uniform results. Fish oil and whale oil soap gave better satisfaction when used as follows : — Take one pound of whale oil soap and slice into thin, small pieces. Place the pieces of soap in a pail and add about a gallon of boiling or nearly boiling water ; then stir until the soap is dissolved ; dilute at the rate of one pound of soap to twenty gallons of water. This formula was pre- pared by Mr. E. P. Felt. Solutions made from soap powders also proved effective. The following formula was prepared by Supt. F. H. Jones : — Place one pound of "Gold Dust" in a pail; add one gallon of lukewarm (not hot) water; stir briskly until the powder is dissolved ; then add three gallons of cold water ; stir well. Where the larvae and pupae are clustered together on the trunks of trees and in stone walls or other sheltered places, they should.be well drenched with the solution. The hand tank (Fig. 1, page 120) and Gem nozzle were found useful 164 THE GYPSY MOTH. in spraying with contact insecticides. A tree in Swamp- scott, the trunk of which was covered with caterpillars, was sprayed, killing nearly all at one spraying. Excellent results were obtained wherever the liquid was carefully mixed and applied. It is poor economy, however, to use contact insecticides except where the larvte are very numer- ous, for elsewhere they may be more rapidly and cheaply killed by hand, either by burlapping the trees or by other methods. While the use of soap powders upon the gypsy moth has some advantages, it is not to be recommended except in the most extreme cases and with the exercise of great care and judgment. Measures for Destroying all Forms of the Moth. The methods thus far described have each been intended for the destruction of a particular form of the moth. The methods hereinafter described are intended to facilitate or secure the destruction of all forms of the moth, and have been used with a view to preventing the creature's spread and securing its extermination. It has sometimes become necessary to destroy all vegetation in an infested spot in order to prevent the moth's rapid spread and wide dissemina- tion. For this purpose fire and the axe have been resorted to. Cutting and Burning. As an exterminative method for use in wooded tracts, the felling of trees and their destruction, together with that of all other vegetation, by means of fire has no equal in point of expedition and economy. This can only be done advan- tageously, however, on lands where the timber is of little value, as the damage caused and expense incurred by treating valuable woodland in this way would be great. This method is expedient only where a badly infested spot is found in woods not otherwise infested and where by vigorous and immediate exterminative methods the pest may be stamped out. When a colony of this kind is discovered, the trees may be felled to best advantage in the fall or early winter. At the same time the undergrowth can be cut close to the ground and burned together with the tree-brush, or it may be left to dry CUTTING AND BURNING. 165 where it falls and burned later with the wood by means of a running fire. Fire will dispose of the eggs upon the trees and undergrowth, yet many will remain among the dried leaves on the ground. In order to secure the destruction of the caterpillars which hatch from these, the territory cleared should be thoroughly burned over in the spring with the cyclone burner. This should be done shortly after the young caterpillars hatch. The cutting and binning should extend for several hundred feet beyond the utmost confines of the infested spot. The immediate effect of this treatment will be to destroy all vegetation above ground, and as a conse- quence any young caterpillars not reached by the flames will starve. From the stumps of deciduous trees cut down, sprouts will in time spring up. The burning will not kill the roots and a new growth of trees will finally develop. There will be no sprouts from the older coniferous trees, as they do not renew their growth in this w r ay, but are replaced by deciduous trees. The burning is not entirely without beneficial effect on the land. The ashes resulting from the combustion of wood and dry leaves stimulate the growth of such roots as are buried in the ground or beneath the leaves and which send forth shoots under the influence of sun and rain. Within a few months the entire burned area will be covered with a growth of young plants and trees. A locality in Woburn where timber land is being cleared in this way is shown in our illustration (Plate XXIX.). The appearance of this woodland when attacked by the gypsy moth may be seen by referring to Plate XVII. The owner was willing that the ground should be cleared in order to secure relief from the pest. The trees were first cut down and the wood cut in eight-foot lengths and the brush piled and burned, leaving the land ready for the final burning with the cyclone burner in the spring. Valuable woodlands generally infested have been treated by clearing away the undergrowth so as to leave nothing on the ground for the insects to feed upon. In this work great care must be taken to avoid injuring the trees by making too hot a fire about their trunks. It is better to rake away the dead leaves and undergrowth from the bases of the trees and burn them than to risk girdling the trees by running a hot 166 THE GYPSY MOTH. lire close to their trunks. They may then be banded with insect lime so that the caterpillars may find nothing on which to feed, or they may be burlapped and the caterpillars caught under the burlaps. This method will not injure the growing timber, and if a cleared grove is desired the timber may be thinned by cutting away the least valuable trees. This will render the later treatment less expensive. In 1891 nearly all the trees were felled on a tract of more than one hundred acres near Myrtle Street, Medford, where the moths were first introduced. (See Plate XXX.) The undergrowth was then burned by a running fire. The ex- termination of the moths at that place was not then attempted, but the work was done as an experiment in preventing their increase and spread from a badly infested locality. As such it was a success. A fire run through dry leaves and under- growth before the middle of May will destroy the greater portion of the young larvae if done when they are small, and when the dry vegetation burns with a quick heat. When worthless and badly infested trees are found in orchards or elsewhere, the most eft'ectual and economical method is to cut and burn them. Such trees are usually full of holes, cracks and cavities, and in such hiding places all forms of the moth are found in numbers. They can be immediately disposed of by burning the trees, thereby olr ating the necessity of further search and treatment. There is much waste land covered with undergrowth and scrubby trees in the infested region. It receives no care from its owners, being held, not for its productive value, but for speculative purposes. Fire often runs over such land, killing the bushes and young pines and injuring the larger growth so that it is comparatively worthless. Such land can be cut over with little or no loss to the owner ; indeed, clearing may often enhance its value. It is not well to cut the growth during the spring months, when the caterpillars are upon it, as they will be disturbed by such work and scattered in all directions. It is much better to cut over such land in the fall, and burn the brush as it is cut or let it lie on the ground until it is well dried and then run fire through it, destroying as many of the eggs of the gypsy moth as possible. Then when the larvae hatch in the spring, BUKLAPPING. 167 there will be nothing for them to climb upon, and they may be all destroyed by burning the ground over with a cyclone burner. (See Plate XX.) If it is desired to prevent a new growth of brush, the ground should be burned over in August while the sap is in the plants, and again in the following spring. After such treatment the plants will not so readily sprout and a frequent repetition of the burning will result in killing their roots. Burlapping . Early in the summer of 1891 burlap or bagging was first used by the employees of the State Board of Agriculture as a means of assembling the gypsy-moth caterpillars so that they might be readily found and destroyed. It was noticed that before the caterpillars had attained half their growth, they daily left the leaves on which they had fed during the night and clustered in sheltered places, such as cavities in the trunks of trees or the under sides of branches or other natural objects. They began thus swarming in the second week in June. As they grew larger the tendency to seek shelter during the day became more and more noticeable. They often wandered in search of shelter, leaving trees which did not offer secure hiding-places and retiring to rubbish heaps, stone walls and other places of refuge to pass the day. It was seen that whenever old garments, cloth or paper were thrown in the forks or wound around the trunks or branches of infested trees, the shelter of such materials was sought by the larvas during the heat of the day. The bulky nests of the English sparrow also served them as hiding-places. The conclusion having been reached at this time that spraying with Paris green was only partially successful in destroying the caterpillars, other means of destruction were sought. Experiments were made to find an inexpensive yet durable shelter which would prove attractive to the cater- pillars, and which could be readily examined by the men, thus serving in a measure the purpose of a trap. A cheap eight-ounce burlap was found to be the best material for this puqiose. A large quantity of baled burlap was pur- chased and cut into strips about twelve inches wide. These 168 THE GYPSY MOTH. strips were made into rolls which the workmen carried sus- pended from the shoulder. Each man was provided with a sheath knife. When a tree was to be " burlapped," the end of a roll was passed around the trunk at a height of four or five" feet from the ground, and enough cut off to encircle the tree and lap sufficiently at the ends to allow for shrinkage. (See Plate XXXI.) The burlap was held in place by twine tied around both tree and cloth. (See Fig. 12, a.) The upper half of the burlap was turned down over the twine, so that it hung like a tablecloth suspended from a clothes line, and made a band of double thickness around the tree. (See Fig. 12, b.) Although the edges hung loosely, the centre was bound quite securely to the trunk of the tree. If the trunk and branches offered no better hiding-places to the caterpillars, most of those on a tree would crawl down, morning after morning, and seek the shelter of the bur- lap, remaining there during the greater part of the day. When thus assembled, they were killed by the employees of the Board, who daily went their rounds from tree to tree, raising each half of the bur- lap separately and cutting or crushing the caterpillars be- neath. Most of the larva? are found on the bark behind the burlap, but some are taken between the folds. When, in the search for larva 1 , the burlap is examined for the first time, it is left turned up against the tree. At the second examination it is turned down. It is turned up at the next visit, down at the next and so on. By following this plan any band that has been missed will attract attention. Ex- perience indicates that the number of caterpillars taken is not materially affected, whether the band is left up or down ; yet for general use it should be turned down, as it sheds rain better and presents a neater appearance. Where the caterpillars are massed, they may be quickly crushed by a wisp of straw or a wad of old cloth. Where *StfN Fig. 12. Manner of applying the burlap. PLATE XXXI. Putting on the burlap. BURLAPPIXG. 169 few are found, they may be cut in two by the knife and brushed off the tree. Care must be taken not to crush them with the bare hand, as their hairs when brought forcibly in contact with the skin sometimes cause an irritation much like that produced by nettles. The burlap band in no way prevents the caterpillars from ascending or descending the tree, neither does it entrap those which it shelters. But it was soon seen that most of the caterpillars which descended the tree remained under the burlap during the day, and that others which were restlessly roaming about on the ground often ascended the tree to the same shelter. Still others, fully grown and ready to pupate, retired to the cover of the burlap to undergo their last trans- formations, and the female moths emerging would often deposit their eggs upon or beneath it. The larvae seek the burlap in greatest numbers during very hot weather, when they usually come down the trees in the early morning hours, go under the burlap and remain there during the heat of the day. The greater number keep on the shady side of the tree, moving with the sun so as to avoid its direct rays. A few leave the burlap during the day, but most of them remain until evening. Observations made on a small apple tree showed that an average of sixty-six per cent, of the larvae on the tree gathered daily under the burlap. This habit is illustrated by Plate XXXII. The following quotation from the notes of Mr. W. L. Tower, one of the inspectors engaged in the gypsy-moth work, indicates that the antipathy the larger larvae have for sunlight is not uniformly shared by the younger or smaller individuals : — The small larvae on the tree were less restless and were disposed to remain longer in the sun than were the older ones. Some of the smaller ones would remain all day in the snn on the upper side of a branch, and in one or two cases when placed in a shady place on the tree returned to their first position in the sunshine. The burlap band to be effective must entirely encircle the trunk, and its edges must hang loosely. If under the influence of sun and rain it shrinks too closely to the tree, the larvae may not be able to crawl beneath it. This may be 170 THE GYPSY MOTH. obviated by cutting the burlap once or twice from its edges nearly to the twine on the side of the tree opposite the lapped ends. This will facilitate the entrance of the larva?, as they can easily push their way under the loose corners. If a large cord is used to bind the burlap to the tree, there will be more room left under the upper half of the burlap when it is turned down. When the larvae are very numerous, the burlap may be tacked on and pleats taken in it, to afford more room for the larvae to pass beneath. On large trees, where the trunk is of irregular conformation, tacks will be sometimes required to hold the burlap to the tree. To those familiar with the habits of the moth, other devices which might serve a similar purpose will occur. Old tin cans or wisps of hay or straw may be placed in the forks of branches or near the roots of trees or beneath hedges to attract the caterpillars, which may be then disposed of by fire. Old blankets hung on fences or walls near infested trees will collect great numbers of caterpillars. When caterpillars were found to be plentiful in shrub- bery, stakes with pieces of burlap attached were frequently driven into the ground in the midst of the bushes. This made an attractive shelter for the caterpillars, and many were assembled and destroyed. Burlap was often left in the forks of branches or thrown over rubbish or stone heaps in badly infested localities. If it was repeatedly examined, many caterpillars were found and destroyed. It was early noted that not all the caterpillars would come down from the larger trees, such as street elms, but that some of them would remain in the upper part of the tree. In such cases bur- laps were banded about the trunk or branches at a height of twenty or twenty-five feet from the ground. An examina- tion of these burlaps necessitated the use of a ladder, but the results often justified the time and labor expended. The only considerable expense required by the burlapping method is that of labor. To secure the best results the bands must be examined each day so long as any form of the moth can be found beneath them. Old cloth will answer the purpose equally as Avell as burlap. There are no valid objections which can be urged to the use of burlap. There seems to be no injury to the tree ■ PLATE XXXII. Section of burlap band raised, showing gypsy moth. caterpillars that had gathered beneath it on the trunk of an eim tree. BURLAPPING. 171 from its use, although if it is not visited often and watched carefully, other insects injurious to trees will use it as a hiding-place. In the fall the larvae of the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella, Linn.) will crawl under the burlap and gnaw away the bark while preparing a place to pupate ; but if the burlap is watched and all injurious insects found beneath it destroyed, its use will prove of great benefit to the tree. Should it be applied to very young fruit trees (which is seldom necessary, as a cloth thrown in a fork of the tree may be used in such cases), there may be some little danger that the cord, if large, will shrink too tightly and crease the bark of the growing tree. Though the use of the burlap for the destruction of the gypsy moth grew out of observation and experiment by the employees of the State Board of Agriculture, later research in the literature of economic entomology showed that similar devices had been used in the past for other insects. Dr. Harris, in his report on the injurious insects of Massa- chusetts (first published in 1841), writes as follows of the use of bands for attracting the larvae of the codling moth : — Mr. Burrelle says that if any old cloth is wound around or hung in the crotches of the trees the apple worms will conceal themselves therein ; and by these means thousands of them may be obtained and destroyed.* Kollar wrote of the use of the same method in Europe : — The following mode of destroying the insects injurious to fruit trees, communicated to me by M. Scheffer of Modling, is so simple and yet so efficacious that I cannot do better than to lay it before my readers. M. Scheffer lays loosely rolled-up pieces of old cloth or blotting-paper in the forks of his trees. The caterpillars eat during the night and while the dew is on the leaves in the morn- ing ; but they seek protection from the heat of the day, and creep into these rolls for that purpose. Thus it is only in the middle of the day that these rolls should be examined, and the caterpillars concealed in them destroyed. f * "A treatise on some of the insects injurious to vegetation," by T. W. Harris, M.D., page 487. See also " New England Farmer," first series, Vol. 18, page 398. t " Practical Entomologist," Vol. 1, page 83. 172 THE GYPSY MOTH. As Kollar resided in Austria, where the gypsy moth was sometimes injuriously abundant, it is probable that this crude means of assembling the caterpillars was used in destroying this species with others. A few people in Medford who had observed the habits of the gypsy moth had also used similar bandages with good effect prior to 1891. (See statements of James Bean, page 29, and S. F. Weston, page 30, of this report.) The burlap bands are used most successfully on trees that are well kept and in good condition, with sound and smooth trunks and branches. If the trees were originally in such condition or were first properly prepared for the work, the moths were eradicated from many localities by the burlap- ping method alone. When trees with decaying branches, hollow trunks and rough or loose bark became infested, the caterpillars often preferred the shelter offered by such cavities and inequalities to that provided by the burlap. Many of them would not come dow r n the tree to the burlap until the cavities were filled or covered, the dead branches cut away and the loose outer bark removed by scraping. It was necessary also to remove rubbish, weeds and brush from the ground about the trees. There are, therefore, four auxiliary processes (all beneficial to trees or grounds) which must be resorted to to ensure the greatest measure of success in the use of burlap. They are : judicious pruning or trimming of trees ; treating and filling cavities ; removing loose bark ; removing and de- stroying rubbish, undergrowth and weeds. Pruning Infested Trees. To any one who has critically examined any considerable number of orchard or w r ayside trees in this Commonwealth, the insertion here of an exhaustive treatise on the pruning and care of trees would seem of great utility. This, how- ever, is not the function of this volume. It is our purpose to consider here only : (1) the proper removal of dead, de- caying or broken branches, which, if allowed to remain, offer hiding-places for the gypsy moth and other injurious insects ; (2) the removal of clusters of small shoots or suckers, which, growing thickly on the trunks or larger branches, offer shel- PRUNING INFESTED TREES. 173 ter to the gypsy-moth caterpillars, which, by remaining in such hiding-places instead of going to the burlap, may escape destruction. At least seventy-five per cent, of the older orchards in the region infested by the gypsy moth have been either ruined or greatly injured by their owners' neglect or improper pruning or by both. Thousands of trees have been killed by having large limbs chopped or sawn oil' or other- wise mutilated in such a manner that the exposed and unpro- tected stubs have died and communicated decay to the hearts of the trees. This condition of so many trees, by furnishing numberless places of shelter for the moth, adds greatly to the labor of extermination. Dangers of Bad Pruning. — One of the most fruitful causes of hollows in trees in which the caterpillars may hide is the neglect of the simplest precautions in the amputation of large limbs. Wherever we go in the country, orchard trees may be seen with trunks disfigured by unsightly protu- berances and yawning cavities. Yet projecting dead stumps such as have assisted in bringing the trees to this condition are periodically left by the hand of the bungling pruner, who will continue in this course until he has completed the ruin already begun. Such trees are monuments to the ignorance or negligence of those who have had them in charge. Intelligent, capable men, careful of their other material interests, continue year after year to " butcher" their trees in this outrageous manner, as their fathers did before them, even though the results of such work are constantly before their eyes. The growth of many orchard trees has been badly directed. They have been pruned "up into the air," so that their long, tall, slender limbs have been unable to withstand the fury of the gale or support the loads of ice which form on them during winter storms. Weakened as such trees are by decay, the action of the wind has sent their greatest branches crash- ing down in ruin. The ice storm of Nov. 5, 1894, which visited the eastern part of this Commonwealth, destroyed hundreds of apple trees by breaking down most of their large branches ; yet we have not seen a sound, vigorous, well-nourished and properly pruned tree that was materially injured by that storm. Neither was it always the older trees which succumbed, for some of the oldest, having had good 174 THE GYPSY MOTH. care and therefore not being weakened by the almost univer- sal decay, upheld their loads, survived the storm's fury and were not seriously injured. It is far better never to prune at all than to prune in an unscientific manner. Native forest and fruit trees never pruned by the hand of man grow to maturity in better con- dition than those in many orchards. In the forest, trees are pruned by nature. As they grow upward, the dense shade formed by their tops kills the lower branches by de- priving them of the sunlight. These branches decaying drop off or are torn away by the wind. Little or no damage to the resinous coniferous trees results from this process. As the branches usually break off close to the trunk, and the wood is so filled with resin as to exclude water and parasitic fungi, the wounds heal readily and the trunk remains per- fect. More injury is likely to follow to deciduous trees from this operation, especially when the branches are large, yet wounds caused by broken branches are often healed. The breaking is most likely to take place during the winter storms, when there is less danger of injury to the trunk and bark. Yet serious injury is often done and the weaker trees are frequently killed or their shape is ruined by this process of natural pruning. Such pruning as is required for the pur- poses of the gypsy-moth work will assist in forming healthy growth rather than retard it. That many apple trees are in ruins before they are fifty years old is almost entirely due to neglect or the ruinous policy pursued in their handling. Such trees well cared for might continue to bear fruitfully for a century.* A knowledge of vegetable physiology and the practical applica- tion to tree culture of its laws is greatly needed by those who have the care of trees. A knowledge of the causes of diseases of trees and the means of their prevention is also essential to the farmer, orchardist and forester. It is the function of roots to fix the plant in the soil and to absorb from it water and the soluble organic and inorganic crude material which is needed for growth and development. It is now believed by botanists that this fluid, which we will * Apple trees in an orchard planted in Medford by Gov. John Brooks soon after the Revolutionary War have borne fruit within a few years. BAD PRUNING. 175 call crude sap, charged with material for the upbuilding of the tree, is absorbed from the soil by the roots and is forced upward, flowing through the trunk and branches to the leaves, where it is elaborated by the evaporation of water and the absorption of carbonic acid gas from the air. It then finds its way throughout the whole tree, even to the roots, passing through the soft bast cells of the inner bark just outside the cambium layer, forming, as it goes, the new wood and bark. It may be stated as a general rule that there can be no perfect circulation of the sap and no long-continued growth of new wood or bark on any branch or stump which supports no leaves. It would appear, then, that roots, trunk and branches have no inherent power of themselves to continue growth and extension, but must depend upon the action of the leaves to furnish that elaborated nutriment without which their continued growth and development is impossible.* If the new wood is formed by the sap in its descent from the leaves, it evidently follows that if the projecting stump of an amputated branch is left without leaves so placed as to draw the sap to its farthest ex- tremity, there to be elaborated and returned, it must die.f Effect of Bad Pruning. — The cut, Fig. 13, represents a stump left on a street tree by the workmen employed in pruning trees under the direction of the city forester of one of our Massachusetts cities. Around h, , i . , . -, Fig. 1.3. Stump of a an unprotected stump the rain and branch left by bad other atmospheric influences soon begin the p iudid s- work of decay between the bark and the wood. The cam- bium layer, lacking circulation, dries up; insects enter; * It is well known that the roots will for a time perform their functions without the assistance of the leaves, and that growth of different parts of the tree occurs at a time when there are no leaves upon it. But this growth is made by the absorption of water by the roots and by the use of reserve material. If a tree is continually deprived of its leaves until its reserve material is exhausted, it will die. t It is well known that there are some exceptions to this rule. Certain vigorous trees will push out shoots from latent buds near the end of the amputated branch, and leaves are formed, which by their functions enable the tree to cover the wound. Willow trunks and branches deprived of their leaves and left upon the ground have thrown out foliage and roots and grown into vigorous trees. 176 THE GYPSY MOTH. the bark becomes loosened, warping away from the wood and finally falling oft*. This condition, so familiar to ob- serving people, may be seen by reference to Fig. 14, which represents an extreme case. Nevertheless, in pruning, such stumps are commonly (we might say usually) left, not only by farmers and orchardists, but also by the em- ployees of city street departments and park commissions and even by the workmen employed in public forest reservations. The stump left exposed to sun, rain and the action of the frost cracks. Water enters and deca}^ sets in which gradually extends through the wood cells down into the trunk. Therefore each stump left pro- jecting eventually produces decay in that part of the tree with which it connects. fig. 14. The stump dies Fig. 15 shows a short section of the trunk back, injuring the trunk. „ -. . , . < , ot a tree on which such a stump has been left. The stump shown at the right indicates the remark- able effort made on the part of the tree to cover the wound ; yet in the course of years the wood has been eaten away by rot and the wound has never healed. Decay has entered the heart of the tree and is fast de- stroying it. Had the branch been cut even with the surface of the trunk and the wound properly treated, it might have been covered with new growth of wood, and decay might have been pre- vented. Wounds on vigorous trees caused by ainedbythe removal of small branches in this bad pruning. manner sometimes heal over because of the small size of the branches and the comparative short- ness of the stumps. But as the stump often decays be- fore the wound heals, injury to the tree results, and in any case an awkward protuberance is formed on the trunk. From such misshapen parts shoots or suckers usu- ally spring. Another section of a trunk is here shown. METHOD OF PRUNING. 177 Fig. 16. Excrescence caused by bad pruning. (Fig. 16.) The wound has nearly healed, yet decay has set in and an unsightly excrescence has been formed on the trunk of the tree in the effort of healing. If the wound is well covered by the new growth of wood before injury has been done by the rot, the progress of decay is stopped. In order to heal readily, a wound caused by the removal of a branch should be so made that the sap on its way to the roots may come in contact with the entire edge of the wound without deviating from a direct course. The Procter Method. — Evidently, then, no portion of the amputated branch should be left, but the cut should be made close to and perfectly even with the outline of the trunk or limb from which the branch is removed, without regard to the size of the wound thus made. When this is done, the elaborated sap flows over the wound from the edoes, forming callus first at the top and sides, and gradually covers it with healthy, straight-grained wood. The wound is thus healed over and the decay of the trunk is pre- vented. This healing is gradual and may require years for accomplishment, especially if the limb removed is large and the tree old and not vigorous. The annual wood-rinjj: being thickest on a young tree, wounds made on such a tree will heal more quickly than on an old tree. Wounds made near the top of a growing tree heal more readily than those near the base, for the reason that the annual wood-ring is thickest at the top. If the wound is left exposed to the sun and wind during the time required for healing, its surface invites decay. To prevent this we must protect the wound at once by applying shellac or coal tar to its entire surface. The use of grafting wax or other thick coatings for such a purpose is not recommended, as they are likely to be cracked or pushed off" by the growth of the new bark and thus leave the wood comparatively unprotected. A solution of shellac and alcohol, such as is commonly used by painters, is an ex- cellent wood preservative, as it closes the wound, prevents 178 THE GYPSY MOTH. the exudation of crude sap, commonly called "bleeding," and is not open to the objection which applies to grafting wax. Paint is often used. Thick mineral paint mixed with linseed oil has given satisfactory results at the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College at Amherst, and is recommended by Prof. S. T. Maynard. Coal tar has been long used in Europe as the best substance known for this purpose. It needs no preparation aside from an occasional warming in cold weather, and may be readily applied with a painter's brush. This substance will not injure the wood, but, on the con- trary, is one of the most perfect wood preservatives known. If pruning is done with discretion at the right season, the trunk being not already decayed, and if the tar is applied at once on the removal of the branch, the wood will remain sound, and, except in the case of very old and feeble trees, the new growth will in time cover the wound. Decay may be prevented or delayed even in old trees by such treatment. Coal tar should be used with some caution on cherry and plum trees, as it may injure the tree if applied to the bark. Wounds on the maple and elm, which often "bleed," may need more than one application of coal tar to stop the "bleeding." In such cases the first coat of tar should be well rubbed off before the second application. The two most essential rules in regard to removing limbs are followed in the pruning done in the gypsy-moth work. Although known and practised in this country at the begin- ning of the present century, they have been ignored by most American writers on tree pruning. Yet Wm. Coxe of Burlington, N. J., wrote in 1817 : — In cutting off a branch, it should be done as close as possible, never leaving a stump, for the bark cannot grow over it, and disease in the wood will inevitably follow. If the wound produced by the separation be very large, cover it with tar or thick paint.* The principles of pruning were ably set forth in 1861 by De Courval, as practised with perfect success for more than forty years in the forest of his vast estate of Pinon (Aisne), * Coxe on " Fruit Trees," 1817, page 41. RULES FOR PRUNING. 179 France. Later in 18fi4 the Baron Des Cars published an able treatise, describing a thorough, practical system of forest-tree pruning, based on the principles laid down by De Courval. The American edition of this work (trans- lated from the seventh French edition) with an introduc- tion by Dr. Chas. S. Sargent, professor of arboriculture in Harvard University, is the most comprehensive work on this subject that has ever appeared in the English language.* The publication of the American edition of this work was made possible by the trustees of the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, an old and honored asso- ciation, which has done much for the improvement of agri- culture in this Commonwealth. The book should be in the hands of every person who has the care of trees. Season for Pruning. — Writers on horticulture differ as to the best season for pruning. Each urges the advantages of pruning at certain seasons to increase wood growth or the development of fruit. Objections are frequently made to pruning in the winter, on account of real or supposed danger to the tree from exposing large wounds to the extreme cold. Similar objections are sometimes urged to pruning in the early spring and late fall, when the newly cut surfaces are exposed to the influence of sudden and severe frosts. It is frequently said by orchardists that if a tree is pruned in the spring, when the sap is flowing copiously, and the crude sap is allowed to flow down from the wound, it will poison the bark below and produce decay of the trunk of the tree. Such examinations as we have been able to make of the results of spring pruning indicate that the injury is due to entirely different causes, viz., the crushing of the bark and consequent killing of the cambium layer at the base of the wound or the separation of the bark from the trunk. Such injuries are likely to occur unless great care is used in prun- ing. The danger of a separation of the bark from the trunk below the wound and the consequent running of the crude sap into the cavity thus formed is always greatest during the * " A treatise on pruning forest and ornamental trees," by A. Des Cars, translated from the seventh French edition, with an introduction by Dr. Chas. S. Sargent. Boston, 1884. 180 THE GYPSY MOTH. time of the year when the bark peels most readily. In ex- planation of this, we cannot do better than to quote Prof. R. Hartig of the University of Munich, whose pathological work is a model of thoroughness and scientific accuracy : — At the time when the cambium is active, it is quite impossible to prevent the cortex being loosened, the friction of the saw being sufficient to account for it. Bnt the main cause is to be traced to the fact that, in order to prevent the cortex being torn off, a cut is first of all made underneath, and during the sinking of the branch the lower edge of the wound is subjected to severe pressure. The cortex of the lower edge of the wound forms a pivot round which the sinking branch turns, and, although the effects may not be immediately visible, still, the crushing and tearing at that point kills the cambium for an inch or two from the edge of the wound. Of course in such a case the new growth — namely, the callus — is not formed at the edge of the wound, but at a considerable dis- tance from it, where it is covered by the cortex. The result is that the cortex, which was originally in intimate contact with the wood, becomes detached, so that a cavity is formed beneath the wound between the wood and the dead tissues. This cavity acts like a gutter to catch the rain-water that flows over the surface of the wound, as well as all the organisms that it may contain. This forms a specially suitable place for the germination of the spores or parasitic fungi, and it is from here that water containing the soluble products of decomposition finds its way by means of the medullary rays into the interior of the wood. This cavity is a gutter in every sense of the term, and at the same time the point of attack for fungi. Even although the surface of the wound may have been coated with tar immediately after pruning, this spot remains unprotected, and indeed it is only formed after the cortex has been separated from the Avood by the advancing callus. It is in fact the Achilles' heel of the branch wound. In pruning, the main object must be to prevent its formation ; but this is possible only if pruning be confined to autumn and winter, when growth is at a stand-still, and' when the cortex is less liable to be detached from the wood. If one also takes the precaution to support the branch during sawing, and at the moment of separation to push it clear of the wound, danger is reduced to the minimum.* * " The Diseases of Trees," by Trof. R. Hartig, pages 255-257. English edition by Dr. H. Marshall Ward, London, 1894. SEASON FOR PRUNING. 181 An examination of injurious results of spring and summer pruning indicates that the injury sometimes extends down- ward and serious harm is done. There is a danger from the running of sap which occurs when pruning is done in spring or summer, aside from any possible harm resulting from the drain on the vitality of the tree. Warmth and dampness are particularly favorable for the germination of parasitic fungi and the progress of decay. Though decay may occur without the presence of these organisms, its progress is more rapid when they are pres- ent. Therefore, wounds which are constantly kept wet in warm weather by the flow of crude sap are most likely to decay. There are reasons also why pruning in summer is likely to be weakening to the tree : — If the term, winter pruning, is given to any removal of shoots during the resting period of a woody plant, we may say generally that winter pruning is strengthening, while summer pruning is- weakening. ' If any portion of the shoot system is taken away after it has passed through one summer, the structure and activity of the root system — that is, its power of absorption and of forcing up water — is such that it can nourish all the branches. At the beginning of the next period of activity, by cutting away some branches the water-consuming area is diminished. The same amount of pressure has therefore a reduced field of action, and consequently the effect on the remaining branches must be increased. By pruning in the summer we remove soft shoots with only recently developed leaves. The latter have yet their chief work to perform ; for at the commencement they are developed at the cost of the reserve material which is stored up in the branch, then comes a period at which the young leaf requires all the substance it assimilates from without for its own growth, and only after its full development does it begin to work for the benefit of the branch. If, therefore, a soft shoot is taken away, the older portions of the branch are robbed of the materials which were used in the unfolding of the leaves, without receiving anything in return from the leaves they have developed. This causes, there- fore, a loss to the general economy of the plant ; but, with the 182 THE GYPSY MOTH. increased productiveness of our cultivated plants, such a slight weakening may be overlooked, if any other special advantage is gained.* Tarring the wounds gives the most satisfactory result when pruning is done late in the autumn or in winter, for it is then that the tar is best absorbed by the surface of the wound. When branches are cut off in spring or summer, the tar fails to penetrate the surface of the wound because of the flowing sap, and its thin superficial layer does not prevent the cut from drying later. In drying, cracks are formed, into which water and the spores of fungi may gain entrance. For this reason it is often necessary to apply two or more coats of tar to the wound. Having considered some of the objections to removing limbs in summer, it is plain that the late winter is the most favorable time for such pruning as is here advocated. There is then less exposure to extreme cold to be considered. It is known that certain trees have a considerable flow of sap in winter. It is said that the Indians were accustomed to draw the sap from the sugar maples in November, when good sap days frequently occur, f It may be better to prune such trees in the spring or summer. The results of pruning native deciduous and coniferous trees at different seasons of the year have never been fully observed with scientific accuracy, and there is much to be learned. Removal of Dead or Broken Branches. — Dead branches may be removed at any time of the year, if proper precau- tions are taken to avoid injuring the bark or trunk of the tree in the operation. If these branches are left upon the tree until they decay and drop off or are torn away by the winds, the bark loosens and forms a harboring place for the gypsy moth and certain other insects, which hide beneath it and oviposit there. Their eggs being out of sight, they hibernate in comparative safety until the following spring, when the larvre hatch and attack the foliage, thus weakening the tree. If dead branches are not removed, they are some- * "A popular treatise on the physiology of plants," by Dr. Paul Sorauer. English edition by Prof. F. E. Weiss, pages 137, 138. t "The Circulation of Sap in Plants," by W. S. Clark. Annual Report of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, 1873-74, page 162. REMOVING DEAD BRANCHES. 183 Fig. 17. Decaying branch left on the trunk of tree. times broken off by the wind, leaving a long stump project- in g from the tree. The ragged surface of the break oilers perfect conditions for the beginning of decay, and the seams of the stump communicate it rapidly to the trunk. Fig. 17 shows a section of a tree trunk bearing the broken stump of a dead branch. The tree, being vigorous, has pushed forward callus on the branch and partially covered it with new wood and bark. This attempt at healing might have been successful had the branch been broken close to the tree ; but in this case the effort of the tree to heal the wound was of no avail. The neglect to remove these dead branches is often indirectly the cause of cavities in tree trunks. When living branches are broken by the wind, heavy loads of fruit or other causes, the stumps should be removed. Such ragged and broken snags offer points of attachment for parasitic fungi ; and if the break occurs in summer, when the sap is flowing, the conditions are particularly favorable for the propagation of these fungi, and the extension of wound rot. The decay of a tree trunk resulting from improper pruning and the neglect to remove broken branches is shown in Fig. 18. Such rotting away of the wood of the tree as is shown here will not occur immediately, but is the result which will inevitably, in the course of years, follow such a policy. If pruning is begun on the young fruit tree by nipping off buds and directing shoots so as to form a symmetrical head, and is carried on with good judgment as the tree grows, there will be no need of the ampu- tation of large limbs, except such as are broken by accident or die from other causes. Amputations of the large lower branches of shade trees are often necessary in pruning for beauty and utility. In orchards bad pruning often neces- sitates later the removal of large, decaying hollow limbs, lest Fig. 18. Sectional view of a trunk, showing the result of neglect and had pruning. 184 THE GYPSY MOTH. they break down and split off a portion of the trunk, which in such case is frequently hollow. The removal of such limbs in time may prevent injury to the trunk. These am- putations when necessary are merely a question of surgery ; and if they are performed at the right season and in the proper manner, and the wound is properly treated, there is little danger of injury to an otherwise sound tree. Where injury to such a tree results from the process, it is usually from ignorance of correct methods or carelessness in their use. Still, it is well to bear in mind that when a surgical operation is to be performed, the result depends not only on the skill of the operator but also on the age and vigor of the subject. The death of old decaying trees is sometimes hastened by the amputation of large and hollow branches. The shock caused by the removal of several large branches, together with the reduction of leaf surface, which makes it difficult for the tree to heal the wounds, will often kill such trees.* The proper method for treating the cavities of such trees will be spoken of later. Removing Large Limbs. — In this process great caution must be exercised : (1) not to injure the tree by the unneces- sary removal of too many large branches in one season ; (2) to avoid injury of the tree by the breaking down or falling of the branch; (3) to guard against accidents to work- men. The old rule for removing large branches was to cut the stump across its diameter near its base, never mak- ino- a cut larger than the diameter of the branch. This practice has already been shown to be pernicious, as the tree has great difficulty in covering the lower part of the wound with a new growth of bark. Where a large limb is removed in this manner, the lower part of the stump never becomes entirely covered, and finally decays. In saw- ing off a branch the first cut should never be made from above, as the limb is likely to split and tear away from the trunk. The result of such an accident as is shown in * If an old tree with sound trunk whose branches appear to be dying is "headed down " by the removal of most or all of its large branches, it may revive, throw out shoots and form a smaller and more vigorous head. REMOVING LARGE LIMBS. 185 ;. 19. Limb breaking down from cut wrongly made. Fig. 19 may prove very serious to a tree. "Whenever it is necessary to amputate a large or long branch, a cut should he made from the under side of the branch, at a distance of two or three feet from the trunk, and should extend half way through its diameter, as in Fig. 20, line A ; another cut, B, should then be made farther out, extending down into the branch until it falls. The first cut will prevent the limb from breaking fi and splitting oil* and the bark from tear ing down on the tree. The stump may then be removed close to the trunk on the line C, cutting first from below, and supporting the stump so that crushing or tearing of the bark may again be avoided. This method will prevent injury to the tree and guard against serious accidents which sometimes occur when the limb is first cut too close to the tree. In such cases the outer end of the branch striking the ground has sometimes caused the inner The proper method end to rebound and strike or throw down the workman. Whatever method is em- ployed, the wound should be made perfectly smooth and even with the outline of the trunk by cutting or planing its sur- face, which should then be immediately covered with coal tar.* On fruit trees, however, it is well never to remove a large excrescence or shoulder (such as is sometimes formed at the base of a limb) if the wood is sound, but to cut the limb at its junction with the shoulder. Large wounds are often made in the tree trunk by the teeth of horses, the breaking down of large limbs or in other accidental ways. When such an acci- dent occurs as is shown in Fig. 21, it should receive imme- Fig. 20 of removing a large limb Fig. 21. A trunk injured by the breaking of a large limb. * If the roughened surface left by a saw-cut is smoothed, it lessens the danger of decay ; and if the edges of the wound are trimmed down to the outline of the tree, the wound is more readily covered by the occluding callus. 186 THE GYPSY MOTH. diate attention. It is necessary to cut away the stump which is left and to remove as much of the wood as will be required to make an even surface ; also to cut away all the bark which has been loosened below the wound. Otherwise such a wound will in time present an appearance similar to that shown in Fig. 22, and the injury may continue to extend. If such wounds are not immediately treated and covered with coal tar, their inner surface often becomes decayed, threatening the life of the tree. If the decayed wood is carefully cut away and the exposed surface thoroughly covered with coal tar, the tree will remain healthy. Though the new wood and bark may never entirely cover the wound, there will be no further decay. A cavity treated in the manner above de- 23. Decay has been stopped, and the new bark and wood have entirely covered the edo-es of the wound, leaving the tree in a healthy condi- tion. The directions given by Des Cars for the use of coal tar on trees are so ad- mirably stated that we give an extract from them : — Fig. 22. A cavity caused by the tearing away of a large limb, scribed IS SllOWn in _b lg Fig. 23. A cavity properly Coal tar has remarkable preservative prop- erties, and may be used with equal advantage ou living and dead wood. A single application without penetrating deeper than oi'diuary paint treated; decay arrested forms an impervious eoating to the wood cells, which would without such covering, under ex- ternal influences, soon become channels of decay. This simple application, then, produces a sort of instantaneous cauterization, and preserves from decay wounds caused either in pruning or by accident. The odor of coal tar drives away insects, or prevents them, by complete adherence to the wood, from injuring it. After long and expensive experiments the director of the parks of the city of Paris finally, in 1863, adopted coal tar in preference to other preparations used for covering tree wounds, as may be seen in all the principal streets of the capital. . . . One coat of coal tar is sufficient for wounds of ordinary size ; but when they are exceptionally large, a second coat may after a few years be well applied. In warm countries, like the south TREATING HOLLOW TREES. 187 of France, the great heat of summer renders coal tar so liquid that it is impossible to properly treat wounds made at that season. In such cases another coat should be applied during the following winter.* Removing Shoots and Suckers. — Many street trees, espe- cially elms, which have suffered from the effects of bad pruning, send forth shoots or suckers from many points of the trunk. These shoots are believed to be detrimental rather than beneficial to the tree, impairing the development of its top and larger branches. So long as suckers are allowed to remain, many of the gypsy-moth caterpillars will seek shelter among them during the day in preference to going to the burlap. If suckers are carefully removed, no injury to the tree will result. Treating Hollow Trees. — When the trunks and larger limbs of trees are riddled with holes caused by neglect or bad pruning, another mode of treatment becomes necessary. Thousands of gypsy caterpillars which feed upon the foliage at night will retire through the holes to the interior of the hollow trunks and branches, where they secrete them- selves during the day, emerging at night to continue their destructive work under cover of the darkness. The clos- ing of such cavities by filling, covering or sealing them is an important auxiliary to the other means of extermination. It prevents the caterpillars from hiding and the moths from ovipositing within the hollow trunks and branches, and drives them to the burlap for shelter. If the holes are carefully covered in the winter, many eggs are en- closed within. "When they hatch in the spring, the young caterpillars are prevented from leaving their hiding-places and are thus buried alive, as it were, in the tree trunks. This work must be very thoroughly done to prevent the escape of the minute, newly hatched caterpillars. During the work of the first gypsy moth commission many holes were filled with hydraulic cement. If the hole was large, it was packed with stones and a coating of cement put on the face of this filling at the mouth of the hole. If the hole treated was in a large and otherwise sound trunk, * " Tree Pruning," by A. Des Cars, pages 58 and 59. 188 THE GYPSY MOTH. Fig. 24. • Cenieuied cavity. the cement, provided it was properly mixed and applied, remained intact for years. Small holes surrounded by sound wood were also tilled to advantage in this manner. The cement may be held effectively if laid on a strong iron wire netting nailed across and just within the mouth of the hole. Whenever cement is used on growing trees, it should be faced up within the growth of new bark and wood, so that the latter may grow over and hold it tightly. (See Fig. 24.) When the callus has already formed on the edge of the cavity, it should be cut away. This cutting w T ill stimulate new growth, and if the cement is properly faced up within the mouth of the cavity, the callus will eventually cover it. If the hole is so filled that the cement laps over the edge upon the bark, it is likely to prove worse than useless, as the growing bark beneath the cement will throw it oft* from the tree, leaving a space as a hiding-place for the caterpillars. Hard cement must be carefully applied by an experienced man, otherwise it is likely to prove w-orthless, and by crumbling and cracking leave the cavity in a worse condition than before. This cement cannot be used during the colder months of the year, as the action of the frost may cause it to crack. Neither can it be used effectively to stop cracks or cavities, the sides of which may be moved independently of each other by the action of the wind on the branches. Experi- ments in closing such cavities with plaster of Paris, mineral wool, Purcell's elastic cement, Webster's elastic cement, Portland cement and Poslindale cement were made in the winter of 1891-92. None of these materials gave satisfactory results. Tarred burlap or canvas has been used for this purpose with some success. If three thicknesses of bur- lap are closely and strongly tacked over the opening to a hollow in a tree trunk and after- fig.,25. Bur. ward thoroughly soaked with coal tar (Fig. lapped cavity. ^.