(JVPSV AM) BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



l>p>\vn-l;iil larva- from the winter nests and the belated American gypsy 

 caterpillars. As it is easier to get brown-tail material, like the winter 

 nests, in Kiinipe, many more naiural enemies of this insect have been 

 recehed and turned loose here than of iiypsy moth enemies. But some 

 of these enemies attack both the .uypsy and brown-tail moths; and, owing 

 to Dr. Howard's thorough work among collectors in Europe, much 

 larger and constantly increasing quantities of gypsy moth material and 

 enemies are now reaching America. 



It was interesting to watch the opening oi' the European boxes 

 ci'iitaining the large predaeeous Calosoma beetles, which climb trees to 

 capture and cat the caterpillars. Each beetle came packed in sphagnum 

 moss in a little pill or match box, and a dozen of these in a larger mail- 

 ing-box. Often two-thirds of the beetles get here alive. Many of these 

 are soon liberated in badly infested localities, and some are put in large 

 house-like cages in the field, where they are kept supplied with cater- 

 pillars. These handsome beetles have maintained themselves here, and 

 I saw American-bred beetles in the lariie ca^es. and also the first one 

 that had been found in an infested locality in the field. 



I was very favorably impressed with all the work being done at the 

 Saugus laboratory with the natural enemies of the gypsy and brown- 

 tail moths. Considering the limited facilities afforded by the improvised 

 dwelling house, and the necessity of constantly working with material 

 that keeps the ail- loaded with the minute brown-tail hairs which cause 

 the exasperating "rash," 1 think that the sixteen to eighteen men re- 

 quired to ) roperly care for the material are accomplishing most of the 

 results desired. Detailed lecords are kept of all material received, and 

 many notes made on the breeding habits and other details observed in 

 the one hundred or more cages. Conscientious effort is made to get out 

 of the European material all the enemies possible, and to try to care 

 for and propagate this to the fullest extent. 



At this point I wish to offer a suggestion or criticism. Only one or 

 two of the men employed to care for this wealth of European material 

 arc expert entomologists who have had experience in insect breeding. 

 As but little is known of the lives and breeding habits of these natural 

 enemies, new conditions and problems are constantly arising in the 

 work of handling (his European material to .:( the most out of it. I 

 think, therefore, that more entomologists well trained in insect lore 

 ' 'Id lie employed at the Saugus laboratory during the breeding 

 son. This Eiiivi:e-m maleral is obtained with considerable dilliculty 

 and e.\| ense, and thus far provision has not been made to continue the 

 \\irk more than a year or so longer, thus every effort possible should 

 1 nnde to use it to the lies! advantage. Of course it would be inter- 

 ',_ and well wi'i-lh while to make detailed studies of the lives and 

 habits ol' each of the many different enemies introduced, but the exi- 

 gencies of a limited appropriation for a coinparathcly short period and 

 the demands for <j!i!ck results are sutlicient reasons for not having 

 undertaken such work to any -real extent. Such studies can be made 



