1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 119 



the necessary attention and protection from injury. In the 

 immediate vicinity is a chain of large woodland colonies 

 of the gypsy moth, and near by are numerous orchards 

 infested by the brown-tail moth, as well as a considerable 

 area of scrub oak land where the latter insect occurs in large 



O 



numbers. 



The part of the building needed for laboratory purposes 

 has been fitted up with shelves, tables, breeding-cages, jars 

 and other necessary supplies. Arrangements have also 

 been made for the use of a certain number of fruit trees 

 near by, which will be covered next season with tents of 

 mosquito netting to serve as out-door breeding-cages for the 

 parasites. 



For the work of rearing these insects we have secured the 

 services of Mr. F. H. Mosher, a well-trained entomologist, 

 who for several years was associated with the writer in the 

 scientific work of the former gypsy moth committee. We 

 also made use, during the summer season, of the services 

 of two students of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, 

 Messrs. E. A. Back and O. L. Clark, who had received 

 special training in entomological work. 



Until spring the parasites received at the laboratory w r ill 

 be kept in cold storage, but as soon as the warm weather 

 brings out the brown-tail or gypsy moths they will be turned 

 loose in cages enclosing trees infested with the moths, where 



G C 



they will have ample opportunity to propagate. It is hoped 

 that a sufficient number will thus be obtained to permit of 

 distribution in infested districts. 



RECORD OF IMPORTATIONS. 



The following is a record of the material received to De- 

 cember 15, with data .concerning each shipment. As might 

 be expected, the insects arrived in varying conditions. 

 Early sendings from some of our correspondents were in 

 paper boxes, and these were badly crushed in transit. 

 Where tin boxes were used, particularly in the case of living 

 insects, the moisture could not escape, and the insects were 

 as a rule dead and often decayed. The best results in send- 

 ing living insects were obtained by packing in wooden boxes 