^x.i • «n • • . . i • 25) the covering will remain intact and imper- vious to the weather for several vears. Oiled cloth w r ill also PLATE XXXIII. Pruning and scraping trees. COVERING HOLES IN TREES. 189 answer the same purpose. These fabrics are not materially affected by the movements of the tree, and if well tarred are not often bored through by insects, as the tar is repugnant to them. In many cases such cavities as are exposed by the sawing off of large hollow stumps of broken branches may be covered to advantage with tin or zinc, which must be tacked closely over the cavity and afterwards painted or tarred. (See Fig. 26. ) If these coverings are applied in the win- ter, it may be necessary to use in connection with them some such substance as the insect lime, in order to prevent the escape of the young cater- pillars in the spring. This substance may be smeared around the edge of the tin or burlap in such a manner as to close every crevice commu- nicating with the cavity. It has also been used FlG . 26 . to stop small holes in trees, and will answer the Tinned cavity> purpose temporarily, but it must be occasionally smoothed over, as it shrinks and cracks in a short time. Scraping Trees and Removing Loosened Bark. Scraping the loose outer bark from old trees facilitates the discovery of the eggs, larvae and pupa? of the gypsy moth. Such scraping leaves the surface of the trunk and larger branches in a comparatively smooth condition, and deprives the caterpillars of their places of refuge, causing them to crawl down and seek shelter under the burlaps. If in dealing with fruit trees the loose bark only is scraped off and burned, the main object is accomplished. Such scrap- ing benefits orchard trees by the removal of mosses and lichens and the eggs and hibernating forms of injurious insects. An implement modelled after the scuffle hoe is useful for this work. (Fig. 27. ) Its blade being double-edged, it may be used with both the upward and downward motion, and by means of a long handle the trunk and branches of the fruit trees may be reached to a height of from twelve to eighteen feet from the ground. The ordinary "three-cornered" scraper is also much used. It is believed that this loose outer bark forms a protection to the tree from the cold of 190 THE GYPSY MOTH. winter. Objections to its removal based on this belief are obviated by scraping in the spring before the opening of the leaves, when the tree no longer needs protection against the cold. If the loose bark of apple trees is scraped off about April 15 and caught upon cloths spread beneath the trees and the scrapings afterward burned, many injurious insects are likely to be destroyed. Fig. 27. Long handled Bcraper. Fig. 28. Bark shave. If we go further, and without cutting too deeply remove some of the outer bark, double benefit to the tree ensues.* Its growth is stimulated, a great flow of crude sap occurs, a luxuriant growth of foliage is thrown out and an unusual supply of elaborated sap for the upbuilding of the tree is returned from the foliage and flows into the liber or inner lining of the bark, killing or driving away the bark borers (scolytidce) . These beetles are among the most dangerous enemies of trees. For bark cutting a shave (Fig. 28) in- vented by Mr. G. W. McKee, one of the special inspectors employed by the Board, has been found very effective. Dr. Packard says that perhaps the best method of pre- venting or stopping the work of bark beetles is that of a * Elms which have had the outer bark removed in this manner in November have developed an unusually vigorous growth of dark green foliage in the ensuing sum- mer. Trees treated in this manner have shown great vigor also in healing wounds on their trunks. SCRAPING TREES. 191 Frenchman, M. Robert, as described in the " Gardener's Chronicle " and referred to by Miss Ormerod. He gives the quotation from Miss Ormerod as follows : — The best remedy appears to be that adopted with great success in France by M. Robert, after careful observation of the circa in- stances which stopped the operations of the female beetle when gnawing her gallery for egg laying, or which disagreed with or destroyed the maggots, and is based in part on similar observa- tions of the effect of flow of sap to those noticed in England by Dr. Chapman. It appeared on examination that the grubs died if they wei'e not well protected from the drying actiou of the air ; on the other hand, if there was a very large amount of sap in the vegetable tissues that they fed on, this also killed them ; and it was observed that when the female was boring through the bark if a flow of sap took place she abandoned the spot and went elsewhere. It was also noticed that the attack (that is, the boring of the galleries which separates much of the bark from the wood) is usually under thick old bark, such as that of old elm trunks, rather than under the thinner bark of the branches. Working on these observations, M. Robert had strips of about two inches wide cut out of the bark from the large boughs down the trunk to the ground, and it was found that where the young bark pressed forward to heal the wound and a vigorous flow of sap took place many of the maggots near it were killed, the bark which had not been entirely under- mined was consolidated and the health of the tree was improved. Working on from this, M. Robert tried the more extended treatment of paring off the outer bark, a practice much used in Normandy and sometimes in England for restoring vigor of growth to bark-bound apple trees, and noted by Andrew Knight as giving a great stimulus to vegetation. M. Robert had the whole of the rough outer bark removed from the elm (this may be done con- veniently by a scraping knife shaped like a spoke shave). This operation caused a great flow of sap in the inner lining of the bark (the liber), and the grubs of the Scolytus beetle were found in almost all cases to perish shortly after. Whether this occurred from the altered sap disagreeing with them, or from the greater amount of moisture around them, or from the maggots being more exposed to atmospheric changes, or any other cause, was not ascertained, but the trees that were experimented on were cleared of the maggots. The treatment was applied on a large scale, and the barked trees were found, after examination by the commis- sioners of the institute at two different periods, to be in more 192 THE GYPSY MOTH. vigorous health than the neighboring ones of which the bark was untouched. More than two thousand elms were thus treated. This account is abridged from the leading article in the " Gar. dener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette" for April 29, 1848, and the method is well worth trying in our public and private parks. It is not expensive ; the principle on which it acts as regards vegetable growth is a well-known one, and as regards insect health it is also well known that a sudden flow of the sap that they feed on, or a sudden increase of moisture around them, is very productive of unhealthfulness or of fatal diarrhoea to vegetable-feeding grubs. A somewhat similar process was tried by the Botanic Society, in 1842, on trees infested by the Scolytus destructor in the belt of elms encircling their garden in the Regents' Park, London. " It consists in divesting the tree of its rough outer bark, being careful at the infested parts to go deep enough to destroy the young larvae, and dressing with the usual mixture of lime and cow dung." This operation was found very successful, and details with illustrations were given in a paper read in 1848 before the Botanic Society.* No injury to trees which have been scraped in the course of the work on the gypsy moth has been observed, although this practice has been continued for three years and more than nine thousand trees have been scraped. Apple trees and elm trees treated in this way have shown an immediate increase of foliage area and growth, presenting a marked contrast to trees near by which have been left untreated. Whether a re- action will set in in future years remains to be seen. As yet no serious reactionary effect has been noted. Trees which have been scraped have exhibited remarkable vigor in healing wounds. In the gypsy-moth work large elms are frequently met with which cannot be cleared of the moth without shav- ing off their outer bark. This bark often overgrows small cavities in the trunk in such a manner that hiding-places for the moth are formed which it is impossible to discover until the rougher portion of the outer bark has been removed. While that is being done, it is not difficult to expose these hiding-places and to destroy any form of the moth found within. * Fifth report of the United States Entomological Commission, 1886-90, pages 31, 32. BURNING RUBBISH HEAPS. 193 The Destruction of Rubbish. The gypsy moth, like many other insects, shows a liking for a rubbish pile. Brush heaps, old stone walls and fences overgrown with bushes and vines, dumping grounds, old piles of lumber, tin cans, rags, paper and other de'bris all furnish many hiding-places for the caterpillars, retreats for pupating and places where the moth can deposit its eggs. It is remarkable how many absolutely filthy rubbish heaps accumulate in the back yards of some tenement-houses. These deposits of rubbish are especially noticeable in certain districts of the larger towns and smaller cities. Not only are all sorts of waste material from all parts of the house from cellar to garret thrown into the back yard, but refuse from the kitchen is also frequently deposited there, together with a collection of empty but unclean cans, such as are orig- inally used for " canned goods." Old shoes, broken bottles and earthen ware, cast-off articles of apparel, corn husks and the withered tops of vegetables in all stages of decay, bones, fish heads, lobster and oyster shells are also common con- stituents of these rubbish piles. Such heaps of rubbish, often overgrown with weeds and bushes, would form an in- structive spectacle for local boards of health.* Even the grounds of the wealthy are not always exempt from accumu- lations of rubbish, which may be found occasionally about the corners of back fences or in the rear of stables. Amid such associations the gypsy moth delights to dwell. In the many places of shelter offered by such rubbish heaps the larvae can safely hide during the day, sallying forth at dusk to destroy the foliage in the vicinity. One of the first steps, then, toward exterminating the gypsy moth from any locality is to clear up the ground; burn rubbish, old lumber, wood, brush, rags and dead leaves ; bury or melt up old tin cans ; tear down or remove stone walls and old fences ; and leave the premises as clean as pos- sible. Cremation is a cleansing process ; bonfires mark the progress of civilization. Such work will not only aid in * There has been much improvement in respect to the accumulation of rubbish in yards in our cities and large towns since the slight cholera scare of 1893. 194 THE GYPSY MOTH. disposing of the moth but will remove harboring places for other insects and render the locality more healthful and wholesome. The agents of the Board of Agriculture have found it necessary to remove, burn or bury many of these accumulations of debris in order to secure the destruction of the moth. Destroying Pupae and Mollis. As the eggs of the gypsy moth hatch in the months of April, May and June, the larvse feed in the latter part of April and during the months of May, June, July and August. In July and August all forms of the moth may be found together in the same locality. Pupa? and moths are found upon the same trees, under the same burlaps and in the same rubbish heaps with the larvse ; therefore no special measures are taken to destroy these forms of the insect. They are searched for in all the hiding-places which shelter caterpillars, and are destroyed by the same means. The white female imagoes are especially noticeable when resting on the bark of trees. They may be found in July and August, and, as they do not fly, they may be readily captured. A Summary of the Methods most Useful to the Farmer. Unless sufficient appropriations are made to exterminate the gypsy moth or to hold it in check where it now is, its rapid increase and spread over this and other States will probably follow. In case of the permanent cessation of public exterminative or preventive work, the labor of hold- ing the gypsy moth in check or of repressing its destruc- tive outbreaks will devolve upon the citizen and especially upon the farmer. In considering the methods most useful to the farmer for the destruction of the gypsy moth, it is well to inquire, first, what class of farming crops are most liable to injury by the pest. As the gypsy moth feeds by preference on trees, shrubs and foliaceous plants, those farmers who devote themselves entirely to dairying or grain raising will be likely to suffer least. Market-gardeners have less to fear from the gypsy METHODS FOR THE FARMER. 195 moth than the general farmer or fruit grower. The well-to- do market-gardener who raises little or no fruit has few trees on his land to care for ; his methods of cultivation are inten- sive, and he is obliged to employ a number of field hands in his business. He is therefore better able to protect his crops against the attacks of an insect like the gypsy moth than is the general farmer or the small farmer who has to depend largely on his own labor. There would be less danger to the interests of the agriculturist in thickly settled districts where market-gardening is carried on than in thinly settled sections where farms are larger and less highly culti- vated, where much wood is grown and where there are many orchards. In such regions the waste and wooded land, where the moth might breed and where little could be done by the owners to check it, greatly exceed in area the cultivated land, where its ravages would do the greatest injury. In considering, then, the means most useful to the farmer for controlling or exterminating the moth, we must choose those most readily available to the general farmer of moder- ate means. Burning the eggs or killing them by means of creosote or other oils are the methods which can be used most effectually by most farmers. The work can be done during the late fall, winter and early spring, —a time of the year when most farmers are not overburdened with the labors and cares incidental to planting and harvesting. If this is thoroughly done in an orchard, there need be no fear of the fruit crop being destroyed in the ensuing summer by the gypsy moth unless the orchard is invaded from without by caterpillars which have bred in the woods or upon shade trees. If shade trees are near the orchard, all the orchard trees cleared of eggs should be banded with insect lime or supplied with tree protectors, either of which will go far toward protecting them from the inroads of migrating caterpillars. But if there is a tract of badly infested woodland near the orchard, the bands will be of little use in protecting the trees against the invasion of the multitude of caterpillars. In such cases the most economical plan would be to cut down all the infested woods and burn over the ground. Few farmers can afford to attempt to keep the pest out of wood- 196 THE GYPSY MOTH. land, as the cost of the labor would be more than the value of the wood. If precautionary measures have been neg- lected, and the caterpillars appear in swarms, they may strip the trees before arriving at an age when they will seek the burlap. When small caterpillars are very numerous upon the trees, spraying with arsenate of lead at the rate of thirty pounds to one hundred and fifty gallons of water will destroy most of them. If arsenate of lead is not at hand, two or three good sprayings with Paris green in May will greatly lessen their numbers. The trees may be afterwards burlapped, and the caterpillars killed as they gather day by day under the bur- laps. A small burning tank with a cyclone burner might be used to stay the march of an invading host of these cater- pillars, and would check them anywhere. (See Plate XX.) The care of trees and the general cleanliness of grounds will do much toward rendering an orchard an unfit dwelling-place for the gypsy moth, and will facilitate the moth's destruction. The Annual Inspection. The inspection and egg-killing in the infested district and the inspection in the towns in its vicinity during the late fall, winter and early spring are the chief means of preventing the dissemination of the moth, and the first and most impor- tant steps toward extermination. It is by examining the trunks and the lower surfaces of large limbs of trees during: this search that most of the conspicuous egg-clusters are found. In this way most of the colonies of the moth have been discovered.* It is for the prosecution of this work that the most efficient and experienced men are retained. The inspection goes on through the winter months, except when interrupted by severe storms, deep snow or the ex- haustion of the appropriation. So long as there are moths in the district at present in- fested, just so long will there be danger of their distribution throughout that district and to adjacent towns ; the danger * Webster defines a colony (under the head of natural history) as a number of animals or plants living together beyond their usual range. In the gypsy-moth work the word " colony " has been applied to the moth when it has been found isolated from others of its kind by a belt of uninfested country. THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. 197 increasing or decreasing, according to the increase or reduc- tion of the number of the moths, especially along highways or in cultivated lands and woodlands most frequented by man. Each autumn, as soon as the foliage is well off the trees, the most experienced employees of the Board are organized into squads, which are set to work examining such territory within the infested towns as has not been recently inspected. Many colonies have thus been found by careful search within the region known in 1891 to be infested. Much time and money have been spent in this search, but money enough has not been provided in any year to make the search thorough and complete. To provide against the spread of the moth, more or less of this kind of work has been done each year in the towns outside of the infested region. In this outside search considerable time and money have been expended, and only a few small colonies of the moth have been found. These were all at a short distance outside the boundary of the region known in 1891 to be infested. Though this search does not at first sight appear to have furnished results proportionate to the expense incurred, yet, had the colonies not been found and stamped out of exist- ence, any one of them might have increased and spread like the original Trouvelot colony. As the prevention of the spread of the moth and its exter- mination are the objects contemplated by the statute author- izing the work, this search of towns adjacent to the infested region must continue so long as the region continues to be infested; otherwise, there can be no absolute assurance that the moths are not spreading beyond the limits of the region in which the work is carried on. As the search extends farther away from the centre of the infested region, the territory to be examined becomes greater, increasing the expense, while the likelihood of its being in- fested diminishes. Therefore, in towns next outside those immediately adjacent to the infested region the search is confined to those places which experience has shown are most likely to become infested, mainly the villages and bor- ders of highways. Especial attention is paid to all points which by reason of the character of the business of the resi- 198 THE GYPSY MOTH. dents appear to have been particularly exposed to infesta- tion. Beyond these towns only the borders of railways, certain highways, the centres of villages and such estates as are believed to have been exposed to a possibility of infestation are inspected. A few cities which are centres of trade and travel form an exception to this rule. They have been more thoroughly inspected. The following cities and towns have been more or less thoroughly looked over. Some have been visited only once, but most of them have been inspected several times during the last five years. In none of them has any trace of the moth been found : — Bedford. Ipswich. North Andover. Boxford. Lincoln. Quincy. Billerica. Lowell. Rowley. Brookline. Middleton. Sudbury. Concord. Manchester. Topsfield. Dedhani. Milton. Tewksbury. Essex. Newton. Wilmington. Georgetown. Newbury. Wayland. Gloucester. Newburyport. Weston. Hamilton. North Reading. Wenham. Hull. Measures for the Information of the Public. The Board of Agriculture has from the first believed that success in the work of preventing the spread and securing the extermination of the gypsy moth could not be hoped for without the intelligent co-operation of the public. Every effort, consistent with the letter and meaning of the statute under which the work has been carried on, has been made to diffuse information in regard to the identity and character of the pest and the laws enacted and regulations made for its destruction. The rules and regulations of the gypsy moth committee have been frequently advertised in the daily papers. Every facility has been offered to the daily and weekly press in regard to the publication of illustrated arti- cles upon the gypsy moth. Cuts of the moth have been loaned many newspapers, and have had a wide circulation. Information has been frequently given to the agricultural press. DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION. 199 The prejudice existing against the spraying and other feat- ures of the work, which was expressed in the local press in 1890, continued to find some expression in 1891. The papers, however, gave the work of the Board of Agriculture a wide publicity. We can do no less than acknowledge the spirit of fairness of the press of the State, and the willing- ness manifested to publish everything in regard to the work which would be of interest to the people. Yet false reports as to the appearance of the gypsy moth in various places at a distance from the infested region have been frequently and widely circulated. These appear to originate not with the newspapers themselves but with citizens who, believing that they have discovered the gypsy moth on their premises, can- not wait to notify the Board, but immediately rush into print and so give the alarm. In all such cases it has been found upon investigation that the injury noticed was caused by some other insect. Yet these local ' ' scares " have assisted in arous- ing the interest of the people, and leading them to further investigation of the appearance and character of the moth. Early in 1891 arrangements were made with an artist for drawings of the gypsy moth to be reproduced for illustra- tion. A colored plate (Plate I. of this report) was prepared and printed in the first annual report of the State Board of Agriculture on the extermination of the gypsy moth. Ten thousand copies of this report were printed and dis- tributed throughout the Commonwealth, especially in and near the infested district. Fifteen hundred extra copies of the plate were also printed, to be used in connection with other material and for posting in public places, such as post-offices, schools, libraries and museums. One hun- dred and fifty glass-covered cases, containing specimens of the different forms of the gypsy moth, preserved, mounted and labelled, were prepared for exhibition in the infested district, as well as for museums and other public places in the State. A bulletin of information was also prepared, and five hundred copies were printed in large type and framed. In the centre of each frame was placed one of the colored plates representing the different forms of the gypsy moth ; a printed explanation accompanied the plate. These frames were placed in prominent positions in post-offices, mostly 200 THE GYPSY MOTH. in eastern Massachusetts. A large frame containing in addi- tion to the bulletin a photograph of the moth's ravages, and having a specimen case attached, was placed in the main post- office of each city or town in the infested district. In 1891 a bulletin of information in regard to spraying for the gypsy moth and other insects was printed in pamphlet form and distributed through the infested district. Some fifty thousand copies of the law of 1891, providing for the extermination of the gypsy moth, together with the rules and regulations under which the work is conducted, have been printed and distributed among the people of the infested district and in towns near by. The law and the rules and regulations were also printed in poster form and posted in many public places. Many placards containing certain sec- tions of the law were also printed and posted. Each season from twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand copies of the annual report on the gypsy moth (each with a colored plate of the insect) have been printed for distribution, in addition to the nine hundred copies annually printed for the use of the Legislature. Circular letters, calling the attention of citizens to the threatening danger from the invasion of the moth, have been printed and sent with or without the reports to newspapers and citizens throughout the State. Lectures on the gypsy moth and the means of its extermination have been given by the secretary of the Board of Agriculture, the ento- mologist and the director. Other speakers have frequently spoken on the same subject at farmers' institutes and other meetings. When the Massachusetts exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago was being prepared, the committee in charge requested the Board of Agriculture to prepare an exhibit for the exposition. This was done, and the exhibit occupied a central place in the Massachusetts building at the fair. It consisted of a glass case seven feet in height, contain- ing a representation of an apple tree denuded of its leaves by the gypsy-moth caterpillars, and exhibiting on its trunk and branches all forms of the moth, together with many of the vertebrate and invertebrate enemies of the moth, includ- ing birds, fowls, predaceous beetles and parasites. Pho- tographs showing the destructiveness of the moth were FALSE ALARMS. 201 exhibited. A large amount of printed matter in regard to the moth was distributed at the fair. In October, 1895, in response to a request received from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, this ex- hibit was sent to the fair held in the Mechanics building, Boston, where it was exhibited together with another case containing sections of tree trunks and other objects on which the egg-clusters of the gypsy moth had been laid. There was also a collection of bromide enlargements of photographs, showing the moth as in nature, its ravages and the means of destroying it. At the request of L. O. Howard, entomolo- gist of the United States Department of Agriculture, dupli- cates of some of these bromides were also sent to the Cotton States and International Exposition at Atlanta, Ga., where they were exhibited as a part of the entomological exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture. The measures taken to inform the public have succeeded in arousing public interest to such an extent that many citizens of the State immediately report to the Board any injurious insects which appear to them to be gypsy moths. Such reports are sometimes received from other States. Many false alarms of the moth's presence have been sent in, and all have been investigated. Reports of the appearance of insects which were wrongly supposed to be the gypsy moth have been received from the following places : — Places from which False Alarms have been received. Massachusetts. Brockton. Georgetown Acton. Brookfield. Gloucester. Andover. Bourne. Grafton. Ashburnham. Chester. Groton. Athol. Concord. Hold en. Abington. Charlton. Hopedale. Amesbury. Carlisle. Haverhill. Auburn. Clinton. Holliston. Billerica. Dedham. Hyde Park. Berlin. Duxbury. Hingham. Braintree. Easton. Hudson. Bedford Fall River. Hull. Bolton. Foxborough. Ipswich. Boxford. Fitchburg. Lincoln. Brookline. Framingham. Lowell. Bridgewater. Gill. Lawrence. 202 THE GYPSY MOTH. Places from which False Massachusetts — Con. Marlborough. Marshfield. Merrimac. Milford. Methuen. Manchester. Maynard. Milton. Monson. Newburyport. Newton. Needham. Newbury. Northbridge. Norwood. North Andover. North Brookfield. North Reading. Pittsfield. Pepperell. Plymouth. Princeton. Quincy. Randolph. Rowley. Rockport. Alarms have been received — Concluded. Rehoboth. Scituate Southborough. Sterling. Sutton. Sudbury. Springfield. Templeton. Tewksbury. Townsend. Tyngsborough . Uxbridge. Weymouth. Wenham. West Bridgewater. Wilmington. Weston. Westborough. West Newbury. Wellesley. Wayland. Wrentham. Worcester. Rhode Island. Providence. Pawtucket. Connecticut. Fairfield. Glastonbury. Ridgefield. Maine. Cape Porpoise. Sabbatus. New Hampshire. Barnstead . Center Harbor Haverhill. Kensington. Kingston Lakeport. Portsmouth. Pratts. Seabrook. Iowa. Fort Madison. Vermont. Green River. In all cases the damage reported was caused by some other insect. The many reports thus received are gratify- ing, indicating as they do a public interest in the work, and a desire to aid as far as possible in stamping out the pest. The investigations in other States have been made mainly to prove or disprove the claim that the gypsy moth is confined in America to a limited district in Massachusetts. This is the theory on which the work of extermination has so far proceeded, and no proof has ever been given that it has been found outside of this district. • ^^^^1 $ff! tf 10' iJflP gPE! % I •1 I .j-U?^/^ .. PLATE XXXV. Baltimore orioles and nest. NATURAL ENEMIES. 203 Natural Enemies of the Gypsy Moth. Insect-eating Birds. Since the work of preventing the spreading and securing the extermination of the gypsy moth in Massachusetts was placed in the hands of the Board of Agriculture in 1891, particular attention has been paid to the natural enemies of the moth. All persons employed in the work have been instructed to watch for enemies or parasites, and keep a record of all observations made. In accordance with these instructions, voluminous notes now covering many hundred pages have been made. Many enemies of the moth have been studied both under natural conditions and in confine- ment. Search has been made through European literature for information in regard to the enemies of the moth abroad. Much information bearing upon the subject has also been obtained by foreign correspondence. In apportioning the preparation of the report on the natural enemies, the task of preparing a report on the birds was assigned to me. My colleague, Professor Fernald, will treat of tlie other enemies of the moth. The Usefulness of Birds as Insect Destroyer's. The subject of birds versus insects is a most important one. The influence of birds on the agriculture of a country is incalculable. The protection or destruction of native birds and the introduction of foreign species are subjects worthy of the most thoughtful consideration of the agricultural department of any government. Land birds fulfil their part in many ways in preserving the balance of nature, but chiefly by doing much toward holding in check the increase of the insect world, which, if unrestricted, would swarm over and devastate the earth. Birds are among the most highly organized of vertebrate animals. In them we find the greatest activity and the highest temperature of the blood. To maintain this tern- 204 THE GYPSY MOTH. perature and supply the tremendous waste of the tissues caused by this activity a great quantity of food is necessary. Excellent provision is made by nature for the rapid digestion and assimilation of a great amount of food. In August, 1895, two young crows were confined at the experiment station in Maiden, and observations were made on their feed- ing habits. The time from the entrance of the food into the mouth to the first voiding of excreta containing remains of the food eaten was usually about one and one-half hours. It is probable that digestion is still more rapid in the smaller insect-eating birds.* The common titmouse or chickadee (Parus atricapillus) is one of the smaller birds of New Eng- land, yet the good accomplished by it in destroying the eggs of insects injurious to orchard and forest trees is almost beyond belief. I have given elsewhere an estimate, based on careful observations and dissections, that in twenty-five days one of these birds will destroy 138,750 eggs of the canker-worm moth (Anisopteryx pometaria) .f Prof. Samuel Aughey, who fed confined plovers on in- sects, found that they would eat on an average 202 locusts and other large insects per day .J Professor Treadwell fed to a young robin in twelve hours forty-one per cent, more than its own weight in worms. The same bird consumed nearly half its own weight of beef in a day.§ At this rate a man would eat daily about seventy pounds of meat. Because of their enormous appetites, birds are most potent factors for good or ill. It is well known that crows and blackbirds destroy vast quantities of grain for a short season when they swarm upon the fields ; but their services in destroying injurious insects are not generally recognized. * According to Maynard the indigestible remains of food are excreted by the cedar- bird in one-half hour after eating. (See " Birds of Eastern North America," C. J. Maynard.) t Bulletin on "Birds as protectors of orchards," Massachusetts Crop Report, July, 1895, published by the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. % First report United States Entomological Commission, 1877, page 343. § "Birds of New England," by E. A. Samuels, page 159. The paper on this subject was originally read by Professor Treadwell before the Boston Society of Natural History. USEFULNESS OF BIRDS. 205 The activity of birds, as shown in running, climbing trees, hopping or flying, together with their powers of vision, renders them particularly adapted for searching out, over- taking and destroying insects. Birds often assemble where insect outbreaks occur, and assist in checking great insect invasions. In a search through agricultural, entomological and orni- thological literature, we find many instances on record in both hemispheres where birds have been instrumental in saving crops or forests by destroying injurious insects. Samuels states that in 1847, as an immense forest in Pom- erania was on the brink of being utterly ruined by caterpil- lars, it was suddenly and very unexpectedly saved by a flock of cuckoos, who established themselves in the place for a few weeks and thoroughly cleaned each tree.* During the great locust invasions in the West the investi- gations of Professor Aughey, as published in the first report of the United States Entomological Commission, showed that birds were among the greatest enemies of locusts, and that in many instances when the farmers had given up the battle against the "grasshoppers," the crops were saved by the flocks of birds that descended upon the fields, destroying immense numbers of the feeding locusts. f Many instances are on record where a great increase of insect pests has followed the destruction of birds. George Kearly, in the "Entomologist's Weekly Intelligencer," speaks of an outbreak of insect pests in a park at Brussels, in which the gypsy moth was one of the chief offenders, hav- ing stripped well-nigh all the trees of their foliage. He says this great increase of insects followed soon after and was caused by the destruction of sparrows and other birds in the park, by order of the authorities.^ In a letter recently received from J. O. Clercy, secretary of the Society of Natural Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia, he states that the ravages of two species of cutworms and some ten species * E. A. Samuels, in report of Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, 1865-66, page 117. t Report of the United States Entomological Commission, 1877, page 338. X The "Entomologist's Weekly Intelligencer," 1858, Vol. 4, page 192. 206 THE GYPSY MOTH. of locusts contributed, together with the want of rain, to starve the inhabitants in that region in 1891 and 1892. One of the causes, he says, which permitted such a numer- ous propagation of insect pests was the almost complete de- struction of birds, most of them having been killed and sent abroad by wagon loads for ladies' hats. A law for the protection of birds has now been enacted, and, says Clercy, "the poor little creatures are doing their best to reoccupy their old places in our woods and gardens. This inoccu- pation, however, does not go on as rapidly as did their destruction." Many species of water birds, the gulls and terns especially, are useful as insect destroyers. In 1848 the crops of the Mormons in Utah were attacked by the Western cricket (Ana- brus simplex), which came down in great armies from the highlands about Salt Lake. These crickets had already destroyed a considerable portion of the crops, when great flocks of gulls appeared and ate the crickets. Hon. George Q. Cannon says: "Black crickets came down by millions and destroyed our grain crops ; promising fields of wheat in the morning were by evening as smooth as a man's hand, — devoured by the crickets. Sea gulls came by hundreds and thousands, and, before the crops were entirely destroyed, these gulls devoured the insects so that our fields were entirely freed from them." * This occurrence is well authenticated and testified to by many eye-witnesses, f While some ornithologists regard birds as by far the most important natural enemies of injurious insects, many ento- mologists believe that insect and vegetable parasites are more useful in this respect than birds ; yet some of the most eminent economic entomologists, who have had occasion to observe the insect-eating habits of birds in connection with great outbreaks of insect pests, have been among the first to * " Insect Life," Vol. 7, No. 3, page 275. t See the nineteenth annual report of the secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, 1871, page 76; the report of the United States Commissioner of Ag- riculture, 1871, page 79; also the second report of the United States Entomological Commission for 1878 and 1879, relating to the Rocky Mountain locust, page 166, A. S. Packard, Jr. MOTH-EATING BIRDS. 207 give public expression to their appreciation of the value of birds as destroyers of noxious insects.* A study of the food of insect-eating birds leads to the belief that if in any way their numbers and efficiency can be aug- mented, an increase in agricultural products will be secured. Birds seen -to feed upon the Gypsy Moth. Thirty-eight species of birds have been identified when feeding upon the gypsy moth in one or more of its forms. They are as follows : — Yellow-billed cuckoo, Black-billed cuckoo, Hairy woodpecker, Downy woodpecker, Pigeon woodpecker, King bird, Great-crested flycatcher Phoebe, . Wood pewee, Least flycatcher, . Blue jay, Crow, . Baltimore oriole, . Purple grackle or crow Chipping sparrow, Chewink, Rose-breasted grosbeak- Indigo bird, . Scarlet tanager, . Red-eyed vireo, . Coccyzus americanus. (Linn.) . Coccyzus erythropkthalmus. (Wils.) . Dryobaies villosus. (Linn.) . Dryobates pubescens. (Linn.) . Colaptes auratus. (Linn.) i . Tyrannus tyrannus. (Linn.) . Myiarchus crinitus. (Linn.) . Sayornis phcebe. (Lath ) . Contojnis virens. (Linn.) . Empidonax minimus. Baird. . Cyanocilta cristata. (Linn.) . Corvus americanus. And. . Icterus galbula. (Linn.) blackbird, Quiscalus quiscula. (Linn.) . Spizella socialis. (Wils.) . Pipilo erythrophthalmus. (Linn.) . Habia ludovlciana. (Linn ) . Passerina cyanea. (Linn.) . Piranga erythromelas. Vieill. Vireo olivaceus. (Linn.) * Townend Glover, first entomologist of the United States Department of Agri- culture, wrote in 1871 : " Insectivorous birds are the best allies of the farmer, and were they all destroyed there is little doubt that it would be almost impossible to raise certain crops." (Report of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 1871, page 71.) He also wrote : " A knowledge of their nature and habits is of as much impor- tance to the farmer and fruit culturist as is the science of entomology." (Report of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 1865, page 36.) Prof. C. V. Riley, late entomologist of the Department of Agriculture, has testified to the utility of birds as follows : " Few injurious insects can be well and fully considered without reference to their liability to be devoured by various natural enemies, and especially birds." (Report of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 1885, page 210.) Prof. John B. Smith, State entomologist of New Jersey, in an address to the farmers of New Jersey, said: "Take care of your natural friends! Among these the birds rank highest." ("Insecticides, and how to apply them," seventeenth annual report of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, 1889-90, pages 294, 295.) 208 THE GYPSY MOTH. Yellow-throated vireo, . White-eyed vireo, Black-and-white warbler, Yellow warbler, .... Chestnut-sided warbler, Black-throated green warbler, Oven bird, ..... Maryland yellow-throated war- bler, American redstart, Catbird, Brown thrasher, . House wren, White-breasted nuthatch, Chickadee, Wood thrush, . American robin, . Bluebird, English sparrow, . . . . Vireo flavifrons. Vieill. Vireo noveboracensis. (Gmel.) Mniotilta varia. (Linn.) Dcndroica cestira. (Gmel.) Dendroica pensyliMn ica. (Linn.") Dendroica vircns. (Gmel.) Seiurus aurocapillus. (Linn.) Qeothlypis Irichas. (Linn.) Seto])haga rutieilla. (Linn.) Oaleoscoples carolinensis. (Linn.) Harporhynchus rufus. (Linn.) Troglodytes cedon. Vieill. Siita carolinensis. Lath. Partes atricapillus. Linn. Tardus mustelinus. Gmel. Merula migratoria. (Linn.) Sialia sialis. (Linn.) Passer domesticus. (Linn.) Birds which feed on the Larvae , Pupae and Imagoes. It is generally believed by entomologists (judging from their writings) that hairy caterpillars have a certain immu- nity from the attacks of birds. In Europe this appears to be true to some extent of the larvae of the gypsy moth. A writer in the " Annales de FInstitut Horticole de Fromont" says that in twenty years of observation he has not seen a bird bring one of the caterpillars to its young.* Keppen, writing of the gypsy moth in Eussia, says that the cuckoo is the only bird which takes them. Grimm noticed about Saratov that birds had completely forsaken the places where the caterpillars were usually numerous. This is said to have taken place also in the district of Kirsanov in the province of Tambov, f Grimm thinks this is owing to * "Annales de l'lnstitut Horticole de Fromont," Vol. 5, page 311, Paris, 1833. t This does not agree with the experience of the forest authorities in Bavaria during the recent invasion occasioned by the spruce moth or " nun " (Liparis monaeha), 1889-91. This insect is closely allied to the gypsy moth and was formerly placed in the same genus. The caterpillars are provided with hairs sim- ilar to those of the gypsy caterpillars. The flight of starlings collected in one locality alone was credibly estimated at 10,000, all busy feeding on the caterpillars, chrysalides and moths, not to mention enormous flights of titmice and finches sim- ilarly engaged. The attraction of starlings to such centres became so great that market-gardeners felt their absence seriously in distant parts of the country. " Protection of Woodlands," by Hermann Farst, English edition; translated by John Nisbet, 1893, page 126. OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 209 the fact that the body of the caterpillar is covered with small hairs, which become detached, and, piercing somewhat the skin of persons and animals, cause great itching.* I have found very little evidence in the writings of Euro- pean authors that birds other than the cuckoo and the tit- mice destroy the larvae of the gypsy moth, although several species are said to destroy the eggs.f In this country, how- ever, the reverse appears to be true. Few birds seem to eat the eggs, while many attack all other forms of the moth. In the season of 1891 my attention was first called to the fact that certain birds were devouring large numbers of the larvae. The accuracy of the reports received was soon verified by my own observations. Several species of birds were seen busily engaged in eating the insects wherever they were numerous. The inspectors were directed to record all observations made on birds which were feeding on the cater- pillars. Unfortunately, there were at that time only eleven observ- ers on the force who could accurately identify birds in the field. These men were also perfectly familiar with the dif- ferent forms of the moth. The notes made by them indi- cated that thirteen species of birds were feeding on the moth in one or more of its forms. The observations begun in 1891 have been continued during a part of each succeed- ing summer. Although as a rule they have been made inci- dentally in connection with the work in the field, one or more men have been detailed at times to disprove or confirm reports that have been made, or to watch some particular species of bird, so that some points in regard to its value as a moth destroyer might be settled. Where the caterpillars are very numerous, they cluster in masses on trees. Cer- tain birds habitually visit these swarms either to eat the caterpillars or to take them as food to their young. If the observer remained quietly at his post, he was able to view them at a distance of a few feet or yards. Each observer was * Translated from " Injurious Insects " by Theodore Keppen, 3d Vol., special part. t In a recent letter Dr. Ebermayer of Munich names starlings, crows, titmice and tree creepers among the enemies of the gypsy moth but does not say what form of the moth they destroy. 210 THE GYPSY MOTH. supplied with an opera glass, by means of which he could determine at a greater distance whether or not the birds were feeding on the caterpillars of the gypsy moth. Few birds were shot and few dissections made as compared with the number of birds reported as feeding on the caterpillars. This might serve to discredit the accuracy of the observa- tions, were they not made at close range, and when the caterpillars were large enough to be readily identified. No birds were shot except where it was absolutely necessary to determine whether it was the gypsy moth caterpillar or some other upon which they were feeding. No observations were accepted as conclusive unless the observer was known to be careful in his work and conservative in his statements, or unless ample corroborative evidence was obtained. While there is some possibility of error in field observations, there is also a possibility of error in stomach examinations. Di- gestion in birds is so rapid that it is impossible to specifi- cally identify some portions of their insect food unless the bird is killed within a very few minutes after the insects are eaten. When birds are feeding on larvoe, a large proportion of the stomach contents is often unrecognizable.* Birds do not always swallow hairy caterpillars whole. In many cases they tear them open, eating only some of the internal parts which are unrecognizable upon dissection of the stomach. Other birds appear to kill wantonly many caterpillars and moths. Woodpeckers, jays and chickadees have been seen to snap them up and then drop them to the ground, sometimes uninjured but often mortally hurt. Sparrows and other birds have been seen to kill many moths which they do not eat. The Most Useful Birds. The records of the observations made on birds comprise one hundred and fifty typewritten pages. A glance over these pages shows that the greater number of observations have been made on less than a dozen species, and indicates that these are probably the birds most useful in destroying * Considering the possibility of error in records made from either observation or dissection, it would seem that one should be used as a supplement to and a check, on the other. MOST USEFUL BIRDS. 211 the gypsy moth. It cannot be stated with certainty which species is of most value in this respect, as the birds ob- served vary both in numbers and usefulness with the locality and season. From observations made eleven species are known to be very useful. In the apparent order of their use- fulness they are : yellow-billed cuckoo, black-billed cuckoo, Baltimore oriole, catbird, chickadee, blue jay, chipping spar- row, robin, red-eyed vireo, yellow-throated vireo and crow. Fig. 29. Yellow-billed cuckoo. The cuckoo is the only bird that I have found mentioned in European literature as feeding commonly on the larvae of the gypsy moth. Altum says the cuckoo is efficient especially in local ravages of the moth.* Appearances in- dicate that the cuckoos lead the rest of the American birds in destroying the gypsy moth. Yet it must be considered that as these cuckoos are comparatively large birds, seeking by preference the larger larva?, their feeding is readily ob- served. As the larvae are usually swallowed whole by the cuckoo, their remains are readily recognized in the dissected stomach. It is difficult to identify with certainty the smaller larvae when they are eaten by small birds. If these small birds consume the smaller larvae in numbers equal to those of the larger ones eaten by the cuckoo, they are more benefi- cial, as the destruction of the larvae when young will prevent the injury they might do to vegetation before the cuckoo would be likely to attack them. * " Forstzoologie," Vol. III., page 96. 212 THE GYPSY MOTH. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. — In 1891 yellow-billed cuckoos were observed in several of the worst infested localities, where they remained nearly all day, feeding on the gypsy larvae or carrying them from time to time to their young. . This habit of feeding on hairy larvae seems to be quite con- stant with the cuckoos. They seem to prefer the gypsy larvae even to the pupae. Mr. F. H. Mosher, an inspector in the employ of the Board, wdio observed this species in 1895, says that it will go to a bunch of pupae and search for larvae, pulling out the molts or casts, and will take pupae only when larvae are not to be found. This was noticed in different individuals of this species and in different localities. Some of the cuckoos would take no pupae at all, but would continue their search for larvae until they found them. That the yellow-billed cuckoos feed their young quite con- stantly on these larvae is evident from the observations made. The stomach of one young cuckoo when examined contained a number of partly digested larvae and the heads of sixteen others. Ninety per cent, of the stomach contents consisted of these larval remains. When the young birds were able to fly, the parents would lead them to the worst infested spots and feed them frequently with caterpillars. Mr. C. E. Bailey, an agent of the Board and a field orni- thologist of much experience, says that the yellow-billed cuckoo is very fond of the gypsy larvae, sometimes eating nine or ten full-grown ones in less than a half hour. He also states that he has observed that it eats more caterpillars than the black-billed cuckoo. Black-billed Cuckoo. — The black-billed cuckoo is probably nearly if not quite as useful as its congener in destroying hairy caterpillars, and appears to be almost equally destruc- tive to the gypsy moth larvae. From personal observation, as well as from reports of the observations of others, I am led to believe that this bird does not feed as rapidly as the yellow-billed cuckoo, and spends more time in beating the caterpillars, perhaps for the purpose of killing them, or pos- sibly to divest them of their hairs before eating them. In the end, however, the caterpillar is swallowed whole. Like the yellow-billed cuckoo, this species feeds the caterpillars to its young. MOST USEFUL BIRDS. 213 Neither species of the cuckoo is very numerous in the infested region, but both are fairly common and both are attracted by the gypsy moth to badly infested orchards or to the edges of badly infested woodland. Five cuckoos have been seen at a time in an infested tree. In some infested places they may be found at times in considerable numbers, and the number of larvae they destroy is astonishing. They frequently take larvae from under the burlaps. Baltimore Oriole. — The oriole, like the cuckoo, is a well- known destroyer of the tent caterpillar ( Glisiocampa Ameri- cana) and other hairy larvae. Several observers have seen this bird taking gypsy larvae from the burlaps. In 1894 in an orchard in Winchester four orioles were seen to follow along the rows of trees, flitting from burlap to burlap, and taking the larvae from under the cloth. The birds would hang to the burlap while turning up the edges and running their bills beneath. The young orioles frequently enjoy a gypsy moth diet, and the adult birds have been seen day after day feeding their young with these insects. Only three orioles' stomachs have been dissected. One contained four nearly full-grown gypsy moth larvae, another two, and one was empty. These dissections probably did not fairly indicate the value of these birds as caterpillar de- stroyers, as the orioles have been seen to kill caterpillars of which they ate only a small portion. Catbird. — Where the gypsy moth has penetrated into thickets, the catbird feeds on ^^ the larvae, and, as the season ^^L advances, destroys many of ^^_,^pJb the pupae, taking both these ^gaftj^ JH^^ tonus of the moth to its 5|3 Hr young. That this habit is ^j K§J_-_- <|iii[c constant is evident, as --^m SPSSl ■p|pP* i,ir ' the catbird was seen feeding ^sP— ^ on the larvae in 1891, and ~" ~''JJN& almost daily through a con- siderable portion of the sum- mer of 1895 hj observers in several different towns. The catbird has been seen to take larvae of all sizes to its young. It is one of the birds that frequent badly infested localities. Fig. 30. Catbird. 214 THE GYPSY MOTH. Fig. 31. Chickadee. Chickadee. — The chickadee, though a small bird, feeds quite constantly on the gypsy moth larvse, "skinning" or tearing to pieces the larger larvse which it cannot swallow. On cap- turing a large specimen the bird usually stands on the caterpillar, striking it with its bill until the skin is torn open, when it pro- ceeds to eat the vital parts. Sometimes the chickadee eats nearly all of a large larva. This bird is also fond of the pupse, usually breaking them open and eating a small portion of the body tissues and juices. Chick- adees have been seen to feed on the female moths. Blue Jay. — In infested woodlands or in orchards near its favorite haunts the blue jay is most useful as a caterpillar hunter. Mr. M. J. Flood, formerly in the employ of the Board, who was stationed in 1891 at a badly infested locality in Arlington, where he watched the gypsy moth larvse for forty-eight hours, reported that he saw hundreds of the larvse picked up by this bird. During the day he saw six- teen blue jays eating the larvse and pupae, which he could see very distinctly as the birds held them in their bills. These birds are known to be regular visitors to badly in- fested trees, yet they are so wary that it is difficult to observe them closely. The prying nature of the blue jay stands it in good stead in searching out hidden larvse. It pecks them from the crevices of the bark or from under the bark on dead limbs, and searches every hole. It frequently visits burlaps on infested trees, thrusting its bill under the burlap and raising it enough to draw out the hidden larvse beneath. Mr. Mosher reports having seen the blue jays feeding larvse and pupse to their young. The jays have been frequently seen carrying the larvse in their beaks, probably with the intention of feeding them to their young. Sometimes they pinch or hammer the larvse, killing them in wanton sport or MOST USEFUL BIRDS. 215 maiming them and dropping them upon the ground. This habit of killing and dropping larva? has been observed else- where.* Fig. 32. Blue jay. Chipping Sparrow. — Though the chipping sparrow does not rank high among insectivorous birds, and feeds largely upon seeds during certain seasons of the year, it nevertheless destroys very many in- _j W-^- sects, especially lepi- dopterous larva?, which are injurious to trees and garden plants. It is often seen chasing flying gypsy moths. It appears to be fond of gypsy moth caterpillars, and I have frequently observed it in badly infested spots catching and killing large larvae Fig. 33. Chipping sparrow. A young chipping sparrow shot and dissected contained a nearly full-grown larva of the gypsy moth, which had been swallowed head first. In 1891 Mr. E. P. Felt confined (for experimental pur- * Dr. C. M. Weed in the Ninth Annual Report of the Ohio Agricultural Experi- ment Station, 1890, p. lv. 216 THE GYPSY MOTH. poses) a number of gypsy moth caterpillars in nets on the branches of apple trees. It was found almost impossible to complete the experiments, as many of the caterpillars dis- appeared from the nets. An examination of the nets showed that they had been broken open in some unknown way. I watched one of the nets and saw a chipping sparrow break through the netting and secure one of the larger larvre. As these birds were frequently seen about the nets, it is probable that they were responsible for the abduction of many larvas which disappeared. Mr. Felt says in his notes that sixty per cent, of the larvas used in the experiments were taken by birds which broke into the nets. There were very few of these larvee in the vicinity, except those confined in the nets. Robin . — The robin has been reported by several observers as feeding upon the larva? of the gypsy moth, and by one as feeding upon the pupse. One observer believes the robin to be the most useful bird of all ; but the notes on this bird are lacking in detail. I can say nothing from personal observa- tion in regard to its habits of feeding on the gypsy moth, except that it has been often seen feeding on the ground about apple trees frequented by the gypsy moth, or upon the lower branches of such trees, also in trees in badly infested woodland. Red-eyed Vireo. — This bird has been seen by many observ- ers to feed on the gypsy moth larvse. It probably feeds its young quite regularly on the larvse. The vireos are known to be caterpillar hunters, but are believed to prefer smooth- skinned species. They, how- ever, frequently break open the nests of the tent cater- pillar to get at the hairy larvas within. This bird usu- ally places the gypsy moth larva on a limb, and pulling it to pieces eats the pieces separately ; yet it has been seen often to eat the larva ¥ ; 1 Fig. 34. Red-eyed vireo. whole and also to feed it alive to the young birds. MOST USEFUL BIRDS. 217 Yelloio-throated Vireo. — Mr. C. E. Wood, an inspector in the employ of the Board, writes that he saw a yellow- throated vireo take a large larva, alight on a limb with it, and, placing one foot on it, peck its head off and give the body to a young full-fledged bird which was waiting to be fed. The young bird took the body of the larva, placed it on the limb under one foot, and, pecking off a few small pieces swallowed the rest whole. The yellow-throated vireo has been seen by several observers to catch and eat the larva?, and is probably nearly as useful in this respect as the red-eyed vireo. Crow. — The crows in the infested region are so shy that it is difficult to get near enough to them to observe care- fully their feeding habits. It was not until 1895 that they were actually seen to feed upon the gypsy moth, though it had been noted that they sometimes frequented badly infested places. They had also been seen to take their young to in- fested localities, where they were apparently feeding them with the larva? or pupa?. In the summer of 1895 the prob- ability of their feeding upon the gypsy moth was made a certainty by the observations of Mr. Mosher, whose work in observing birds has been done with the most painstaking and patient care. The prying, inquisitive habits of the family are well illus- trated by the crow when searching for gypsy moth larvae and pupa?. Dead bark is torn off from branches, clumps of bushes are penetrated, and rubbish on the ground is over- hauled by the bird in its search for the insects. Mr. Mosher watched a crow which alighted within thirty feet of him on a branch above his head, and fed upon the gypsy larva? with- out noticing his presence. By using an opera glass all the motions of the crow in searching for and capturing its prey were readily seen. The crows will alight upon the branches and search the under sides, where the gypsy moth caterpil- lars crawl or cluster. They are apparently quite fond of the pupa?, and will also eat the female moths. The young crows kept at the insectary were fed almost exclusively for two or three days upon these insects. Although they ate them at first with avidity, they soon refused them and would not touch them so long as other food could be obtained ; neither 218 THE GYPSY MOTH. would they capture and eat the larvae. When the first moths were placed in the cage, they caught and ate them eagerly. The larger crow ate eighty- three and the smaller thirty-three. On the second trial, crow number one ate fifty-eight moths and crow number two twenty-three, thus together destroying eighty-one. On the third trial they would have none of them. At first, the birds, being apparently quite hungry, devoured them whole. Later they rejected the thorax with the wings and other appendages, and took the soft abdomens only. The birds were at first so eager for the moths that they would snatch them from each other. A curious fact about their eating was that they swallowed the moths hind end first, while grasshoppers were always swallowed head first. It would appear from this limited experiment that the crows soon became tired of a gypsy moth diet. It is quite prob- able that unconfined crows would tire of the moth as food were no other food available. Yet from the frequency of the crow's visits to the infested spots, the size and capacity of the stomach, and the number of different forms of the moth eaten, it may be inferred that this species is quite use- ful in destroying the gypsy moth. Other Useful Birds. Bluebird. — In 1891 the bluebird was often seen feeding on the larvae and pupae of the gypsy moth, but this was not noticed in the ensuing years, and in 1895 no bluebirds were seen during the summer in the infested region. When blue- birds breed in or near an infested orchard, they will no doubt destroy many of these insects. Warblers. — Although certain warblers have been seen occasionally to capture many of the gypsy caterpillars and moths, it is difficult to determine by observation or dissection how useful they are in this respect. Owing to their activ- ity, and the small size of the larvae usually taken by them, it is often impossible to learn the species or the number of insects which they eat. The great vernal flights of warblers through the infested region occur in May, at a time when the larvae of the gypsy moth are very small, and are either feeding or resting upon or underneath the leaves. The birds migrating northward restlessly move from tree to tree, and OTHER USEFUL BIRDS. 219 accurate observation of their feeding habits is then difficult. As warblers glean much of their food from the twigs and foliage, it is highly probable that the mortality among the small caterpillars is partly caused by these birds. Observations on the feeding of the warblers were made when the spring migrants had gone north and the sum- mer residents were breeding. The warblers which breed in the infested districts do not appear to feed habitually on the gypsy moth. Both observations and dissections indicate that most of them prefer the small, smooth, geometrid larvce. All of them appear to have a particular fondness for the canker- worms, and a few eat the tent caterpillar. Yet some of the ob- servations made show that certain species of warblers destroy many of the larger gypsy caterpillars. These species also destroy moths, both male and female. Mr. Bailey saw a yel- low warbler take two large gypsy moth larvse, tear them open and eat out the body contents, leaving the skins upon the tree. He saw a black-and-white creeping warbler just from the nest capture and eat seventeen gypsy moth cater- pillars. All of them were pecked open. Mr. I. C. Green, a former employee of the Board, consid- ers the redstart the most useful of all birds in destroying the gypsy moth, but does not give the details of his observations. This species has been seen by other observers to feed espe- cially on the male moth, which it often captures in flight. The oven bird is mentioned by several observers as feed- ing on larvte and moths. The other warblers in the list have seldom been seen to take any form of the moth. Sparrows. — Though the towhee bunting or chewink was not seen preying on the gypsy moth prior to 1895, the observations of Mr. Mosher give ample proof of its useful- ness in this respect, especially in woodland or in sprout- land where it is a common bird. It eats readily all forms of the moth excepting the eggs, and this habit has been fre- quently observed. The rose-breasted grosbeak and indigo bird occasionally eat the larvae. Flycatchers. — All the flycatchers which breed in the dis- trict are given in the list of birds which .destroy the moth. Though most of them kill a great many moths, they proba- bly are not as useful as most other birds on the list, as they 220 THE GYPSY MOTH. pursue mainly the quick-flying male moths. Experience in trapping male moths has shown that ordinarily their capture has little effect on the number of fertile egg-clusters in a badly infested spot. This is partly because most of the male moths find their mates close at hand, and so fertilize females before taking any extended flight ; and partly because the male being polygamous, each one that escapes the birds may fer- tilize several females. Yet as very many of the males are caught by flycatchers, this may account for the scarcity of males and the number of infertile egg-clusters sometimes found in badly infested localities. As many males emerge before the females, and as the moth lives but a few days in the perfect form, most of the males usually die before the females all emerge, and males are comparatively scarce late in the season even in a badly infested locality. If at this time the flycatchers and their young frequent an infested lo- cality, they still further reduce the number of surviving male moths. This scarcity of male moths late in the season, which is in part caused by the flycatchers and other birds, may prevent the fertilization at that time of many eggs. Yet the good done in this way by the flycatchers may be counteracted by their destruction of hymenopterous parasites of the moth. Of these parasites the ichneumon flies appear to be the most useful, yet even they have not proved at all effectual in reducing the numbers of the gypsy moth, even under the most favorable circumstances. Mr. Kirkland has seen a wood pewee dart down and capture an ichneumon fly, apparently Theronia melanocephala. This fly sometimes attacks gypsy caterpillars, and has been frequently seen searching over trees infested by them. Occasionally a flycatcher will pick up a spinning larva as it hangs swaying in the wind by its thread from the tree, but there seems to be no reason to believe that this is a habit. Though the flycatchers confine their feeding on this insect mostly to the male moths, they OTHER USEFUL BIRDS. 221 frequently take females, and doubtless destroy many in the aggregate during a season. The king bird appears to be the most useful flycatcher in this respect, and has been seen to eat very many of the females. This bird may thus render efficient service to the farmer by preventing the deposit of many thousands of fertilized eggs. Its comparative value as a gypsy moth destroyer depends largely upon the number of female moths that it kills. Woodpeckers. — Of these most useful birds the three resi- dent species have all been seen feeding upon the caterpillars or pupae of the moth. The flicker has also been seen carrying caterpillars to its young. Mr. W. C. Colt, an inspector in the employ of the Board, says that he watched a female flicker take nearly full- grown larva? to its young. The bird made regular trips to its nest at intervals of from three to five minutes. The downy woodpecker was observed by Mr. Bailey to eat a few caterpillars, and to peck many others and afterward drop them from the tree to the ground. From what is known of the habits of woodpeckers, it was expected that they would be found to feed on the gypsy moth pupae. The downy and hairy woodpeckers are known to feed in winter to a greater or less extent on the hibernat- ing pupae of many insects. Yet the hairy woodpecker only has been observed to peck into the pupae of the gypsy moth. This bird is not at all common in the district, but both old and young birds have been seen feeding upon the pupae by Mr. Mosher. There is much difference of opinion among observers as to the comparative usefulness of certain species of birds in destroying the gypsy moth. This is to be expected, as each is prone to regard his own observations as conclusive in respect to all the species which he observes. In drawing conclusions from observations on the food of birds a great deal must be allowed for their individual preferences and acquired tastes. For example : several observers report the red- eyed and yellow-throated vireos as feeding eagerly on gypsy moth caterpillars. Mr. Henry Shaw notes that in one infested locality the red-eyes appeared to be living on them, eating them constantly. Mr. C. E. Wood has seen 222 THE GYPSY MOTH. the yellow-throat go from burlap to burlap, drawing out the larvae from beneath. Yet Mr. Bailey reports that he has seen individuals of these species search a tree over for hair- less larvae before they would eat one of the caterpillars of the gypsy moth, of which there were thousands on the tree. I do not question the correctness of any of these observa- tions. Certain fowls or flocks of fowls in the infested region ate the caterpillars with avidity, while other individ- uals or flocks would not touch them. The same individual preference was noticed among toads. It appears that the presence of a great number of hair- less larvae has the indirect effect of lessening the number of gypsy moth caterpillars destroyed by birds. When canker- worms are plentiful, the birds eat comparatively few of the hairy caterpillars until the canker-worms have disappeared. Although many gypsy moth caterpillars were eaten very early in the season of 1895 by the orioles, vireos and other birds, these caterpillars received very little attention later, when the growing canker-worms became more noticeable. Most of the birds then devoted their attention to the canker- worms. About June 10, when the canker-worms had mostly, disappeared, the birds again attacked the gypsy moth larvae and continued to feed upon them for some time. Their appe- tites for these insects appeared finally to wane, having been apparently cloyed by an excessive diet of hairy caterpillars. It has been noticed that sometimes birds tire of a monotonous diet, and that they will even cease to feed for a time upon a favorite insect prey. This may partially account for the fact mentioned by Grimm, that the birds forsook the Russian forest which had been devastated by the gypsy moth. Yet this would not be a sufficient reason to account for a continued absence, as birds often return to feast again after a change of diet. But the lack of shade, water and green food, all of which together make a region unfit for the habitation of wood birds, may have driven them for a time from the devastated forest. In the infested district in Massachusetts forest birds will not remain constantly through the hot summer days in woodland which has been stripped by the gypsy moth, but will betake themselves to shaded glades and brooksides, mak- ing frequent sallies into the bare, infested woods to feed on the pest. BIRDS FEEDING ON THE MOTH. 223 Birds attracted to Infested Localities. The attraction of birds to infested localities and the num- bers of gypsy moths destroyed by them there may be best realized by visiting a badly infested spot at a season when all forms of the insect are to be found upon the trees. At such a time the birds which feed upon the moth may be observed to the best advantage. For this purpose one should rise before daybreak and be on the ground before sunrise, as many birds are in active pursuit of insects at that time. Upon approaching at dawn a badly infested spot in wood- land, the stroke of a flitting wing, the rustle of dead leaves, an occasional shower of scattering dewdrops, a chirp or alarm note heard here and there, all denote the presence of birds in the woods. Their forms are still hidden or only dimly visible in the uncertain, growing morning light. The infested spot has the appearance of an opening or clearing. We emerge in what appears to be a dead forest. The trees wear no foli- age. The pines, oaks, birches, poplars and wild cherries are stripped and bare. The few leaves which still hang upon the young maples and walnuts only accentuate the general naked- ness. There are sounds, not of the wind or storm, and yet akin to these, pervading the woods, — sounds as of dry leaves stirred by a rising breeze, mingled with those of the tine pattering raindrops of sudden showers. These are caused by the hosts of gypsy caterpillars which have devastated the woods. The sound of their feeding is in the air, their excreta rattle like raindrops on the dead leaves. As the rising sun throws level beams across the hillside, the tracery of the bare, interlacing branches and twigs is reproduced upon the barren upright rocks of a rugged ledge. There is little or no summer green, except the moss on the stones along the stream, and a few small shrubs which have not yet been wholly stripped. Upon the bare trees, especially those near the edges of the defoliated tract, hundreds of thousands of hairy caterpillars swarm. Many of them are now hurrying down the trunks and crawling away to places of concealment, seeking shelter from the sun's rays. Many more, having been travelling perhaps throughout the night 224 THE GYPSY MOTH. in search of food, are still crawling in search of it, either on trees or upon the ground. Masses or swarms of caterpil- lars are clustered in every sheltered place ; thousands are feeding on the leaves of trees near the borders of the deso- lated area. The pupae hang in bunches under the limbs and in the crevices of the larger trees. Many female moths are just emerging from the chrysalides, and others are drying their wings. This is the appearance presented by a wood- land colony of the gypsy moth on a July morning. Seated here, somewhat screened by the remaining herbage on the borders of the stripped tract, we may observe the strusrsrle for existence between the moth and other forms of life. From the harsh semi-conversational notes beard, first solemn and wary, then growing animated and cheerful, we judge that a crow is feeding its fledged young in the vicinity. Soon the crows are seen flying near. They alight about forty yards away by the brook, and the old bird, go- ing to a clump of bushes, feeds her young time after time with something she takes from among the stems. With a glass we can see her take the larvae and pupae and put them into the open beaks of her eager young. The old bird now finds a female moth and passes it to one of the brood. Soon becoming alarmed by some movement on our part, they fly away to some pines, where in the high branches they resume their feeding. An examination of the bushes they have just left shows that the old crow has taken nearly all the larvae, pupae and moths from the clump, leaving only a few moult skins and spun threads to mark the recent ex- istence of the moth there. A family of chickadees now appear. Flitting about among the trees, they begin to catch and eat the larvae. One picks up a large caterpillar, places both feet upon it and eats out the viscera, leaving the head and skin. Another pecks a caterpillar into small pieces and apparently eats most of the pieces. Number one now flies some ten yards with a large larva which it has just seized. Alighting on a convenient limb, the bird hammers its prey awhile and finally drops it, mutilated and dying, to the ground. Another bird tears a female moth in pieces, eating only the contents of the abdo- men. All devote more or less time to killing the pupae, eat- BIRDS FEEDING ON THE MOTH. 225 ino 1 only a small portion of each. Thus with cheery chirp and call they flit about through the woods, killing and eat- ing as they go. A red-eyed vireo alights on a branch within six feet of us, and, picking three half-grown larvae from the leaves, swallows them head first and flies away towards the brook. Something is scratching in the leaves a few yards away. With the glass we can see four towhees scratching and digging like chickens. They are searching for the pupae which they greedily eat. If a male moth flies low overhead, one of these birds will leap from the ground and capture it. They search about upon the ground and among the small shrubs and seize the newly emerged females, beating them on the ground and finally swallowing them. A lone cuckoo whose dismal notes we have just heard now comes down from a near-by tree, alights on a small sapling and proceeds to breakfast. It picks off fourteen caterpillars, one by one, hammers the larger ones a little and then swallows them whole. A family of brown thrushes is busy by the brook. With the glass one of them can be plainly seen in the act of taking pupae from the stem of one of the larger bushes. A family of five black-and-white creeping warblers come in sight. They run and climb about on the trunks and branches of the stripped trees, picking up the smaller larvae of the gypsy moth and other insects, and now and then darting into the air after flying male moths or pecking at the females. These females they rarely eat and sometimes do not mate- rially injure, though they knock many of them off the trees. One female which falls is snapped up by a towhee which springs from the ground to take it in the air. A single Baltimore oriole flies in, looks about as if out of its element, catches several larvae and disappears in the direction of the highway. The harsh cries of the blue jays have been ring- ing for some time through the woods. One at a time, five jays pass among the trees. With the glass we can see two of them taking the large larvae from a tree trunk. They fly with them to branches or to the ground, and eat them there. You can plainly see the jays as they take the cater- pillars in their bills, but they are so shy that they will not remain long within our range of vision. Now the chicka- dees are back again. One of them takes twelve pupae in 226 THE GYPSY MOTH. succession, carries each one to a limb, pecks it open and drops it upon the ground. As the sun grows warmer the number of male moths in zigzag flight increases. It is now six o'clock, and the snap- ping of bills heard on all sides tells us that the flycatchers are in the woods. Seven king birds are hunting the male moths. They catch scores of them, and occasionally they pick off a female or capture a falling larva. One of these birds comes in over the tree tops and hangs suspended on hovering wings. Suddenly dropping toward the earth, it picks up a fluttering female moth, and, flying to a limb, with a single snap of the bill divests the insect of both wings and swallows it. The bird then looks to right and left, flies from its perch, catches a male moth in mid-air, returns to its perch, swallows the moth and calls cheerily to its mate. The other king birds are all busy in like manner. As they seem to have settled down to remain for some time, we will keep tally of such moths as we can actually see them take at close range. Several chipping sparrows now appear hopping about on the ground. Now and then one picks up a half-grown larva. They are pecking and eating the female moths. They also chase and capture a low-flying male moth. Two catbirds are searching the thicket along the brook. They are taking pupte from the ground and dead leaves and also from the leaves and twigs of the low bushes, but we can see this only occasionally, as most of the time the birds are hidden from view. The crows went when the king birds came, but the flycatchers are still hawking about. As the reflected heat of the summer sun is radiated from the earth, the newly emerged male moths gain life and vigor from its warmth, and fly in large numbers through the woods. Three least flycatchers, two phcebes and several wood pewees are in sight and pursue the moths most of the time. At half-past nine the king birds have disappeared. Our tally sheet shows that we have seen them take seventy-nine male and twenty-four female moths. Tbey were watched only a portion of the time, but were feeding quite constantly. It is safe to say that between 6.15 and 9.30 they have killed two hundred and fifty male moths. The number of females taken cannot be so readily estimated. BIRDS FEEDING ON THE MOTH. 227 One chipping sparrow lias been seen to take five females ; six least flycatchers, thirty-one males and nine females ; two wood pewees, twenty-two males and seven females. These birds were most of the time at a considerable distance from the point of observation, and it was only now and then when they approached quite near that their actions could be dis- tinctly seen. The phcebe appears to have taken male moths only. The towhees took eighteen moths, male and female, while on the ground. They then went into the trees, and while there moved on and were lost to view. A male yellow warbler appeared and was seen to eat a larva and a female moth. The oriole came again, taking four larvae. Redstarts, creeping warblers and chickadees come and go, feeding on the moth, but it is impossible to follow them and also watch the other birds. It is now eleven o'clock. The birds have nearly all left the hot and barren land of the defoliated hill- side, and are resting or feeding quietly in the shade among the leaves, where they cannot be so readily watched. Let us now go to an infested orchard a mile away, where not all the trees have been stripped by the caterpillars. Here we find some species of birds represented that were seen in the morning in the woods, but the catbird, the towhee, the creepers, the redstart, the wood pewee and the crow are absent. Yet we find here the robin, bluebird, yellow- throated vireo, flicker and house wren, all of which feed more or less upon the moth. As the afternoon advances, seven black-billed and four yellow-billed cuckoos are seen feeding on the larvae and pupre. There are yellow warblers, chickadees, half a dozen orioles, several chipping sparrows and other birds in the orchard. The few infested orchard trees appear to be much better protected by birds than the woodland, and the moth has not made so much progress here. In the waning summer afternoon we return to the woods, where, as the shadows lengthen, the birds again are busy. The kiug birds and other flycatchers and the chickadees are especially diligent. The king birds are now eating many of the female moths. A solitary scarlet tanager hammers a female moth upon a branch, shearing off its wings and then eating its abdomen. In the advancing; shadows of the 228 THE GYPSY MOTH. approaching night many sparrows are seen hopping along the ground, where they find their evening meal. Although the birds are quite silent and it is impossible to make out the species as they move among the shadows, the white female moths can be plainly seen as the birds pick them up in their bills. Some fifty birds are seen busily feeding on the moth as we walk through the stripped woodland once more before leaving for the night.* Birds which destroy the Various Forms of the Moth. The birds which have been found preying upon the gypsy moth may be classified as follows : — Birds feeding on the larvae — chickadee, downy wood- pecker, wood thrush, yellow-billed cuckoo, black-billed cuckoo, yellow warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tana- ger, black-and-white creeping warbler, red-eyed vireo, chip- ping sparrow, oriole, blue jay, yellow-throated vireo, crow, catbird, black-throated green warbler, redstart, wood pewee, robin, English sparrow, least flycatcher, wren, Maryland yellow-throat, chestnut-sided warbler, brown thrush, purple grackle, oven bird, white-eyed vireo, bluebird, flicker. Birds feeding on the pupae — yellow-billed cuckoo, black- billed cuckoo, chickadee, yellow-throated vireo, towhee, hairy woodpecker, scarlet tanager, crow, catbird, oriole, blue jay, phoebe, English sparrow, brown thrush, king bird, wood pewee, bluebird, yellow warbler. Birds feeding on the male moths — king bird, chickadee, oriole, redstart, yellow warbler, towhee, wood pewee, yellow- throated vireo, red-eyed vireo, great-crested flycatcher, black- and-white creeping warbler, least flycatcher, phoebe, brown thrush, oven bird, English sparrow, chipping sparrow, blue- bird, indigo bird. Birds feeding on the female moths — king bird, chicka- dee, towhee, great-crested flycatcher, phoebe, black-and-white creeping warbler, red-eyed vireo, crow. Birds which possibly eat the eggs — downy woodpecker, chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, English spar- row. * This description of the feeding of birds upon the gypsy moth is taken from notes made in the field. BIRDS FEEDING ON THE MOTH. 229 Do Birds feed on the Eggs of the Moth? The field agents employed in the gypsy moth work have often noticed egg-clusters of the moth which appeared to have been pecked open by birds. A large number of egg- clusters in the woods presented this appearance. Occasion- ally a bird was seen apparently pecking or eating the eggs. A single species which would feed on the eggs during all the winter months would be far more useful than many feeding on the caterpillars during the summer. The eggs are so minute that a bird feeding on them would destroy in one day more individuals of the species than another could in one hundred days by feeding on the large caterpillars. It could find these eggs for nine months of the year, whereas the cat- erpillars are to be found for less than five months. The de- struction of the eggs also prevents all injury to vegetation by the caterpillars, while if the eggs are allowed to hatch, the caterpillars may do considerable damage before they are killed. Wishing to do all possible toward protecting and fostering egg-eating birds, I determined to learn by accurate observa- tion and dissection whether any of our native birds were destroying any considerable number of the eggs. For this purpose Mr. Bailey was requested to watch birds during a part of the winter of 1894-95. He selected several stations for observation, one in an orchard and others in the woods of the Middlesex Fells. The stations in the woods were chosen because of the abundance of the egg-clusters of the gypsy moth in the vicinity of each. The station in the orchard was surrounded by a high board fence, built to prevent in- terference from without, and several hundred egg-clusters of the gypsy moth were exposed on a single tree. At all these stations bait was hung upon the trees for the purpose of attracting birds. Pieces of beef bone, suet, waste meat and grain were used to attract the different species. Crows, jays, nuthatches, titmice, kinglets, woodpeckers and tree creepers soon found the bait and made frequent visits to the infested trees. The birds soon became so accustomed to the presence of the observer that they would feed within a few feet of him. 230 THE GYPSY MOTH. The chickadees became so tame that they would sometimes alight upon his hat or coat sleeve. They would come like a flock of chickens to be fed, and some would feed on limbs within three feet of his face. Occasionally one would even take food from his hand. In a short time chickadees, nut- hatches, creepers and downy woodpeckers became so tame that their feeding habits could be closely watched. Then observations were begun. A downy woodpecker was seen to strike an egg-cluster, scattering the eggs over the snow ; yet the bird did not eat any of them. On close examination it was seen that the eggs as well as some of the bark on which they rested had been removed by the bird to get at the larva of some insect which happened to lie under this bark. The birds which came to the bait on the infested trees Avere there many times each day for about three months, yet the eggs were seldom molested. During all this time, how- ever, the birds were feeding daily on eggs and other hibernat- ing forms of other injurious insects, of which they destroyed large numbers. Thirty-eight visits were made in one after- noon by birds to one tree on which were sixty-five gypsy egg-clusters. The birds all came within three or four feet of these eggs ; two of them even perched on egg-clusters, but they did not eat or even notice the eggs. Whether the result would have been the same had there been no meat for them to feed on, we cannot say ; yet, as they were constantly destroying the eggs of other insects, and as they occasionally pecked the egg-clusters of the gypsy moth but did not eat the eggs, it is fair to assume that they will not do so unless perhaps when driven to it by extreme hunger. As from observations made on birds in confinement it seemed prob- able that the hairs with which the egg-clusters are covered were disagreeable to the birds, an experiment was made to see if they would eat the eggs when the hair was removed. For this purpose some hundreds of eggs denuded of hair were glued upon a twig or stick in close proximity to the meat. The birds attacked the bait as usual, but if they ate any of the eggs it was not observed, although a few were knocked or pecked off. They would not eat the eggs even when they were cleaned of hair and distributed over the meat. No birds were actually seen to eat any of the BIRDS FEEDING ON THE MOTH. 231 eggs. One hundred and ninety-one egg-clusters were put upon a tree to which from ten to thirty chickadees came daily. Only seventeen of these clusters were pecked open. In each case the bird was seen in the act. The eggs were pecked off or taken in the beak and dropped to the ground. A few blows would generally suffice to knock off most of the eggs. Ten birds which were pecking at the eggs were shot, but in no case were either the eggs or any portions of them found in the stomach or intestines. The observations showed that the egg-clusters were some ■ times pecked off by nuthatches, either in a search for hiber- nating larvte or pupse hidden beneath the clusters, or to secure the larvse of predaceous insects which bore into the egg-clusters and feed upon the eggs. No bird has actually been proved to feed upon the eggs except the English spar- row. One of these birds which was kept in confinement ate a few of these eggs from time to time when deprived of other food, but did not appear to relish them. It appears that very little can be expected from our native birds in this respect, unless they acquire a taste for the eggs. Yet many egg-clusters have been found which appear to have been pecked open or eaten by birds. The cause of this appear- ance was sought, and it was seen that squirrels and wood- peckers when climbing about on the trunks and branches of trees frequently tore off the eggs in running or climbing over the in, so that they presented much the same appearance as those actually pecked into by birds. The gray and red squirrels were seen in the act, as well as several species of birds. Chickadees have frequently been seen by men em- ployed in the woods to peck these egg-clusters, and several observations seemed to indicate that birds were feeding on them. The woodpeckers occasionally knocked them off the trees. Considering the prying, thieving nature of the jays, it is quite probable that they may peck into the egg-clusters and eat the eggs. Though the eggs are so tough that the smaller titmice might have difficulty in breaking their shells, the more powerful beak of the jay would easily accomplish this. In Europe, woodpeckers, creepers and titmice are said to perform great service by eating the eggs of the gypsy moth. 232 THE GYPSY MOTH. Altum says that in the year 1848 endless numbers of the larvae of the gypsy moth had eaten every leaf from the trees of Count Wodzicki. In the fall all the trunks and branches were covered with the egg-clusters. Having recognized the uselessness of the attempt to remove them by hand, he finally o-ave up all his endeavors, and prepared to see his beautiful trees die. Toward winter numerous flocks of titmice and wrens came daily to the trees. The egg-clusters disap- peared. In the spring twenty pairs of titmice nested in the place, and the caterpillar plague was noticeably reduced. In the year 1850 the birds had so cleared his trees that he saw them during the entire summer in their most beautiful verdure.* Reaumur says that the larvse of the gypsy moth were very numerous in 1826 on the lines of the Allee Verteat Brussels. Many of the trees were stripped, and if one-half the eggs which were deposited that year had hatched, scarcely a leaf would have been left the next season, either there or in the park, where the eggs were numerous also ; yet two months afterward hardly one was to be seen. This destruction of the eggs he attributes to titmice, tree creepers and other small birds. f The Introduction of European Birds. If it is true that these European birds are so very useful in this respect, the comparative immunity of many European regions from the attacks of the gypsy moth may be due in a measure to their efforts. If such be the case, their introduc- tion into Massachusetts may well be thoughtfully considered. If introduced into a new country these feathered egg hunters might thrive and multiply exceedingly, and if the eggs of the gypsy moth are to them a familiar food, they would probably seek these eggs here in preference to the unfamiliar insect eggs which they would find. Such birds might in this way prove as useful as a small army of men. Yet what com- pensation would they exact for this service ? * " Forstzoologie," Vol. II., page 324, 1880. f "An Introduction to Entomology," by Kirby and Spence, Philadelphia, 1846, page 152. INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN BIRDS. 233 When the introduction of any bird or other animal from a foreign country is proposed, great care should be exercised to study thoroughly all phases of the subject. Often, when such importations have been made without careful scientific investigation, they have proved very expensive mistakes. The importation of the rabbit into Australia, the mongoose into Jamaica, and the sparrow into America and Australia, are familiar examples. The English sparrow was introduced here for the express purpose of suppressing such native pests as the larvse of the canker-worm moths. If previous to its introduction its habits had been carefully studied in Europe by a competent man appointed for the purpose by the United States government, its introduction might have been prevented. This exotic species, the value of which is doubted in its native home, was brought here to perform a task which native American species might have accomplished much bet- ter had they been protected and encouraged in our parks as the sparrow was. There are in Europe at least six different species of titmice. All of them are found in some of the countries where dispar is native. They are all recognized as eminently beneficial, and are regarded by foresters, entomologists and ornitholo- gists as among the most useful species in controlling noxious insects. Could they be successfully introduced here, they might do a vast amount of good not only in destroying the eggs of the gypsy moth but the larvae also, as well as the eggs of many other injurious insects. It is difficult to imag- ine that any harm could come from the introduction of these insectivorous birds, unless they should change their habits in some way or drive out our native species, especially the black-cap titmouse or chickadee, and fail to eat the females and eggs of the canker-worm moths which the chickadee devours in such quantities.* If that should happen, it would indeed be a catastrophe, as the chickadee is one of the most useful of all our native birds. No importation of birds should be blindly attempted. An * The great titmouse (Parus major) has been known to attack other birds and break open their skulls, eating their brains. Some species of European tit- mice are believed to do some injury to plantations of young trees by destroying buds or leaves. 234 THE GYPSY MOTH. exhaustive study of their food habits should first be made in their native home, and all the possibilities of their intro- duction should be well considered. The English Sparrow and the Gypsy Moth. The English sparrow has been seen to feed on all forms of the gypsy moth ; yet this bird in its relations to dispar is injurious rather than beneficial to man. That its name appears so frequently in the records of observations is due to the fact that it has been for years the most common bird in villages and cities of the infested region, and that it is known to many observers who would be unable to identify most other birds. The sparrow was introduced into Boston Common in 1868. It is recorded that in 1871 it had reached Somerville, and in 1873 Lynn and Cambridge. It undoubtedly appeared in Medford about the same time, as Somerville adjoins both Medford and Cambridge, while Lynn is some ten miles east of Boston.* While it is no doubt true that native birds were a great factor in holding the moth in check during the first eight or ten years of its existence in this country when its numbers were few, it is equally true that the rapid distribution and increasing numbers of the English sparrow later from 1875 to 1885 in the region infested resulted in driving out many native birds. The bluebirds, wrens, house swallows and martins were the first to leave, for as the sparrows multiplied they took by force the bird houses and cavities formerly occu- pied by these birds, compelling them to seek nesting-places elsewhere. As the sparrows further multiplied, their quarrel- some disposition impelled them to attack and drive away other birds found around their nesting-places. What they could not do singly they accomplished by force of numbers, until comparatively few native birds were able to breed in the immediate vicinity of the towns and villages. It is undoubt- edly true that the sparrow did something toward compensat- * See " The English sparrow in America," United States Department of Agricult- ure, 1889, page 21. I am informed by Mr. Walter Wright of Medford that his father, Elizur Wright, liberated several pairs of sparrows in Medford about that time. THE ENGLISH SPAEEOW. 235 ins for this exile of insect-eating birds by destroying some of the smaller gypsy caterpillars and occasionally killing some moths or even eating a few moth eggs ; but it was noticeable that wherever the sparrow was most plentiful in the infested region, there also the gypsy moth became most numerous. This was due partly to a distribution of both species along the same highways and partly to the indirect pro- tection extended by the sparrow to the moth in driving away the latter's enemies among native birds. The caterpillars used the bird boxes occupied by the sparrows as a place of retreat, and the female moths deposited their eggs in these boxes. Sparrows and caterpillars formed a sort of happy family in the bird houses, which swarmed with both birds and insects. By driving the native birds away the sparrow became in a measure responsible for the phenomenal increase of the gypsy moth in numbers and its consequent destructiveness in Med- ford. The increase of some other injurious insects has been noticed wherever the sparrow has become so plentiful as to banish native birds.* The trees in Boston and some of the towns in its vicinity have often suffered injury from invasions of the Orgyia ieucostigma, or white-marked tussock moth, caused indirectly by this sparrow. The sparrow, having driven away the native birds, fails to make good their loss by destroying the hairy caterpillars. The ravages of leaf-feeding beetles (Chrysomela scalaris) have also become noticeable upon elm trees in localities most frequented by the sparrow. The imported elm-leaf beetle (Galeruca xanthomelcend) has also been most injurious in cities where the sparrow is abundant. The Distribution of the Moth by Birds. The dissemination of the moth in woodlands seems to indi- cate that it is distributed more or less by birds. This theory is substantiated by our observations. Isolated colonies of the moth are sometimes found in the vicinity of the nests of the larger land birds, such as crows, jays and robins. Occasionally birds flying to their nests with food for their * Second report on the " Injurious and other insects of the State of New York," by J. A. Linter, Albany, 1885, pages 80-82. 236 THE GYPSY MOTH. young drop caterpillars or other insects. "VYe have a few instances on record where the gypsy moth caterpillars have been dropped in this way, and in one case at least the cater- pillar was not materially injured. Inspector Sanderson saw a wood thrush take a large cater- pillar from a tree and fly off with it. The caterpillar wrig- gled in the bird's hill and finally fell when the bird had flown a few yards. The bird did not come hack for it. On July 6, 1895, Mr. Bailey saw a blue jay flying over the woods in Saugus. It was flying about thirty yards from the earth, and appeared to be making quite a long flight. As it came near him he observed that it was carrying something in its beak, and he immediately shot at it with his revolver, not with the intention of killing the bird, but to make it drop what it was carrying. It dropped a large gypsy moth caterpillar, very nearly full grown. Mr. Bailey picked up the caterpillar, which appeared to be uninjured. He had watched the bird's flight for some distance, and thought it came about half a mile. The bird continued its flight north- ward, carrying the remainder of the food in its bill. Mr. Bailey kept and fed the larva, which pupated on July 12. A female moth emerged from the pupa on July 29, appar- ently in tine health. It is not an uncommon occurrence for birds when suddenly frightened to drop food, and when carrying several larvae in the beak at once, the oue nearest the end of the beak would be the one most likely to be dropped and also the one least liable to injury by the beak. Birds sometimes carry in- sects a short distance without any apparent purpose. Mr. Bailey saw a chickadee take seven larva? from a tree and fly away with them, dropping them ten feet or more from the tree. Three of these larvae were not injured. He also saw a least flycatcher carry away three female moths, only one of which it ate. One was dropped at a distance of twenty-live yards from the tree from which it was taken. There is- another way in which the caterpillars may be dis- tributed by birds. They are often hatched in holes of trees and in bird houses frequented by birds, especially by the English sparrow. When flrst hatched in such places, they are likely to spin down on their threads, and bird houses BIRDS DISTRIBUTING THE MOTH. 237 and hollow trees have been found in which these spinning caterpillars were very numerous. The caterpillars may be- come attached to the feathers of birds which pass to and fro, and in this way may be carried short distances. Yet the danger of distribution by the accidental dropping of eater- pillars by birds in flight does not appear to be so great as that resulting from the dropping of caterpillars at the nest. It occasionally happens that hairy caterpillars wriggle out of the mouths of the young birds and are dropped into or below the nests. Mr. Bailey saw an oriole take to its young a caterpillar so large that the latter could not eat it. The young bird placed its foot upon the caterpillar, and drawing backward ejected and dropped it upon the ground. The old birds occasionally dropped food at the nest. Mr. Bailey watched a pair of chickadees bringing food to their young. They appeared to fly about half a mile to an orchard infested with the canker- worm, returning to the nest about once in twelve minutes with food. These birds dropped a few of the canker-worms just outside the nest. A new colony of moths was discov- ered in Cambridge not far from a badly infested locality. The appearance of the colony indicated that it was started by crows, as the larva? were scattered all about in the vicinity of the crows' nest. If several caterpillars of the same species are dropped in this way, there is a strong probability of a colony being formed in the vicinity of the nest. A bird may overlook a few caterpillars near its nest, preferring to go where caterpillars are plentiful rather than to search for them where they are scarce. It is probable, then, that the bird which is most useful in destroying caterpillars and which feeds the largest number to its young will be the most likely to aid in the distribution of the moth. The danger of dis- tribution would probably be greater in the case of the larger species of birds, were it not that a caterpillar seized in the bill of a crow would be more likely to be seriously injured than one taken in the bill of a small bird. The danger of distribution to distances of much more than half a mile by birds in this way does not seem to be great. Mr. Bailey watched a catbird taking food to her young. She flew back and forth about four times an hour. He 238 THE GYPSY MOTH. could see her go and come for at least a thousand yards. She flew about twenty-five yards from the earth, going straight from the locality in which her nest was situated to the locality from which she procured the food. Other small birds have been known to fly an equal distance to secure food for their young. The distribution of caterpillars by birds goes to prove the rule that nature does not usually work for the extermination of species. While the birds are very useful as assistants in the work of extermination by destroying the gypsy moths, they hinder the work to some extent by distributing the larvse and the female moths. No appreciable distribution of caterpillars by birds will occur, however, except when caterpillars are present in large numbers, for then only will birds go to a distance to secure caterpillars as food for their young. Probably no other form of dissemination of caterpillars by birds will materially extend the moth's distribution even under the most favorable conditions. Wherever the caterpillars are present in large numbers in a settled country, they will be carried much far- ther and scattered abroad more widely by man and domestic animals than by birds. In woodlands remote from civiliza- tion, birds might be the principal factor in diffusing the moth to a short distance from badly infested spots, but the distribution of the moth in such places is not of so much moment as in cultivated and settled regions. If the moth were allowed to increase and spread over the whole State, we may infer that all possible distribution by birds would be of little importance as compared with the good they would do in checking the increase of the moth. In towns where the moths are few and where most of them have been already destroyed, and especially in small isolated colonies, birds are very useful allies in the work of extermi- nation. In such localities they take the caterpillars only when they come in their way, and rarely carry them to their young unless the nests are quite near the infested spot. Undoubtedly in many such cases birds have contributed as much toward the extermination of the moth as have the men employed in the work of extermination. Where the cater- pillars are few, therefore, birds render efficient assistance in BIRDS DISTRIBUTING THE MOTH. 239 the work of extermination. As this work progresses, birds become more and more useful as destroyers of the moth and less dangerous as disseminators of the insect. There appears to be little if any danger of the distribu- tion of fertile female gypsy moths by birds, for, though birds have frequently been seen to carry the female moths a few feet or yards, the observations of five years have not afforded an instance of their carriage to a greater distance. The per- fect moths are to be found only in midsummer and later, a time when all of the larger and most of the smaller birds have no young in the nest. It is not probable that the birds distribute the eggs of the moth to any appreciable extent, though they undoubtedly scatter them somewhat by pecking egg-clusters from the trees. As it was known that many of the scattered eggs hatch, when denuded of their hairy covering, it seemed im- portant to determine whether birds would break the egg shells in feeding on the eggs, and whether unbroken eggs would pass through the digestive tract of a bird without in- jury to the shell and hatch if left exposed under natural conditions. Birds might thus distribute the moth as widely as they are known to distribute certain plants by scattering undigested seeds. A confined sparrow was fed upon the eggs of the moth, and it was found that most of them were broken by the bird's bill, or in the process of digestion ; yet some were passed entire. A similar experiment was made with the crow. As the crows would not eat the eggs of the moth unless disguised in food more to their taste, these eggs were inserted in the bodies of grasshoppers and other large insects, and while thus covered were swallowed by the crows. A small proportion of these esrgs were passed with the shell unbroken, but the life of the eggs appears to have been destroyed, as they are now drying up. This indicates that there is no danger of a distribution of living eggs to a distance by egg-eating birds. Although, as has been shown, certain species of birds undoubtedly assist in the distribution of the moth by carry- ing the caterpillars about, birds do much to prevent distribu- tion not only by reducing the numbers of the caterpillars, but by capturing male moths in search of isolated females, 240 THE GYPSY MOTH. thereby preventing the fertilization of scattered females and the establishment of new colonies of the moth. Under the most favorable circumstances in open country and with favor- ing wind and weather the male will occasionally find a female at a distance of half a mile. It is probable that in orchards or woodlands the scent of the female does not travel so far. In any case a male flying some distance to a female would wander about a good deal before finding its mate. In the mean time it must run the gauntlet of the flycatchers, spar- rows, warblers and all the birds which so frequently capture flying males. It is to these birds a shining mark, and, although its flight is swift and eccentric, they readily follow and easily capture it. When flying low in the open land male moths are often pursued and captured by sparrows, They may also be captured by swallows, but this has never been observed. Experiments made in trapping male moths by attracting them to females have often failed because of the number of these moths captured Irr birds. Birds will sometimes capture every male moth before it reaches the trap. Therefore certain species do much in this way to compensate for the injury which they or others may do in distributing the moth. Birds versus Useful Insects. In their destruction of gypsy moths birds sometimes destroy parasites of these insects. The parasites within the caterpillars and pupae are eaten together with their hosts. Yet the immediate destruction of caterpillars by birds is of more importance to man than the lingering death which is caused by the parasite. The larvae of hymenopterous parasites feed almost exclusively on the fatty portions of the insects which they attack, thus allowing them to live, feed and grow, and do as much damage to vegetation as if they were not parasitized. When the caterpillar has finished feeding, or later when it has pupated, the parasite, having eaten the greater portion of the fatty substance, eats out the vitals, thus killing its host. The bird, on the contrary, snaps up the caterpillar at once, thus preventing further injury to the tree. The question then arises, would the parasite unhindered be more effectual in checking the rav- BIRDS VERSUS INSECTS. 241 ages of its host than the bird ? It is possible that, should predaceous birds, insects and other enemies be insufficient in holding the moth in check, the conditions in the course of years, after great damage had been done, would be so favorable for the multiplication of insect parasites that they might check for a time the ravages of the moth. Experience in many countries shows that, where other enemies of a pest fail to hold it in check, insect parasites, starvation and epidemic diseases sometimes put an end for the time being to the plague. In addition to the destruction of parasites, together with the host, some ichneumons and tachinid flies are captured in the imago form by the flycatchers. Birds also destroy some of the predaceous insects. This is especially true of robins, jays and crows. Yet Pro- fessor Forbes has shown that the destruction of such insects by birds is not necessarily an evil.* The bugs which appear to be most useful in the destruction of the moth are believed to have some immunity from the attacks of birds by reason of their pungent secretions. Crows, however, destroy cer- tain of these bugs. Conclusions. Our present knowledge of birds as enemies of the gypsy moth in Massachusetts points to the following conclusions : — At least a dozen species are very useful in this respect ; probably twenty-five others are more or less useful, when the moths become very numerous, or when other species of insects which these birds prefer are scarce. Birds destroy larger numbers of the gypsy caterpillars when the canker-worms or other hairless larvse are scarce than when they are plentiful. Although birds gather in localities infested by the moth for the purpose of feeding on the caterpillars, they do not flock to such infested localities in such numbers as they do to regions infested by migrating locusts or by hairless cater- pillars. Birds are particularly useful in preventing the increase of small colonies of the moth, and in this respect are allies to * Bulletin No. 3, Illinois State Laboratory Natural History, November, 1880, page 83. 242 THE GYPSY MOTH. man in the work of extermination. A few cases are noted in which such colonies appear to have been exterminated by birds. They are also useful in checking the increase of the moth in large colonies. More species of birds are found attacking the moth in orchards than in woodlands, though woodland birds often visit orchards situated near their usual haunts, and orchard birds visit badly infested colonies in woodlands. While birds are very useful in restraining local ravages of the moth, it is probable that should the moth be allowed to spread over the whole State, its increase would so outrun the numbers of birds that they would have no appreciable effect in checking its most serious outbreaks. The injury done by birds in distributing the moth and destroying parasites and other useful insects appears to be of' little importance when compared with the good they do in destroying the moth. If laws for the protection of birds were enforced, and if birds were fostered, encouraged and protected generally by citizens, there is no doubt that their efficiency as insect de- stroyers could be greatly increased. The most important service that could be rendered by birds in the case of the gypsy moth would be the destruction of the eggs. This service, supplemented by that of destroying the other forms of the moth in summer, would be of very material benefit. As no American birds appear to eat the eggs to any extent, it would be well to investigate thoroughly the habits of European egg-eating species, with a view to their introduc- tion into Massachusetts, if this should be found desirable. The Protection of Birds. It is quite evident that by pursuing a policy for the pro- tection of birds, the number of birds in the region infested by the gypsy moth and their efficiency as insect police could be greatly increased. While the present laws for the pro- tection of insectivorous birds are wise in the main, no adequate provision is made for their enforcement, and they are consequently a dead letter to certain classes of people. A great many birds are killed and many nests broken up by boys. In the fall the country swarms with gunners. PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 243 Thousands of birds are killed for the milliners. The camps of Italians, where employees engaged in public works are quartered, furnish many of these gunners. These men will shoot birds of any kind, anywhere and on any man's premises. Everything that wears feathers is considered by them as fair game. The appointment of officers to enforce the bird laws might assist much in bird protection. Children in the public schools should be taught the usefulness of birds, and it should be generally considered a crime to destroy insect-eating birds. The farmer might as well allow men to steal his fruit and grain as to shoot the insect-eating birds on his premises. The number of birds destroyed by cats is astonishing. I have known a single cat to break up the nests of six pairs of birds in a day, destroying all the young and one of the old birds. Many wild and vagabond cats roam the woods and orchards and destroy thousands of birds. Outside the cities cats probably do enough injury by killing birds to much more than counterbalance all the benefit derived from them in the way of destroying rats and mice. A few traps prop- erly attended by a bright boy will do more towards clearing a place of rats and mice than half a dozen average cats. The number of such birds as nest in boxes or hollow trees can be increased by putting up boxes in which they may breed, and protecting them as far as possible from the English sparrow and other enemies. If evergreen hedges and patches of shrubbery are provided as retreats for birds to which they can ily when pursued by hawks, and if plenty of wild and cultivated fruit is grown in the vicinity, such a locality will be much frequented by birds. Birds may be attracted to infested localities in the winter or summer by supplying them with food and safe nesting- places. A people who protect and foster insectivorous birds cannot fail to add materially to the prosperity of agriculture. 244 THE GYPSY MOTH. The Progress of Extermination. The extermination of the gypsy moth was begun by the Commonwealth under a misapprehension of the facts. When the first great outbreak of the pest was brought to the atten- tion of the Legislature in 1890, it was believed that the moth was confined to cultivated lands in the town of Medford. This infested district was not supposed to exceed one-half mile in width and one and one-half miles in length. The difficulty and expense of extermination were consequently underestimated. An appropriation was made for the pur- pose of exterminating the moth in this small tract and preventing its spread to other parts of the State. In the attempt to exterminate the moth, the experience of the first year showed that the insect was not confined to Medford, and the commission of 1890 reported that fifty square miles were more or less infested. The experience of the second year proved that the moth was distributed over an area of over two hundred square miles, not only in cultivated lands but in waste and wood lands as well. The magnitude of the task undertaken by the Commonwealth then became apparent. Circumstances favoring Extermination. There are certain circumstances connected with the habitat of the moth, which, taken together with known facts in its life history, encourage the attempt to secure its extermina- tion. Limited Area Occupied. — The experience of five years confirms the belief that the moth is confined to a limited area on and near the coast line. Favorable Location. — The infested region is bounded on the east and south-east by the ocean, which prevents the spread of the moth in those directions. Much of the territory along the coast consists of salt marsh, in which the gypsy moth cannot live. The infested region is in the most populous portion of EXTERMINATION. 245 the State ; therefore tj^e extermination of the moth directly interests a large number of people. This fact assures the intelligent co-operation of many individuals. The original centre of infestation in the district was situated on a short line of railroad ending in Boston, and thus the danger of distribution by rail was not great. The Infested Area has been reduced. — As a result of the work of extermination, the region now occupied by the gypsy moth is considerably less than that occupied by it five years ago, when the work was begun. Slow Spreading. — The female moth does not fly. On this fact rests the principal hope of preventing the spread of the insect, and finally securing its extermination. Could the female moth fly, as does the male, the species would probably have been distributed long since over all eastern Massachusetts and adjacent parts of New England, if not farther. The moth occupied twenty years from the time of its introduction in spreading over the territory infested by it in 1891. The Moth hibernates in the Egg. — It remains in that form during most of the fall, the winter and early spring. The eggs are conspicuous, and an opportunity is thus given for inspecting the territory and discovering the colonies of the moth during the fall and winter months, while the trees are leafless and the insect is doing no damage. It is more feasible to exterminate an insect pest which may be attacked in the winter, when it is stationary for a fixed period, than to exterminate a species that can be reached only during the summer months, at which time its distribution is being effected. Obstacles to Extermination. Though there are many encouraging circumstances in connection with the problem, there are also serious obstacles to success. Enormous Reproductive Capacity of the Moth. — Its won- derful reproductive powers and its remarkable tenacity of life provide for a rapid increase and redistribution in an in- fested locality in the inspection of which a few moths may have been overlooked. 246 THE GYPSY MOTH. Many Food Plants. — Where the moth is abundant, it is found on nearly all plants of economic value. In inspecting a region in search of the moth it is necessary to examine all species of trees. It is therefore much more difficult and expensive to locate all the colonies than it would be were the insects confined to a few food plants. Other Obstacles. — The infested region being densely pop- ulated, the danger of local distribution and reinfestation by man and animals constantly passing and repassing infested centres is much greater than it would be were the district thinly populated. No one method can be depended upon for exterminating the moth. Nature often defeats an attempt to exterminate by a single process at a particular season of the year. The most approved methods applied singly frequently fail. Exterminative work must proceed day after day throughout the year, to insure success. Though every effort was made in 1891 to exterminate the moth from the region most in- fested, the inspection of 1892 gave abundant evidence of the impossibility of extermination in one year's time. In 1891 the destruction of the eggs was depended upon for extermi- nation. Yet caterpillars were found in 1892, even in those parts of the infested territory where the work had been most carefully done, and where the greater part of the eggs had been destroyed. Many of these came from eggs which had been scattered on the ground in the previous fall and winter before the work of destroying the clusters was begun. Eggs are sometimes thus scattered by the wind and rain, by people picking fruit or pruning or cutting trees, by birds and animals, or by various other causes. The female moth occasionally drops a few eggs upon the ground or in crevices of the bark, where they will escape the most thorough search. Spraying, as ordinarily done, will destroy only a small portion of the caterpillars. Bands of insect lime and other tree protectors merely prevent most of the caterpillars from ascending trees which have been first cleared of eggs. If thus kept out of trees, they will betake themselves to other plants. While the burlap bands afford a means of disposing of most of the caterpillars, there can be no cer- tainty of taking them all by this method. PLATE XXXVI. Men at work on the Dexter elm, Maiden. Prom a photograph. EXTERMINATION. 247 The Success of Local Extermination. The work of extermination was begun on the principle that, if the moths could be exterminated from one tree, they could be eradicated from any number of trees, providing the same kind of work that cleared the first tree could be carried on simultaneously over a large area. It was soon found that the moth could be cleared from trees of ordinary size by honest, thorough, intelligent labor. Yet many doubters asserted that it was impossible to clear the larger trees. Medford, being one of the oldest towns in the State, had many very large elms. This was also true of Maiden. It was believed by some of the residents that it would be im- possible to clear the moths from these trees except by the aid of a balloon. The largest tree in the infested region was selected for trial of the possibility of extermination. This tree is situated on the property of the Messrs. Dexter of Maiden, and stands in front of the old Dexter mansion. The tree has been owned by this family for more than two hundred years. If not the largest tree in the State, it is one of the largest.* Early in 1891 an attempt was made to clear the moths from the tree, and a gang of four men, who had had some experience, went to work upon it to destroy the eggs of the moth. After working for several days upon the tree they reported it cleared. Another gang of men was put at work upon the tree, and six hundred additional egg-clusters were discovered. Notwithstanding this, caterpillars appeared in the spring upon the tree. It was then sprayed thoroughly, an extension ladder sixty-five feet in length being used, together with several additional ladders placed in various parts of the tree. Later in the season all the holes in the limbs were covered or filled, and the few egg-clusters found were treated with creosote oil. In 1892 the tree was banded with tarred paper, which was kept constantly moist with a mixture of tree ink, tar and oil. A few caterpillars were found, however, on the tree, having hatched probably from scattered eggs left in the * The Dexter elm has the following dimensions: circumference at base, 29 feet; circumference six feet from ground, 21 feet; height, 110 feet; spread from north- east to south-west, 104 feet. Some of the branches of the tree are 3 feet in diameter. 248 THE GYPSY MOTH. crevices of the bark. In 1893 no caterpillars appeared, and no form of the moth has been found since 1892 upon the tree. In the inspections of the tree every care has been taken to go over it thoroughly, from its highest branches to the base of the trunk. The dead limbs have been removed and holes have been covered, but no other work has been necessary at the regular inspections. Plate XXXVI. shows men at work in the inspection of the tree. The extermination of the moth from many orchards was accomplished without much difficulty. Plate XXXVH. shows apple trees which were seriously injured during the season of 1891 by the gypsy moth. They were cleared of the moths and so treated that in 1892 they regained a large part of their foliage (Plate XXXVIH . ) . They have borne very little fruit, however, since 1891. Having learned that it was possible to clear the moth from any tree, it remained to be proved whether the creat- ure could be cleared from orchards or entire estates. Although in 1891 many estates appeared to have been cleared, there was still some doubt that the moths were exterminated from them. But the estates were examined again and again in succeeding years, and no moths were found except in a very few instances. The number of infested estates from which the moths had been cleared increased annually. Not only were estates cleared, but infested localities consisting of many estates were entirely freed from the moth. More than a thousand colonies in the infested region, some of them covering many estates, have been entirely cleared of the moth and have remained clear, until it has become an established fact that wherever the moths are found in open and cultivated lands, they can be exterminated. The diffi- culty of exterminating the moth in woodland has been found to be much greater. Yet, despite all obstacles, some of which at first seemed insurmountable, the moths have been cleared from certain infested localities in the woods. The destruction of all vegetation by fire will accomplish exter- mination in woodlands. But much of this infested woodland is retained by the Commonwealth for park purposes, and the destruction of the trees is out of the question, however much PLATE XXXVII. Apple trees stripped by caterpillars of the gypsy moth, Swampscott. From a photograph taken Aug. 5, 1891. : .*S*riK PLATE XXXVIII. View of the same trees in Swampscott a year later, after the moths had been cleared from the locality by the agents of the Board of Agriculture. From a photograph taken in July, 1892. EXTERMINATION. 249 the exigencies of the case might seem to warrant such a course. Therefore burlapping, banding, spraying and other means, less expeditious and in the end more expensive than fire, have been resorted to. These means call for larger appro- priations than have yet been made, and without such appro- priations, promptly granted, the extermination of the moth can never be accomplished. Though a continual advance in the work of extermination has been made annually in the outer towns of the infested district, though some of them appear quite and others nearly cleared of the moth, there is a section of woodland in the inner towns which is probably in a worse condition than it was in in 1891. Larger Appropriations Needed. While the agents of the Board have been engaged in pre- venting the spreading of the moth and prosecuting the work of extermination in the outer towns of the infested region, they have been unable to do much more with the means pro- vided than to check the moth's annual increase in the central towns. This partial policy, the inevitable consequence of the inadequate appropriations, has necessitated in the inner towns an annual repetition of the work and expense with- out any considerable advance towards extermination in those towns. As a result, while extermination has been success- ful over large areas, principally in the outer towns, the moths have increased in the comparatively neglected wood- land in the central towns. The Board is required by law to do all possible toward preventing the spread and securing the extermination of the gypsy moth in this Commonwealth. All possible with the means at hand has been undertaken. All the evidence obtainable goes to show that the spread of the moth into territory outside the region infested in 1891 has been prevented, and that extermination has been accom- plished both locally and over a considerable area, greatly reducing the infested territory. Our only hope of prevent- ing the spreading of the moth lies in doing everything possible to exterminate it. Therefore, whatever imperils the success of extermination, renders the prevention of the moth's dis- semination less certain. The expense of extermination has been greatly augmented and success retarded and gravely 250 THE GYPSY MOTH. imperilled by inadequate resources and repeated delays in making the annual appropriations. Unless ample appropri- ations are promptly granted, failure is certain. To continue the past policy of inadequate and belated ap- propriations may result sooner or later in the escape of the moth from the territory to which it is at present confined and its final distribution over the whole country. In such a case it might injure the agricultural interests beyond calculation. If the gypsy moth should be allowed to spread over the United States, the average farmer would be powerless, under the conditions prevailing in this country, to protect his or- chard, woodland or garden against the ravages of this insect. Whatever afi'ects the prosperity of the farmer affects the prosperity of the whole people. Knowing as we do that the moth feeds on nearly all forest and orchard trees and garden plants, knowing also the injury done in Europe within the past century by this insect, having learned by experience the greatly increased destructiveness of European insects when introduced here, and considering the annual damage now done to agriculture by insects in this country (estimated by an em- inent authority at three hundred and eighty million dollars), we can but view with alarm the possibility of the spread of this insect over the United States. There is no doubt in the minds of those acquainted with the facts that the gypsy moth can be held in check where it now is and that it can be exterminated if sufficient resources can be secured and vigorous measures taken. It would seem, then, that the general government should seize the opportunity now presented to stamp out the pest which Massachusetts undertook to exterminate as soon as it was publicly known that it was within her borders, reducing its numbers and the area of its dissemination by local extermination and thus far holding it in check. The policy of control or extermination of insect pests by governmental commissions, which has been so successful in certain European countries, might be applied to advantage in this case by the government of the United States. There are those who believe that neither the State nor nation should appropriate money for the extermination of this insect, but that land owners should be left to protect their own property from its ravages. According to Professor EXTERMINATION. 251 Fernald, this would prove to be the worst possible policy, as after the moths had spread over the State, the expense to land owners would be enormous as compared with the expense of the work as carried on by the State in the present re- stricted territory. He makes the following comparison in his report on the work of 1895, made to the gypsy moth committee of the State Board of Agriculture : — "The value of the taxable property in this State is $2,429,832,966, and an appropriation of $200,000 is a tax of less than one-twelfth of a mill on a dollar. A man having taxable property to the amount of $5,000 would have to pay a tax of only 41 cents and 6 mills. This beggarly sum of money would make but a small show in the work of clearing the gypsy moth caterpillars from an infested $5,000 farm* while in the uninfested parts of the State the land owners would be paying an exceedingly small premium to the State to insure them against the ravages of the gypsy moth. This premium on a $1,000 farm would be 81 cents, and for fifty years it would amount to only $4.16|. This protection would extend not only to farmers and owners of forest lands, but also to residents in villages and cities who own lands with trees and shrubs on them, and to vegetation wherever grown within the limits of our Commonwealth." The expense of this- work, if undertaken by the United States government, would be infinitesimal to the individual citizen and would be an economical insurance against the ravages of the moth on his property and that of his posterity. THE GYPSY MOTH. PORTHETEIA DI8PAR (L.). Part II. C. H. IF 1 IE IR, I£T _A_ Xj ID Insects mistaken for the Gypsy Moth. Explanation of Plate 39. Drawn in colors by Ella M. Palmer. It has seemed desirable to present colored figures of the following insects since in some of their forms they are the ones most commonly mistaken for the gypsy moth. 1. Eggs of Euvanessa antiopa (Linn.) (Vanessa butterfly). 2. Caterpillar of Euvanessa antiopa. 3. Chrysalis " " " 4. Imago " " " 5- Egg-cluster of Clisiocampa americana Harr. (tent caterpillar). 6. Caterpillar of Clisiocampa americana. 7. Cocoon " » " 8. Male imago of " " 9. Female imago of " " 10. Caterpillar of Orgyia antiqua (Linn.). 11. Male imago " " " 12. Egg-cluster of Orgyia definita Pack. 13. Caterpillar " " « 14. Male imago " " " T 5- Egg-cluster of Orgyia leucostigma (S. and A.) (the white marked tussock moth). 16. Caterpillar of Orgyia leucostigma. 17. Male imago of " " 18. Female imago of " «* THE GYPSY MOTH. Porthetria dispar (L.~). This species was first described by Linnaeus, in 1758, in the tenth edition of his " Sy sterna Naturae," Vol. I, page 501, under the name of Phalcena (Bombyx) dispar, the specific name being given because of the marked difference or dis- parity between the sexes. In 1801, Schrank, in his "Fauna Boica," placed this species under his genus Laria; but this generic name had been previously used by Scopoli in the beetles, and thus, being preoccupied, could not properly be used for the moths. In 1810, Ochsenheimer, in the third volume of his " Schmetterlinge von Europa," established the genus Liparis and put dispar under it ; but Liparis is also preoccupied, and cannot be used. Hiibner, in his "Ver- zeichniss bekannter Schmetterlinge," page 160, published about 1822, placed dispar in his genus Porthetria with three exotic species, and therefore dispar, being the only European species, has been taken as the type. In the same work, page 158, Hiibner established the genus Ocneria with rubea Fab. as the type, but Staudinger and some others, believing that rubea and dispar should be in the same genus, placed them with their allies under Ocneria. In 1829, Stephens, in his "Illustrations of British Ento- mology," Haustellata, Vol. II, page 55, established the genus Hypogymna and placed dispar under it. He also proposed this name in his catalogue the same year. In accordance with the laws of priority, almost universally accepted by zoologists, it is necessary to adopt the oldest tenable generic name which is not preoccupied ; and therefore Hlibner's genus Porthetria, with dispar as the type, was given by Kirby in his recent "Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera," and has been adopted by Comstock and Dyar in this country. 256 THE GYPSY MOTH. The question whether dispar shall remain under the genus Ocneria depends on whether it has the same generic charac- ters as rubea. If it has, then it should remain with rubea, otherwise it should be placed under the genus Porthetria. To settle this question to my own satisfaction, I sent to Europe and obtained specimens of Ocneria rubea, and, after a critical study of the structure, I am convinced that the two insects are not congeneric, and must be placed under differ- ent genera. On showing the insects to Prof. J. B. Smith, he agreed with me in my conclusions, and in a letter from Prof. A. R. Grote of Bremen, Germany, I learned that he had independently reached the same conclusion. I therefore feel obliged to adopt the name Porthetria dispar, given by Htibner over seventy years ago. In all our previous pub- lications, however, the name Ocneria dispar has been used, following Staudinger's catalogue. Common Names. The following are some of the common names which have been given to this insect in different European countries. We have adopted the common name "gypsy moth," because it is the one most frequently used in England, and has already come into very general use in this country. This name was first given to it, so far as I can learn, by Wilkes, in 1741 ; and Humphreys, in his "British Moths,*' says that "the popular name of the gypsy was no doubt suggested by the brown, tanned kind of color of the male." Schwammspinner : Fungus-spinner. The egg-cluster resembles a small tree fungus. DiGKKOPr : Thick -head. The head of the caterpillar is unusually large. Rosenspinner : Rose-spinner. They feed on rose bushes. Apricosenspinner : Apricot-spinner. Stammphal^ene : Stem-moth. The moths rest on the trunks of trees. Grosskopf : Great-head. Baumraupe : Tree-caterpillar. Schwammraupe : Fungus-caterpillar. Grosse Schwammraupe : Great fungus-caterpillar. Schwammmotte : Fungus-moth. Stammraupe : Stem-caterpillar. Grosskopfspinner : Great-head spinner. COMMON NAMES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. 257 Ungleicher Spinner : Dissimilar spinner. The sexes are very unlike. Ungleich Nachfalter : Dissimilar nocturnal-moth. Zweifach : Two-fold. Grosskopfbar : Great-head bear. Dickkopfiger Bar : Thick-headed bear. Le Bombyx dissemblable : The dissimilar bombyx. Le Bombyx disparate : The dissimilar bombyx. La Spongieuse : The spongy (moth). La Chenille commune : The common caterpillar. Le Zig-Zag. The Gypsy Moth. The Brown Arches. Literature on the Gypsy Moth. All the works in this list have been examined except those marked with an asterisk. Goedart, Histoire des Insectes, vol. I, pp. 118, 142, pi. 63, 16G2. Merian, Erucarum Ortus, etc., part I, pi. 18-31, 1679. Merian, Erucarum Ortus, etc., part II, pi. 19, 1683. *Blankaart, Schauplatz der Raupen, p. 25, pi. 6, figs. A-C, 1690. Frisch, Beschreib. von Ins., vol. I, p. 14, pi. 3, figs. 1-9, 1720. Frisch, Beschreib. von Ins., suppl., vol. XIII, p. 28, 1722. Merian, Erucarum Ortus, folio edition, pi. 183, 1730. La chenille a oreilles, Reaumur, Memoires, vol. I, p. 110, pi. 3, figs. 1, 3-5; p. 19, pi. 4, figs. 1-4, 6-8; p. 352, pi. 22, figs. 5, 6, 8-10; p. 359, pi. 24, figs. 1-4; p. 609, pi. 45, figs. 1-13; p. 614, pi. 46, figs. 1-7, 1734. La chenille a oreilles, Reaumur, Memoires, vol. II, p. 63, pi. 1, figs. 11-15; p. 433, pi. 34, fig. 3, 1736. *The Gipsey Moth, Wilkes, Twelve New Designs of English Butterflies, 1741-42. Roesel, Insecten Beliistlgung, part I, p. 17, pi. 3, flgs. 1-7, 1746. Schreber, Samml., vol. XIII, p. 153, 1750. Baumraupe, Schaeffer, J. C, Nachricht von einer Raupe, etc., 1752. Phalaena (Bombyx) dispar, Linn. Syst. Naturae, ed. 10, vol. I, p. 501, 1758. SchaeSer, J. C., Der Wunderbare Eulenzwitter, etc., 1761. *Poda, Insecta Musei Graecensis, p. 86, 1761. Phalaena Dispar, ScopolU Ent. Carniolica, p. 197, 1763. Le Zigzag, Geoff., Hist. Abregee des Ins., vol. II, p. 112, No. 14, 1764. *Gronovius, Zoophylacium, vol. II, p. 208, 1764. Schaeffer, «T. C, Abh. von Ins., vol. II, p. 315, pi. 1, flgs. 1-8, 1764. Schaeffer, J. C, Icon. Ins. Ratisb., part I, vol. I, pi. 28, figs. 3-6, 1766. Phalaena (Bombyx) dispar, Linn. Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. I, p. 821, 1766. *Bombyx Dispar, Hufnagel, Berl. Mag., vol. II, p. 406, pi. 3, No. 16, 1766. *Bombyx Dispar, Hufnagel, Berl. Mag , vol. Ill, p. 8, No. 2, 1767. Merian, Hist. Generale des Ins. d'Eur , ed. 3, vol. II, p. 5, pi. 18, 1771. Bombyx dispar, Wilkes, English Moths and Butterflies, pi. 42, 1773. 258 THE GYPSY MOTH. Phalaena dispar, Gleditsch, Forstwiss., vol. I, p. 310; voL II, pp. 45, 81, 227, 739, 1775. The Gipsy, Harris, Aurelian's Pocket Companion, pp. 29, 30, 1775. Phalaena dispar, Christmann, Onomatologia Nat. Hist., vol. VI, p. 350, 1775. Bombyx dispar, Fab., Syst. Ent., p. 570, No. 49, 1775. Phalaena dispar, Fuessl., Verz. Schweiz. Ins., p. 35, No. 660, 1775. Bombyx Dispar, Denis and Schiffermiiller, Syst. Verz. Schm., p. 52, No. 6, 1776. Grosskopf, Mueller, O. F., Zool. Dan. Prod., p. 665, pi. 16, figs. 2-11, 1776. Phalaena dispar, Mader, Raupenkalender, p. 99, No. 282, 1777. Phalaena dispar, Fischer, J. B., Natur. gesch. von Livland, p. 151, 1778. Phalaena dispar, Fuessl., Mag. fur Liebhaberder Ent., vol. II, p. 286, 1778. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, De Geer, Abhl. Gesch. der Ins , vol. II, p. 293, 1778. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Goeze, Ent. Beit. Ritter, part III, vol. II, p. 331, 1779. Phalaena dispar, Leske, Anfangs. Handb. Nat. Gesch., p. 460, No. 8, 1779. Eichen und Ulmraupe, Glazer, Abhl. von schiidl. Raupen, p. 39, 1780. Phalaena dispar, Rimrod, Naturforscher, vol. XVI, p. 130, 1781. Bombyx dispar, Fab., Species Insectorum, vol. II, p. 183, 1781. Bombyx dispar, Lang, Verz., p. 86, No. 661-664, 1782. Phalaena Bombyx Dispar, Esper, Schmett., vol. Ill, p. 197, pi. 38, figs. 1-6, 1782. *Bombyx Dispar, Martin, Vade-Mecum, Pom. Trees, No. 44, 1785. Le zigzag, Ernst, Pap. d'Europe, vol. IV, p. 106, pi. 138, fig. 186, a-g, 1785. Phalaena dispar, Bock, Versuch. Nat. Gesch., etc., vol. V, pp. 29-32, 1785. *Fourc, Entomologia Parisiensis, p. 261, No. 14, 1785. Bombyx dispar, Fab., Mantissa Insectorum, vol. II, p. 117, 1787. Borowski, Naturgeschichte Theirreichs., vol. VII, p. 97, 1786. Borowski, Naturgeschichte Theirreichs., vol. VIII, p. 77, 1787. *De Villers, Ent. Linnaei, vol. II, p. 144, 1789. Bombyx dispar, Vieweg, Tab. Verzeichniss, vol. I, p. 54, 1789. Bombyx dispar, Lodi, Opuscol. scelt., vol. XII, p. 183, 1789. Bombyx Dispar, Borkh., Eur. Schm., vol. Ill, p. 312, No. 118, 1790. Bombyx disparate, Oliv. Ency. Meth., vol. Ill, p. -59, 1790. Rossi, Fauna Etrusca, vol. II, p. 170, 1790. Phalaena Bombyx Dispar, Preyssler, Verz. bomischer Insecten, p. 41, 1790. Sepp, Nederlandische Insecten, vol. Ill, p. 5, pi. 2, 3, 1791 (?). Phalaena Bombyx Dispar, Schwarz, Raupenkalender, pp. 60, 224, 377, 1791. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Brahm, Ins. Kal. II, p. 517, No. 378; p. 739, No. 24, 1791. ♦Hennert, Raupenfrass und Windbruch, 1791. Bombyx dispar, Borkh., Rhein. Mag., vol. I, p. 334, 1791-94. Bombyx dispar, Fab., Ent. Syst., vol. Ill, part I, p. 437, 1793. Phalaena Bombyx Dispar, Pezolds, Mitteldie una Schad., etc., vol. II, fig. 8, 1794. Bombyx dispar, Panzer, Fauna Germ., vol. II, pp. 22, 23, 1794. Phalaena Dispar, Berk., Synop. Nat. Hist., Gr. Brit, and Ire., vol. I, p. 136, 1795. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 259 Phalaena Dispar, Don., Nat. Hist. Br. Ins., vol. V, p. 67, pi. 163 (Gipsey Moth). 1796. Bombyx Dispar, Hub., Samml. Bomb., p. 121, pi. 19, figs. 75 male, 76 female, 1800 (?). Bombyx Dispar, Illiger's edition, Wien Verz., vol. I, p. 75, 1801. Laria dispar, Schrank, Faun. Boica, vol. II, part 1, p. 256; part 2, p. 151, 1801-02. var. (?) a, Bombyx disparina, von Mueller, Fauna Silesiaca, part III, vol. I, 1802. ♦Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Stewart, Elements of Nat. Hist., vol. II, p. 150, 1802. Bombyx disparus, Haworth, Lep. Brit., p. 88, 1803. Phalaena dispar, Blumenbach, Manuel d'Histoire Nat., vol. I, p. 465, 1803. Stammphalane, Goeze, Naturgeschichte der Europais., vol. IX, p. 569, 1803. Phalaena Bombyx Dispar, Bechstein, Forstinseckten, p. 369, pi. 6, fig. 1, a-e, 1804. Bombyx dispar, Panzer, Syst. Nomen., p. 40, 1804. Bombyx dispar, Latreille, Hist. Nat. des Crust, et Ins., vol. XIV, p. 185, 1805. Bombyx Dispar, Linn., Syst. Nat., Turton edition, vol. Ill, p. 207, 1806. Bombyx Dispar, Hub., Ges. Europ. Schm., pi. 37, fig. 2, a, b, c, 1806-18. Liparis Dispar, Ochs., Schm. Eur., vol. Ill, p. 195, 1810. Phalaena Dispar, Blumenbach, Abbild. Nat. Hist. Gegenstand, p. 370, 1810. Bombyx disparate, Latreille, Crustaces, Arach. et Ins., pi. 8, fig. 2, 1810. Laria Dispar, Leach, New Edinburgh Ency., Article Entomology, p. 721, 1815. Phalaena Dispar, Salisbury, Hints to Propr. of Orchards, p. 67, pi. 1, figs. 10,11, 1816. Sericaria dispar, Latreille, Le Regne Animal, vol. II, p. 269 ; Atlas, pi. 152, 1817. Bombyx disparate, Latreille, Le Regne Animal, vol. Ill, p. 568, 1817. Liparis Dispar, Zincken, Germar's Mag. der Ent., vol. Ill, p. 431, 1818. Liparis dispar, Samouelle, Ent. Com., p. 246 (Gipsey Moth), 1819. Liparis Dispar, Godart, Hist. Nat., vol. IV, p. 256, pi. 25, figs. 1, 2, 1822. Porthetria Dispar, Hub., Verz. bek. Schmett., p. 160, 1822 (?). Bombyce disparate, Dumeril, Considerat. General., pi. 45, fig. 3, 1823. ♦Laria dispar, Meig., Handb. fiir Schm., p. 122, pi. 47, 1827. Hypogymna dispar, Daudville, Ann. Soc. d'Hort. Paris, vol. Ill, p. 98, 1828. Hypogymna dispar, Daudville, Ann. Soc. d'Hort. Paris, vol. V, pp. 204, 324, 1829. Bombyx dispar, J. M., Gardener's Mag., vol. V, p. 204, 1829. Hypogymna dispar, Steph., 111. Br. Ent. Haust., vol. II, p. 56, 1829. ♦Liparis dispar, Klug., Verhandl. deGesell, Naturf. Freunde, pp. 363, 369, pi. 1, fig. 20, 1829. Hypogymna dispar, Steph., Cat. Ins. Haust., p. 50, 1829. Hypogymna dispar, Rennie.Libr. of Entert. Knowl., vol. II, pp. 79-82, 1830. Sericaria dispar, Latreille, Animal Kingdom, vol. IV, p. 201, 1831. Liparis dispar, Bdv., Coll. Icon, et Hist, des Chenilles d'Eur., pi. IX, figs. 3, 4, 1832. 260 THE GYPSY MOTH. Bombyx dispar, Brown, Book of Butterflies, vol. I, p. 52, 1832. ♦Liparis dispar, Dup. et Gueu., Icon, de l'Hist. Nat. Chenilles, vol. II, pi. 8, figs. 2-6, 1832. Liparis dispar, Godart, Icon, des Chenilles, les Bombycites, pi. 8, 1832. *Hypogymna dispar, Rennie, Conspectus of Butterflies and Moths, p. 39, 1832. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Anon., Ann. de l'lnst. Hort. Fromont, vol. V, p. 311, 1833. Liparis dispar, Silb., Revue Entomologique, ser. I, vol. I, p. 80, 1833. Liparis Dispar, Bouche, Nat. Gesch. der Ins., Lieberung I, p. 106, 1834. Liparis dispar, Burm., Manual of Entomology, p. 313, 1836. Hypogymna dispar, Duncan, Naturalist's Library, vol. IV, p. 206, 1836. Liparis dispar, Lacordaire, Manual of Entomology, p. 312, 1836. Bombyx dispar, Sepp, title-page, vol. V, aberr. male, 1836. Liparis dispar, De Selys, Cat. Lep. de la Belg., p. 28, 1837. Liparis dispar, Krause, Arbeit. Schles. Gesell. f. vaterl. Kultur, p. 110, 1837. Liparis dispar, Boie, Naturhistorisk Tidskrift, vol. I, p. 522, 1837. Liparis dispar, Audouin, Naturhistorisk Tidskrift, vol. II, p. 304, 1838. Liparis dispar, Lacordaire, Intro, a l'Entomologie, vol. II, pp. 371, 383, 1838. ♦Bombyce disparate, Debia, Rec. Agr. Soc. Dept., p. 156, pi. 1, 1838. Hypogymna dispar, Curt., Br. Ent., vol. XVI, p. 767 (Gypsy Moth), 1839. Bombyce disparate, Lamarck, Animaux sans Vertebres, vol. Ill, p. 77, 1839. Bombyx dispar, Dejean, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. VIII, p. 41, 1839. Bombyx dispar, Reichenbacka, Galerya, Obr. Zwier. Hist. Nat., vol. II, p. 302, 1839. Bombyx (Liparis) dispar, Nordl., Stett. Ent. Zeit.,vol. I, p. 266, 1840. Bombyx (Liparis) dispar, Kollar, Inj. Ins., English ed., p. 26, 1840. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Ratz., Forst. Ins., vol. II, p. Ill, pi. 5, figs. IF, IF', IK, 1L, 1C, 1840. Liparis dispar, Schultze, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. I, p. 49, 1840. Hypogymna dispar, Westvv , Int. to Modern Classif. Ins., p. 384, 1840. Bombyx dispar, Fonscol., Mem. de l'Acad. de Sci. Agr. Arts, etc., vol. V, p. 85, 1840. Liparis Dispar, Hering, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. Ill, p. 9, 1842. Liparis dispar, Joly, Revue Zoologie, vol. V, p. 115, 1842. Porthetria dispar, Humphrey and Westw., Br. Moths and their Transf., vol. I, p. 17, figs. 1-3, 1843. Liparis Dispar, Duponchel, Cat. Methodique, p. 68, 1844. Liparis Dispar, Eversmanu, Fauna Lep. Volgo-Ural, p. 142, 1844. Liparis Dispar, Herrich-Schaeffer, Eur. Schm., vol. II, p. 135, 1845. Liparis dispar, Villa, Memoria deg Insetti carnivori, p. 59, 1845. Liparis dispar, Ratz., Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. VII, p. 37, 1846. Liparis dispar, Bellier, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vol. XVI, p. 98, 1847. Bombyx dispar, Johnson, Diet, of Modern Gardening, p. 92, 1847. Bombyx dispar, Nordl., Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. IX, p. 266, 1848. Liparis dispar, Bellier, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, ser. II, vol. VII, p. 173, pi. 6, 1849. Liparis dispar, Guen., Hist. Nat. Nocturnes, vol. II, pi. 8, fig. 2, a, b, 1849. Liparis dispar, Bellier, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, ser. II, vol. X, p. 73, 1852. Liparis dispar, Filippi, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XIII, p. 263, 1852. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 261 Liparis Dispar, Speyer, Stett. Eat. Zeit., vol. XIII, p. 318, 1852. Lymantria dispar, Walk., Cat. Lep. Het., part IV, p. 872, 1855. Bombyx dispar, Sepp, title-page, vol. VIII, aberr. male, 1855-60. Liparis dispar, DeSelys (?), Ana. Soc. Eut. Belg., vol. I, p. 52, 1857. Hypogymna dispar, Stainton, Manual, vol. I, p. 130, 1857. Hypogymna Dispar, Humphrey, Gen. Br. Moths, p. 27, pi. 10, figs. 1-10, 1858. Ocneria dispar, Speyer, Die Geograph. Verbreit. Schm., part I, p. 401, 1858. Hypogymna Dispar, Kearley, Ent. Weekly Intelligencer, vol. IV, p. 192, 1858. Rosenspinner, Hermann, Der Raupen und Schmetterlingsjiiger, p. 81, 1859. Liparis dispar, Hagen, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXI, p. 34, 1860. Liparis dispar, Leunis, Zoologie, p. 543, 1860. Hypogymna dispar, Batty, Ent. Weekly Intelligencer, vol. VIII, p. 141, 1860. Hypogymna dispar, Stanley, Ent. Weekly Iutelligeucer, vol. VIII, p. 187, 1860. Schwammspinner, Pueschl., Kurzgefasste Forst. Ency., Leipzic, pp. 186, 298, 1S60. Liparis dispar, Mulder, Tijdschrift voor Ent., ser. I, vol. II, p. 2, 1860. Liparis dispar, Goreau, Ins. Nuis. aux Arbres Fruitiers, p. 89, 1861. Liparis dispar, Hagen, Stett. Eut. Zeit., vol. XXII, p. 59, 1861. Liparis Dispar, Rathke, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXII, p. 238, 1861. Bombyx dispar, Siebold, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXII, p. 443, 1861. Liparis dispar, Dobner, Zool., vol. II, p. 345, 1862. Ocneria dispar, Speyer, Die Geog. Verbreit. Schm., part II, p. 287, Nach- trage, 1862. Liparis dispar, Keller, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXIII, p. 284, 1862. Liparis dispar, Prittw., Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXIII, p. 382, 1862. Liparis dispar, Newra., Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., pp. 70, 77, 1862. Ocneria dispar, Jaggi, Bull. Soc. Eat. Suisse, vol. I, p. 313, 1862-65. Liparis dispar, Bremer, Lepidopteren Ost-Siberiens, p. 41, 1864. Liparis dispar, Bdv., Journ. Soc. Hort. France, p. 447, 1864. Sericaria dispar, Mulder, Tijdschrift voor Ent., ser. I, vol. VII, p. 125, 1864. Liparis dispar, Keppen, Horae Soc. Ent. Rossicae, pp. 81, 257, 287, 294, 1865. Ocneria dispar, Tieffenbach, Berl. Ent. Zeit., vol. IX, p. 413, pi. 3, flg. 8, 1865. Bombyx dispar, Samuels, Agriculture of Mass., p. 116, 1865-66. Bombyx dispar, Ratz., Die Waldverderbniss, vol. I, pp. 113, 226, 1866. Ocneria dispar, Maurissen, Tijdschrift voor Ent., ser. II, vol. IX, p. 176, 1866. Liparis dispar, Brehm and Rossmassler, Die Thiere des Walden, vol. II, p. 107, flg. 11 ; p. 108, figs, a-d, 1866-67. Ocneria dispar, Pfutzner, Berl. Ent. Zeit., vol. XI, p. 199, 1867. Liparis dispar, Westwood, Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., pp. 44, 49, 1867. Ocneria dispar, de Gavere, Tijdschrift voor Ent., ser. II, vol. X, p. 200, 1867. Bombyx dispar, Rudzky, Horae Soc. Ent. Rossicae, vol. V, p. 12, 1867. ♦Ocneria Dispar, var. Disparina, Snell., Vlind. Nederl. Macro., p. 175, 1867. 262 THE GYPSY MOTH. Liparis dispar, Bdv., Essai sur l'Entomologie Horticole, 1867. Bombyx dispar, Ratz., Die Waldverderbniss, vol. II, pp. 12-151, etc., 1868. Bombyx dispar, Berce, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, ser. Ill, vol. VIII, p. 61, 1868. Liparis dispar, Dorfmeister, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXIX, p. 183, 1868. Liparis dispar, Charault, Bull. Soc. Agr. Sci. Arts, vol. XI, pp. 688, 697, 1868. Bombyx dispar, Senft, Systematische Bestimm. Deutsch., p. 77, pi. 1, 2, 3, 5, 1868. Liparis dispar, Girard, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, ser. Ill, vol. IX, p. 69, 1869. Liparis dispar, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. I, p. 69, 1869. Bombyx dispar, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. I, pp. 78-81, 1869. Liparis dispar, Charault, Bull. Soc. Agr. Sci. Arts of Sarthe, vol. XII, p. 316, 1869. Liparis Dispar, Kieferstein, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXX, p. 229, 1869. Ocneria dispar, Speyer, Stett. Ent Zeit., vol. XXX, p. 246, 1869. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Ratz., Die Waldverderber, p. 184, pi. 5, fig. 1, 1869. Liparis dispar, Newra., British Moths, p. 37, 1869. Ocneria dispar, Jaggi, Bull. Soc. Ent. Suisse, vol. Ill, p. 100, 1869-70. Hypogymna dispar, Riley, Annual Rep. Missouri, vol. II, p. 10, 1870. Hypogymna dispar, Riley, Am. Ent., vol. II, p. Ill, 1870. Liparis dispar, Bargagli, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. II, pp. 208, 262, 279, 1870. Bombyx dispar, Bazin, Bull. Soc. Hist, de l'Yonne, ser. I, vol. XXIV, pp. 11-20, 1870. Ocneria dispar, Tratman, The Ent., vol. V, p. 172, 1870. Ocneria dispar, Spiller, The Ent., vol. V, p. 183, 1870. Ocneria dispar, Davidson, The Ent., vol. V, p. 213, 1870. Ocneria dispar, Button, The Ent., vol. V, p. 393, 1870. Ocneria dispar, Bowyer, The Ent., vol. V, p. 452, 1870. Ocneria dispar, Hylaerts, Tijdschrift voor Ent., ser. II, vol. XIII, p. 148, 1870. Ocneria Dispar, Kirby, Cassell's Eur. But. and Moths, p. 110, pi. 25, figs. a-c, 1870 (?). Liparis dispar, Briggs, Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., p. 9, 1871. Liparis dispar, Dohrn, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXII, p. 29, 1871. Liparis dispar, Dei, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. Ill, pp. 75, 360, 1871. Ocneria dispar, Hylaerts, Tijdschrift voor Ent., ser. II, vol. XIV, p. 38, 1871. Bombyx dispar, Siebold, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. IV, p. 121, 1872. Liparis dispar, Plateau, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. IV, p. 197, 1872. Liparis dispar, Vinercati, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. IV, p. 302, 1872. Liparis dispar, Ghiliani, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. IV, p. 365, 1872. Liparis dispar, Lelievre, Feuilles des Jeunes Naturalistes, vol. Ill, p. 77, 1872. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 263 Ocneria dispar, Hagen, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXIII, p. 389, 1872. Ocneria dispar, Nickerl., Verh. z. B. Wien., vol. XXII, p. 729, 1872. Phalaena Bombyx dispar, Kauschinger, Die Lehre vom Walds., p. 65, flg. 13, 1872. Liparis dispar, Greville, The Ent., vol. VI, p. 190, 1872. Liparis dispar, Clifford, The Ent., vol. VI, p. 289, 1872. Liparis dispar, Standish, The Ent., vol. VI, p. 364, 1872. Psilura dispar, Frey and Wullsch., Bull. Ent. Soc. Suisse, vol. IV, p. 258, 1873-76. Ocneria dispar, Kigg.-Stehlin, Bull. Ent. Soc. Suisse, vol. IV, p. 597, 1873-76. Liparis dispar, Rondani, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. V, p. 164, 1873, Ocneria dispar, Dihrik, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXIV, p. 114, 1873. Liparis dispar, Kaltenbach, Die Pflanzenfeinde, pp. 74, 158, 185, 205, 217, 429, 1874. Ocneria dispar, Kaltenbach, Die Pflanzenfeinde, pp. 537, 548, 569, 594, 613, 626, 634, 640, 651, 1874. ♦Liparis dispar, Barrett, Trans. Norwich Soc, suppl., p. 14, 1874. Liparis dispar, Plateau, Recherches sur Digestion, etc., p. 84, 1874. Bornbyx (Liparis) dispar, Tasch., Ent. f. Giirt. und Garten, p. 219, figs. 58-61, 1874. Liparis dispar, Targ. Tozz., Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. VI, p. 86, 1874. Liparis dispar, Dubois, Lep. de Belgique, vol. II, p. 170, 1874. Ocneria dispar, Lelievre, Feuilles des Jeunes Naturalistes, vol. V, pp. 97-100, 1874. Liparis dispar, Girard, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, suppl., vol. IV, p. 129, 1874. Liparis dispar, Girard, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, suppl., vol. V, p. 114, 1875. Liparis dispar, Gaschet, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, ser. V, vol. V, p. ccxiii, 1875. Chenilles a oreilles, Ernst, Pap. de l'Europe, vol. IV, p. 106, pi. 138, 1875. Liparis dispar, Villa, Lo. Studio Insetti in Lombardia, 1876. Bombyx dispar, Blanchere, Rav. des For. et Arbres d'Align., pp. 178, 853, figs. 92, 93, 153, 154, 155, 156, 1876. Ocneria dispar, Weithofer, Verh. ver Briinn., vol. XV, p. 39, 1876. Liparis dispar, var. b, bordigalensis or disparoides, Mab. and Gasch., Bull. et Ann. Soc. Ent. France, ser. V, vol. VI, pp. 9, 521, 1876. Liparis dispar, Mabille, Bull. Soc. Ent. France, suppl., vol. VI, p. 9, 1876. Ocneria dispar, Bettoni, Considerazioni sopra casa, etc., p. 121, 1876. Liparis dispar, Rondani, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. VIII, p. 129, 1876. Liparis dispar, Brehm, Thierleben, vol. IX, p. 15, 1877. ♦Bombyx dispar, Bouche, Schwammraupe, Schvvammspinner, vol. IV, p. 410, 1877. Liparis dispar, Rondani, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. IX, p. 55, 1877. Liparis dispar, Depuisset, Les Paps., p. 248, pi. 24, flg. 2, a-c, 1877. Ocneria dispar, Christoph., Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXIX, p. 408, 1878. Ocneria Dispar, Cassel, Die Makrolep. der Amgegend Cassels, p. 113, 1878. Ocneria dispar, Brants, Tijd. Ent., vol. V, p. 22, 1878. Liparis dispar, Locard, Soc. Agr. Sci. and Arts of Lyons, 1878. Ocneria dispar, Enock, The Ent., vol. XI, p. 170, 1878. Ocneria dispar, Rondani, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. X, p. 22, 1878. 264 THE GYPSY MOTH. Ocneria dispar, Turati, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. XI, p. 171, 1879. *Dickkopfspinner, Hommerling, Isis, Russ., vol. IV, p. 86, 1879. *Liparis dispar, Szalkay, Termeszet, Fuzetek, vol. IV, p. 105, 1879. Liparis dispar, Pearce, The Ent., vol. XII, p. 229, 1879. Bombyx dispar, Altum, Forstzoologie, vol. II, p. 324, 1880. Psilura Dispar, Freyer, Lep. der Schweiz., p. 94, 1880. *Liparis dispar, Slosarski, Der Polnische Gartner, vol. II, pp. 69-92, 1880. Liparis dispar, Wilson, Larvae of the Brit. Lep., p. 68, pi. 12, fig. 8, 1880. Ocneria dispar, Fiori, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. XII, p. 214, 1880. Ocneria dispar, Maassen, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XLI, p. 168, 1880. Ocneria dispar, Hering, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XLII, p. 334, 1881. Ocneria dispar, Staudinger, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XLII, p. 406, 1881. Bombyx (Liparis) dispar, Schm-Gobel, Die Schadlichen Forstinseckten, part I, p. 99, fig. 95, 1881. Bombyx (Liparis) dispar, Schm-Gobel, Die Schadlichen Forstinseckten, part II, p. 96, 1881. Bombyx dispar, Altum, Forstzoologie, vol. II, p. 324, 1881. Liparis dispar, Goossens, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, vol. I, p. 232, 1881. Liparis dispar, Lucas, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, vol. I, p. 148, 1881. Liparis dispar, Girard, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, vol. II, 1882. Ocneria dispar, Gauckler, Katter's Ent. Nachtrichteu, vol. VIII, p. 274, 1882. Liparis dispar, Altum, Forstzoologie, vol. Ill, p. 94, 1882. Ocneria dispar, Teich., Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XLIV, p. 171, 1883. Ocneria dispar, Keppen, Injurious Insects, vol. Ill, p. 49, 1883. Ocneria dispar, Mina, Naturalista Sicil. Giorna. Sci. Nat., vol. Ill, p. 54, 1883. Ocneria dispar, Oudemans, Tijd. Ent., vol. XXVII, p. 16, 1884. Ocneria Dispar, Homeyer, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. XLV, p. 424, 1884. Ocneria dispar, Tasch., Brehm's Thierleben, Inseckten, p. 395, figs. 1-3, 1884. ♦Ocneria dispar, Kalchberg, Naturalista Sicil. Giorna. Sci. Nat., vol. IV, p. 55, 1884-85. Hypogymna dispar, "Wood, Animated Creation, vol. Ill, p. 423, 1885. Ocneria dispar, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Italiana, vol. XVII, p. 156, 1885. Ocneria dispar, Raynor, The Ent., vol. XVIII, p. 243, 1885. Ocneria dispar, St. John, The Ent., vol. XIX, p. 250, 1886. Ocneria dispar, Adkin, The Ent., vol. XIX, p. 281, 1886. Ocneria dispar, Blaber, The Ent., vol. XIX, p. 281, 1886. Ocneria dispar, Hall, The Ent., vol. XIX, p. 282, 1886. Ocneria dispar, Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Butterflies, vol. Ill, p. 37, 1886. Liparis dispar, Brocchi, Traite de Zoologie Agricole, p. 451, 1886. Ocneria dispar, ab. semiobscura, Thierry, Le Naturalist, vol. VIII, p. 237, 1886. Ocneria dispar, ab. erebus, Thierry, Le Naturalist, vol. VIII, p. 237, 1886. Ocneria dispar, ab. semiobscura, Meig., Le Naturalist, vol. VIII, p. 237, 1886. Ocneria dispar, ab. erebus, Meig., Le Naturalist, vol. VIII, p. 237, 1886. *The Gypsy Moth, Dictionary of Gardening (Insects), vol. II, p. 182, 1887. Ocneria dispar, Edwards, The Ent., vol. XX, p. 275, 1887. Liparis dispar, Goossens, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, ser. VI, vol. VII, p. 166, 1887. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 2G5 Liparis dispar, Bellier, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, ser. VI, vol. VII, p. 182, 1887. Ocneria (Liparis) dispar, Hess, Der Forstschutz. , ed. II, vol. II, pp. 70-75, fig. 53, a-d, 1887. Ocneria dispar, Theile, Berl. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXI, p. 23, 1887. Ocneria dispar, Mina, Naturalista Sicil. Giorn. Sci. Nat., vol. VII, p. 225, 1887-88. Ocneria Dispar, Graeser, Berl. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXII, p. 125, 1888. Ocneria Dispar, Ziegler, Berl. Ent. Zeit., vol. XXXII, p. 23, 1888. * Liparis dispar, Oliv , Rev. Sci. Bourb., vol. I, p. 210, 1888. Ocneria dispar, Bock, Ent. Nachr., vol. XIV, p. 56, 1888. Ocneria dispar, Jackson, The Ent., vol. XXI, pp. 235, 322, 1888. Ocneria dispar, Walk., Ent. Mon. Mag., vol. XXV, p. 65, 1888. Lymantria dispar, Leech, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. LVI, pp. 30, 63, 1888. Liparis dispar, Platner, Biol. Centralbl., vol. V, p. 521, 1888. *Schwammspiuner, Katzer, Zum Frasse des Schwammsp. in Kroatien, 1888-89. Borabyx (Liparis) dispar, Fiirst, Kauchinger's Lehre von "Walds., ed. 4, pp. 140, 141, pi. 3, 1889. Liparis (Ocneria) dispar, Targ. Tozz., Bull, della Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. XXI, pp. 113, 272, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Cune, Act. Soc. Esp., vol. XVIII, p. 77, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Berge, Schmett., p. 63, pi. 26, fig. 2, a-c, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Porchinsky, Ins. Inj. to Fruit Gardens, Crimea, pp. 14-20, 1889. Liparis dispar, Tunley, The Ent., vol. XXII, p. 259, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Hall, The Ent., vol. XXII, p. 161, 1889. Ocneria dispar, St. John, The Ent., vol. XXII, p. 162, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Arkle, The Ent., vol. XXII, p. 186, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Fernald, Mass. Hatch Exp. Station, Special Bulletin, 1889. Hypogymna dispar, Buck, Larvae Brit. Moths, pi. 37, figs. 6, 6a, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Howard, Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vol. I, p. 264, 1889. Ocneria dispar, Dei, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. XXII, p. 276, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Wingelmuller, Mem. 111. Garten Zeitung, p. 269, 1890. Liparis Dispar, Raspail, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, vol. XV, p. 94, 1890. Liparis dispar, Montillot, Amateur d'lusectes, p. 252, 1890. The Gypsy Moth, Rep. Mass. Bd. Agr., p. 58, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Ent. Record, vol. I, p. 225, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Ent. Record, vol. II, p. 24, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Pack., Rep. U. S. Ent. Com., vol. V., p. 138, 1890. The Gypsy Moth, Sargent, Garden and Forest, vol. Ill, p. 150, 1890. Gypsy Moth, Jack, Garden and Forest, vol. Ill, pp. 273, 277, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Riley and Howard, Ins. Life, vol. II, pp. 86, 208, 262, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Riley and Howard, Ins. Life, vol. Ill, pp. 41, 78, 126, 1890. Ocneria dispar, Riley and Howard, Ins. Life, vol. Ill, pp. 200, 297, 364, 368, 381, 472, 474, 491, 1891. Ocneria dispar, Lintn., Rep. Ins. N. Y., vol. VII, pp. 302, 304, 335, 357, 1891. Ocneria dispar, Forbush and Fernald, Rep. Mass. Bd. Agr., p. 289, 1891. Ocneria dispar, Butler, Ins. Life, vol. Ill, p. 277, 1891. Ocneria dispar, Weir, Ins. Life, vol. IV, p. 138, 1891. 266 THE GYPSY MOTH. The Gypsy Moth, Jack, Garden and Forest, vol. IV, p. Ill, 1891. The Gypsy Moth, Fernow, Garden and Forest, vol. IV, p. 142, 1891. The Gypsy Moth, Smith, Garden and Forest, vol. IV, p. 153, 1891. Bombyx (Liparis) dispar, Demaison, Bull. Ent. Soc. France, vol. LX, p. 14, 1891. Liparis dispar, Bezzi, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. XXXIII, p. 74, 1891. Ocneria dispar, de Muro, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. XXXIII, p. 328, 1891. Ocneria dispar, Ent. Record, vol. Ill, pp. 53, 183, 1891. Ocneria dispar, Fernald, Mass. Hatch Exp. Sta., Bull. 19, p. 109, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Fernald, Can. Ent. vol. XXIV, p. 87, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Forbush and Fernald, Rep. Mass. Bd. Agr., p. 259, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Henshaw, U. S. Dept. Agr., Bull. 26, p. 75, 1892. The Gypsy Moth, Jack, Garden and Forest, vol. V, p. 75, 1892. The Gypsy Moth, S., Garden and Forest, vol. V, p. 81, 1892. The Gypsy Moth, Nutter, Garden and Forest, vol. V, p. 119, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Riley and Howard, Ins. Life, vol. IV, pp. 227, 356, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Riley and Howard, Ins. Life, vol. V, pp. 54, 194, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Hertwig, Text Book of Embryology, translated by Mark, p. 34, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Bethune, Rep. Ent. Soc. Ont., vol. XXIII, p. 86, 1892. Gypsy Moth, Beddard, Animal Coloration, p. 272, fig. 36, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Ent. Record, vol. Ill, pp. 699, 869, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Ent. Record, vol. IV, p. 204, 1892. Porthetria Dispar, Kirby, Cat. Lep. Het., vol. I, p. 475, 1892. Ocneria dispar, de Carlini, Bull, della Soc. Ent. Ital., vol. XXIV, p. 86, 1892. Ocneria dispar, South, The Ent., vol. XXV, p. 259, 1892. Ocneria dispar, Hodkinson, The Ent., vol. XXVI, p. 20, 1893. Ocneria Dispar, Hofman, Die Raupen der Gross-Schmett., p. 57, pi. 16, fig. 13, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Eckstein, Die Kiefer, vol. I, p. 22, pi. 13, figs. 4-9, 1893. Bombyx (Liparis) dispar, Fiirst and Nisbet, Prot. of Woodlands, Eng. ed., pp. 126, 207, pi. 3, fig. 19, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Forbush and Fernald, Rep. Mass. Bd. Agr., p. 263, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Lintn., Rep. Ins. N. Y., vol. IX, pp. 422, 433, 440, 1893. Liparis dispar, Judeich and Nitsche, Lehrbuck der Mit.-Europ. Forstin- seckt., vol. Ill, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Seitz, Stett. Ent. Zeit., vol. LIV, p. 369, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Riley and Howard, Ins. Life, vol. VI, pp. 53, 235, 338, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Skinner, Ent. News, vol. IV, p. 158, 1893. Porthetria dispar, Dyar, Proc. Bos. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. XXVI, p. 155, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Weed, Am. Nat., vol. XXVII, p. 750, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Kingsley, Am. Nat., vol. XXVII, p. 1070, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Nicholson, Ent. Record, vol. V, pp. 236, 310, 1893. Ocneria dispar, Weed, N. H. Coll. Ag. Exp. Sta., Bull. 23, p. 30, 1894. Hypogymna dispar, Barrett, Lep. Brit. Islands, part XX, p. 303, 1894. Ocneria dispar, Furneaux, Butterflies and Moths, p. 227, 1894. Ocneria dispar, Kulagin, Ins. Inj. to Gard. and Orchards in Russia, 1894. DISTRIBUTION IN THE OLD WOKLD. 267 Ocneria dispar, Eudzky, Ins. Useful and Inj. to Fruit Trees, pp. 9-13, 1894. Ocneria dispar, Kane, The Ent., vol. XXVII, p. 15, 1894. Ocneria dispar, South, The Ent., vol. XXVII, p. 25, 1894. Ocneria dispar, Turner, The Ent., vol. XXVII, p. 153, 1894. Ocneria dispar, Forbush and Fernald, Rep. Mass. Bd. Agr., 1894. The Gypsy Moth, Ent. Record, vol. VI, p. 314, 1895. The Gypsy Moth, Ent. Record, vol. VII, p. 146, 1895. Ocneria dispar, Mocsary, Termeszet. Fuzetek, vol. XVIII, pp. 67, 72, 1895. Portlietria dispar, Comstock, Manual for the Study of Insects, p. 312, fig. 378, 1895. Ocneria dispar, Fletcher, Rep. Ent. Soc. Ont., vol. XXV, p. 67, 1895. The Gypsy Moth, Fletcher, Trans. Royal Soc. Can., vol. I, p. 14, 1895. Ocneria dispar, Meyrick, Handbook of British Lepidoptera, p. 175, 1895. Distribution in Other Countries. The gypsy moth has a wide distribution in the old world. Speyer, in ' ' Die Geographische Verbreitung der Schmetter- linge," published in 1858-62, Vol. I, page 401, and Vol. II, page 287, informs us that it extends over the entire region, from the lowlands to the highlands, through middle and southern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa, reach- ing from Stockholm on the north to Algiers on the south, England on the west, the Altai Mountains and the Caspian Sea on the east. It extends also into eastern Asia, including Japan ; and the tropics, Neitner having found it in Ceylon. Bremer, in his " Lepidopteren Ost-Siberiens," published in 1864, reported it in south-eastern Siberia. Staudinger, in his "Catalog der Europa?ischen Faunengebiets," published in 1871, gives for the distribution of the gypsy moth the entire territory, except the northern countries, including southern Sweden and England. He also doubtfully includes Livonia. Grseser states that the young caterpillars of this species were very common in the early part of June, 1881, near Vladivostock, Siberia. He further states that the cater- pillars in Amoor have a very different appearance from those in Europe, the prevailing color being yellow ; but all the moths bred from these caterpillars were entirely like those of Europe, "Berlin Ent. Zeits.," Vol. XXXII. In 1861, Homeyer reported the gypsy moth on the Island of Majorca in great abundance, destroying both deciduous and evergreen trees. In the "Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," Vol. 268 THE GYPSY MOTH. XXV, page 65, 1888, Mr. J. J. Walker reported that he found this insect in great abundance in southern Spain, near the village of Los Barrios. In a work on "Injurious In- sects," by Theodore Keppen, published in Russian and trans- lated for me by Dr. F. B. Stephenson, U. S. N., it is stated that this insect occurs in the central and southern parts of Russia, in the Caucasus and all southern Siberia, but it does not occur in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. He further states that, according to Nolken, it does not appear in the Baltic Provinces, but has been found occasionally in Livonia, and, on the authority of Albrecht, it is very common in the vicinity of Moscow. Roinanoft*, in the sixth volume of his " Memoires sur les Lepidopteres," reports it in North China, and I have in my collection three male gypsy moths from Pekin, China, received from Dr. O. Staudinger. In a letter from Dr. Ritzema-Boz of Holland, dated Sept. 3, 1895, he writes, "This insect is common in Holland and also in all western Europe." The Gypsy Moth in England. The earliest information that I have found of the presence of the gypsy moth in England, is given by Wilkes, in his work entitled "Twelve New Designs of Eno-lish Butterflies," published in London in 1741-42, with twelve plates, but with- out text. Plate X, Fig. 2, represents the insect under the name "The Gipsey Moth." Harris described it in his " Aurelian's Pocket Companion," published in 1775. Donovan, in his "Natural History of British Insects," Vol. V, published in 1796, figures this insect on Plate CLXIII, and describes it on pages 67-69, calling it the "Gipsey Moth." In his account he says : "That the Phalena Dispar was not uncommonly scarce about fifteen years ago, is evident from this circumstance, few collections of British insects that were in the hands of eminent collec- tors are without an English specimen, which was procured about that time." From his further account we infer that he considered it a rare insect in England. Ha worth, in his "Lepidoptera Britannica," page 88, published in 1803, calls it Bombyx disparus, and for a common name "The Gipsy," and says it is very rare. Salisbury, in his "Hints to Pro- THE GYPSY MOTH IN ENGLAND. 269 prietors of Orchards," published in London in 1816, gives the fullest and most complete account of the gypsy moth that I have seen in English up to that date. He states that this caterpillar is common in gardens and woods, where it does considerable damage. Stephens, in Vol. II, page 56, "Illustrations of British. Entomology," Haustellata, 1829, says it is not common near London, but appears to abound in the fens of Huntingdonshire. He also refers to the statement that it was introduced into Britain by eggs imported by Mr. Collinson, but says that the abundance with which it occurs near Whittlesea, and the dis- similarity of the indigenous specimens (which are invaria- bly paler, with stronger markings) to the foreign, sufficiently refute the opinion. Curtis, in his "British Entomology," Vol. XVI, 1839, alludes to the scarcity of this species in the time of Donovan, and speaks of finding them in considerable numbers, when a boy, in the marshes at Horning, in Norfolk. Mr. Stainton, in his "Manual of Butterflies and Moths," Vol. I, page 130, 1857, says, "It is found plentifully in fenny districts, but is not generally common." George Kearley, in the "Ento- mologist's Weekly Intelligencer," Vol. IV, page 192, 1858, speaks of the gradual disappearance of the gypsy moth in England, and states that it was claimed by some to have actually become extinct in that country. Mr. Eichard South, in the " Entomologist," Vol. XXV, page 259, 1892, states that entomologists in 1870 seem to have been a little troubled about the right of the gypsy moth to be considered a British insect, referring, of course, to those caterpillars or imagoes which were then found at large. He further says, after speak- ing of specimens having been found from time to time, that there is no reasonable doubt that this species is extinct in England; "that somewhere about the fourth decade of this century, the species began to decrease in numbers, and that toward the end of the fifties it had practically ceased to exist as a wildling in this country." Numerous attempts have been made to introduce this insect into England again, but they do not appear to have been successful. Many entomologists have bred it in confinement, continuing until it can now be regarded only as a semi-do- 270 THE GYPSY MOTH. inesticated species in England ; and complete degeneration of the stock, by the process known as "in-and-in breeding," is possibly averted by the periodical introduction of eggs from the Continent. The late Mr. J. Jenner Weir, in a letter to " Insect Life," Vol. IV, page 138, 1891, said that the gypsy moth had been unintentionally exterminated in England, and further writes, " I think the gypsy moth must have been destroyed simply by collectors." Mr. C. G. Barrett, in his " Lepidoptera of the British Islands," Vol. II, page 303, 1894, gives a very good history of the occurrence of this moth in England and of its probable disappearance, but without assigning any cause for such disappearance. Mr. C. Nicholson read a paper on the life-history of the gypsy moth, before the City of London Entomological and Natural History Society, Sept. 18, 1894, in which he pro- posed for discussion, among others, the question why this in- sect had become extinct in England. Mr. J. W. Tutt gave it as his opinion that it was because the insect was not a native. " Its whole history proved it to be an imported species, even when it first became known. Thousands of specimens in all stages had been set loose in various parts of the country, but, with the exception of an odd specimen here and there, no specimens were taken wild. Its abundance in the fens for a year or two simply pointed to the care with which it was put out, and to the temporary existence of favorable condi- tions. There are thousands of acres of land, to all intents and purposes fitted for its establishment here, but it — pos- sibly the agriculturists would say fortunately — will not establish itself." The history of the gypsy moth in the United States does not seem to lend force to the view taken by Mr. Tutt, as much as we wish it might prove true, for it seems to thrive as well here as in any part of the old world. America is indebted to Europe for a long list of insect pests, many of which are far more injurious, because of their unrestricted increase, than in their native country ; notable among these are the currant saw-fly (JVematus ribesii), the larch saw-fly (Nematus erichsonii) , the cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapoe), the Buffalo carpet-beetle (Anthrenus scropkularice) and many THE GYPSY MOTH IN ENGLAND. 271 others, none of which show any indications of a decline in a foreign country. The idea of Mr. Weir, that they were de- stroyed in England by collectors, hardly seems worthy of consideration. I will not attempt to express an opinion as to the cause of their extinction in that country, but it seems to me that it must be due to causes not yet understood ; and if the profound thinkers in entomological matters, of whom England has so many, have not satisfactorily settled this question, it would be folly for me to express any decided opinion on the subject. I wish, however, to call attention to one or two points. Great Britain, because of its insular position, the prevailing winds and the currents in the sur- rounding ocean, has a far different climate from that of Massachusetts or the interior of Europe and other parts of the old world, where this insect is usually most abundant. I noticed, when in England, that the foliage of all vegetation seemed darker than in this country, or, at least, than in the eastern part of it ; and it occurred to me that this might be due, in part, to the larger amount of moisture in the atmos- phere, especially as quite similar conditions of climate, with darker foliage occur in British Columbia, as I have been in- formed by my colleague, Mr. E. H, Forbush, who also states that the arboreal animals of that region are much darker than those in the eastern parts of the United States. Some years ago, while in England, my kind friend, Mr. C. G. Barrett, gave me a very complete series of British Tortricids, and I never look at my collection without noticing how much darker these insects are than the same species from Germany and other parts of Europe. It seems to me that this dark- ening may have resulted from natural causes, operating through a very long period of years. When these insects first made their way into the British forests and fens, with their darker surroundings, the lighter colored individuals, contrasting the most with the objects on which they rested, naturally fell a prey to their enemies more readily than the dark-colored individuals ; the darker ones were left to propa- gate the species, and, in time, a dark race was formed. I am well aware that I am now trespassing on ground which is far better understood by my English brethren, but I trust that I may be permitted to call attention to this matter for 272 THE GYPSY MOTH. the purpose of considering the bearing of environment and climate on the gypsy moth. If we suppose that the native home of this insect was in central Europe or south-western Asia, and that it was de- veloped from some progenitor in which the sexes were of the same color, possibly not very unlike the males of the present time, we may well suppose that, as the females developed a larger number of eggs, rendering them so heavy that they flew but rarely, and, in time, not at all, their wings, not being used, would grow weaker and less useful as organs of flight, as we now find them. Under these circumstances, suppose them to be inhabiting trees and shrubs, the bark of which is of light color, as birch, their enemies, the birds, etc., could readily distinguish these strongly contrasting females on the trunks of the trees and destroy the darker forms, leaving the lighter examples to propagate the species ; and, as this went on, in time permanently light-colored females would be produced. The males fly actively during the day, and are captured, while on the wing, by insectivorous birds ; but in this case slight variations in color would not be apparent to the birds, and no discrimination would be made in favor of such vari- ations. For this reason the males have probably retained more of their primitive color and appearance, while the females have made a most remarkable change ; and, as a result, this insect furnishes a most striking illustration of what is called sexual dimorphism. Another reason for thinking that the males have changed far less than the females, and that the changes made were perhaps in a different direction, is the fact that they more nearly resemble the males of allied species than they do the females of their own. Compare Figs. 3 and 4, on Plate I., with Figs. 11, 14 and 17, on Plate 39, and also with Figs. 1 and 2, on Plate I. The three species of Orgyia just referred to have wingless females (one of which, O. leucostic/ma, is represented on Plate 39, Fig. 18), which are so heavy that it would be impossible for them to fly with wings of ordinary size. It is probable, however, that the remote ancestors of these insects were winged in both sexes, and that, as the female developed a larger reproductive system and more eggs, she INJURIES IN THE OLD WORLD. 273 became too heavy for flight, and at last abandoned all at- tempts, just as the gypsy moth is now doing, and that by dis- use these organs became atrophied, and nothing now remains but mere rudiments of the wings. A similar fate possibly awaits the gypsy moth. Two of the species of Orgyia, figured on Plate 39, Figs. 14 and 17, are so-called natives of this country; while the other, Fig. 11, is a native of Europe, and has been in this country probably a compara- tively short time, not long enough, at any rate, for the new environment to produce any noticeable change. Since the introduction of O. dejinita (Fig. 14) and 0. leucostigma into this country, whenever and in whatever way that may have happened, the three species have been in an environment which has produced marked changes in the males, while the wingless females have probably changed far less. The two American species have changed so little from each other that O. definite,, for a long time, was not recognized as a distinct species. It may have branched oft* from the stem of leucos- tigma at a comparatively recent date. If, in comparatively recent times, the gypsy moth made its way into England, by the help of man or otherwise, may not the darker color of the foliage and other surroundings have rendered the female moths more conspicuous objects to their enemies, so that, " in the struggle for existence," this species was exterminated before it had time to take on the darker colors, as may have been the case with the British Tortri- cids ? It may be thought that the warm, damp climate of England would favor fungoid plants which are destructive to insect life ; but, if this caused the extermination of the gypsy moth in England, why has it not also caused the extermi- nation of numerous other species with more or less similar larval habits? If any of the above conditions caused the extinction of this moth in England, we have little to hope for in America, since so very little of our territory has any such climatic conditions as England. Injuries in the Old World. There are many accounts, in the older books, of extensive damage done by insects at different times in various parts of Europe, some of which was probably caused by the gypsy 274 THE GYPSY MOTH. moth ; but it is impossible to be quite sure what insects may- have been referred to in these old accounts for the reason that only local common names were used before 1758, when Linnaeus introduced the custom of giving a scientific name to each insect, by which it should be known in all countries. In a work entitled " Beschreibung von allerlei Insecten in Teutschland," by J. L. Frisch, published in Berlin, 1720, Vol. I, page 14, is a brief notice of a garden and forest caterpillar which is evidently the gypsy moth. Plate III represents a male, a female laying her eggs, a caterpillar, the anterior and posterior ends of a caterpillar and a male antenna. He writes of this insect as follows: "This cat- erpillar, in the third part of the copper-plate, Fig. 1, is called Bunt-Knopffig, on account of the light violet-blue and purple-red tubercles on its back, and also Garten und Forstraupe (garden and forest caterpillar), because it not only destroys all the leaves of the fruit-bearing trees of the orchard, but also does not hesitate to attack forest trees, especially the oaks, on which it is found every year. In this year, 1720, this caterpillar entirely stripped every tree of the double row of lindens along the road from Neustadt to Berlin." In the appendix to this work, published later, is a statement that a certain injurious caterpillar (possibly the gypsy moth), in 1721 and 1722, ravaged not only the fruit trees throughout Germany, but also oaks and other forest trees, and even killed many of them. Thomas Brown, in the " Book of Butterflies," Vol. II, page 52, published in London in 1832, states that in 1731 the caterpillars of the gypsy moth committed terrible havoc among the cork oaks of France. In 1761, J. C. Schaefler published a work on the gypsy moth, the first edition of which appeared in 1752. He states that in this last year the trees in the orchards and gardens, the bushes in the fields, and even whole forests, not only in many places in Saxony but also in Altenburg, Leitz, Nauin- burg, Sangerhausen and many other regions, were entirely stripped of their leaves. The branches and twigs were densely covered with caterpillars, instead of leaves, and they also crawled over the ground in great numbers. An exam- ination proved that they all belonged to this one species, and INJURIES IN THE OH) WORLD. 275 that they had been more or less abundant for three years in succession. The first year there were not very many, the second they were comparatively numerous and the third year they were present in overwhelming numbers. Some of the common people thought that the caterpillars grew out of the ground, like the grass ; others thought that they were cre- ated by the evil one ; still others assured the author that they had seen with their own eyes thousands of the caterpillars brought by the wind ; and, finally, there were many who thought these caterpillars were sent by God as a punishment for their sins. The author states that about eleven years be- fore, he saw this same species in Saxony, after having stripped the leaves from every tree and shrub in the vicinity, feed on grass and grain. In the " Naturforscher," Vol. XVI, page 130, 1781, Pas- tor C. J. Rimrod gave a long and very good account of the gypsy moth, and wrote of two invasions at his home in Quen- stedt, one in 1760-61 and the other in 1781. Preyssler, as stated by Bechstein, in his " Vollstandige Naturgeschichte der schadlichen Forstinsekten," page 372, 1804, says that the gypsy moth was once very common at Prague, and stripped the leaves from the fruit trees, so that they bore no fruit. Bechstein, in the same place, says that this is a formidable insect, against which very active meas- ures must be taken, for, because of its large brood and great voracity, the damage done by the caterpillars may be easily understood. Linnaeus and Fabricius call it the pest of the fruit garden. Panzer, in his " Faunae Insectorum Germanic*," Vol. II, page 22, 1794, says the caterpillars of this insect appeared for many years in frightful numbers, and destroyed the fruit trees to the great injury of their owners. In 1818, the cork-oak forests extending from Barbaste to Podenas, in south-western France, were devastated by innumerable hosts of gypsy moth caterpillars. After having devoured both the leaves and the acorns, they attacked the maize, millet, fodder and all the fruits. They even invaded the dwellings in the neighborhood of the trees, to the extreme annoyance of the occupants. Godart says, in his " Iconographie des Chenilles, Les Bom- by cites," published in 1832 : " This caterpillar lives on nearly 276 THE GYPSY MOTH. every species of tree, and, as it is as common as voracious, it often causes great damage to orchards of fruit trees as well as in the parks and forests, and, together with other cater- pillars, often completely defoliates them." This same author, in his "Histoire Naturelle," Vol. IV, page 256, states that in 1823 the trees in the forest of Senart in Fontainebleau were entirely defoliated by the gypsy moth, so that the trees were as bare as in winter. Finding nothing further to devour, the caterpillars crawled over the ground in all directions, seeking food. M. Daudeville, writing in the "Annales de la Societe d'Horticulture de Paris," Vol. Ill, page 98, 1828, after referring to this caterpillar and the descriptions that had been given of it, said that the pest extended from the west to the north-east of the city of Saint Quentin, for a distance of more than sixty miles, and had completely dev- astated the trees, so that they were entirely bare. These insatiable insects not only devoured the buds, leaves and flowers, but even the small twigs of fruit trees. For three years, in an orchard of three hundred apple trees, they had not left a leaf intact, and the gradual decay and death of several of the trees were attributed to these insects. In the same journal it was stated that Viscount Hericart of Thury, in a journey which he had just completed, observed that the apple trees in the departments of Calvados, the Eure, Eure- et-Loir, the Seine-Inferieur, Seine-et-Oise, the Oise, the Somme and the Aisne were entirely ravaged by this insect. Mons. N. Joly, in the " Eevue Zoologique," Vol. V, page 115, 1842, says that during the years 1837, 1838 and 1839, there appeared in the forests around Toulouse in France an innumerable quantity of the gypsy moth. The caterpillars of this insect attacked the oaks with such avidity as to strip them completely of their foliage, so that after the first onslaught the trees appeared as they do in winter. The caterpillars were so numerous that persons passing through the woods could hear them eating, and might easily believe themselves in the midst of a menagerie. These devastating insects occupied an area of more than twenty-five square leagues.* On their approach to Toulouse they attacked * An area nearly as large as the infested territory in Massachusetts. INJURIES IN THE OLD WORLD. 277 the willows, which they damaged much less, because of the ability this tree possesses of putting on new foliage. In the " Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung," Vol. IX, page 266, 1848, it is stated that Riegel in 1838 saw about eight acres of oak woods entirely stripped of leaves by the gypsy moth. Ratzeburg, in "Die Waldverderbniss," published in 1868, Vol. II, page 154, says the gypsy moth, ten years before, had spread, in a space of three years, from Brandenburg to the zoological gardens. On page 189 he says that the size and voracity of this caterpillar (gypsy moth) and the vast numbers in which they sometimes appear make the results for the beech, as well as for the elm, frightful in the extreme. In the zoological gardens at Berlin the beeches are said to have been severely attacked. A very competent observer, Dr. Gerstacker, as an eye-witness, stated that in 1852 many beeches became dry and dead. In that year all the cater- pillars transformed, but in 1853, not having sufficient food, many died of starvation. On page 339, in speaking of the ravages of different species of caterpillars, he says that Bombyx dispar (the gypsy moth) may be mentioned first as being the largest and most ravenous, and further says that he knew of a devastation by which was caused the weakening and death of rnany trees. This author states (page 185) that in the great devastation which occurred in the zoological gardens at Berlin, in 1851-53, these caterpillars attacked not only the native but also the foreign trees and shrubs cultivated there, no species being entirely avoided by them. Bazin, in an article on "The Ravages upon the Oaks by Bombyx dispar" published in "Bulletin de la Societe des Sciences historiques et naturelles de l'Yonne," pages 11-20, 1870, speaks of the abundance of this species everywhere. Before the middle of June, 1868, "there were spots in the woods that every day spread like spots of oil on the water, where not a leaf remained on the trees or shrubs." The oaks were attacked first, and after they had been stripped the birches, aspens, elms and even pines and larches were com- pletely denuded. In the fields a large number of apple trees were defoliated by this caterpillar, and the apples themselves were sometimes eaten into to such an extent that they became malformed. In the same article M. Bazin states that it was 278 THE GYPSY MOTH. reported that caterpillars of this species had occasioned the death of children who had eaten strawberries upon which these caterpillars had rested, and that, as a consequence, the sale of strawberries had been prohibited in certain regions. It did not seem possible that the story of the death of the children from this cause could be true, or even that any derangement of the digestive system could have occurred. To test the statement, M. Bazin put four gypsy moth cater- pillars in a wide-mouthed bottle with twelve strawberries and a strawberry leaf. At the end of twenty-four hours they had eaten a very little of the leaf and also a little of the strawberries, but had not eaten them with the avidity that they do other kinds of food. They had been in contact with the strawberries more completely, however, than they would if they had been at liberty, for they had crawled over the berries again and again, and, if they had the power to impart to them any injurious properties by contact, they must have done so under these conditions. M. Bazin then ate four of these strawberries, and, a little later, feeling no inconvenience from these, ate the remaining eight, without the slightest disturbance in the stomach. As the opinion prevailed more or less widely that cows and other animals that had eaten these caterpillars had been made sick, he caused a dog to swallow some of them, but the animal gave no indication of inconvenience. In reviewing Dr. E. L. Taschenberg's "Entomologie fur Gartner," etc., in the " Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung," Vol. XXXII, page 167, 1871, Dr. Dohrn, in speaking of the gypsy moth, says that from his experience the active caterpillars, after escaping from the eggs, can crawl about for eight or ten days without food. He states that on May 3, 1854, he was in Glogau, and noticed gypsy moth cater- pillars crawling on his own clothing as well as on that of others. Under the roof of the shed, near which they sat, thousands of caterpillars which had hatched that day were crawling about. They had let themselves down by threads, and thus dropped upon the clothes of the people. Threads from many more caterpillars had become entangled into long chains, which waved in the almost imperceptible breeze, and from which hung, so far as he could judge, about a thousand INJURIES IN THE OLD WORLD. 279 caterpillars. In another village he saw, some time later on a fine day, caterpillars of this same species swaying on long threads from apple trees in an orchard, and which, although there was no wind, were directed towards a neighboring orchard which the owner had always kept carefully cleared of caterpillars and egg-clusters, and who had often com- plained of the laziness and ill-will of his neighbor. On the highway in Herms village, in Glogau, the same summer, a large apple tree was eaten almost bare of leaves, and the fe- male moths were laying their eggs on the trunk. Later in the season Dohrn states that he saw the tenant carefully scrap- ing off the egg-clusters, even from the highest branches, and he expected the tree would be quite free from these caterpil- lars the next year ; but to his astonishment, in the following July, it was full of gypsy moth caterpillars, and eaten bare. The tenant said he would do nothing more in future, since all his work was of no avail ; but, upon questioning him as to whether he had burned the eggs, he replied that such a thing had not occurred to him. He had simply trodden all the egg-clusters and scrapings into the ground, where they had been preserved, and the caterpillars, hatching out the fol- lowing year, found their way up into the tree. In an article in the " Bullettino della Societa Entomologica Italiana," Vol. Ill, page 360, 1871, published in Florence, Italy, Apelle Dei has an article on the "Ravages of Insects in the Senesian Country," in which he mentions the gypsy moth, stating that it had ravaged the oak forests of the high Chianti for many years, and during the year 1871 they had stripped the forests of Chianti to an extent and with a sever- ity that was frightful, and that many of the oaks had been destroyed. Dubois, in his " Lepidopteres de Belgique," Vol. II, published in Brussels in 1874, states that in 1858, Brussels and its neighborhood suffered very much from the ravages of the gypsy moth, notably the boulevards and park. Porchinsky, in his work on ' ' Insects Injurious to Fruit Gardens in the Crimea, Russia," published in St. Petersburg in 1889, states that the gypsy moth caterpillar appears in the Crimea not unfrequently in enormous quantities. This hap- pened in 1842, and also in the early sixties and seventies. Especially during 1871 were the gardens of the Crimea nearly 280 THE GYPSY MOTH. destroyed. In 1884 these caterpillars were so numerous that they covered the railroad tracks so that trains were moved with difficulty. Again, in 1885, they occurred in great num- bers along the southern shore. Observations in the Crimea show, however, that the gypsy moth rarely continues in the same locality in large quantities for more than three years. Thus in 1861, an unusually large number of caterpillars was noticed in the Crimea, and they continued to increase until 1863, when their highest number was reached. Although the greater part of the caterpillars succeeded in forming cocoons, yet very many of them were diseased, as was shown by their soft and withered condition, and, when broken open, there flowed out from some of them a dark-brown liquid mass. In 1864, there were decidedly less caterpillars than during the previous year, while only occasional individuals were met with in 1865. In a work on " Insects Injurious to Gardens and Orchards in Central and Northern Russia," by N. Kulagin of the Uni- versity of Moscow, published in St. Petersburg in 1894, it is stated that the gypsy moth is very widely distributed. It is found in all the central provinces of Russia, in the Cauca- sus and in southern Siberia. Besides injuring fruit trees, the caterpillars destroyed the leaves of forest trees over an extent of territory comprising from one thousand to three thousand dessatines (2,860 to 8,580 acres). In a work on "Injurious Insects," by Theodore Keppen, published in Russia in 1883, Vol. Ill, commencing , on page 49, it is stated, in speaking of the gypsy moth, that these caterpillars often appear in countless numbers. In 1852, in the vicinity of Kishenev, eighty-three miles north-west of Odessa, they occurred by millions in the gardens and forests. Having destroyed all the leaves, they attacked the bark of the young shoots and completely ruined a large number of different kinds of trees. In 1842, and also in the early sixties and seventies, Georg Seopru states that they were exceedingly injurious to the fruit trees in the Crimea. Ac- cording to the statements of Professor Eversmann, the for- ests of oak and aspen, in the province of Orenboorg, were stripped of their leaves, presenting the same appearance as in winter. In 1852, the caterpillars laid waste the forests Explanation of Plate 40. Drawn in colors by Ella M. Palmer. Showing the feeding and spinning habits of gypsy moth cat- erpillars of different ages. The bark on the lower part of the apple twig has been eaten by the young cater- pillars early in the season. Showing the method of feeding upon a young growing shoot of white pine (Pinus strobus) . Red oak {Quercus rubra) leaf attacked by a nearly full- grown gypsy moth caterpillar. rLATE 40. Feed, ng HABITS ofGypsy Mom Caterp, U.ARS. INJURIES IN THE OLD WORLD. 281 of oak, linden and beech in the province of Kazan, but sub- sequently these trees put out a new set of leaves. The late V. E. Graft* reported that the oak suffered greatly in the province of Yekaterin. In 1856, the gypsy moth was observed in great abundance in the province of Riazan. In 1857, the forests near the province of Tambov were visited by vast masses of these caterpillars. The trunks of the wild apple and cherry trees were wrapped about with a felt-like substance formed by the covering of the eggs. During 1863, these caterpillars were seen in vast numbers on the oak in various forests in the province of Kazan. Here, as stated by Tideman, the trees injured most were the oak, linden, maple, elm and birch, while the mountain-ash and hazel-nut did not suffer so much. In 1867, the caterpillars were seen in other districts, and in 1868, their numbers became fright- ful to contemplate throughout the whole province of Kazan. In 1867 to 1869, the gypsy moth caterpillars were very de- structive in the province of Samara, and Rudzky states that they were very abundant at the same time in all parts of the province of Penza. During June, 1867, all the trees on many estates were entirely stripped of their leaves, and the forests in many cases to the extent of several hundred des- satines * appeared as they do in the winter. The caterpillars seemed to prefer the oak and linden, but after defoliating these they attacked other trees and shrubs, and finally de- stroyed the grass. In the forests near the city of Penza the dead caterpillars formed such putrid masses that the police were obliged to take measures to destroy the decaying heaps. An incalculable quantity of eggs were laid on the trunks of both deciduous and evergreen trees. In 1869 and 1871, the gypsy moth caterpillars appeared in great quantities in the Kupiansk district of the province of Kharkov. In more recent times, 1879-80, these caterpillars multiplied in frightful numbers and spread over an immense territory, beginning in the province of Kiev and Poltava and extend- ing through Kharkov, Voronezh, Tambov, Saratov, Sim- beersk into Kazan, f Owing to defective reports concerning * One dessatine is equal to 2.86 acres. t A territory about equal to all our Atlantic States, and in nearly the same lati- tude as Labrador. 282 THE GYPSY MOTH. this unusual appearance of Porthetria dispar, it is hard to say Avhere the calamity began. Considering the time of their appearance, it is supposed that they first appeared en masse in the province of Kharkov. According to Yaroschev, the caterpillars were seen in threatening numbers in the district of Zmiev during 1877-78. The insect may have spread westward in the province of Poltava and eastward in the province of Voronezh, and from these to more distant parts. The simultaneous appearance in different places so widely separated, led to the opinion that there were various places of origin from which the insect was distributed. Yaroschev states that the caterpillars were so abundant in the vicinity of Zmiev, in 1878, that in going from one forest to another they literally covered the walls of the houses lying in the way. They fed on all sorts of plants, except ash {Fraxinus excelsior') and wild pear. Anderson gives interesting details of the presence of the caterpillars in the forest of Shipov in the province of Voro- nezh. They first attacked the so-called winter oaks ( Quer- cus pedunculated, var. tardiflora), and, after destro} 7 ing the leaves as soon as they appeared, they devoured the leaves of the lime tree, aspen, hawthorn, spindle tree, hazel and others, and finally the numerous grasses were destroyed. Early in June they began to pupate, and by the middle of the month they were all in this stage. About 3,500 dessatines (10,010 acres) of the forest were laid bare, and detached trees in other parts of the woods were stripped of their leaves. By the middle of July the moths had emerged and laid an enor- mous number of eggs. According to Gazen, vast quantities of these caterpillars were seen in the district of Kirsanov in the province of Tam- bov, in April, 1879. Having eaten all the leaves on the trees and shrubs, the caterpillars descended to the ground and lit- erally covered it in all directions. In the district of Volsk, in the province of Saratov, the caterpillars of the gypsy moth appeared in vast numbers in April, 1879, eating the leaves of all sorts of trees, though preferring. the birch and oak, and finally they attacked the pine. By the end of May, 10,000 dessatines (28,600 acres) of forest were completely denuded of their leaves. After this they devoured the INJURIES IN THE OLD WORLD. 283 grass, and, coining to a field of grain in their march, they destroyed that also. In 1880, they appeared in force in the forests of the provinces of Simbeersk and Kazan. In a letter from Professor Henry of the School of For- estry, Nancy, France, dated July 27, 1895, he says : "Liparzs dispar (the gypsy moth) is well known to French foresters. This caterpillar is a plague to fruit trees, oaks, chestnuts, lindens, elms, poplars and other trees, on all of which it thrives. In 1868, more than 60 hectares (148| acres) of oak woods were entirely stripped by it. It was so common in 1880, on the sides of Mt. Ventoux near Avignon, that the legions of caterpillars covered the ground and entirely de- stroyed vegetation. In Savoy it made an invasion in 1887 upon the chestnuts and fruit trees. There is not a year passes, comparatively speaking, in which the caterpillars do not show themselves in our territory, if not in one place then in another." In a letter from Dr. J. Ritzema-Boz, from Amsterdam, Sept. 3, 1895, he writes that this insect is com- mon in Holland and also in all western Europe, but the ravages of the caterpillar are very much more common in the eastern parts of Europe. In Holland the ravages of the gypsy moth are very rare indeed. In 1848, it stripped the leaves from the oak (Quercus pedunculated) over 50 hectares (123 T 7 g acres) near Lutphen in the Dutch province of Gelder- land, and then attacked the other trees. In 1887 it was very abundant on oak near Wyrnegen in the province of Gelder- land. In 1880 these caterpillars destroyed the leaves on a large number of hectares of oaks near Veenendeal in the province of Utrecht. In a letter from N. Nasonov, of the University Museum of Zoology, in Warsaw, Poland, dated Aug. 7, 1895, he writes that he had the opportunity of knowing personally of an immense number of the caterpillars of the gypsy moth in the orchards of the government of Warsaw during the years 1891 and 1892, and also on the deciduous trees in the government of Moscow in 1894. In 1892, the leaves of the fruit trees in Warsaw were eaten by these caterpillars to such an extent that they bore no fruit. According to the information received from the central Russian govern- ment, the caterpillars of the gypsy moth have this summer 284 THE GYPSY MOTH. (1895) nearly defoliated the forests in the government of Kalonga. Notwithstanding the general damage to all kinds of vege- tation in Europe, the greatest complaint comes from the fruit-growing districts, where this insect shows a preference for the foliage of fruit trees. Methods of Destroying the Gypsy Moth in Europe. The natural enemies of the gypsy moth, as the birds, parasites and predaceous insects, are relied upon to a great extent to keep it in check in European countries, except in localities where it is very abundant, and the outbreaks very frequent. It should be borne in mind that the European methods are not for the purpose of exterminating or even preventing the spread of this insect; for, as has already been stated, it is more or less common everywhere. The extermination of this pest in Europe by artificial means would probably be an absolute impossibility, and, therefore, all that is attempted is to destroy it wherever it appears in great abundance. The usual methods are to scrape otf the egg-clusters and burn them, or cover them over with raupenleim or other materials in the fall, winter or spring before they hatch, applying the substance by means of a brush on a long pole to those egg-clusters that are too far above the ground to be reached in any other way. Later in the season the trees are protected from those caterpillars that hatch from egg-clusters laid on the ground or elsewhere, by banding with raupenleim. The caterpillars are destroyed whenever found, generally by crushing them as soon as they hatch, and while they are still clustering on the egg-mass, form- ing the so-called " spiegel." The pupae are destroyed by hand, and also the female moths before they have laid their eggs. Dr. N. Nasonov, of the Warsaw University Museum of Zoology, in the letter previously cited, writes that, in Po- land, the principal measures used in combating these in- sects are to destroy the eggs, band the trunk of the trees with raupenleim and gather the caterpillars and pupae by REMEDIES IN EUROPE. 285 hand. In a Russian work * by A. F. Rudzky, is given the following : "The eggs are laid on the trunks of the trees in large masses. These may be easily scraped off with a knife during ten entire months in southern Russia. If the egg- clusters are not scraped off, it is necessary to destroy the caterpillars as soon as hatched, and while still clustering in groups. When the caterpillars have spread over the whole tree, it is as impossible to destroy them as the separate moths. When they have eaten the foliage from one tree, they go in a mass to another ; but this may be, in a measure, prevented by putting the so-called ' catch bands ' on the tree trunks. The cheapest of these bands are made of wadding, five or six inches in width, and bound on tightly, leaving an upper and lower edge, which is to be roughed up, so that the caterpillars may become entangled in the uneven sur- faces. The wadding may be made fast to the trunks with strings, or glued together in bands. Where a large number of these bands are needed, it is advisable to paste the wad- ding (during the winter) on coarse paper, one side of which is smeared with tar. Bands of pitch or tar are frequently used, but these soon become dry. In the Crimea, a mixture of two parts of boiled tar and one part of rape oil, thoroughly heated together, is used ; also a mixture of ten pounds of lard, twenty pounds of hemp-seed oil and eighty pounds of coal tar. This is applied directly to the tree and needs renewing twice a year. Labodsky recommends this same ointment, and says that, when well prepared, it will retain its sticky qualities an entire autumn." Theodore Beling, inspector of forests at Seesen, wrote July 21, 1895, that the methods adopted there were to kill the caterpillars, pupae and moths, but that the most impor- tant method was to destroy the egg-masses on the tree trunks by scraping them off and burning them, or by covering them with raupenleim, or with a mixture of four parts of wood tar and one part of petroleum. Dr. Richard Hess, in "Der Forstschutz," published in Leipzig, 1887 and 1890, gives the following concerning the gypsy moth: "Prevention: Protection of its enemies, bats, cuckoos, starlings, crows, * " Insects Useful and Injurious to Fruit Trees." 286 THE GYPSY MOTH. titmice, tree-creepers, etc., ichneumons and tachinids are especially to be noted. Orchard trees should be smeared with a thin mixture of lime, black-soap, potash and cow- dung. Killing: Destruction of the egg-masses, from August to April, by scraping them off and burning them, or by smearing them with wood-tar thinned with petroleum or raupenleim. Killing the * spiegel' in May, and crushing the caterpillars when clustering on the trunks and branches of the trees, from the end of May through June ; gathering the pupae in July and August." In a letter from Dr. Ebermayer, professor in the University of Munich, dated July 22, 1895, substantially the same methods are recommended. J. Porchinsky, in his work on "Insects Injurious to Fruit Gardens in the Crimea," says: "The eggs should be de- stroyed in the winter season, when time and circumstances permit. The egg-clusters should not be crushed, as this might allow some of them to escape ; but they should be carefully scraped off and burned. The eggs having been destroyed, the tree should be protected from caterpillars that might come from neighboring trees by 'catch bands' (pre- ventive bands). These preventive bands are almost the only means with which to combat insects of all classes most injuri- ous to orchards ; and, therefore, their consideration is of the first importance ; but it is not so easy to find a paste that will, under all conditions of weather, retain the peculiar qualities desired. The most simple of these ' catch bands ' is a belt of tar put around the trunk of the trees, on thick paper, smeared with tar and made fast to the trunks. "In the Crimea, axle grease is placed about the tree trunks in belts from three and a half to seven inches in width, and about twenty-eight inches above the level of the ground. This ointment often retains its sticky qualities a long time, yet it is far from satisfactory. " The experiments of Klausen, in which he used wadding as a catch band, are of importance in connection with the question of prevention. A large number of these bands of cotton were put around the trunks of trees, the upper and lower borders being well spread out, for, the more fluffy and open the cotton, the more easily the caterpillars become entangled. In the course of two hours a large number of REMEDIES IN EUROPE. 287 caterpillars became entangled, and by evening were dead. After a rain these bands should be replaced." By the advice of Prof. B. E. Fernovv, of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, I wrote the following letter to Professor Altum : — Amherst, Mass., U. S. A., Jan. 21, 1895. Prof. Dr. Bernard Altum. Dear Sir : — I send you by post some papers which contain an account of the introduction and spread of the " Schwammspinner" (Ocneria disjoar L.) in this country, and of the efforts that have been made to exterminate this insect. You will see by an exam- ination of these papers that the insect has proved more destructive here than it usually does in Europe, while in England it has be- come extinct from unknown natural causes. We have already found several parasitic and predaceous insects preying on 0. dispar, as you will see mentioned in the reports which I send to you ; but I very much wish to learn whether you think it would be wise for us to attempt to introduce the European parasites into this country ; and, if so, what parasites would it be desirable for us to introduce, and where and how can they be best obtained ? We have been advised to introduce some of the Euro- pean predaceous beetles, as Calosoma sycojihanta (L.), Calosoma inquisitor (L.) and Silplia quadripunctata L. Others have told us that Calosoma sycophanta is so large and conspicuous that insectivorous birds would destroy it to such an extent that it would prove of little assistance in destroying the '* Schwammspinner." Will you be so kind as to give me your advice on this subject, and also any information you may have of the methods used in Europe for the destruction of this insect? I have your valuable work on " Forstzoologie," but from all I can learn this insect is more troublesome and destructive in southern Europe than in Germany. I shall be very grateful for any information that you may be able to give me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. Fernald. In reply to the above letter Professor Altum wrote as follows : — I have never known of a devastation in Germany equal in severity and extent to that in your country. So far as I know, all of the devastations of dispar in this region have occurred on limited areas, and have always quickly disappeared. 288 THE GYPSY MOTH. An importation of predaceous insects to oppose this destructive dispar, e. g., Calosoma sycophanta, etc., cannot possibly be of any industrial importance. These work in no noteworthy degree even in our far smaller dispar calamities. There are small para- sitic insects, especially the species of Microgaster, and even mi- crobes (bacteria), which are valuable. But these can only be collected and sent away when they appear in multitudes, and I do not know at present of a single case in which there is such an appearance. I can only recommend a single successful artificial remedy, namely, painting or moistening the egg-clusters with liquid fat (oil, petroleum, train oil) or with thin liquid wagon grease, raupen- leim, etc. With brushes having long handles, and also by the use of ladders, most of the egg-clusters can be reached. As a rule, these egg-clusters stand out visibly from the darker green bark of the trunks and branches, the under side of which may be cleaned with a brush attached to a pole. This work can be done from September to April, and has always been a complete success here ; but with such an enormous and extensive development as dispiar presents with you, the successful execution of the above method of destruction does not seem possible ; moreover, no other artificial method is of value. You will, therefore, for the present, make use of this method where the insect appears in small numbers, or as single individuals beyond the area being destroyed, and also where the first colonies or gathering points appear, that is to say, where a great development of the insect is feared. Here the in- sects are in such numbers that it is possible to destroy them, and are, for the most part, to be found on the lower portion of the trunks of the trees, where they can be easily reached by the hand or with short-handled brushes. These later central points of the invasion usually have a small area and definite borders, and such a method of destruction must be adopted and carried on with all possible energy, for the protection of the surrounding territory. It is needless to say that the caterpillars, pupae and female moths should be destroyed. The Eggs. The eggs (Plate I, Figs. 9 and 10) are nearly globular, slightly flattened on the lower side, and generally flattened or depressed on the upper side. They are about one-twen- tieth of an inch (1.5 mm.) in lateral diameter, and of a dark salmon color when first laid ; but when fertile they change to a darker color, owing to the development of the embryo, which is quite fully formed in about three weeks. The egg PLATE 41. Mass of pupa-cases and egg-clusters under a fence rail. THE EGGS. 289 appears to be smooth, when examined with a lens, but if the shell be very carefully removed and examined under a half- inch objective, or a higher power, it exhibits somewhat irregular hexagonal marks over the entire surface, except at the centre of the depression above, which is occupied by the micropyle with its surrounding rosette. This consists of three rows of somewhat pear-shaped cells, each row over- lapping a part of the next outside of it (Plate 58, Figs. 11 and 12). The most successful method found for ren- dering the micropyle and surface markings visible was to remove the contents of the egg and mount the shell dry. When mounted in Canada balsam, glycerine or glycerine jelly, all the markings were obliterated. It was impossible to obtain any better, or even as good, results by first stain- ing the shells in hematoxylin, eosin, aniline red, aniline blue, picro-carmine or methyl green. This last stain, how- ever, gave better results than any of the others. The eggs are laid in the summer, soon after the emergence of the moths, in oval or rounded clusters (Plate I, Fig. 8), usually containing from four hundred to five hundred eggs, but clusters have been found which contained one thousand eggs. These egg-clusters vary in size from one-half an inch to one and one-half inches in length, and from one-third of an inch to one inch in width. The average dimensions of fifteen clusters were found to be 21 if mm. long, 11 1 mm. wide and 5£ mm. deep. The female covers the eggs, as she deposits them, with the yellowish hairs from the under side and end of the abdomen, which cause the cluster to re- semble a small piece of sponge in general appearance (Plate I, Fig. 8). In time, however, they fade, and more nearly resemble the eggs of the white marked tussock moth (Plate 39, Fig. 15). The female deposits her eggs in every con- ceivable place, as on the branches and trunks of trees (Plate 55), often below the surface of the ground when this has shrunken away from the tree ; in cavities in trees or other concealed places ; under bark which has separated from dead branches ; under bands of tarred paper or cards tacked upon the trees ; in stone walls ; under stones and in cavities in the ground ; in old tin cans, on dead leaves or other rubbish near the infested trees; under fence rails (Plate 41) or the 290 THE GYPSY MOTH. loose boards or timbers of barns or out-buildings ; in birds' nests, and many other places, occasionally on leaves on the tree and sometimes on the fruit ; but undoubtedly the trunks and branches of the trees (Plate 42) are the most natural places. As a rule, the eggs on the limbs are laid on the under side, although in a few instances they have been found on the upper side, but more or less concealed. In one case an egg-cluster was found on a piece of old rope hanging from a tree, and another on a thermometer hanging against the outside of a chimney. It is not an uncommon thing to find them in tent caterpillars' nests, and one was found deposited on a spider's web on a fence. The typical form of an egg-cluster is elongated and slightly narrowed at the end last laid. This form is subject to all imaginable variations, according to the conditions under which the mass of eggs is laid. In one instance, six appar- ently complete egg-clusters were observed that had been laid nearly on top of each other ; and in another, a female that appeared to have died on her egg-cluster was nearly half covered with eggs deposited by a second moth while laying close by. Eggs laid by unfertilized females are usually poorly covered with hair, and crippled females, as well as those which have trouble about emerging, often leave a large part of the hair of the abdomen in the pupal case. Eggs laid by such females are usually stuck together in a loose mass, poorly covered and easily separated. The adhesive substance by which the eggs are attached to each other and to the surface upon which they are deposited, as well as that which causes the hairs of the abdomen to adhere to them, is insoluble in dilute or absolute alcohol, chloroform or spirits of turpentine. Scattered Eggs. In nearly every case where a fertilized female was confined in a box, she was found to scatter eggs while laying. The eggs were dropped accidentally, the moth being unable to attach them to the surface on which she rested. Frequently a considerable number were dropped before she succeeded in attaching a single egg ; but after a small number had been securely deposited, fewer eggs were scattered, although occa- sionally they were dropped throughout the entire process of PLATE 42. Mass of egg-clusters on the trunk of a large elm. SCATTERED EGGS. 291 laying. The most marked eases of egg-seattering were those where the moth did not first form a hairy area on which to deposit eggs. Observations made on the egg-scattering of fifteen gypsy moths, ten in the insectary and five on trunks of trees in the field, showed that all of them scattered eggs, some of which were dropped before the moth mated and others afterwards. The number of eggs scattered by these insects ranged from one to thirty-four, the average being nine and three-fourths. Male moths, when numerous, in attempting to mate with females while they are laying, often disturb them to such an extent as to cause them to drop or scatter eijffs. JLgvs scattered by fertilized females have proved to be fertile. Observations made in the field show that many eggs are scattered by the moths when laying under the most natural conditions. In one colony in Sau- gus, in 1894, the greatest number of egg-clusters were on the rough bark of pine trees, and many scattered eggs were found at the base of these trees among the pine needles. Nearly all of these eggs were naked, and in many cases the}' were loose, though some were attached to pine needles or to fragments of bark at the base of the trees. Scattered eggs were also found in crevices of the rough bark below the clusters. Eighty-five per cent, of the scattered eggs taken at this place proved to be fertile. This scattering of eggs doubtless explains why caterpillars occur in places where the eggs on the trees have been destroyed the previous winter, and indicates the value of burlapping as a supple- ment to the work of egg destruction. Resistance or Eggs of the Gypsy Moth to the Action of the Elements. In January, 1895, a number of egg-clusters were thor- oughly broken up, so that the eggs were entirely separated, and as much of the hair removed as possible. The eggs from each cluster were then placed in a small paper box which was covered with two thicknesses of thin, open cheese- cloth. Six of the clusters were placed underneath the store- house, where they were sheltered from storms, but otherwise wholly exposed to all climatic changes ; and, to determine the effect of the actual out-door exposure, six more egg- 292 THE GYPSY MOTH. clusters were taken from trees, and, after being prepared in the same manner, were placed in exposed positions on the ground, in the centre of a colony. The tops of the boxes were placed uppermost, so as to give free access to rains, and the localities marked, so that they might be readily found. The boxes were allowed to remain here through all the cold weather and storms of the season, sometimes being bare, and sometimes covered by the ice formed from the melting snow. On the 4th of April, all of these egg-clusters, as well as those from underneath the storehouse, were collected and placed in the hatching-boxes. Those from the colony were more or less covered with cUbris which had been carried into the box by the action of rain or of thawing ice. All of the egg-clusters hatched from April 16 to April 20, and, judging from the small number of eggs remaining unhatched, pro- duced as many caterpillars as similar clusters which had been kept intact, either in cold storage or out of doors, during the winter. From this it is evident that, although the hairy covering of the egg-cluster may serve in a measure as a protection to the eggs, yet it is not essential to their successful hiber- nation. Certain European writers recommend scraping the eo-o-s from the trees, and state that when this is done their vitality is destroyed by the severity of winter. This cer- tainly is not true in Massachusetts, even if it be so in Europe. Effect of Extremes of Temperature on the Eggs of the Gypsy Moth. During the spring of 1895, considerable time was devoted to studying the effect of heat and cold, in extreme degrees, upon the eggs of the gypsy moth, with a view of obtaining a better knowledge of the capabilities of this insect to resist such extremes, which fact has a bearing in showing whether sudden climatic changes would aid in holding the insect in check. The experiments with extremes of heat were conducted by use of a hot- water oven, the necessary degree of heat being obtained by means of a small oil stove, and the temperature of the interior being indicated by a small thermometer. EXPERIMENTS ON EGGS. 293 To obtain extremes of cold, the eggs were placed in vials and enclosed in a small can, which -was then placed in an- other can containing a freezing mixture (composed of equal parts of coarse granulated snow and salt, and in some cases one which was composed of four parts of snow and five parts of calcium chloride). The degree of cold was indicated by a thermometer placed in the freezing mixture, and so ar- ranged as to be easily read through a glass window in the side of the can. Effect of Heat on Eggs. On April 3, ten egg-clusters of the gypsy moth were ex- posed for thirty minutes to a temperature of 80° F. They were then placed in the hatching-boxes, where the temper- ature was normal, and daily observations made until April 16, when all the egg-clusters were found to have hatched. April 3, ten egg-clusters were exposed for thirty minutes to a temperature of 90°, and were then placed in hatching- boxes ; all of the clusters had hatched April 16. April 3, ten egg-clusters were exposed for thirty minutes to a temperature of 100°, and then placed in hatching-boxes ; by April 17, all had hatched. April 3, ten egg-clusters were exposed for thirty minutes to a temperature of 110°, and then placed in hatching-boxes ; on the 17th of April all of these egg-clusters had hatched. March 26, three egg-clusters were exposed for thirty minutes to a temperature of 120°, and then placed in hatching-boxes ; one of these hatched April 7 and the other two on April 9. On April 3, ten egg- clusters were exposed for thirty minutes to a temperature of 130°, and then placed in hatching-boxes; on April 12, all of these egg-clusters commenced hatching. Having obtained this result, they were further experimented with by being placed in a cold box surrounded by ice and salt, and ex- posed for thirty minutes to a temperature ranging from zero to 8° below ; none of the egg-clusters hatched after this treatment. April 15, ten egg-clusters were exposed for a period of fifteen minutes to a temperature of 140° ; none hatched. April 16, six egg-clusters were exposed to a tem- perature of 150° for a period of fifteen minutes, and then placed in the hatching-boxes ; none hatched. 294 THE GYPSY MOTH. From the above experiments we conclude that a temper- ature of at least 140° is necessary to destroy the vitality of the developed embryo in the egg. In March, 1895, the effect of the naphtha torch flame was tried upon egg-clus- ters, exposing them to the action of the flame for various short periods of time. This apparatus is sometimes used for destroying eggs laid in cavities in trees. Of thirty-one egg- clusters treated in this manner none hatched. Effect of Cold on Eggs. Experiments in rapidly changing egg-clusters from a high to a low temperature were conducted with the following re- sults : March 22, 1895, four egg-clusters were changed in twenty minutes from a temperature of 80° above zero to 5° above, and left over night in a freezing mixture of calcium chloride and snow. Two of the egg-clusters hatched April 9 and two April 11. Apparently these egg-clusters hatched as well as the average ones in the field, and the caterpillars from them fed and grew in as satisfactory a manner as normal caterpillars. March 26, two egg-clusters were ex- posed for some time to a temperature of 80° F. They were then packed in a mixture of calcium chloride and snow, and in fifteen minutes reduced to a temperature of 20° below zero, a fall of 100°. They were kept at this temperature for thirty minutes, and then taken out and placed in the hatch- ing-box. By the 16th of April all had hatched. Date of Hatching. The eggs of the gypsy moth hatch in the spring, from the last of April to the middle of June, depending on the weather and the places in which they are deposited, those eggs which are laid in warm, sunny places hatching the earliest, while those that are laid in cold places, being protected from the heat of the sun, hatch much later. The earliest recorded date of hatching in the field was April 1, 1892, in Medford, and on May 14 of the same year a large part of the eggs in warm, sunny places had hatched. The latest date noted was June 17. The embryo develops very rapidly, especially in a warm temperature. Eggs laid Aug. 10, 1894, showed well-de- SECOND BROOD. 295 veloped embryos August 26, and eggs were found in the field, Aug. 18, 1894, that contained mature embryos 1.4 mm. long. Notwithstanding this early development of the em- bryo, up to this year no eggs were found to have hatched in the fall, though a careful watch was kept for them. In Europe fall hatching is reported in at least one instance. Ratzeburg, in " Die Forst-Insecten," Vol. II, page 112, says : " Here they remain [on the branches] much like a long mass of fungus until the next April or May, or by exception they hatch in the autumn, as I have seen them myself on the 5th of September, 1836." A Second Brood. In the early part of September, 1895, many of the gypsy moth egg-clusters were found to be hatching at the ' ' Win- ning" colony, in Woburn, where the caterpillars had com- mitted serious depredations during the summer months. The second brood, which appeared only in this particular colony, seemed to have hatched because of peculiar condi- tions of location and temperature. The colony is situated on the side of a hill, sloping towards the south, which is covered with a dense growth of medium-sized oak trees. When this colony was discovered, in the early part of the summer, the caterpillars were much larger and more nearly ready to pupate than in any other colony, and this led to the opinion that the eggs must have hatched much earlier than in other localities. Many of the moths emerged and laid their eggs at this place before the caterpillars in other colo- nies, where the conditions for rapid development were not as favorable, had commenced to pupate. While embryonic development in this insect appears to be more rapid in warm weather, a limited number of experi- ments performed in 1893 and 1894, seem to indicate that a certain degree of cold is probably necessary to mature the embryo. In the latter part of August on several nights the temperature fell quite low in the eastern part of the State, and on one night a frost occurred in some places. At this time a part of the eggs in the " Winning"' colony had been deposited from four to six weeks, which was sufficient time for the development of the embryo. This cool weather was 296 THE GYPSY MOTH. followed by a hot wave, during which a thermometer, ex- posed to the direct rays of the sun at Maiden, reached a temperature of 112° F. This extremely hot weather caused a part of the eggs in this colony to hatch, thus giving rise to a second brood, although in no case was the hatching com- plete, as only a few eggs (one to twenty-five) hatched from a cluster. Eggs brought to the insectary, and kept at an average temperature of 70°, gave rise to a few caterpillars, from time to time, for more than a month. A number of the caterpillars from this second brood were collected and sacked in on a small red oak tree, and others were taken to the insectary and fed daily. At the time of this writing (Dec. 5, 1895) a part of the latter have pupated. Careful observations were made upon the caterpillars sacked in on the tree, and also upon those which were feeding under natural conditions in the colony. In neither case were they found to thrive in a normal manner, and with cooler weather and frosty nights they gradually died, until none were left. Those which survived longest had nearly all entered the second molt. The caterpillars reared at the insectary did not show as much strength and vigor as those which hatched normally in the spring, and over seventy-five per cent, of them died before reaching the fifth molt. While this is the only positive record of a second brood of the gypsy moth in this country, it is presumably true that in some cases egg-clusters may have partly hatched in the fall of previous years. Any egg-cluster taken in the field, which possesses marked peculiarities, is usually sent to the insectary for examination, and many of the clusters thus sent in during the winter and spring ol 1894-95, were found to contain empty egg-shells. The size and appearance of the holes in the shells indicated that it was not the work of mites, since they eat out a ragged, irregular opening, while the hole left by the exit of the young caterpillar has a more regular outline, and varies from a small circular aperture to a nar- row band eaten around the entire periphery of the shell. After studying a number of these egg-clusters during the spring of the present year, Mr. Kirkland suggested that fall hatching would best explain the occurrence of the empty egg-shells ; but at that time there was no positive evidence HATCHING OF THE EGGS. 297 that such hatching had actually taken place in the infested district. In the light of our present knowledge, however, it seems probable that fall hatching may have occurred occa- sionally during previous years, and also that, under the most favorable conditions, this insect shows a tendency to be- come double-brooded, like the related species of the genus Orgyia. The death of the caterpillars of the second brood, feeding in the field, was to be expected, since the season was not long enough to permit them to reach maturity. Even if they had matured it is doubtful if the caterpillars would have seriously injured trees which had retained their foliage throughout the summer. On the softer and more delicate foliage of those trees which had leaved out a second time, after being stripped early in the season, the caterpillars fed with great avidity, and, had the length of the season permitted, such trees might have been injured to a considerable degree. Hatching of the Eggs. The majority of the eggs hatch during the warm part of the day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and continue hatching for several days. It is apparent that, when hatching, the cater- pillar first eats a hole through the side of the egg-shell, the flattened surfaces representing the top and bottom of the egg, and then eats more or less of a band around the shell on the side, often leaving only the upper and lower surfaces of the egg. Sometimes the caterpillar emerges from the egg by a single hole in the side, but usually it eats a band around the side of the egg, leaving only the upper and lower disks remaining. Number of Caterpillars from Single Egg-clusters, and Time required for Hatching. From one egg-cluster that had been kept in a warm room at the insectary during the winter of 1893-94, 1 egg had hatched Feb. 23, 1894, at 9 a.m. ; at 10 a.m., 49 more; at 11 a.m., 13 more ; and at 5 p.m., 50 more, making 113 which hatched the first day. 298 THE GYPSY MOTH. February 24, at noon, 80 more eggs had hatched ; at 5 p.m., 43 more from the same cluster, or 123 on the second day. February 25, at 10 a.m., 20 more eggs had hatched; at 1.15 p.m., 47 more; and at 6.15 p.m., 6 more, making 73 eggs which hatched on the third day. February 26, at 7.30 a.m., 87 more had hatched; at 1.30 p.m., 172, and at 5 p.m., 16 more, or 275 on the fourth day. February 27, at 7 a.m., 39 more had hatched ; and at 5.40 p.m., 43 more, making 82 for the fifth day. February 28, at 7 a.m., 2; at noon, 26 ; at 5 p.m., no more had hatched, making 28 eggs which hatched on the sixth day. March 1, at 7 a.m., 2 more eggs had hatched; at noon, 5 ; and at 5 p.m., 2 more, making 9 for the seventh day. March 2, at 7.20 a.m., 1 more egg had hatched; and at 5 p.m., 1 more, making 2 that hatched on the eighth day. March 3, at 7.45 a.m., 1 more egg had hatched. No other eggs hatched from this cluster. The total number of eggs hatched from the cluster, in nine days, was 706. From another egg-cluster, kept under similar conditions, 997 hatched in eleven days. To gain further information concerning the actual number of caterpillars which may hatch from one egg-cluster, and the time required for hatching, a number of egg-masses which had been taken from the field were brought into a warm room and placed in boxes, April 25, 1895. The caterpillars were counted and then removed as soon as hatched. From egg-cluster No. 1, 250 caterpillars were hatched in 2 days and 22 hours. From egg-cluster No. 2, 408 caterpillars were hatched in 3 days, 17 hours and 10 minutes. From egg- cluster No. 3, 708 caterpillars were hatched in 3 days, 17 hours and 15 minutes. From egg-cluster No. 4, 679 cater- pillars were hatched in 3 days and 1 hour. From egg- cluster No. 5, 393 caterpillars were hatched in 3 days, 22 hours and 30 minutes. From egg-cluster No. 6, 438 cater- pillars were hatched in 4 days, 16 hours and 45 minutes. The whole number of caterpillars from the six egg-clusters was 2,876, an average of 479 to each cluster. The average time in hatching was 3 days, 20 hours and 6| minutes. THE CATERPILLAR. 299 From studies made on a large number of es^-clusters in the insectary, supplemented by observations in the field, it was discovered that in many eases some part of the eggs composing an egg-cluster did not hatch. Seven large egg- clusters which had hatched were found to contain on an average 124 unhatched eggs, the smallest number being 43, the largest 224. A small number of unhatched eggs is found in nearly all the old nests taken in the field. The Larva or Caterpillar. Relative Vitality of Caterpillars hatching at Different Times from the Same Egg-cluster. The following observations were made under my directions by Messrs. Minott and Mosher, both careful and reliable observers : — From a large cluster of eggs, laid by a single female gypsy moth, and kept in a warm room, 4 hatched late in the afternoon of March 11, 1894; at 10 a.m., March 13, 333 more eggs had hatched ; at 5.20 p.m., 194 more had hatched ; March 14, 233 had hatched; March 15, at 4 35 p.m., 48 more eggs had hatched; March 19, 10 more hatched; March 20, 3 ; and on the 21st, 6 more eggs hatched, making 831 eggs hatched from this cluster. The caterpillars were re- moved as soon as hatched. Fifty caterpillars were selected, as follows: 10 of those hatched on the second day, 10 of those hatched on the third day, 10 of those hatched on the fourth, 10 of those hatched on the eighth and 5 of those hatched on the ninth and tenth days, making 6 sets of caterpillars taken from those which hatched at different times. Each caterpillar was fed on let- tuce, in a box by itself, and under as nearly similar con- ditions as possible, careful records being made, for the pur- pose of learning whether there was any difference in the vitality of caterpillars hatched at different times, from the same egg-cluster ; the period of rest before and after each molt, and the time between each molt. No perceptible dif- ference was noticed in the vitality of those hatched at differ- ent times. It was observed that they all ate equally well and appeared equally healthy, and that all their transforma- 300 THE GYPSY MOTH. tions agreed very closely, except that those which hatched latest did not require as many days in their molts, and there- fore reached the adult stage as soon as the others, although marked variations occurred among the individuals of each hatch (Plate 43) . Some grew faster than others, while some appeared to eat about the same amount as others and yet did not grow as rapidly. Description of the Larva or Caterpillar. The following descriptions were prepared from the study of from twenty-five to fifty caterpillars in each stage : — First Larval /Stage. — The larva, when first hatched, is 3.6 mm. (about fourteen hundredths of an inch) in length, and the head is .6 mm. (about twenty-three thousandths of an inch) in width and somewhat thicker than the body, shining black, with a few (about forty) pale-yellow hairs scattered over the surface, the longest of which are not quite equal to the width of the head. There are a few additional hairs on the mouth parts. The body is more or less cylindrical, slightly taper- ing toward the posterior part which is blunt and rounded. When first hatched they are a pale' brownish-yellow, with a brown spot on the forward side of segments four to twelve inclusive, on the subdorsal line of each side, but the ground color grows darker within a few hours. The subdorsal tuber- cles of the second segment (first after the head) are elon- gated laterally and joined at the dorsal line. These are of a dark-brown color. The lateral tubercles of this segment are fused, forming one very large lateral tubercle on each side, which extends obliquely out and forward. The third and fourth segments have three tubercles on each side, one subdorsal, one lateral and one stigmatal. The remaining segments, except the last, have large subdorsal and lateral tubercles, the latter being so large as to fuse more or less completely with those above them. There are three nearly equal-sized tubercles on each side of the last segment, so arranged as to form an arched row around the posterior end of the animal. The insect at this stage has two kinds of hairs arising from the tubercles, the first of which (Plate 48, Fig. 8) is about as long as the thickness of the body, of a pale-brown PLATE 43. Variation in size of caterpillars of the same age. Fifty caterpillars hatched from the same egg-cluster were reared separately on lettuce leaves, all receiving exactly the same treatment. When the caterpillars were five weeks old, the two extremes in size, together with a caterpillar of medium size, were photographed. The smallest caterpillar as here shown has not molted. The medium caterpillar has molted twice. The largest has molted four times and is approaching the fifth molt. THE CATERPILLAR. 301 color, smooth throughout, with a sharp point at the outer end; and at the basal third they have an inflated globule, the diameter of which is three times as great as that of the hair. The walls of this globule are delicate, and when the insect is alive they are fully distended, probably with air or gas ; but when dead they collapse more or less completely, often causing the hair to be bent at this place. The first and second rows of tubercles on each side have only hairs of this kind on them. Similar hairs occur on the larva of the nun moth (Lymantria monacha) before the first molt, and have been called aerostatic hairs by Wachtl and Kor- nauth, and the globules asrophores. These authors believe that these inflated globules have the effect of small balloons, and aid in transporting the young caterpillars to a consid- erable distance when the wind blows. The other kind of hairs (filiform hairs) (Plate 48, Fig. 9) arise from the two lateral rows of protuberances, and are unusually long, some of them being longer than the body of the caterpillar ; and they have several longitudinal rows of minute barbs extend- ing the entire length. Later the caterpillar changes color, the tubercles becoming black, the body reddish-brown with a row of dull reddish spots along the middle of the back, one each on the fifth to the eleventh segments inclusive. There are no retractile tubercles in this stage. The time between hatching and the first molt, of twelve caterpillars bred in confinement, in an unheated room, was from eight to twelve days, the average being nine and one- fourth days. The temperature very materially affects the time before molting, for, when caterpillars were kept in breeding cages near warm steam pipes, they molted in five days ; while others, from the same egg-cluster, kept in a cool part of the room, molted in seven days. Second Larval Stage. — Length, 7 mm. (about twenty- seven hundredths of an inch), and the head is 1 mm. (about thirty-nine thousandths of an inch) in width, shining black, with numerous fine, pale-yellow hairs scattered over the sur- face. Body, dark brown, with the tubercles black, and a somewhat triangular yellowish spot on the top of segments nine, ten and eleven, in the middle of which, on segments ten 302 THE GYPSY MOTH. and eleven, there is an orange-colored retractile tubercle, and also one on each side of the dorsal line, near the front edge of segments five, six, seven and eight, of the same color, but much smaller. There are four rows of tubercles on each side, which, named from above, may be called the subdorsal, the lateral, the stigmatal and the substigmatal row, each with one tubercle on each segment after the head. The tubercles of the subdorsal rows on the second segment (first after the head), on the front half of the segment, are subquadrate in form, and but slightly separated from each other by the dorsal line. The subdorsal tubercles of the third and fourth sear- ments are smaller, and nearly elliptical in outline, while those on the remaining segments are larger and more nearly circular. The tubercles of the lateral row are smaller than those above, and on segments five to thirteen inclusive they are partially fused with those of the stigmatal row ; but as they are a little further forward than those below, the fusion gives an obliquely elongated tubercle. To effect this fusion the tubercles of these two rows are brought towards each other. The tubercle of the stigmatal row, on the second seg- ment, is large, somewhat produced, and directed obliquely forward. The substigmatal row consists of medium-sized tubercles, lying directly above the legs and prolegs, and about half-way between them and the stigmatal row. A little below, and behind these tubercles, on segments seven to eleven inclusive, is a very small tubercle, and on segments five, six, eleven and twelve there are two small tubercles on each side beneath, the inner ones being much the smaller. The tubercles of the subdorsal and lateral rows are armed with black, pointed spines and a few pale-yellow hairs, while the remaining tubercles are armed with longer pale-yellow hairs. On each side of the dorsal line, near the subdorsal tubercles, on segments three to twelve inclusive, is a very small tubercle, with one black spine and occasionally a few pale-yellow hairs. Third Larval Stage. — Length, 10 mm. (a little less than one-half of an inch), immediately after molting, and the head is 1.8 mm. (about seven hundredths of an inch) in width, shining black, with numerous pale-yellow hairs scat- tered over the surface. The general color of the body is THE CATERPILLAR. 303 dark brown and very much broken, giving the appearance of a large spot on each segment. The lateral lines are dull yellowish- white. Arrangement of tubercles, bristles and hairs as in the last stage. Fourth Larval Stage. — Length, 13 mm. (about half an inch), immediately after molting, and the head is 2.8 mm. (about eleven hundredths of an inch) in width, pale brown- ish-white, mottled on the sides and above with dark brown, and there is a dark-brown vertical stripe on each side of the clypeus and numerous pale-yellow hairs scattered over the surface. The body is dark brown, finely mottled with yel- low ; while the dorsal line is pale ochre-reddish, enlarged into small grayish spots on the middle of the sixth, seventh and eighth segments, and on the ninth, tenth and eleventh segments there are larger orange-colored spots. The lat- eral line is pale yellow, and below this the surface is ashy, mottled with dark brown. The tubercles, spines and hairs are as in the preceding stage. Fifth Larval Stage. — Length, 23 mm. (about nine-tenths of an inch), immediately after molting. The head is 3.6 to 4.4 mm. (about fourteen to seventeen hundredths of an inch) in width, or about the same width as the following segments without the lateral tubercles. The ground color is cream- white, and there is a vertical, velvety-black stripe on each side of the clypeus, outside and above which, the surface is sprinkled more or less thickly with velvety-black dots, which are more or less confluent. The labrum and mandibles are of a watery, whitish color, and the mouth parts beneath are dull reddish. Scattered over the surface are numerous pale-yellow setaceous hairs, varying in length from the width of the head to half that length. The upper surface of the body is cream-white, marked with black in minute, irregularly formed spots, giving a general dark-gray color, but leaving the dorsal line of a lighter color. The subdorsal tubercles, on segments two to six inclusive, are blue, and those on segments seven to twelve inclusive, are red. All the tubercles and retractile tubercles are of the same form, and arranged the same as in the last two stages ; the spines and hairs are also like those in the preceding stage. The fleshy, retractile tubercles on the dorsum of 304 THE GYPSY MOTH. the tenth and eleventh segments usually have a convex cap of hardened reddish fluid, which may be removed with the point of a needle, and beneath which the tubercle is hollow to the depth of three or four mm., and filled with a reddish fluid, which has an agreeable odor, but I am not able to state what it is like. Sixth Larval Stage. — Length, 30 mm. (about one and eighteen hundredths inches), immediately after molting. The head is from 5.5 to 6 mm. (about twenty-two hun- dredths of an inch) in width, dull or yellowish white, and more or less mottled with black or brown over the top and sides, with a vertical black or brown stripe on each side of the clypeus. There is a great variation in the ground color, and also in the amount of black or brown on the surface of the head. Fine yellow hairs are scattered over the surface, and the color and markings are as in the preceding stage. Seventh Larval Stage. — Length, from 35 to 40 mm. There is no marked difference in appearance, in this stage, from the preceding, except in size, and all caterpillars that we have bred to this stage have transformed into female moths. Only a comparatively small proportion of the cater- pillars reach this stage before pupating. First and Last Appearance of Larva. The newly hatched caterpillars of the gypsy moth have been found in the field as early as April 20, and as late as June 17. In the summer of 1893, Mr. H. N. Reid found a caterpillar which did not begin to pupate until September 6. The feeding period of the caterpillar generally extends from the first of May, to about the middle of July, but varies somewhat with the season, and, in a less degree, with the locality of the colony, those near the sea-shore being some- what slower in development than those farther inland. Molts. In the latter part of the winter of 1893, Miss Carrie Gor- don, one of the assistants at the Maiden office, observed the molts of several caterpillars of the gypsy moth, taken from egg-clusters which had been kept in a warm room, and thus MOLTING. 305 caused to hatch earlier than they otherwise would have done. The caterpillars were fed on the leaves of lettuce, and four of them completed their transformations, — two males and two females, — while three more died in pupating. The males molted five times and the females six times. Wishing to determine whether there would be any difference between these caterpillars, hatched out of season, and those reared under normal conditions, twelve newly hatched caterpillars of the gypsy moth, each in a separate box, were given to Miss Rose Davis, one of my assistants, early in May, 1893. These were fed on apple leaves, and each molt carefully noted. Of this lot, seven females molted five times, one female molted four times and four males molted four times. As these results differed so materially from those of Miss Gordon, I took fifty-five newly hatched caterpillars in May, 1894, fed each on apple leaves, in a separate box, and care- fully observed the molts myself. Fifty-two of these cater- pillars completed their transformations, with the following results : one female molted six times, twenty-nine females molted five times and nine females molted four times ; seven males molted five times and six males molted four times. These results showed that in all probability no mistakes were made by the other observers, and also that the process of forcing the caterpillars makes no difference in the number of molts, though the small number carried through by Miss Gordon fails to make this point as conclusive as might be desired. The time between the hatching of the eggs, which occurred Feb. 3, 1893, and the first molt, and also between the remaining molts, is as follows, according to Miss Gordon's observations : — From the time of hatching till the first molt, 6 days. From the time of the first till the second molt, 7, 8 and 9 days. From the time of the second till the third molt, 6 and 7 days. From the time of the third till the fourth molt, 5, 6 and 7 days. From the time of the fourth till the fifth molt, 6, 7 and 8 days. From the time of the fifth till the sixth molt, 8 days. According to Miss Davis' observations, the time between the hatching of the eggs, which occurred May 7 and 8, 1893, 306 THE GYPSY MOTH. J-l S3 fl > 'So CD J3 T3 O s-i cj S-I a c3 *o OS 00 CO Jh «3 o CC O H § 1 ■a 3 (OCOCOOO©HiOHiOOCOI>NiQNeOOTcN CNiOCOCC i-H iH H(MH CD © 1 CD CD s^ CD ' as ss^a Hj l-j Hj 1-5 ^j 1-5 1—1 co 1 § 1-5 l-H l-H CO 1 (0 1-3 H3 CN CO i-H CN > >% t*> >» >i !>s w c^ cS c5 cc c3 C3 CO ■^"os"'* CN — <"o^f l-H i-H i-H 1— 1 i-H 1— ( rH 1 c$ O3o3c3o3o3c3c3 "3 a t- co co "O CM c3 03 c3 o3 §^S3 HO HN^tJI CN 03 cS c3 Cu £k c3 co crt^ccococo^o-* co co 8 CS 8 n,c3 6 d n^ •a a o o co O CD i-l O CO CN i-i CO p, p, 85 f\ COHCOCOHHtoO CN CN CN CN CO -fl5 § S <5 S <3 <5 < 1- 1 co Ococoioi^TcNr^ CNcoCNCNCNCNtNCN ^ <5 GO oTo i-5" CN CO "*»© CO l-^COaTo i—" CN C0~ -* iO MOLTING. 307 CM CN 1-1 t-Hi— ICNCNt-HCNt-Ht- 1 i-H CN ^^ a'a^a'a a r a r a r a r a ^ r a r a r a a ^ ^ 3 ^ p a r a r a r ^— ^ Female, Male, Male, Male, Female, Female, Male, Male, Male, Female, Male, Female, Male, Female, Male, Male, Female, Male, Female, Female, Male, Female, OMOOffiCOOHOOO CO CN CO CN CN CM i— 1 CO a 1= a a "a a a"a a 13 a July 4, June 29, July 7, June 20, June 28, June 16, July 7, July 5, July 6, June 26, July 17, June 11, June 1, June 20, June 21, June 23, June 9, July 3, «DCOH(MHiOHCOCNNH t-Ii— 1 i— ( CM i— I i— li-HCNr- 1 03~. t>> !>> >: >* >> >> !>> t>s t>> >> O3c3c3o3c353c3c3c3c3c3 May 11 May 11 May 14 May 11 May 8 «COCOHt>HN H CNHHHH 1 >~> >-> >i !>> >-s >j >~> 7. .- - . ~ Tt ~ 7Z ^NCOCOHHCOiCjOX i— 1 C3c3ct3c3ejc3c3svc3c3c3 May 6 May 2 May 9 April 30 April 30 T-H to © CO o to o CN i— 1 i— ( i— 1 1 — >VS_, i>5 K-J >-J !>5 >", oi n,ci ci ci : a N33!O^OtOiOOXOH CM CM CN CO CM CN CO CM CO *C 'G 'G ^'G "G "G "fi 'G 'G ^ Ci, c^p^w a &, ci, c^ fi a cs TcN cn"© to i— I t-h CN CN CN CN CN 'G 'G 'G 'G 'G "G 'G ®sao»OHNs:-ti0 3sx aTo -h'cn'co TjTio"to t>T go oTcT N^CNCNco«cococococoKicocO"*'f-*^TH-^-*-H^-^io 308 THE GYPSY MOTH. and the first molt, and also between the remaining molts, is as follows : — From the time of hatching till the first molt, 8, 9, 10 and 11 days. From the time of the first till the second molt, 7 and 8 days. From the time of the second till the third molt, 7 and 8 days. From the time of the third till the fourth molt, 6, 7 and 8 days. From the time of the fourth till the fifth molt, 7, 8 and 9 days. According to my own observations, the time between the hatching of the eggs, which occurred April 28 and 29, 1894, and the first molt, and also between the remaining molts, is as follows : — From the time of hatching till the first molt, 9, 10 and 11 days. From the time of the first till the second molt, 11 days. From the time of the second till the third molt, 5, 6 and 7 days. From the time of the third till the fourth molt, 10 and 11 days. From the time of the fourth till the fifth molt, 8, 9 and 10 days. From the time of the fifth till the sixth molt, 13 days. The Process of Molting. When preparing to molt the young caterpillars remain quiet for twenty-four hours or more. The head is withdrawn from the old head covering, giving the caterpillar the appear- ance of having a very small head. The skin behind the head covering is ruptured, and the caterpillar crawls out of it, the whole process occupying not more than two minutes. Imme- diately after molting the long hairs of the body are curled up considerably, but gradually straighten out in about an hour. At intervals of about five minutes the caterpillar twists about, bringing the head to the right and left and upwards and backwards, nearly to the posterior end of the body, as if stretching itself or trying its muscles. The head grows per- ceptibly darker, even within an hour from the time of molt- ing, and in a few hours the head becomes black and shining and the caterpillar commences feeding. The approach of the molting period, in the later molts, is indicated by the development of a light-colored area, which forms behind the head during three or four days preceding PKOCESS OF MOLTING. 309 molting. This area, which is but a narrow transverse line at first, gradually widens and extends down each side of the posterior margin of the head. It is widest on the dorsal line, and is formed by the separation and projection forward of the old chitinous covering of the head, while below and beneath, the new light-colored head covering becomes visi- ble. The light-colored area is apparently the top of the head drawn back from the old covering, and protected by the tightly stretched integument of the annulation. The caterpillar stops feeding usually from twenty-four to forty-eight hours before molting, and rests quietly except for occasional spasmodic twistings of the body. When the time for molting arrives, the integument splits on the ventral part of the annulation between the head and second segment and partly up the sides. The caterpillar clings by means of its pro legs to the surface on which it rests. It elevates the middle segments, depresses segments four and five and ele- vates the head and segments two and three. Its contortions, at this stage, somewhat resemble the travelling movements of a geometrid caterpillar, and, as the band over the light- colored area behind the head is very tenacious, the caterpillar bends itself nearly double ; the feet are then withdrawn by a series of successive movements ; with a few more con- tortions of the body sufficient force is developed to burst the band in the rear of the head, and the dorsal surface of the thoracic segments is molted. This stage requires about five minutes from the first separation of the integument. The head covering generally remains attached. By alternately contracting and expanding, the remaining segments are molted one after another. The last three seg- ments are generally molted in rapid succession, and the molt- ing, with the exception of the head, is completed in about fifteen minutes. After resting a few minutes the caterpillar begins to rid itself of the firm head covering. This is done by bending down the anterior segments, and then rubbing the top, front and sides of the head upon the surface to w T hich the caterpillar clings. Finally, the top of the head covering is loosened and pushed off. This process of molting the head requires from fifteen minutes to half an hour, and the whole process is completed in less than an hour. After molting 310 THE GYPSY MOTH. the caterpillar raises its head and swings it from side to side, resting at intervals, and begins feeding in about twenty-four hours. The increase in the size of the body over that of the preceding molt, is more plainly noticed after the caterpillar has taken its first meal, but the increased size of the head is apparent at once. When first emerged from the molted skin the head is nearly cream-white, with faint darker markings, and all the colors of the body are light, but after a few hours they darken to the normal shades. The dorsal retrac- tile tubercles are very prominent immediately after molting, but regain their normal size in a short time. Caterpillars attracted to Light. When caterpillars hatch in hollow trees or other dark places, they invariably find their way out in a short time, being attracted, as it is supposed, towards the light. To determine how strongly the light influenced them in their movements, May 6, 1895, twenty-five newly hatched cater- pillars were placed in small pasteboard boxes which had a small hole in each end. One end of each box was placed in the bright sunlight, while the other end was shaded. In an hour and a half all the caterpillars had emerged through the holes in the ends exposed to the sun. Distance Young Caterpillars are able to Travel. For the purpose of ascertaining how far from the egg- cluster a newly hatched caterpillar can travel without feed- ing, seven were placed on a large sheet of white paper on a table. Their movements were traced by following them with the point of a pencil on the paper as they crawled, and these lines were carefully measured after the death of the caterpillars. In their movements it was observed that they showed a strong tendency to crawl towards the window during the day, and towards the light of the lamp during the night ; but in no case were they observed to be attracted towards food, however near it was placed, provided it did not touch their hairs. The distance travelled by each cater- pillar before it died was as follows : No. 1 travelled 90| feet ; No. 2, 93 feet ; No. 3, 143 feet ; No. 4, 85 feet ; No. 5, 36 feet; No. 6, 46| feet; and No. 7, 144 feet; aver- CATERPILLAR TRAPS. 311 age, about 91 feet. These observations have a bearing on the question of how far the trees around a colony should be burlapped. Caterpillar Traps. In the summer of 1895, at the suggestion of Mr. For- bush, several attempts were made to capture the caterpil- lars of the gypsy moth by means of traps, constructed with reference to their habit of seeking out cracks, crevices, etc., for shelter during the day. Different styles of traps were pre- pared, all made with small openings, closed by a fringe of hair-cloth or felt, through which the insect might enter but could not return. These traps were attached to the trunks of badly infested trees ; and, while they caught and retained a small number of caterpillars, as a whole they were not a success. When a number of old tin cans are placed along an infested hedge or wall, at the time the caterpillars are pupating, it has been found that they will enter them in large numbers and pupate. Females, emerging in these cans, deposit their eggs there ; and by frequent examination of the cans a large number of pupae and egg-clusters can be destroyed. Feeding Habits. In general, it may be said that the gypsy moth caterpillar is almost omnivorous so far as foliage is concerned, and its ability to adapt itself to nearly every food plant is one of the chief obstacles to its extermination. For this reason, also, it is capable of committing far greater depredations than any of our common native insects. A list of food plants attacked by the gypsy moth is given on succeeding pages, and, since the ravages of the insect on fruit and forest trees have been so fully described in Part I. of this report, we pass to a more detailed account of the feeding habits. The feeding habits of caterpillars of different ages are shown on Plate 40. Time and Manner of Feeding. To determine the time and manner of feeding of the cater- pillars, a series of observations was made by Mr. Minott in 312 THE GYPSY MOTH. 1893, and repeated by Mr. Kirkland in 1894. Many obser- vations had been made by different members of the force, but none were so extensive or complete as those made by these gentlemen, yet all agreed more or less in regard to the habits. To enable one to make observations on cater- pillars, on trees in the field or forest, it was necessary to have some system of marking ; and for this purpose water- colors were found to be excellent, and in no way injured the insects ; though, in the case of caterpillars which were to be continuously observed during the entire larval stage, it was, of course, necessary to reapply the color after each molt. Several different colors were used, especially those which contrasted strongly with the ground color of the caterpil- lars. From these observations it appears that the caterpillars remain on the egg-cluster, after hatching, from one to five or more days, according to the weather, when they wander off to the leaves and commence feeding. The first food is the leaf hairs, and, unless one observes very carefully, he might suppose that they do not feed until they are four or five days old; from this time on, however, one can see where they have eaten the tissues, making small holes through the leaf, though occasionally they eat from the edge ; but they are extremely irregular in their manner of feedinfif. Between the third and fourth molts their method of feeding is about equally divided between eating holes through the leaf and eating along the edge (Plates 40 and 44). From the fourth molt till they are ready to pupate, they eat almost entirely from the edge of the leaf, though there are occasional exceptions to this. Mr. Kirkland's observations on full-grown caterpillars were made on the nights of July 7, 8 and 9, 1894. A me- dium-sized infested elm tree was selected, and all small twigs and branches that might interfere were removed. A band of burlap had been put around the trunk, about four feet from the ground. Twenty caterpillars, some partly and some fully grown, were under the burlap. Eight of these cater- pillars were marked with water-colors, in such a manner that they could be distinguished from each other as well as from those not marked. The caterpillars were numbered, and PLATE 44. Oak leaves eaten by the caterpillars of the gypsy moth. Taken from an infested tree, Saugus, July, 1894. TIME AND MANNER OF FEEDING. 313 observations made every ten minutes, from 6 o'clock in the afternoon till 5 the next morning. At 7.30 p.m., caterpillar No. 4 began to grow uneasy, and moved about under the bur- lap or on the trunk below it. At 8.20 the first one, No. 2, started up the tree from the burlap, and soon all the rest were on the move. Some of the caterpillars, after climbing up the trunk several feet, descended for a short distance and then ascended again ; and they often stopped to rest on their way up or down the tree trunk. At 9.50 No. 3 had reached the leaves, sixteen feet from the burlap, and begun feeding. Others reached the leaves later, and fed during the night with intervals of rest. At about 3 a.m. they ceased feeding and descended the trunk, and at 4.25 all were at rest under the burlap or in crevices in the bark. One caterpillar about to molt and one about to pupate remained quietly under the burlap all night. It was further observed that the smaller caterpillars, as a rule, fed on the lower branches, while many of the larger ones went to the extreme tips of the upper limbs. Mr. Minott's observations were made on the nights of July 26, 27, 28 and 29, 1893; and the results were sub- stantially the same as in Mr. Kirkland's observations, except that the caterpillars started from their places of concealment to ascend the trees a little earlier in the evening. The observations of Mr. Kirkland, on a single caterpillar, will illustrate fairly well the operations of the insect during the night, though others varied slightly in their work : — P.M. 7.40. Caterpillar came out from under the burlap and began moving up the tree. 7.50. Ascended the trunk, twelve feet from the burlap. 8.00. Reached a leaf fifteen feet from burlap and commenced feeding. 8.10. Still feeding. 8.20. Had three feeding spells between 8 and 8.15, with short rests between. 8.30. Feeding. 8.40. Moving. 8.50. Feeding. 9.00. Feeding. 314 THE GYPSY MOTH. P.M. 'J. 10. Feeding. It began at the base of the leaf, clasping the petiole and twig with feet and prolegs, eating the base of the leaf close to the midrib, then, raising its head, worked out toward the margin of the leaf, making a crescent-shaped cut, then started from the midrib again. 9.20. Feeding. 9.30. Resting, after having eaten steadily twenty-five minutes. 9.40. Feeding (began at 9.31). The caterpillar then fed steadily until 11 p.m. 11.00. Resting a few seconds, after feeding one and one-half hours. A.M. 12.10. Feeding. Has fed continuously since 11.10; has eaten the whole of one side of a leaf and is now working upon the tip. 12.20. Feeding upon the tip of the remaining half of the leaf. It begins at the midrib, actually eating it, then takes a strip square across the leaf to the margin, then begins eating again at the midrib. Sometimes it reverses this movement, and feeds from the margin to the midrib. 12.30. Feeding. 12.40. Feeding. 12.50. Left the remains of its leaf, having eaten nearly all through it, and started at once upon the second. The caterpillar then fed without interruption until 3.20 A.M. 3.20. Stopped feeding, crawled out to the end of the twig, turned back and crawled down the main branch. 3.30. Slowly descending (daylight approaching) . 3.40. Descending. 3.50. Descending, about four feet above the burlap. 4.00. Descending. 4.10. Crossed the burlap, crawled under it, and at once became quiet. Weather during the night, fair, cool and starlight. Summary. Detailed observations made on twenty-five caterpillars may be summarized as follows : — PLATE 45. Hornbeam and other trees stripped by the caterpillars of the gypsy moth, Swampscott, 1891. AMOUNT OF FOOD. 315 1. The large caterpillars leave the burlap or other places of concealment for their places of feeding between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening, or sometimes a little later. 2. They proceed by easy stages, resting frequently, from their places of concealment to the places of feeding, though some of them wander up and down the trees more or less. 3. When the distance is short, they proceed directly to the leaves and begin feeding immediately. 4. They feed and rest alternately, at frequent intervals during the nio;ht. 5. As a rule, they go to the same feeding place each night and return to the same place of concealment, though they will accustom themselves to a new feeding place, especially in the younger stages. 6. They cease feeding at daylight (between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning), but when it is cloudy they feed later. It would seem that the first indication of daylight is the signal for them to return to their places of con- cealment. Amount of Food consumed by Caterpillars. To learn the amount of food hungry caterpillars of dif- ferent ages would consume in twenty-four hours, the follow- ing experiment was made during the summer of 1895 : a known quantity of food was supplied to the caterpillars, and at the end of a specified time the remains of the leaves were carefully soaked in water and then measured. May 10, at 4.30 p.m., three caterpillars, between the first and second molt, were placed in a breeding jar with 6 square inches of lettuce leaf. At 7.30 a.m., May 11, 4 square inches were added, making a total of 10 square inches. May 11, at 7.30 a.m., the refuse was removed, and equalled 2 square inches, thus giving 8 square inches as the amount consumed by the three caterpillars, or 2| square inches per caterpillar for twenty-four hours. May 10, at 4.30 p.m., three caterpillars, between the second and third molt, were supplied with 9 square inches of lettuce leaf. The next morning 4 square inches were added, and at 1.30 p.m. 316 THE GYPSY MOTH. 2 square inches. The refuse, which was removed at 4.30 p.m., measured 3 square inches, making 12 square inches which had been eaten by the three caterpillars, or 4 square inches per caterpillar. May 10, at 4.30 p.m., three cater- pillars, between the third and fourth molt, were supplied with lettuce as follows : May 10, at 4.30, 9 square inches ; May 11, at 7.30, 4 square inches; and at 1.30 p.m. 4 square inches : total, 17 square inches. The refuse was removed May 11, and measured 3 square inches, leaving 14 square inches as the amount consumed, or 4| square inches per caterpillar. Three caterpillars, between the fourth and fifth molt, were supplied with 18 square inches of lettuce at the same date and hour, and on May 11, at 7.30 a.m., 9 square inches were added; and at 1.30 p.m. 9 square inches more. The refuse, removed at 4.30 p.m., May 11, measured 5 square inches, leaving 31 square inches the amount con- sumed by all, or 10^ square inches per caterpillar. June 26, three caterpillars, between the last molt and pupation, were given 20 square inches of lettuce leaf at 7 a.m., and at 5 p.m., 20 square inches more were added. At 7 a.m., June 27, the refuse was removed and soaked out. It then measured 5 square inches, making 35 square inches that had been eaten by the three caterpillars, or llf square inches per caterpillar. These figures give evidence of the food capacity of the caterpillars, but it should be borne in mind that lettuce does not offer so much resistance to the jaws (mandibles) of the caterpillar as do the harder leaves of the apple, oak and others. Food Plants. A series of experiments was conducted during the part of the season of 1895 that the gypsy moth was in the caterpillar stage, for the purpose of determining so far as possible all the plants this insect will feed upon. For this purpose col- lectors brought in specimens of all the plants met with in the fields and forests of the infested territory. To Mr. H. L. Frost, a careful student of botany as well as entomology, was assigned the work of determining these plants and carry- ing out the details of the experiment. While the plants were FOOD PLANTS. 317 still fresh they were placed in eight-ounce glass jars, and four caterpillars, in the fourth or fifth molt, were placed upon them. This number was about all that could feed without crowd- ing, and at the same time give appreciable results before the plants wilted. The jars were covered at the top with thin cloth, to prevent the escape of the caterpillars and at the same time to allow ventilation. They were numbered, and the numbers, with the names of the plants, were booked at the time the caterpillars were placed on the food, the jars being kept in a place sufficiently cool to prevent undue evap- oration, but at a temperature at which the caterpillars fed readily. Observations were made every twenty-four hours, and, if at the end of three days the caterpillars showed an unwillingness to feed on the plant, the experiment was re- peated with a fresh stock of caterpillars on a fresh supply of the same food. If they did not attack it at the second trial, in view of their accustomed readiness to feed on nearly all plants, it was assumed that they would not feed on the plant in question. The flora of the region about Maiden is mari- time rather than inland, and some of the common plants of the central and western parts of the State do not occur there. Attention is called to the fact that the caterpillars of the gypsy moth feed readily on common water plants, such as JSFymphcea odorata, Pontederia cordata and Alisma plantago. Experiments performed this year proved that some of the caterpillars will live for several days floating on the water and without food. These two facts in connec- tion may help to explain the distribution of this insect along streams. In the following lists both the common and scientific names are given, as far as possible. The nomenclature is that of Gray's "Manual of Botany," 1889, for the wild plants, and Wood's "Botany" of 1889, for the cultivated plants. An asterisk before a name denotes that the cater- pillars fed on the plant only when forced to do so by starvation. It will be noticed that about twenty-one per cent, of the plants in the following list are of economic value. 318 THE GYPSY MOTH. Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar has been known to feed in Massachusetts. Virgin's bbwer {Clematis Virginiana). *Wind flower {Anemone Virginiana) . White water crowfoot {Ranunculus aquatilis, var. trichophyllus) . Small-flowered crowfoot {Ranunculus abortivus) . Hooked crowfoot {Ranunculus recur- vatus) . Bulbous crowfoot {Ranunculus bulbo- sus). "Wild columbine {Aquilegia Canaden- sis') . Peony {Paonia officinalis). Umbrella tree {Magnolia umbrella). "Magnolia Soulangeana. Tulip tree ( Liriodendron Tulipifera) . Siberian pea tree {Caragana arbores- cens) . Barberry {Berber is vulgaris). Holly barberry {Berberis Aquifolium) . White water lily {Nympha-a odorata) . Pitcher plant {Sarracenia purpurea) . Celandine {Chelidonium majus). Poppy {Papaver orientalis) . *Pale corydalis ( Corydalis glauca) . *Sweet alyssum {Alyssum maritimum) . Horseradish {Nasturtium Armoracia) . Hedge mustard {Sisymbrium officinale) . Black mustard {Brassica nigra). Turnip {Brassica rapa, var. depressa) . Savoy cabbage {Brassica oleracea, var. bullata) . Shepherd's purse {Capsella Bursa-pas- toris) . Wild peppergrass {Lepidium Virgini- cum) . *Sea rocket {Cakile Americana). Radish {Raphanus Raphanistrum) . Blue violet ( Viola palmata, var. cucul- lata) . Primrose-leaved violet ( Viola primuhe- folia). Lance-leaved violet {Viola lanceolata). Dog violet ( Viola canina, var. Muhlen- bergii) . Pansy ( Viola tricolor) . Carnation pink {Dianthus caryophyl- lus). •Sweet William {Dianthus barbatus). Bouncing bet ( Saponaria officinalis) . Corn cockle {Lychnis Githago). Common chickweed {Stellaria media). Mouse-ear chickweed {Cerastium vul- gatum) . Sand spurrey {Buda rubra). Purslane {Portulaca oleracea) . St. John's-wort {Hypericum perfor- atum) . Marsh St. John's-wort {Elodes campan- ulata) . Hollyhock {Althcea rosea) . Common mallow {Malva rotundifolia) . Indian mallow {Abutilon vexillarium) . *Chinese hibiscus {Hibiscus Rosa-Sinen- sis). Cotton plant ( Gossypium herbaceum) . Bass wood {Tilia Americana). European linden {Tilia Europcea). Wild cranesbill ( Geranium maculatum) . Geranium {Geranium sanguineum). Yellow wood sorrel {Oxalis corniculata, var. stricta). Nasturtium {Tropceolum majus). Spotted touch-me-not {Impatiensfulvd). Fraxinella {Dictamnus albus). *Shrubby trefoil {Ptelea trifoliata). *Lemon ( Citrus Limonum) . Tree of Heaven {Ailanthus glandulo- sus). Black alder {Ilex verticillata) . Climbing bittersweet {Celastrxis scan- dens) . European spindle-tree {Euonymus Europa-u's) . Grape {Vitis rinifera). Northern fox grape {Vitis Labrusca). Virginian creeper {Ampelopsis quinque- folia) . Ampelopsis veitchii. Horse chestnut {JEsculus Hippocas- tanum). Red buckeye {JEsculus Pavia) . Sugar maple {Acer saccharinum) . White maple {Acer dasycarpum). Cut-leaved maple {Acer dasycarpum, var. Welrii). Red maple {Acer rubrum) . Sycamore maple {Acer Pseudo-Plat- anus) . Box elder {Negundo aceroides). Variegated box elder {Negundo acer- oides, var. variegata). Kosulreuteria paniculata. Stag-horn sumach {Rhus typhina). Smooth sumach {Rhus glabra) . Poison dogwood {Rhus venenata). Poison ivy {Rhus Toxicodendron). Rhus vernex. FOOD PLANTS. 319 Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar has been known to feed in Massachusetts — Continued. Smoke tree {Rhus Cotinus). Milkwort {Poly gala polygama). Wild indigo {Baptisia tinctoria). Yellow wood {Cladrastis lutea). Dyer's green weed ( Genista tinctoria) . Rabbit-foot clover {Trifolium arvense). White clover {Trifolium repens). Red clover {Trifolium pratense) . Alsike clover {Trifolium hybridum). Yellow clover {Trifolium agrarium). Low hop clover (Trifolium procumbens) . False indigo {Amorpha fruticosa) . Locust (Robinia Pseudacacia). Wistaria ( Wistaria consequana) . Tick trefoil {Desmodium nudijlorum). Common vetch ( Vicia sativa) . Beach pea {Lathy rus maritimus). Ground-nut {Apios tuberosa). Scarlet pole bean {Phaseolus multi- Jlorus) . Bush bean ( Phaseolus nanus) . Red bud {Cercis Canadensis). Kentucky coffee tree {Gymnocladus Canadensis) . Honey locust {Gleditschia triacanthos) . Chinese honey locust {Gleditschia Si- nensis) . Coffee bean ( Faba vulgaris) . Pea {Pisum sativum). Cercidipkyllum Japonicum. Beach plum {Primus maritima). Wild red cherry {Prunus Pennsylvan- ica) . Choke cherry {Prunus Virginiana). Wild black cherry {Prunus serotina). Damson plum {Prunus domestica). English cherry {Prunus Avium). Peach {Prunus vulgaris). Purple-leaved plum {Prunus Pissardi). Prunus Davidii. Apricot {Prunus Armeniaca). Japanese plum {Prunus Jajwnica) . Meadow sweet {Spiraea salicifolia) . Hardhack {Spiraea tomentosa) . Spiraea Thunbergii. Purple flowering raspberry {Rubus odoratus) . Dwarf raspberry ( Rubus triflorus) . Wild red raspberry {Rubus strigosus). Thimbleberry ( Rubus occidentalis) . High blackberry {Rubus villosus). Low blackberry {Rubus Canadensis). •Avens {Geum macrophyllum). Strawberry {Frag aria Virginiana). *Cinquefoil {Potentilla Norvegica). Silvery cinquefoil {Potentilla argen- tea). Common cinquefoil {Potentilla Can- adensis) . Shrubby cinquefoil {Potentilla fruti- cosa) . Agrimony {Agrimonia Eupatoria). Prairie rose {Rosa setigera). Dwarf wild rose {Rosa lucida). Rose {Rosa nitida) . Crab apple {Pyrus coronaria). Narrow-leaved crab apple (Pyrus an- gustifolia) . Choke berry ( Pyrus arbutifolia) . American mountain ash {Pyrus Amer- icana) . Pyrus sambuci folia. Pyrus pinnatifida. Pyrus decata. Pear {Pyrus communis). Apple {Pyrus Malus). English hawthorn {Crataegus Oxyacan- tha). Paul's thorn {Crataegus coccinea, var. Paulii) . Cockspur thorn ( Crataegus Crus-galli) . Shad bush {Amelanchier Canadensis). Amelanchier alnifolia. Quince {Cydonia vulgaris). Japan quince ( Cydonia Japonica) . *Sweet-scented shrub {Calycanthusfio- ridus) . Mock orange {Philadelphus coronarius) . *Deutzia gracilis. Hydrangea paniculata. Common red currant {Ribes rubrum). Black currant {Ribes nigrum). Gooseberry {Ribes grossularia) . English gooseberry {Ribes Uva-crispa). Ditch stonecrop ( Penthorum sedoides) . Garden orpine {Sedum Telephium). Witch hazel {Eamamelis Virginiana). Sweet gum tree {Liquidambar Styraci- Jlua). Swamp loosestrife {Decodon verticil- latus) . Pomegranate {Punica granatum) . Great willow herb {Epilobium angusti- folium) . Slender willow herb {Epilobium lin- ear e). Common evening primrose {Oenothera biennis) . 320 THE GYPSY MOTH. Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar has been known to feed in Massachusetts — Continued. Evening primrose (Oenothera pumila). Ladies' eardrop (Fuchsia coccinea). Squash (Cucurbita verrucosa) . Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). •Parsnip (Peucedanum sativum). Zizia aurea. Celery (Apium graveolens). Spotted cowbane (Cicuta maculata). Hercules' club (Aralia spmosa) . Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) . Flowering dogwood (Cornus Jtorida) . Cornus mas. Common elder (Sambucus Canadensis) . Cranberry tree ( Viburnum Opulus) . Arrowwood (Viburnum acerifolium) . Downy arrowwood ( Viburnum pubes- cens) . Arrowwood ( Viburnum dentatum) . Viburnum tomentosum. Sweet viburnum ( Viburnum Lentago) . Black haw ( Viburnum prunifolium) . Wayfaring tree ( Viburnum Lantana) . Snow berry (Sympihoricarpius racemo- sus). Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sem- pervirens) . Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla trifida). Wiegelia rosea. Button bush (Cephalanthus occiden- talis) . Partridge berry (Mitchella repens). Small bedstraw (Galium trifidum). Rough bedstraw (Galium asprellum) . Joe pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) . Thoroughwort (Eupatorium perfolia- tuni) . Golden-rod (Solidago rugosa). Golden-rod (Solidago arguta). *Golden-rod (Solidago Canade?isis) . Golden-rod (Solidago lanceolata). Aster undulatus. Aster cordifolius. Aster leevis. Aster puniceus. Aster miser. Horse weed (Erigeron Canadensis). Fleabane (Erigeron Philadelphicus). Elecampane (Inula Helenium) . Roman wormwood (Ambrosia artemis- icefolia) . Cone flower (Rudbeckia hirta). Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) . *Helianthus decapetalus. Artichoke (Helianthus tuber osus) . Beggar ticks (Bidens frondosa) . Bur marigold (Bidens chrysanthe- moides) . May weed (Anthemis Cotula). Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium). Ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum Leu- canthemum). Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Si- nense) . Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) . Fireweed (Erechtites hieracifolia) . Burdock (Arctium Lappa). Common thistle (Cnicus lanceolatus) . Tall thistle (Cnicus altissimus). Canada thistle (Cnicus arvensis). Dwarf dandelion (Krigia Virginica). Chicory (Cichorium Intybus). Fall dandelion (Leonlodnn autumnale) . Rattlesnake root (Prenanthes alt is- sima) . *White lettuce (Prenanthes alba). Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Common dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) . French marigold (Tagetes patula) . Indian tobacco (Lobelia infiata). Lobelia spicata. Venus' looking glass (Specularia per- foliata) . Dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa) . Black huckleberry (Gaylussacia resin- osa). Dwarf blueberry ( Vaccinium Pennsyl- vanicum) . Low blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans) . Swamp blueberry (Vaccinium corym- bosum) . Leather leaf (Cassandra calyculata). Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) . Clammy azalea (Rhododendron- visco- sum) . Rhodora (Rhododendron Rhodora). Great laurel (Rhododendron maximum). Labrador tea (Ledum latifolium). Sweet pepperbush ( Clethra alnifolia) . Prince's pine (Chimaphila umbellata) . Shin leaf (Pyrola elliptica). Pyrola rotundifolia. Star flower (Trienialis Americana). Steironema ciliatum. Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia) . Sweet leaf (Symplocos cratagoides) . White ash (Fraxinus Americana). Red ash (Fraxinus pubescent). FOOD PLANTS. 321 Plants upon tvhich the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar has been known to feed in Massachusetts — Continued. Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) . Black ash (Fraxinus sambucifolia) . European ash {Fraxinus excelsior). Fraxinus Oregona. Fraxinus rhijcophylla. Fraxinus Sag-Diana. Fringe tree (Chionanthus Virginica). Privet (Ligustrum vulgare). Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). Japanese lilac {Syringa Japonica) . Forsyth ia viridissima. Dogbane (Apocynumandrosfvmifolium). Swamp milkweed {Asclepias incarnata) . Common mtikweed(Asclepias Cornuti) . Poke milkweed {Asclepias phytolac- coides) . Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis). Heliotrope ( Heliotropium Peruvianum) . Morning glory (Ipomcea purpurea) . Dodder {Cuscuta Gronorii). Bittersweet {Solanum Dulcamara). Potato {Solatium tuberosum). Petunia nyctagini folia. Tomato {hy coper sicutn esculentum). Matrimony vine (Lycium vulgare). ♦Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum) . Xicotiana longiftora. Mullein ( Verbascum Thapsus). Toad flax {Linaria Canadensis). Butter and eggs {Linaria vulgaris). *Monkey flower {Mimulus ringens) Water speedwell ( Veronica Anagallis) . *Purple gerardia {Gerardia purpurea) . Trumpet creeper {Tecoma radicans). Catalpa (Cataljia bignonioides). * White vervain {Verbena urticcefolia). *Blue vervain ( Verbena hastata). Spearmint {Mentha viridis) . Peppermint {Mentha piperita) . Bugle weed {Lycopits Virginicus). Catnip {Nepeta Cataria). Self heal {Brunella vulgaris) . Dead nettle {Lamium album). Scarlet sage {Salvia splendens) . Common plantain {Plantago major). Seaside plantain ( Plantago maritima) . Green amaranth {Amarantus retro- Jlexus) . Pigweed {Chenopodium album). Coast blite {Chenopodium rubrum). Spinach {Spinacia oleracea) . Beet {Beta vulgaris). Garget {Phytolacca decandra). Patience dock {Rumex Patientia). Swamp dock {Rumex verticillatus) . Curled dock ( Rumex crispus) . Sheep sorrel {Rumex Acetosella) . Rhubarb {Rheum Rhaponticum). Coast knotgrass {Polygonum mariti- mum). Door weed {Polygonum aviculare). Polygonum Pennsylvan icum. Water persicaria {Polygonum amphib- ium) . Polygonum Careyi. Lady's thumb {Polygonum Persicaria). Water pepper {Polygonum hydropiper- oides) . Smart weed {Polygonum Hydropiper) . Arrow-leaved tear thumb {Polygonum sagittatum) . Sassafras {Sassafras officinale). Oleaster {El&agnus hortensis). Elceagnus Longipes. Elceagnus umbellata. Spurge {Euphorbia Cyparissias) . Slippery elm ( Ulmus fulvus) . White elm ( Ulmus Americana) . Cork elm {Ulmus racemosa). English elm {Ulmus campestris). Scotch elm {Ulmus montana). Common hop ( Humulus Lupulus) . Red mulberry {Moms rubra). Tartarian mulberry {Morus Tartarica). Nettle ( Urtica gracilis) . Nettle {Urtica dioioa). India rubber tree {Ficus elastica). Sycamore {Platanus occidentalis) . Butternut {Juglans cinerea). Shell-bark hickory ( Carya alba) . White-heart hickory ( Carya tomentosa) . Pignut {Carya porcina) . Bayberry {Myrica cerifera). Sweet fern {Myrica asplenifolia) . Black birch {Betula lenta) . Yellow birch {Betula lutea). White birch {Betula populifolia) . Paper birch {Betula papyrif era) . River birch {Betula nigra). Cut-leaved birch {Betula alba, var. laciniata) . Betula Danurica. Speckled alder {Alnus incana). Smooth alder (Alnus serrulata). Wild hazelnut {Corylus Americana). Hop hornbeam ( Ostrya Virginica). White oak ( Quercus alba) . Swamp white oak {Quercus bicolor). 322 THE GYPSY MOTH. Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar has been known to feed in Massachusetts — Concluded. Red oak (Quercus rubra). Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Black oak (Quercus coccinea, var. tinc- torial) . Pin oak ( Quercus palustris) . Scrub oak ( Quercus ilici folia) . Barren oak (Quercus nigra). Chestnut (Castanea sativa, var. Ameri- cana) . Chinquapin ( Castanea pumila) . Blue beech ( Garpinus Caroliniana) . American beech (Fagus ferruginea) . Purple beech (Fagus sylvatica, var. purpurea) . Crack willow (Salix fragilis) . White willow (Salix alba). Weeping willow (Salix Babylonica). Heart-leaved willow (Salix cordata). White poplar (Populus alba). American aspen (Populus tremuloides) . Large-toothed aspen (Populus grandi- dentata) . Balm of Gilead (Populus balsamifera, var. candicans). Black poplar (Populus nigra). Lonibardy poplar (Populus nigra, var. dilatata) . White pine (Pinus Strobus). Pitch pine (Pinus rigida). Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris). White spruce (Picea alba). Norway spruce (Picea excelsa) . Fir (Abies balsamea) . Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis). Larch (Larix Americana). European larch (Larix Europa>a). Arbor vita? (Thuja occidentalis) . Common juniper (Juniperus communis) . Red cedar (Juniperus Virginiana). *Ginkgo (Juniperus Salisburia adianti- folia) . Ladies' tresses (Spiranthes gracilis) . Yellow fringed orchis (Habenaria cili- aris) . Lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule). Banana (Musa sapientum) . Canna (Canna hidica). Blue flag (Iris versicolor). Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angusti- folium) . Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). Carrion flower (Smilax herbacea). Common greenbrier (Smilax rotundi- folia) . Day lily ( Hemerocallis fulva) . Adam's needle ( Yucca filamentosa) . Lily of the valley ( Convallaria majalis) . Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum). Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). False Solomon's seal (Smilacina race- mosa) . * Maianthemum Canadense. Bell wort ( Oakesia sessilifolia) . Wood lily (Lilium Philadelphicum) . Wild yellow lily (Lilium Canadense). Tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum) . Indian cucumber root (Medeola Vir- ginica) . Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata). Yellow-eyed grass (Xyrisflexuosa). Common cat tail (Typha latifolia). Bur reed (Sparganium simplex). Indian turnip (Ariswma triphyllum). Arrow arum ( Peltandra undulata) . Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus fmti- dus). *Sweet flag (Acorus Calamus). Phyllodendron Amurense. *Water plantain (Alisma Plantago). Arrow head (Sagittaria variabilis, var. gracilis) . Cotton grass (Eriophorum p>olystach- yon). Millet ( Panicum miliaceum) . Finger grass (Panicum sanguinale). *Barnyard grass (Panicum Crus-galli). Herd's grass, Timothy (Phleum pra- tense) . *Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) . Common oat (Arena sativa) . Eragrostis piectinacea. Low spear grass ( Poa annua) . Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) . Barley (Hordeum vulgare). Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). Quitch grass (Agropyrum repens). Bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea). Indian corn (Zea Mays). Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Common brake (Pteris aquilina). *Spleenwort (Asplenium ebeneum). Shield fern (Aspidiian Noveboracense) . Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) . Flowering fern ( Osmunda regalis) . Osmunda Claytoniana. Cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea) . *Ground pine (Lycopodium obscurum) . Selaginella apus. FOOD PLANTS. 323 Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar has been found feeding in the Field. Tulip tree ( Liriodendron Tulipifera). Barberry {Berberis vulgaris). Bass wood (Tilia Americana). European linden {Tilia Europcea). Northern fox grape ( Vitis Labrusca) . Horse chestnut {.Esculus Hippocasta- num). Sugar maple {Acer saccharinum) . AVhite maple {Acer dasycarpum) . Cut-leaved maple {Acer dasycarpum, var. Weirii). Red maple {Acer rubrum) . Staghorn sumach ( Rhus typhina) . Smooth sumach {Rhus glabra) . Poison ivy {Rhus toxicodendron). Common locust {Robinia Pseudacacia). Cercidiphyllum Japonicum. Wild red cherry {Primus Pennsijlvan- ica) . Choke cherry {Primus Virginiana). W ild black cherry ( Prunus serotina) . Damson plum {Primus domestica). Purple-leaved plum {Prunus Pissardi). Wild red raspberry {Rubus strigosus). Thimbleberry {Rubus occidentalis) . High blackberry {Rubus villosus). Low blackberry {Rubus Canadensis). Strawberry {Fragaria Virginiana). Rose {Rosa nitida) . Dwarf wild rose {Rosa lucida). Choke berry {Pyrus arbutifolia) . American mountain ash {Pyrus Amer- icana) . Pear {Pyrus communis). Apple {Pyrus Malus). Paul's thorn {Cratcegus coccinea, var. Paulii) . Shad bush {Amelanchier Canadensis). Quince ( Cydonia vulgaris) . Arrow wood ( Viburnum acerifolium) . Ox-eye daisy {Chrysanthemum Leu- eanthemum) . Burdock {Arctium Lappa). Dangleberry {Gaylussacia frondosa) . Low blueberry {Vaccinium vaciUans). Swamp blueberry {Vaccinium corym- bosum) . Clammy azalea {Rhododendron visco- sum). White ash {Fraxinus Americana). Common lilac {Syringa vulgaris). Bittersweet {Solanum Dulcamara). Mullein {Verbascum Thapsus). Slippery elm {Ulmus fulva) . White elm {Ulmus Americana). English elm {Ulmus campestris). Sycamore {Platanus occidentalis). Butternut {Juglans cinerea). Shell-back hickory {Carya alba). White-heart hickory {Caryatomentosa). Pignut {Carya porcina). Bay berry {Myrica cerifera). American white birch {Betula populi- folia) . Paper birch {Betula papyrifera) . River birch {Betula nigra) . Cut-leaved birch {Betula alba, var. laciniata) . Smooth alder {Alnus serrulata). Wild hazel nut {Corylus Americana). White oak {Quercus alba). Swamp white oak {Quercus bicolor). Red oak {Quercus rubra). Scrub oak {Quercus ilicifolia) . Chestnut {Castanea sativa, var. Ameri- cana) . Blue beech {Carpinus Caroliniana) . American beech {Fagus ferruginea) . Purple beech {Fagus sylvatica, var. purpurea) . White willow {Salix alba). Weeping willow {Salix Babylonica). American aspen {Populus tremuloides). Balm of Gilead {Populus balsamifera, var. candicans). White pine {Pi?ius Strobus). Pitch pine {Pinus rigida). Common greenbrier {Smilax rotundi folia) . False Solomon's seal {Smilacina race- mosa) . Kentucky blue grass {Poa pratensis) . Common brake {Pteris aquilina). Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar did not feed. Red baneberry {Actcea tpicata, var. rubra) . Rocket larkspur {Delphinium Aj'acis). Bee larkspur {Delphinium elatum). Great-flowered larkspur ( Delphinium grandiflorum) . 324 THE GYPSY MOTH. Plants upon which the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar did not feed — Concluded. Winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris) . Balsamine (Impatiens balsamina) . Myrtle (Myrtus communis) . Bur cucumber (Sicyos angulatus). Everlasting (Antennaria plantagini- folia). Common everlasting ( Gnaphaliumpoly- cephalum) . Common mugwort(Artemisia vulgaris) . Blue bottle {Centaurea Cyanus). Rattlesnake weed (Rieracii/m venosum) . Indian pipe (Monotropa xmiflora). Red pepper (Capsicum annuum). Ground hemlock (Tarus Canadensis). Pogonia ophioglossoides. Ground pine (Lycopodium complana- tum) . Marsilia quadrifolia. Cotton as a Food Plant, The question was raised whether the gypsy moth would prove destructive to the cotton plant in the South, should it by any means escape from its present locality and become dis- tributed in the cotton States. To decide this question, cotton seeds were planted and two small plants were raised. When one of these was about two inches high, gypsy caterpillars were placed on it, and they devoured not only the leaves but nearly all the stem, during a single night. The second plant died before reaching the size desired for the experiment. By correspondence with Mr. F. B. Carpenter of the agri- cultural experiment station at Raleigh, N. C, a dozen small cotton plants were obtained, which were from two to two and a half feet high. Although the plants were well packed, they were badly wilted when they arrived. All but two were set out in the ground in different places, in the hope that some of the varied soils would prove congenial, but unfort- unately none of them lived. The leaves of one remaining plant were taken off and put into ajar with ten caterpillars. Notwithstanding the fact that the leaves were badly wilted, the caterpillars on the second day had eaten about one-fourth of them, but at the end of this day the leaves had become so dry that this experiment was discontinued. The remaining plant, having been kept in water, had revived somewhat, and on July 22 twenty caterpillars, of the fifth molt, were placed upon it, the base of the plant being kept in water. The cat- erpillars at once began feeding heartily on the plant, appear- ing to prefer the fresh leaves at the top to the lower wilted ones. They continued to feed till July 25, at which time they had devoured the greater part of the plant, having eaten leaves, tender petioles and half- developed boll. From this PLATE 46. Oak branch attacked by gypsy moth caterpillars, Saugus, July, 1894. EUROPEAN FOOD-PLANTS. 325 experiment it seems evident that, if they were numerous in a Southern cotton field, they might prove quite as destruc- tive as the cotton worm (Aletia argillacea) . Plants upon which the Gyp>sy Moth Caterpillar has been known to feed in Europe. Olive ( Olea Europeaa) . Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) . Rhubarb {Rheum Rliaponticum). Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) . Rock rose ( Cistus Laurifolius) . Linden {Tilia Europtea). Spindle tree (Euonymus verrucosus). Sycamore {Acer Pseudo-Plantanus) . Tartar maple {Acer Tartaricum). White lupine (Lupinus albus). Maple {Acer platanus) and other species. Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa). Chinese wistaria {Wistaria Sinensis). Pea vines {Pisum sativum). Honey locust {Gleditschia triacanthos) . Plum {Prunus domestica). Prune ( Prunus occidentalis ?) . Peach {Prunus Persica). Apricot {Prunus Armeniaca). Sloe {Prunus spinosa) . English cherry {Prunus Avium). Laurel cherry (Primus Laurocerasus) . Black service berry {Prunus padus) . White thorn ( Crat(pgus Pyracantha) . Hawthorn (Cratccgus Oxyacantha). Quince (Cydonia vulgaris). Mountain ash (Pyrus aucuparia). Apple (Pyrus malus). Pear (Pyrus communis). European medlar (Mespilus German- ica) . Chinese medlar (Photinia serrulata). Loquat tree (Eriobotrya Japonica) . Strawberry (Fragaria vesca). Rose (Rosa canina). Rose (Rosa centi folia) . Pomegranate (Punica granatum) . Currant (Ribes alpinum). Gooseberry (Ribes Ura-crispa). Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) . Spotted hemlock ( Conium maculatum) . Water hemlock (Cicuta virosa). Lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Heath (Erica Melaleuca) . Heather ( Calluna vulgaris) . Azalea, various species. Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis ?) . Elm ( Ulmus campestris) . Elm ( Ulmus effusa) . Elm (Ulmus pedunculata) . Elm ( Ulmus subrosa) . Fig (Ficus Carica). Plane tree (Plata?ius orientalis). Walnut (Juglans nigra) . Cork oak ( Quercus suber) . Holm oak ( Quercus Ilex) . Winter oak ( Quercus ])edunculata, var. tardijlora) . Oak (Quercus pubescens) and other species. Chestnut (Castanea vesca) . Beech (Fagus sylvaticus). Hazel-nut (Corylus Avellana). Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Hornbeam ( Carpinus orientalis) . Sweet gale (Myrica gale). Birch (Betula alba) and other species. Alder (Alnus glutinosa). Speckled alder (Abuts incana). Osier willow (Salix vimiiialis) . White willow (Salix alba). Brittle willow (Salix frag His). Poplar willow (Pojntlus nigra). Aspen (Populus tremula). Willow (Popuhis alba) and other spe- cies. Fir (Pinus Abies). Scotch fir (Pinus sylrestris) . Pine (Pinus Picea) . Larch ( Larix Europma) . Spruce (Abies excelsa). Arbor vitas (Thuja occidentalis). Savin (Juniperus Sabina). Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens). Lime tree (Cupressus Limetta). Yew (Taxus baccata). Grass, various species. Grain. An Experiment in Starving Caterpillars. March 20, 1895, twenty-five newly hatched caterpillars, and also the same number from each of the first, second and 326 THE GYPSY MOTH. third molts, were placed in corked vials without food, and kept in a normal temperature, in order to see how long they would live under such conditions. Observations were made on them at intervals of twenty-four hours. The following table gives the number of caterpillars dying on the specified dates : — si in 73 . Jh CO o . •f CD s "3 . W > H en o . h o "3 o H Just hatched, . - - 5 8 12 25 First molt, - - 1 11 13 25 Second molt, . - - - 7 9 9 - - " - 25 Third molt, . - - 9 7 3 1 3 - 2 25 This shows that caterpillars in the earlier stages will readily live four days without food ; that an appreciable number of second-molt caterpillars will live under the same conditions for five days, while the third-molt caterpillars may exist on starvation diet for nine days. To gain further knowledge of the period of time it is possible for gypsy moth caterpillars to live without food, a number of them were placed in cold storage, and a few removed from time to time and supplied with food. For this work, which was carried on during the month of April, 1895, use was made of a double box packed with sawdust and stored in a refrigerator, the temperature of which averaged about 40° F. The caterpillars were kept in corked vials and removed as needed. At the ordinary tempera- ture of the refrigerator the caterpillars became rigid and inactive, and remained so throughout the time involved in the experiment. April 3, 1895, a number of caterpillars in each of the different molts, from those just hatched to those between the fourth and fifth molt inclusive, were placed, with- out food, in corked vials in the refrigerator box. All of those between the fourth and fifth molt died within a day or two, possibly due to contact with the large quantity of saliva which they ejected soon after being placed in the box. EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE. 327 At intervals of a few days several of the caterpillars of the different ages were removed from the refrigerator and placed on suitable food in a warm room ; and in this way the length of time the caterpillars could exist without food, was determined. None of the caterpillars between the third and fourth molt were alive when removed from the box April 6. Of those between the second and third molt, a single cater- pillar remained alive April 24, and this one, when supplied with lettuce leaves, revived, fed and molted at the end of nine days. April 12, a number of caterpillars between the first and second molt were removed, and when supplied with food revived and besran feeding. Several of the newlv hatched caterpillars were found to be alive April 24, and when supplied with food a number of them were able to feed, and so reached maturity, after having been deprived of food for a period of three weeks. A nearly full-grown caterpillar, confined in a box July 30, 1894, without food, lived until August 9, but died the night of that day. Lodi states that a caterpillar of this moth in Europe went without food for twenty-seven days without injury ("Opuscol. scelt.," vol. XII, page 183, 1789). Effect of Extremes of Temperature on Caterpillars of the Gypsy Moth. Effect of Heat. — Fifty caterpillars, in lots of ten, taken from the different molts, from those just hatched up to and including the fourth molt, were exposed for fifteen minutes to a temperature of 110° F., and were then placed in jars and supplied with food. Of those just hatched, only one died ; of those of the first molt, three ; of the second molt, three ; of the third molt, three ; and of the fourth molt, three. The rest of the caterpillars survived and molted. Fifty caterpillars, selected in the same manner as those of the preceding experiment, were exposed to a temperature of 120° for a period of fifteen minutes. Of those just hatched, ten died; of the first molt, ten; of the second molt, ten ; of the third molt, nine ; and of the fourth molt, only one. April 4, fifty caterpillars were exposed to a tem- perature of 130° for a period of fifteen minutes. The cater- pillars used in this experiment comprised those just hatched 328 THE GYPSY MOTH. and the various molts up to and including the fourth. When taken from the oven, all but one were dead. Effect of Cold. — Ten caterpillars just hatched, also ten from each molt up to the fourth, were selected and placed in vials, after which they were subjected to a temperature of 85° for a period of five minutes. They were then placed in a cold box, where they were exposed to a temperature of 2° above zero for a period of thirty minutes, at the end of which time they were removed to a room where the temperature was 70°, and examined. Only one caterpillar survived the above treatment, but this one, after a few days, fed and grew in a normal manner. Fifty caterpillars, in lots of ten, from the different molts, were transferred from a normal tempera- ture of 70° and exposed to a temperature of zero for a period of half an hour, when they were returned to the tempera- ture from which they were first taken. When removed, all were dead. Fifty caterpillars in the various molts, up to and including the fourth, were placed in vials (the mouths of which were stopped with cloth instead of cork), and then removed from a temperature of 82° to a cold box, where they remained fourteen hours, exposed to an approximate temperature of zero. All were dead when taken out. A study of these experiments shows that, as a rule, the small caterpillars possess the ability to resist a considerable degree of cold but not of heat ; while the larger caterpil- lars possess the ability to resist the heat better than the cold. This is as one would naturally expect to find it, since at the time of hatching the weather is usually cool, while the increase in size of the caterpillars keeps pace with the ordinary increase of temperature, so that by the time the caterpillars are full grown we often have a con- siderable degree of heat. Experiment in drowning Caterpillars. In many places the gypsy moth infests the trees along the course of streams, under such circumstances as to lead to the impression that they were distributed by falling into the water while in the caterpillar stage, and, drifting down stream with the current, reached the shore, and, making POSITION ON TREES. 329 their way to suitable food plants, passed their transforma- tions and thus established new colonies down stream. To determine the actual resistance of these caterpillars to water, the following experiments were made in July, 1895. July 12, four jars were filled with water, and at 9 a.m. five gypsy moth caterpillars of the fifth molt were placed in each. In jar No. 1, half of the caterpillars were alive the third day ; the remainder died July 17. In jar No. 2, one caterpillar died the first and two the second day ; the other two lived until the morning of the fifth day. In jar No. 3, one died the first and the rest the fifth day. In jar No. 4, one died the first and one the second day, the rest living until the morning of the fourth day. These results show that the gypsy moth caterpillars are able to live in water for two or three days, during which time, if they should fall into swiftly moving streams, they would be carried a considerable dis- tance, and in this manner some of the colonies found along the shores of streams may have been established. Position of Caterpillars on Trees. To ascertain the normal position of the caterpillars of the gypsy moth on trees, a tight board fence was built around a medium-sized apple tree upon which a number of caterpillars were feeding. The fence was five feet in height, and en- closed an area of eighteen by eighteen feet. At a height of three feet from the ground a wide band of raupenleim was placed around the fence on the inside, and at the base the earth was banked up to the height of one foot, in order to prevent the escape of the caterpillars. Careful observations were made every morning by Mr. W. L. Tower, on the location of the caterpillars and the places where they had gone to rest after they stopped feeding. As the number of caterpillars on the tree was not always the same, no tabu- lated list of their positions could be made ; yet the relative number found each day, in the same place and position, was more constant than could be expected. By adding the num- ber found in each location and the number found on the tree every day, the percentage in each place was found to be fairly constant. 330 THE GYPSY MOTH. 1894. Number under Burlap. Number on Trunk. Number on Branches. Number on Leaves. Number on Tree. July 16, . July 17, . July 18, . July 19, . July 21, . July 23, . July 25, . 14 30 31 80 75 100 74 1 3 2 _* _ * 7f 12 16 12 47 38 28 25 3 7 27 52 45 134 113 139 106 Total, . Per cent, (about), . 404 66 6 1 178 29 10 2 616 The average per cent, of the number under the burlap did not vary much from sixty-six. The number found elsewhere on the trunk and on the leaves of the tree together did not constitute three per cent, of the whole. In the early morning, before the rays of the sun struck the burlap, the caterpillars were found under it on all sides of the tree, but as the sun rose higher, the greater part of them were on the west and northern sides, away from the heat and light. As the sun went from east to west they moved around the tree, keeping on the shady side. This was true of the larger portion of the caterpillars, but in some instances they have been found at mid-day resting under the direct rays of the sun, with no covering whatever. The caterpillars that were on the larger branches of the tree, where the sun did not strike them, remained in the same position all day unless disturbed, while those on the smaller branches moved around, keeping on the shady side nearly all the time. Spinning Habits of Caterpillars. The amount of silk a gypsy moth caterpillar is capable of spinning has an important bearing on the distribution of these insects, since it is known that by spinning down upon passing teams, etc., the caterpillars are carried from place to place. The more silk a caterpillar is capable of spinning, * Base of tree. f Not counted in the results, as they were pupating. SPINNING HABITS. 331 the greater are its chances of being carried into new localities. To learn the quantity of silk that one of these caterpillars can spin, a reel was made and mounted in a frame. Cater- pillars were taken on a soft brush and then jarred off into space. This caused them to spin, when, by attaching the end of the thread to the wheel and manipulating the cater- pillars carefully, the silk was reeled off and a record kept of the number of revolutions of the wheel, until the caterpillars could not or would not spin. It was found that they spun best when a slight current of air was blown upon them. In this manner caterpillars of known ages were experimented with. Many of these experiments gave only negative results, for the manipulation necessary in getting the thread started often disturbed them so that they would spin only a few feet. The following results were obtained from a number of the experiments : — March 22 : Four caterpillars, just hatched, were taken be- fore any of their store of silk had been drawn upon. The first spun 4 feet and 6 inches, the second spun 9 feet and 1 inch, the third spun 38 feet and 2 inches, and the fourth spun 69 feet and 4 inches, — a distance greater than the height of an average shade tree. March 14 : Of five first-molt cater- pillars, the first spun 53 feet and 2 inches, the second 24 feet and 2 inches, the third 3 feet and 2 inches, the fourth 6 feet and 4 inches and the fifth 7 feet. April 23 : Three more caterpillars, of the first molt, were experimented with, and the following results obtained : the first spun 25 feet and 3 inches, the second 22 feet and 6 inches and the third 47 feet and 9 inches. March 22 : Of two second-molt caterpillars, the first spun 8 feet and the second 2 feet. Other caterpillars, in the later molts, were tried, but they could not be induced to spin. There seems to be a decrease in spinning power as the caterpillar grows older. Caterpillars of the second, third and fourth molt have been seen spinning down to a considerable distance from trees on which they were feeding, and in this manner they were able to make the wind and passing teams aid them in finding their way to suitable food plants. The last thing before entering upon the rest previous to molting is the spinning of a number of threads, forming a 332 THE GYPSY MOTH. small silk mat, a little longer in diameter than the length of the body of the caterpillar. When rocks have been burned over, caterpillars have been seen spinning down to escape the smoke and heat. They frequently spin threads from fences to the neighboring trees. The insect also spins a scanty cocoon for a shelter and support during the pupal stage. The Process of Pupation. Cocoon. — When the caterpillar is fully grown, it seeks some sheltered spot (Plates 47, 49), and rests quietly for about twenty-four hours. It then empties its alimentary canal,* the discharge being of a semi-fluid nature, and con- taining an abundance of chlorophyl, showing it to be, in part at least, the remains of food. In about one hour after this discharge, the caterpillar begins to spin a frail cocoon, which is composed of a few coarse brown silken threads, occasionally enclosing a leaf or other material. In spinning, it first places its spinneret close to the surface on which the cocoon is to be formed, and presses out a drop of the silk- forming fluid, which serves as an anchor for the silk thread which is then spun out. It first spins a few long threads, which usually exceed the length of the cocoon when finished. After a number of these long threads, which connect various points and serve as a sort of frame, have been formed, the caterpillar begins to spin more rapidly, and to place short threads between the long ones, working always from the inside, and changing at intervals from one side of the cocoon to the other. Where the threads cross each other they are fastened together by a drop of the fluid in much the same manner as at the starting of the cocoon. In spinning, the labial palpi and the feet are used to grasp the threads. As a rule, the spinning is not completed at a single operation, since the caterpillar rests several times, the rests ranging from a few minutes to five or six hours. The actual time spent in spinning is about six hours. After completing its network of silk the caterpillar rests quietly, except for occa- sional spasmodic twitchings of the body, hanging head down- ward, and pupates at the end of about three hours. Pupation. — When the process of pupation begins, the skin commences to contract and wrinkle on the posterior ^'tH jg ^,.'~ km ^8» * ffpi »»* . • >i§ * PLATE 47. Mass of pupse between the trunks of two trees. From a photograph taken at the Winning colony, Woburn, July, 1895. ?$ ^f -,. .*f\ fMj/ W #" ■^j4 A Explanation of Plate 48. [All figures enlarged.] Drawn by R. A. Coolev. Ventral view of male pupa. Ventral view of female pupa. Dorsal view of female pupa. Lateral view of female pupa. Genital markings of male pupa. Genital markings of female pupa. Chitinized hook from cremaster of pupa, greatly enlarged. Aerostatic hair from newly hatched cater- pillar, greatly enlarged. Normal hair from caterpillar, greatly enlarged. THE PUPA. 333 segments of the caterpillar, showing that the pupa is being withdrawn from that part. The pupa is pushed forward by a vigorous use of the cremaster. In this manner the skin on the posterior segments is pushed back, and the pressure on the anterior segments becomes so great as to nearly bend under that part of the body. The insect takes short rests at intervals during this process. Next, the skin on the fourth segment splits along the dorsal line, the split continuing forward and backward, and in a few seconds extends from the base of the head to the annulation between the fourth and fifth segments, the pupa, in the mean time, forcing itself outward against the opening thus made. In a few seconds more the movements of the pupa, aided by the pressure from behind, which it is able to exert by means of its cremaster, splits the head down on each side of the clypeus to the mouth parts, and the pupa emerges by pass- ing outward through the opening, the whole process taking about fifteen minutes. The newly formed pupa is very soft and of a light color, with the remains of the larval tubercles and markings plainly visible, but these disappear and the pupa grows harder and darker when exposed to the air. Caterpillars, in their attempts to pupate, sometimes burst the thin pupal skin and die from the escape of the fluids from the body. In changing from the larval to the pupal stage, the insect loses about thirty-five per cent, in size and nearly forty-five per cent, in weight. A small part of the weight is left in the larval skin and silk. How the insect, as a rule, fastens itself to the silk in which it is enclosed, is not fully known. In one case, however, a pupa was seen to emerge and fall into the network of silk, when, by a wriggling motion, it picked up the silk threads on its cremaster and then hung, from gravity, head downward. The maximum time spent in the pupal stage by one hundred females was found to be 14 days, the minimum 7 and the average 10.65. The maximum time spent in the pupal stage by eighty-eight males was found to be 17 days, the minimum 9 and the average 13.41 days. Pupa (Plate I, Fig. 5, and Plate 48).— The pupa? of the males vary in length from three-fifths to four-fifths of an inch, 334 THE GYPSY MOTH. including the cremaster, or blunt spine at the end of the abdomen, while those of the females vary from three-fifths to one and two-fifths inches. Fig. 5, Plate I, was taken from one of extraordinary size. The following description was made from the study of thirty-nine males and one hundred and twenty-one females : — They vary in color from chocolate to dark reddish-brown, and are cylindrical or fusiform, rounded anteriorly and taper- ino- posteriorly to the cremaster, which is armed at the tip with a cluster of minute hooks, one of which is shown at Fi°\ 7, greatly enlarged. The covers to the various parts of the body, as the wings, legs, antennas, etc., are plainly marked ; those of the wings are quite broad, and reach to the posterior third of the fifth segment, while those of the antennte are strongly curved, being much wider in the males than in the females. At the front edge of the meso- thorax, on each side, is an oval, dark reddish-brown velvety spot, very distinct in some examples but nearly invisible in others. Ochre-yellow hairs, arranged in groups, occur on the eye, head and palpi covers, across the collar and thorax, and in eight equidistant rows along the abdominal segments. Some of the hairs in the groups across the collar and thorax are dark brown. The abdominal segments are more or less punctured, and the hairs arise in small circles. At the base of the cremaster, on the ventral side, is an elliptical depres- sion, with curved ridges on each side. In the males, on the middle of this segment, in front of the depression, is a small raised tubercle, with a longitudinal slit on the top of it (Fig. 5), while in the females this tubercle is wanting; on the extreme front edge of this same segment, however, there is a fine longitudinal slit, but the surface at this place is not raised (Fig. 6). Attached Pupce. — In order to determine the best plan for raising the finest specimens of gypsy moths, a number of experiments were made in the laboratory. In six of the ex- periments the pupae were fastened to the bottom of a small pasteboard box, in which they were confined by means of a pin put through the little bunch of silk at the end of the cre- master, and then into the bottom of the box. The moths all emerged from these pupse, and were in good condition. In PUPATION. 335 two experiments a very fine pin was run through the cre- master, as near to the end as possible ; but it was found that the pin injured the pupae, and consequently they died without emerging. A very fine pin was run through the last seg- ment of a pupa, which began to emerge, but died, being unable to complete the process. In several other cases pupre were stuck to the bottom of the box by means of a drop of mucilage or a drop of sticky fly-paper gum. This was un- satisfactory, however, for the pupa?, in wriggling about, got themselves covered with the gum, and the few which did emerge were in very poor condition. Mass of Pupce. — When about to pupate, the caterpillars, when numerous, collect in masses to spin their cocoons. On the flat side of a rock one of these masses (Plate 49) was found which measured eighteen inches in length and eight inches in width, the whole being covered by one large net- work of silk. Beneath two partly eaten leaves of oak forty- nine caterpillars had pupated, and another mass was found in a groove between the trunks of two small trees (Plate 47), containing at least three hundred pupa? and pupa-cases. Pupation in the Field. To learn the proportion of caterpillars which pupate on trees and on the ground, as well as the per cent, of those parasitized, a study was made of the " Winning " colony at Woburn, in the latter part of July, 1895, the results of which show that the larger part of the caterpillars pupated in the trees. On the border of the colony, about forty per cent, pupated above the burlap ; while in the centre, about sixty per cent, were found to have pupated above it. These facts confirm the generally accepted opinion that, when very abundant, the per cent, of caterpillars pupating upon the trees is somewhat increased. Of the caterpillars which pupated elsewhere in the col- ony, the proportion was equally divided between those that pupated on the ground and those which passed the pupal stage on the trunks and under the burlaps on the trees. All pupse which gave evidence of parasites, as well as the empty pupa-cases from which parasites had apparently emerged, were counted as parasitized. The per cent, of the 336 THE GYPSY MOTH. sexes found to be parasitized was 9.7 per cent, of the males and 7.5 per cent, of the females. This does not agree with observations previously made, where the larger per cent, parasitized were found to be females. The greater part of the parasitized pupae were brought in, and many were found to contain Dipterous larvae. In most cases no parasite ima- goes were obtained from these pupae, although some of the Dipterous maggots have not yet transformed.. The Imago. The Process of Emerging. The emerging of the imago from the pupa is accom- plished as follows : when the insect is fully developed and ready to come forth, it forces off the cap on the anterior ventral part of the pupa, comprising the antennae, head and leg shields, and through the opening thus formed the antennae appear, and then the first two pairs of legs are drawn out. The cap is attached to the rest of the pupa at its apex, and its larger anterior end is pushed away from the body by means of the feet. The legs at first are stiff at the joints between the tibiae and tarsi. Next, the juncture of the wing covers on the top of the back splits, then the posterior margin of the wing covers comes off, and the insect crawls up and out of the pupa-case, the hind legs coming out at the same time as the wings. This process requires from five minutes to five hours, according to the resistance of the pupa- case and the vigor of the enclosed imago. When the moth first emerges it is quite moist, but soon dries off. From twenty minutes to two hours are required for the develop- ment of the wings. 'a- Description of the Imago. The following description was made from thirty males and thirty-seven females. The males (Plate I, Fig. 3) measure from 37 to 50 mm. (one and one-half to two inches) be- tween the tips of the expanded wings. The ground color of all the wings is brownish yellow, varying in intensity in different examples, but somewhat lighter beneath. The head, thorax, antennae and upper side of the palpi are THE IMAGO. 337 grayish brown, inclining to mouse color in some specimens. The under side of the entire body, legs and palpi is some- what lighter than the under side of the wings. The markings on the fore wings are dark brown, and are as follows : the half line starts from the costa, near the base of the wing, and extends half way across the wing. The transverse anterior line arises from the basal fourth of the costa and crosses the wing as a scalloped line. Just outside of this line, on the cell, is the small orbicular spot. The reniform spot is crescent shaped, and, resting on the outer end of the cell, extends across its entire width. The median shade is quite obscure, but is bent out around the end of the cell, and toothed along the outside. The transverse poste- rior line arises from the outer fourth of the costa, is some- what curved and toothed on the veins, and terminates just within the anal angle. The subterminal line, a little outside, is similar to the transverse posterior line and parallel with it. The terminal space is usually somewhat darker than the rest of the wing, and all the cross lines are heavier on the costa than elsewhere. The fringe is cut with dark brown between the veins. The hind wings have a faint discal lunule at the end of the cell, and the terminal shade is darker brown than the rest of the wing. The upper side of the abdomen is of the same color as the upper side of the hind wings, and has a row of brownish spots along the middle. The outside of the third and fourth joints of the tarsi and the ends of the femora on the upper side are brown ; the fore and middle tibias are pale mouse colored on the outside. The females (Plate I, Fig. 1) measure from 37 to 62 mm. (one and one-half to two and one-half inches) between the tips of the expanded wings. The entire body and wings above and beneath are yellowish white, except the abdomen beneath and towards the end above, which is pale yellow. The markings of the fore wings are dark brown or nearly black, but vary much in intensity in different specimens, being almost entirely obliterated in some examples. The half line at the base of the wing, the orbicular and reniform spots, the costal end of the transverse lines and the black spots in the cilia are quite pronounced. The form and 338 THE GYPSY MOTH. position of the lines and spots are the same as in the males. The fore wings are longer, narrower and more pointed than in the males. The hind wings have a faint discal spot and a subterminal line which is toothed along the outside on the veins, and the cilia have black basal spots between the veins. The antennae and legs are dark brown, but the hair on the femora and tibiae is yellowish white. The imago is subject to considerable variation in size. The following table gives the dimensions of the largest and the smallest imagoes of each sex, taken in the field : — Expanse of Pore Wings. Expanse of Hind Wings. Length of Body. Diameter of Thorax. Diameter of Abdomen. mm. mm. mm. mm. mm. Largest male, 46 37 18 5 3 Smallest male, 33 25 12 4 2 Largest female, 71 53 31 8 12 Smallest female, 44 34 16 5 6 Mr. J. H. Leech, in the "Proceedings of the Zoologi- cal Society of London," Vol. LVI, page 630, expresses the opinion that the Japanese gypsy moths, which have been described as distinct species, do not differ from those of Europe, except in size, and he regards them only as forms, and not distinct species. He gives the extremes of size of males and females in Japan and Corea as follows: "Ex- panse of wings of largest male, 71 mm. ; smallest male, 37 mm. ; largest female, 114 mm. ; smallest female, 48 mm." Mr. Leech also gives the size of European examples of the gypsy moth as follows: "Largest male, 54 mm.; smallest male, 32 mm. ; largest female, 93 mm. ; smallest female, 42 mm." I have in my collection three males from Pekin, China, which measure 46, 50 and 54 mm., respec- tively, in expanse of wings ; and several male examples from Europe, the largest of which measures 43 mm. and the smallest 37 mm. I can see no difference between the examples from China and those from Europe, except in size. Explanation of Plate 50. [AH fignrea greatly enlarged.] Drawn by C. P. Lounsbury. i. Dorsal view of male moth. 2. Lateral view of genitalia. 3. Ventral view of genitalia. 4. Antenna of the male. 5. Single filament from antenna. 6. Section of antennal filament, showing insertion of the finer lateral filaments. HERMAPHRODITES. 339 Hermaph rodites . Three specimens of the gypsy moth were taken in Med- ford, Mass., which are what Ochsenheimer would call perfect hermaphrodites. One has the right half of the body, with the wings and antenna of that side, of the form, color and markings of the female ; while the left side of the body, with its wings and antenna, is male. The second specimen is male on the right side, and female on the left. In both of these examples the frenulum is single on the male side, but divided on the female. In the third specimen, the antenna and both wings, on the left side, are female, while on the right side, the antenna and both wings are male. The abdomen is female in size and form, but the right side is darker than the left, looking more like the male in color. As the sexes of this moth differ so much in the form and color of the wings and in the pectinations of the antennae, an hermaphrodite is a remarkable insect in appearance, and seems almost to suggest that it is a work of art. Hermaph- roditism in this species is occasionally met with in Europe, several cases being on record in the European journals. External Anatomy of the Moth. The head is rather small, and joined by a very short neck to the comparatively large thorax. This is followed by the abdomen, which, in the male (Plate 50, Fig. 1), is medium in size, gradually tapering to the last two segments. These taper more rapidly to the genitalia or external genital or- gans, which consist of a genital hook and pair of clasps (Plate 50, Figs. 2 and 3). The abdomen of the female is enormously distended. The front is smooth and very slightly rounded ; the maxilla? or sucking tube is rudimentary ; the palpi small, extended forward horizontally (Plate 51, Fig. 1 «), the basal and terminal joints being about equal in length, while the middle joint is about three times as long as either of the others, and covered with fine hairs loosely arranged over the surface, similar to those that cover the surface of the head. There are no ocelli present. The antenna? are bipectinated very strongly in the male (Plate 50, Fig. 4), while in the female the pectinations are very 340 THE GYPSY MOTH. much shorter and stouter (Plate 51, Fig. 3). The pectina- tions of the male antennae (Plate 50, Fig. 5) are somewhat curved, and taper slightly toward the outer end, where they terminate in a tooth on one side and a much longer spine on the other; there are numerous hairs, about twice as long as the diameter of the pectinations, scattered over the surface. Plate 50, Fig. 6, shows a portion of a pectination, with the bases of four of these hairs, and still finer hairs, scattered over the surface, which is thrown into very minute, irregular longitudinal ridges, visible only under a high power ot the microscope. The female antennae (Plate 51, Fig. 3) have minute, elongated, tooth-like scales and bristle-like hairs over the surface (Plate 51, Fig. 4), and the pecti- nations are cylindrical, stout and terminate obliquely in a point at the outer end, near which, on the lower side, is a short bristle. There are minute hairs sparsely scattered over the surface, as shown in Plate 51, Fig. 4 b, and scattered be- tween these are minute pits, around the edge of which is a row of minute hairs (Plate 51, Fig. 4 a). The legs (Plate 51, Figs. 5, 6 and 7) are moderately long and of medium size, with the first or coxal segment somewhat conical in form ; the second segment (trochan- ter) much smaller, its length being about equal to the thickness; the third and fourth segments (femur and tibia) are of nearly equal length. The outer part of the leg (tar- sus) consists of five segments, the first of which is about the length of the three following, and the last has a pair of di- verging claws at the end, with a fleshy organ (pulvillus) be- tween them (Plate 51, Figs. 9 and 10). The claws have a somewhat flattened under surface, with a row of small blunt teeth along each side. The fore legs (Plate 51, Fig. 5) have a long sinuous spur (tibial epiphysis) attached to the tibia near the base and extending a little beyond the end. The whole side of this epiphysis next to the tibia is covered with fine bristles, forming a brush-like organ. The tibiae of the middle legs have a pair of unequal spurs at the end, and the hind tibiae have a similar pair at the end and a pair about one- fourth of the length of the tibia above. All these spurs have the outer part obliquely flattened, with a row of short, blunt Explanation of Plate 51. [All figures greatly enlarged.] Drawn by C. P. Lounsbury. Lateral view of the anterior part of body of female. Ventral view of female genitalia. Antenna of the female. Section of antenna, showing sensory pits. Fore leg. Middle leg. Hind leg. Part of hind leg, with abnormal appendage. Foot, seen from below. Foot, seen from the side. / ^N. "V — \ ' ' vC? 55 ? S! ^\ \i-^M^ w —^\ '^ w \1 2 10 EXTERNAL ANATOMY. 341 teeth around the edge of the flattened surface (Plate 51, Figs. 6 and 7). On one of the hind legs of the male, at the end of the tibia, was found an additional appendage on the side opposite to the spurs (Plate 51, Fig. 8). This is the only monstrosity we have thus far seen in the gypsy moth. The wings differ somewhat in form in the two sexes, the fore wings of the female being longer and more pointed than those of the male. The venation is shown in Plate 52, Figs. 1 and 2 (male), 3 and 4 (female). The frenulum at the base of the hind wing of the male consists of a single pointed bristle, while in the female it is composed of a clus- ter of much finer pointed bristles (Fig. 4). The surface of the wings is sparsely covered with scales and hairs (Fig. 7), and around the outer border of both the fore and hind wino-s, at quite equal distances apart, is a row of blunt spines, two of which are shown in Fig. 8, and one still more enlarged is represented in Fig. 9. These spines appear to be hol- low, with a fine aperture at the outer end. Near the hinder margin, towards the base of the fore wing, is an oval area (Plate 52, Fig. 5), the surface of which is covered with minute stout spines (Fig. G). The lateral surface of the metascutum (Plate 51, Fig. 1 g) is covered with a similar series of spines. In the "Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift," Vol. XXXI, 1887, Dr. W. Donitz describes a singing Lepi- dopteron. After referring to the list of Lepidoptera which produce sounds, given by Swinton in his work on "Insect Variety," he describes an apparatus which he discovered in Dionych&pus niveus Men., a Bombycid moth found in Japan, and also in Siberia. He states that when a fresh male is held in such a manner that the wings can be moved back and forth on each other, one can hear a slight chirping sound, which continues as long as the wings are moved. He figured and described an apparatus, on the basal part of the fore wings, similar to that described above ; and a corresponding area on the hind wings, where that of the fore wings overlies this organ on the hind wings. In the gypsy moth no such organ exists on the hind wing, but its counterpart is found on^the side of the metathorax, as stated above, where the oro-an in 342 THE GYPSY MOTH. the fore wings, when closed, rests on the side of the thorax. A similar organ occurs in Ocneria rubea of Europe, of the same structure and in the same place as in the gypsy moth. The scales on the wings vary in form, as shown in Plate 52, Figs. 10-20. The striations are not shown in all these figures. Fig. 15 represents one of the short and broad scales with the longitudinal stride. Figs. 21 and 22 repre- sent cross-sections of a scale, the first from near the base, the second from the broader part of the scale. After suitable preparation and embedding inparaffine, a portion of the wing was sectioned and these figures drawn from the mounted sections. The surface of the scale next the membrane of the wing is smooth, while the outer surface is covered with longitudinal ridges. The abdomen of the female (Plate 51, Fig. 1) is very large, and densely clothed with yellowish hairs, especially on the under side towards the posterior part. One of these hairs is represented in Plate 52, Fig. 19, and a section of it, near the basal fourth of the hair, greatly enlarged at Fig. 10. The surface is covered with minute spines, which incline towards the apex, and it also appears to be marked with irregular cross-wrinkles. The ovipositor of the female is shown in Plate 51, Fig. 2. Mating. After emerging the female crawls a short distance from the pupa-case, and, by the time the wings have expanded, and sometimes before, she begins to attract or "assemble" the imagoes of the opposite sex. In colonies where the males are abundant, they often attempt to mate with females almost as soon as the latter emerge. Seeking the female, the male flies in a zigzag course until she is found, when he hovers around her for a few minutes, rapidly vibrating his wings. The time spent in mating has been found to vary from twenty-five minutes to three hours and eighteen minutes ; the average time of twenty-four pairs being one hour and nine minutes. After mating, the male is quite stupid, but in about half an hour regains his normal activity. Explanation of Plate 52. [All figures enlarged.] Drawn by R. A. Cooley. Venation of fore wing of male. " " hind " " " " " fore wing of female. " " hind " " " Base of fore wing, showing outline of the spiny area. Portion of the spiny area, showing the spines, greatly en- larged. 7. Area from near the middle of the upper side of the fore wing of female, showing scales and hairs. 8. External outer border of wing, showing spines and a fringe scale. 9. Single blunt spine from outer border. 10. Section of figure 19 greatly enlarged, showing spiny sur- face. 11, 12, 13, 14, 16. Various types of scales from the wings. 15. Scale from the upper side of the fore wing of the female, showing the striae. 17, 18. Scales from the fringe of the fore wing. 19. Hair from the end of the abdomen of the female. 20. " " " " " " * male. 21. Section of a scale near the base. 22. " " " " " middle. Jf-Lj .£}. i Hi Oki. POLYGAMY. 343 Fertilization Experiment. To determine the length of time necessary for fertilization, twenty-five virgin females were exposed in infested localities. After mating had commenced, the males were removed at the end of given periods of time, varying from one minute to one hour ; the females were placed in boxes, and allowed to deposit their eggs. In all cases where the male was removed before six minutes, the eggs proved infertile; but where they were allowed to remain beyond that time, the eggs were fertile. Polygamy . As a rule, the males of this species mate with but one female, or with two at the most, but instances have been recorded where single males mated with six females, and five other males mated with three females each. Polygamy is exceptional among the females. In August, 1894, a female moth, at the insectary, mated with three males ; but nearly all females reared in confinement, as well as those whose mating has been observed in the field, paired with but a single male. The fact that a male imago may fertilize several females has a practical bearing on the work of destroying the gypsy moth. It would seem to indicate that the destruction of the males, either through natural or artificial agencies, is of but little importance. Length of Life of Imago. The maximum number of days of the life of thirty-four females which had not mated was found to be 10, the mini- mum 1, and the average 6.15 days. The maximum number of days of the life of forty-two females which mated was found to be 12, the minimum 1, and the average 7.69 days. The actual length of life of the male moth is hard to deter- mine, as they probably live much longer when free than when kept in confinement. Five males which had not mated lived respectively 6, 7, 8, 11 and 8 days. 344 THE GYPSY MOTH. Habits of Flight. The gypsy moth is not nocturnal, and, unless disturbed, but few of the males fly before 9 a.m. The time of greatest activity is between 10 a.m. and 3 or 4 p.m., after which time they seldom fly voluntarily. As already stated, they fly most vigorously on warm days, and in a zigzag course. The female moth has never been seen to fly in this coun- try, except on one occasion, and that was after the laying of the eggs. Mr. F. H. Mosher, one of our most reliable observers, while making observations in a colony of the gypsy moth in the forest at Woburn, Mass., July 18, 1895, saw a female gypsy moth that had finished or nearly finished laying her egga, upon being disturbed by males, drop to the ground and fly about twenty feet, striking the ground and rising again at distances of about two feet. In Europe, C. Wingelmuller, in the " Wiener Illustrirte Garten-Zeitung," Jan. 15, 1890, page 269, says that ''the female gypsy moth does not shake off her sluggishness even during- the night, the especial time of her activity ; and a short, lazy flight from one tree to another close by is the most that she accom- plishes." This helplessness is only on account of her body being stored with eggs, which prevents her from taking a longer flight. I have tried, again and again, at various times during the day, to oblige the females to fly, by throw- ing them into the air and also by knocking them off from the trees ; and in every case they only fluttered to the ground without any attempt to move forward by using their wings. On July 14, 1889, I was in the zoological gardens in Berlin, and saw the gypsy moths in great abundance. They were then in the imago stage, and occasionally females fluttered down from the trees in precisely the same manner that they do in this country when disturbed by the males. As our employees have observed the habits of this insect at all hours of the day and night, and have seen no real flight except in the case above mentioned, and as the statement of Wingel- muller seems a little indefinite, I am inclined to think that the female gypsy moth never voluntarily flies, nor indeed can she do so before laying her eggs, because of the enor- mous weight she would have to sustain. It may further be ASSEMBLING. 345 said that, although the wings of the female are of fair size, they are not nearly as firm as those of the male, and it would seem that by disuse they have become weakened; and, if the present conditions are continued sufficiently long,' the wings of the female gypsy moth may suffer the same fate as those of the female of the white-marked Tussock moth (Plate 39, Fig. 18). The peculiar zigzag flight of the male may be the result of natural selection. As the female does not fly, the male is guided to her by the odor which she gives off, and which is disseminated by currents of air; and it is evident that males flying in a straight line would not meet with the scent-laden currents in as many cases as those which fly in a zigzag course. It is therefore probable that more of those having a tendency to an irregular course in flight would find and mate with the females, and thus transmit to their male offspring a like tendency to this particular flight, which, in the course of generations, has become a fixed characteristic of this species. The Assembling of the Gypsy Moth. It is a well-known fact that unfertilized females of the gypsy moth are able to attract the males to them from a greater or less distance. This is called assembling, and this power to assemble is possessed by quite a large number of moths more or less nearly related to the gypsy moth. As has been previously stated, the caterpillars ' of this insect have the habit of spinning down, or suspending them- selves from the trees on which they feed, especially when disturbed; and they frequently fall upon passing teams or animals, and are carried by them to places more or less remote. If, in any such case, caterpillars should be carried into an uninfested region, and, making their way to suitable food plants, should, in transforming, give rise to female moths, there would be little or no danger of their establish- ing a new colony, unless they should attract male moths from the infested region, and, having mated with them, should therefore lay fertile ego-s. The following experiments were made by Mr. A. H Kirk- land, assisted by Mr. J. P. Hylan, for the purpose of deter- 346 THE GYPSY MOTH. mining, as fully as possible, how far the males might be assembled by the females. The question to be solved was, from how great a distance can a male moth recognize and follow up the scent of the female ? There are many condi- tions affecting the distance over which assembling may be possible. The following are a few of the more important : — 1. The place in which the female emerges. If this occurs in a stone wall or rubbish heap, or in a hollow tree, the odor could not possibly escape and be diffused as fully as if the moth were exposed to the air on the outside of the tree, and at some height from the ground. 2. The condition of either the male or female after emerg- ing. If the female is strong and in perfect condition, she will assemble more males than a female partly denuded. If the male is strong and active, he will, of course, be superior in flight and action to one partially crippled or enfeebled. 3. The direction and velocity of the wind. The wind must blow from the place where the female emerges toward some place where male moths occur. A wind of high velocity will carry the odors farther than a light breeze, but, at the same time, offer greater resistance to the flight of the male while following up the scent. 4. Weather and temperature. The flight of the males is more vigorous on bright, warm days than when the air is cold and damp. 5. The contour of the land and whether it is wooded or not, thus forming wind-breaks. If there are forests or hills between the female in question and the males to be attracted, they will interfere with the direct passage of currents of air carrying the odor, so that males may fail to be attracted from much shorter distances than if in a region without these obstructions. Details of the Experiments. A level area on the salt marsh between Edgeworth and Somerville, entirely free from obstructions, was selected for the scene of operations, and stations were established from day to day, according to the direction of the wind. Stations. — The first station chosen in each experiment was the one where one or more females were to be located, ASSEMBLING. 347 and this was always on the windward side of the marsh. The females were enclosed in a moth trap (Plate 54), which was painted on the outside with a mixture of castor oil and resin, and placed a few feet above the ground. The second station was established directly to leeward of the first, and at a measured distance from it. In many cases a third and even a fourth station was established at a known distance from the first and other intervening stations. It was often found necessary to establish three or even more stations, a short distance apart, on the arc of a circle, the radius of which was a known distance from the trap, to compensate for the veering of the wind, which sometimes carried the scent of the female out of a direct line to the stations first established. Marking the Males. — In order to carry on this work and obtain results at all satisfactory, it was necessary to adopt some s} r stem of marking the males which were to be liber- ated, in such a way as to enable one not only to recognize them afterwards, but also to determine from what station they came. At first they were marked by cutting a small notch in a certain part of the margin of the wing, with fine scissors. This method, while not apparently injuring them in any way, was objectionable, because of its being a muti- lation which might affect the results more or less, and therefore it was abandoned in the later experiments, and water-colors were used. It was found impossible to make the colors adhere to the wings, when mixed in water ; but fifty per cent, alcohol was found to mix well with dry car- mine colors, and, when applied to the wing, made a tolerably permanent mark. There was no difference in the results obtained from moths marked in the two ways. In marking, the color was applied, by means of a soft brush, to a par- ticular spot on the wings, a different mark being used for each station, and a different set of marks each day. The male moths were marked and boxed each morning, the marks recorded, and the moths taken into the field. The females were enclosed in the cage of the trap at station No. 1, and the males were liberated at the other stations accord- ing to their marks. In this way it was possible, when a male was taken at station No. 1, to determine from which 348 THE GYPSY MOTH. of the other stations it came, and the direct distance from that station. The negative results in so many of the experi- ments were not due to lack of care or attention to details, but in some cases to a change of wind immediately after the liberation of the males, and in others to a dying out of the wind before the males had reached the females. Many of the male moths, as is common with them when handled, would drop to the ground and remain in the grass for a long time ; and it was found necessary to liberate a number of them at each station, in order to increase the chance of meet- ing with the scent from the female. The following experi- ments were made in July, 1895 : — Experiment No. 1. "Weather, fair and clear. Wind, north-west ; average movement, 12 miles. Two traps, containing seven female moths each, were set up at 9.15 a.m., at station No. 1. At station 2, one-fourth of a mile to leeward of the first station, eight marked male moths were liberated at 9.25 a.m. At station 3, one-half a mile to leeward of No. 1, seven marked male moths were liberated at 9.35 a.m. Nothing resulted from this experiment. Experiment JS/b. 2. Weather, fair. Wind, at 6.10 a.m., west; from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., east; average movement, 10 miles. Two traps, containing six female moths each, were set up at 10 a.m., ten feet from the ground. At station 2, one hundred and fifty yards to leeward, nine marked male moths were liber- ated at 10.15 a.m. At station 3, half a mile to the leeward of station 1, nine marked male moths were liberated. Four males were seen flying about station 1, but only one was captured, and this one was from station No. 3, half a mile distant. Experiment JSfo. 3. Cloudy. Wind, south-west to west ; average movement, 10 miles. Two traps, containing six female moths each, were set up at station 1. Seven marked male moths were let loose at 8.10 a.m. from station 2, two hundred yards to leeward of the first station, and at 8.20 a.m. seven marked ASSEMBLING. 349 males were liberated from station 3, half a mile to leeward from station 1. No males reached the first station, but the rain which fell from 11 a.m. till night may have prevented the males from flying. Experiment JVb. 4. Weather, fair. Wind, north to east ; average movement, 10 miles. Two traps, containing six females each, were set up at 10.30 a.m. Forty marked males were liberated at 10.45 a.m. from station 2, one-fourth of a mile from the first station, and thirty-eight marked males were liberated at 10.55 a.m. from station 3, one-half a mile from the first sta- tion. At 3.30 p.m. one male moth appeared in the vicinity of the first station. An attempt to capture it was unsuccess- ful. In all probability it came from either station 2 or 3, since there were no infested areas in the direction toward which the wind was blowing. Experiment JSfo. 5. Cloudy. Wind, east ; average movement, 9 miles. Two traps, containing six female moths each, were set up at 8 a.m. Nine marked males were liberated at 8.30 a.m., one- fourth of a mile to leeward of the first station, and nine marked males were liberated at 9 a.m., half a mile to lee- ward of station 1. None of these males reached station 1. Experiment JSfo. 6. Damp and cloudy, with light rains at intervals until 2 p.m. Wind, north-east ; average movement, 6 miles. One trap, containing a single female moth, was set up at 1.45 p.m. Six marked males were liberated at 2.10 p.m., 427 yards to leeward of the first station, and fifty marked males were liberated at 2.30 p.m., at station 3. This station was located 713 yards to leeward of the first station. At 3.30 p.m. one male from station 2 reached the trap, and at 4.15 p.m. one from station 3. Experiment JSfo. 7. Fair. Wind, north-west; average movement, 12 miles. Two traps, containing twelve female moths each, were set up 350 THE GYPSY MOTH. at 8 a.m. At station 2, one-fourth of a mile to leeward of station 1, six marked males were liberated at 8.30 a.m., and at 2 p.m. seven more males were liberated at this station. At station 3, one-half mile to leeward of station 1, six marked males were liberated at 8.45 a.m., and at 2.15 p.m. eight others similarly marked were also allowed to escape at this station. There were no results from this experiment. Experiment JVo. 8. Fair. Wind, from nearly all directions ; average move- ment, 5 miles. Two traps, containing six female moths each, were set up at 8.30 a.m. At station No. 2, one-fourth of a mile to leeward of station 1, eight marked males were liberated at 9.50 a.m. At station 3, one-half mile to lee- ward of station 1, six marked males were liberated at 9.08 a.m., and six other males similarly marked were liberated at a distance of sixteen yards to the right of station 1. One male moth from station 2 returned at 10.30 a.m. The wind shifted to east and south-west, and at 1.30 a heavy rain pre- vented all further work. The data concerning the direction and wind movement, given in these experiments, were kindly furnished by Mr. J. W. Smith, the Boston local forecast official, and, as the place where the experiments were performed was within four miles of the Boston observatory, the figures in all probability are approximately accurate for the locality. Remarks on the Above Experiments. These experiments show that, under favorable conditions, female gypsy moths will assemble males from various dis- tances up to half a mile, and it is possible that they might have been attracted from somewhat greater distances had males been liberated in larger numbers from stations more remote from the female. It must be borne in mind that these experiments were conducted under what would seem to be the most favorable conditions, namely, upon a level area, where a sweep of the wind could be obtained ; yet it may be possible that what was gained by the favorable con- ditions was in a measure offset by a slight weakening of the males caused by the handling necessary while marking them. ASSEMBLING. 351 As shown by these records, males were assembled 427 yards (see experiment No. 6), 440 yards (see experiment No. 8), 713 yards (see experiment No. (5) and 880 yards (see experi- ment No. 2). A series of experiments, to determine the manner in which the male gypsy moth recognizes the presence of the female, was made at the insectary and in the field, with the follow- ing results : — Experiment JVb. 9. July 25. To determine the effect of alcohol upon the antennae, as the shellac to be used later was dissolved in alcohol, the antennae of a male moth were thoroughly bathed in ninety-three per cent, alcohol at 10.50 a.m. The first effect of this application might well be called a complete intoxication. The moth lay for two or three minutes flat on the table without stirring. At 10.53 he began to move, but had only partial control of his limbs, and travelled with unsteady gait a short distance on the bench. By degrees he completely recovered his normal condition, and at 1.15 p.m. he mated with a female in a normal manner. Experiment JVb. 10. July 30. At 9.30 a.m., the wings of four unfertilized females were completely covered with shellac, after which the moths were placed in the experimental room, and two males in normal condition were liberated. At 10 a.m., a female attracted and mated with one of the males. At 10.50 a.m., the other male was attracted to a second female, but did not mate. At 11.30 a.m., the same male was attracted to a third female, with the same results as in the preceding case. At 3 p.m., one of these females attracted a male, which mated with her at once. Experiment No. 11. July 30. At 9.30 a m., the dorsal surface of four females (with the exception of the wings) was coated with shellac varnish, the moths then being introduced into the experi- mental room with a number of normal males. At 10.30 a.m., one female mated with a male. At 11.40 a female 352 THE GYPSY MOTH. attracted a male, but did not succeed in mating. At 12 m., a female attracted a male, with the same result as in the pre- ceding case. Experiment JVo. 12. July 30. At 9.30 a.m., the head and thorax of four females were completely coated with shellac varnish, after which operation the moths became quite stupid and one of them seemed apparently dead. At 4.30 p.m., one of the females mated with a male, but none of the others mated. Experiment JVo. 13. July 30. At 10.15 a.m., four unfertilized females were coated with varnish along the sides of the thorax and abdo- men. They were then placed in a wire-gauze can, which was attached to a tree, in the YVoburn colony, at a height of about six feet from the ground. This trap was visited by thirty-eight males from 10.15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experiment JVo. 14. July 30. Another can, containing four unfertilized females in normal condition, and used as a check, was visited by thirty-eight males from 10.15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experiment JVo. 15. July 30. Another can, containing four unfertilized females, whose wings were covered on both surfaces with shellac, was exposed under similar conditions. This trap was visited by seventy-six males from 10.15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experiment JVo. 16. July 30. A can containing four unfertilized females, with the whole of the body, except the wings, covered with shel- lac, was exposed under the same conditions. This trap was visited by only one male. A check can containing four un- fertilized females, in normal condition, exposed in the same manner and at the same place as those in the preceding experiments, to determine what would be the normal rate of assembling, was visited by seventy-seven males from 10.15 a.m. to 4 P.M. ASSEMBLING. 353 Experiment JVo. 17. August 1. A can containing four unfertilized females, with the last three segments of the abdomen coated entirely with shellac, was exposed as in the previous experiments, and was visited by twelve males from 10.15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Experiment JVo. 18. August 1. Another can, containing four unfertilized females, which were coated with shellac over the whole body, with the exception of the three posterior segments, was exposed under the same conditions as in the preced- ing experiments, and was visited by twenty-six males from 10.15 a.m. to 4 P.M. Experiment JVo. 19. August 1. A can containing four unfertilized females, with the tips of their abdomens covered with shellac, so as to close the external openings of the body, was exposed under the same conditions as in the preceding experiments, and was visited by eleven males from 10.15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Experiment JVo. 20. August 2. A single unfertilized female, in normal con- dition, w T as placed in a small cardboard box, having a cheese- cloth top, and exposed on the branch of a tree, at a distance of five feet from the ground. This box was visited by twenty-eight males from 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experiment JVo. 21. August 2. A wire-gauze can, containing an unfertilized female that had been denuded of hair, but whose wings were in a normal condition, was exposed under the same con- ditions as in the preceding experiments, and was visited by thirteen males from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Experiment JVo. 22. August 2. This experiment was conducted under the same conditions and at the same time as preceding experiments, 354 THE GYPSY MOTH. except that the can contained a female whose wings were removed close to the body. This trap was visited by four- teen males from 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experiment JVb. 23. August 6. A female, with all appendages and down re- moved, was suspended in a mosquito-net bag in the centre of a colony in Hawke's woods, Saugus. She received no visits from males up to 5 p.m. Experiment JVo. 24. August 6. Same place as above. At 10.45 a.m., a de- nuded female was suspended in a mosquito-bar box from a tree, at a height of five feet from the ground. At 5 p.m. she had received no visits from males. -Experiment JVo. 25. July 25. At 1.45 p.m., the antennae of two male moths were covered with shellac varnish. This produced no ap- parent effect upon the moths. The males were kept in close proximity to females during the remainder of the afternoon, but none of them attempted to mate. July 25. At 1.45 p.m., the antennae of two males were covered with a coating of shellac, and the moths were then placed in a small card- board box with four unfertilized females. July 26, at 7 a.m., the moths had not mated. Experiment JVb. 26. July 25. At 1.45 p.m., the antennae of a male moth, which had just begun to mate with a female, were covered with shellac varnish. This apparently produced no effect, as the male did not leave the female until 2.20 p.m. Experiment JVo. 27. July 25. At 3.48 p.m., a fresh, vigorous male was deprived of both fore legs and then placed on the experi- mental bench near a female. The odor of the female was driven towards him by the use of a fan, and he at once recog- nized her presence, and at 3.51 p.m. the moths mated. ASSEMBLING. 355 Experiment JVo. 28. July 26. At 8.50 a.m., one male moth, with three legs removed, was placed on the experimental bench three feet from four unfertilized females. At 9 a.m., he flew to the partially drawn curtain and remained there until 10.45, when he flew down from the window and mated with a female. At 11 a.m. his antennae were cut off, but this did not pro- duce any appreciable effect. They remained together until 11.30. After leaving the female, he remained inactive dur- ing the rest of the day. Experiment JVo. 29. July 26. At 8.50 a.m., a male moth, with its wings removed, was placed on the experimental bench at a distance of three feet from four unfertilized females. At 10.20 a.m., he approached rapidly within two inches of the females, but eventually crawled away to a distance of three feet from them. At 1.40 p.m., he was placed near a female on the bench, but after a few minutes went away from her. At 2.05, he was placed within one foot of a female, and after crawling slowly toward her, mated with her. Experiment JVo. 30. July 26. At 8.50 a.m., a male moth with both antennae removed was placed three feet from four unfertilized females. At 9, he had crawled a distance of one foot toward the females. He remained quiet until 11 a.m., when he was placed close to a female moth. He, however, paid no atten- tion to her, and, up to 5 p.m., made no attempt to mate. Experiment JVo. 31. July 26. At 9.28 a.m., the antennas of a small male were coated with shellac and he was placed on the experimental bench, at a distance of two feet from a number of females. At 11.30, he had made no effort to mate with any of them. He was then placed on a box containing a large number of unfertilized females, but showed no animation. Other males, with their antennae not coated, were continually hov- 356 THE GYPSY MOTH. ering about the box. The male in question remained quiet until 5 p.m. Experiment JSTo. 32. July 26. At 3 p.m., the eyes of three male moths were covered with shellac, and they were then placed within two feet of two mature, unfertilized females. At 3.05, one male flew to the females and attempted to mate, but was unsuc- cessful. At 3.25, another male approached the females, in the same manner, but with no better success, but at 3.35 two of the males were successful in mating with two females. Experiment JYo. 33. July 27. At 9.30 a.m., two males with eyes and a part of the head covered entirely with shellac were placed on the experimental bench, three feet from four unfertilized females. At 12 m., one of these males began to fly about, and at 1 p.m. he was found mating with a female five feet from the place where he was at noon. At 1.45 he left the female, and at this same time the other male, whose eyes had been cov- ered with shellac, mated with a female and remained with her up to the time the experiment closed, at 5 p.m. From the preceding experiments the following conclusions may be drawn : — 1. Coating the abdomen of the female with varnish or denuding it of hair deprives her, in a great measure, of the power to assemble males. The amount of assembling which takes place under these conditions varies inversely with the amount of body surface coated or denuded. 2. The presence or absence of wings in either sex does not greatly influence the assembling process. 3. The sense of sight is not necessary to the operations of assembling. 4. The antennas are absolutely necessary to the male in locating the female, and without them assembling is impos- sible. It is a well-known fact that the males of this species coming from any distance always approach from the lee- ward side of the female, thus apparently indicating that the assembling is the result of an odor given off by the female, and carried by the wind. ' EXPLANATION OF PLATE 53. Drawn by J. H. Emerton. I. Calosoma frigidum Kirby, natural size. 2. Menecles insertus (Say), a a 3- Podisus cynicus (Say), (( (C 4- Podisus serieventris Uhl., (C u 5- Polistes pallipes St. Farg., (( a 6. Theronia melanocephala (Brulle), " 7- Pimp/a pedalis Cress., female a a 7 a. " " " male, a a 8. Pimpla tenuicornis Cress. X 4- 8 a. (C (t " natural size. 9- Formica subsericea Say, worker X 4. 9 a. (( u a C( natural size. 10. Diglochis omnivorus (Walk.) female X 8. io a. a (( . " " natural size. io b. cc ii " male X 8. IO c. (C U ii " natural size. ii. Achcetoneura fernaldi Williston, female X 4. ii a. a a a " natural size nb. a u a foot of female. II c. a a a " male. ii d. a a a face of female. ne. a a a " maie. 12. Elachiptera dispar Williston X 8. 12 a. a a a natural size. 13- Phlczothrips sp. ? X 32. 14. Nothrus sp. ? X 32. i5- Trombidiutn bulbipes Pack. X 32. ASSEMBLING. 357 Concerning the assembling process in the BombycicUe, the late Prof. C. V. Riley wrote as follows: "The power of assembling among certain moths, for instance, especially those of the family Bombycidee, is well known to entomolo- gists, and many remarkable instances are recorded. . . . Now, in the moths of this family the male antennae are elab- orately pectinate, the pectinations broad and each branch minutely hairy. These feelers vibrate incessantly, while in the female, in which the feelers are less complex, there is a similar movement connected with an intense vibration of the whole body and of the wings. There is, therefore, every reason to believe that the sense is in some way a vibratory sense, as, indeed, at base is true of all senses ; and no one can study the wonderfully diversified structure of the an- tennae in insects, especially in males, as very well exemplified in some of the commoner gnats, without feeling that they have been developed in obedience to, and as a result of, some such subtle and intuitive power, as this of telepathy. Every minute ramification of the wonderfully delicate feelers of the male mosquito, in all probability, pulsates in response to the piping sounds which the female is known to produce, and doubtless through considerable distance " ( " Insect Life," Vol. VII, page 39). In view of the fact that the males of the gypsy moth will assemble nearly as readily to empty boxes, bags, etc., in which females of the species have been previously confined, as to the females themselves, we are led to believe that with this insect, at least, the process is one depending upon the sense of smell alone.* On Tkapping Males. The following experiments were made under my direction by Mr. H. N. Reid in 1893, for the purpose of determining whether it is possible to trap the males of the gypsy moth, in any infested region, to such an extent that there would not be enough left to mate with any considerable number of females, so that a large proportion of the females would be compelled to lay infertile eggs, and therefore greatly reduce * In one case males were found to visit an empty pasteboard box which had con- tained female moths three days before. 358 THE GYPSY MOTH. the number of gypsy moths in that locality the following season. For this purpose wooden boxes, 12 by 8 by 3 inches, were made, without top or bottom, these being covered with brass wire gauze. A hole was bored in one end for the in- troduction of the female moths, and this was closed by a cork. Several different substances were used, on these traps, to capture the males when they flew against them, as mo- lasses, raupenleim, sticky fly-paper, etc. Molasses proved of no value, as it ran too easily, and was not sticky enough. The raupenleim was not sticky enough, and soon dried on the outside, so that it would not hold the males when they flew against it. Sheets of sticky fly-paper, with holes 9 by 4 inches cut from the centre, were tacked over the gauze ; these proved very efficient in securing and holding the males, but it was necessary to replace them with fresh ones frequently, and, to avoid this, they were painted over with a preparation of castor oil and resin, which proved to be bet- ter for the purpose required than the original fly-paper. When a trap was first put up a sheet of fly-paper was tacked on it, and each time the trap was visited the cap- tured males were removed and the paper recoated so far as necessary. This gum was found to keep in good condition for several days, unless a large number of males were caught in it, or the trap was in a very dusty pjace. Even when the males were not caught the first time they touched the paper, they were so persistent that they would immediately fly against it again, and be caught in a few minutes. The fly-paper was removed from one trap (No. 14) after a few days, and a pan of water with a little kerosene on the top of it was suspended directly beneath the trap. On ac- count of the rapidity with which the males fly, and the light- ness with which they struck the trap, it was not expected that they would be caught in the kerosene ; but, being very persistent, in trying to go under the trap from one side to the other they came in contact with the kerosene and were destroyed. This plan was not very satisfactory, not only on account of the expense, but also because the kerosene and water were so frequently spilled by the wind. To obtain " bait" for these traps, it was found better to TRAPPING MALES. 359 collect the female pupae and allow them to emerge in con- finement, because in this way the matter could be controlled more successfully than in any other. It was also found that the traps attracted best when placed but a few feet above the ground. Fifteen traps were used during these experiments. No. 7 was removed after six days, to be placed elsewhere, as noth- ing was captured on it up to that time. No. 14 had sticky fly-paper on it the first five days, during which time it caught two hundred males. The fly-paper was then removed, and a pan containing the water and kerosene was suspended an inch or two below the trap. During the next twelve days sixty-five males were captured in the pan. The traps were put out from July 31 to August 10, and were taken in from August 19 to August 30. The records of the traps are given below : — No. 1 was put out July 31, and taken in August 19, having captured 82 males. No. 2 was put out July 31, and taken in August 19, having captured 34 males. No. 3 was put out August 1, and taken in August 28, having captured 175 males. No. 4 was put out August 1, aud taken in August 28, having captured 87 males. No. 5 was put out August 2, and taken in August 30, having captured 36 males. No. 6 was put out August 2, and taken in August 25, having captured 88 males. No. 7 was put out August 2, and taken in August 8, having captured nothing. No. 8 was put out August 8, and taken in August 30, having captured 167 males. No. 9 was put out August 8, and taken in August 26, having captured 37 males. No. 10 was put out August 8, and taken in August 30, having captured 85 males. No. 11 was put out August 8, and taken in August 26, having captured 213 males. No. 12 was put out August 8, and taken in August 28, having captured 131 males. 360 THE GYPSY MOTH. No. 13 was put out August 9, and taken in August 30, having captured 163 males. No. 14 was put out August 10, and taken in August 30, having captured 265 males. No. 15 was put out August 10, and taken in August 28, having captured 208 males. Summary. Omitting No. 7, which remained out but a few days, the whole number of males taken by all the traps was 1,771. The smallest number taken by any one of them was 34, the largest number was 265 and the average 126.5. During the months of July and August, 1894, these ex- periments were repeated by Mr. F. C. Schrader and four other assistants. One hundred and ninety-one traps were put up in the worst infested districts of Maiden, Medford and Everett, and kept in working order during the time that the males were flying. The traps were visited every day, fresh gum applied when necessary, new females put into the traps as often as needed, and careful records were kept of the results. The trapping season began July 19, and closed August 13. Two different styles of traps were used. The first kind was made of two-quart tin varnish cans, from each of which was suspended, about two inches below it, a tin base 9 by 12 inches, dished, so as to slope from the edges toward the centre, and attached by two strips of tin to a loop on each of the narrow sides of the can. A strip of tin was removed from each side of the can, and this was replaced by brass wire gauze. The unfertilized females were placed in the can, through the hole at the top, which was kept closed by a cork stopper. The traps were sus- pended from branches of trees by hooks eight inches long, attached to the handle of the cans. The other kind was a four-leaved wooden trap, commonly called the "Shaw" trap (Plate 54), devised by Mr. H. J. Shaw. It consisted of a horizontal base board of half-inch lumber, one foot square, with narrow grooves at right angles across the middle of the upper side. Two thin boards, twelve inches wide and seven inches high, notched together in the middle at right angles, were secured in the grooves in the base board, thus forming four vertical wings. An opening