22 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



Quincy and Braintree were found to be generally infested ; 

 and in Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset and Hull a consider- 

 able number of moths were found. South of this section the 

 infestations diminished in size, until at Lakeville, Middle- 

 borough and Wareham only a few specimens of the insect 

 were discovered. The presence of the moth, even in small 

 numbers, in these outlying districts is of grave significance, 

 since only a few years are necessary for the insect to become 

 thoroughly established where remedial and preventive meas- 

 ures are not diligently employed. 



That the automobile has been an important factor in the 

 distribution of the gypsy moth within the past three years 

 does not admit of dispute. It was impossible to ride through 

 the infested sections immediately to the north of Boston 

 without becoming thoroughly coated with caterpillars dur- 

 ing the spring months of 1903, 1904 and 1905. During the 

 current year, in the caterpillar season, the superintendent 

 had occasion to keep a rough record of the number of gypsy 

 moth caterpillars found on himself and vehicle after trips 

 through the infested district, and this varied from 3 to 129. 

 Automobiles, with the wide surface on which the caterpillars 

 may rest, will, of course, intercept more of these as they 

 spin down than a carriage or other vehicle. Where pleasure 

 driving or teaming is limited in a day's trip to from 10 to 20 

 miles, the automobile in the same time passes over from 40 

 to 100 miles. It is of great significance that the places where 

 automobilists are accustomed to stop for meals or supplies 

 are most generally infested by the gypsy moth. Favorite 

 trips with the automobile are to Gloucester, Newburyport 

 and Plymouth. All these places are now known to be in- 

 fested by the gypsy moth, in fact, the insects occur there 

 in much greater numbers than even in the intervening terri- 

 tory. The means of distribution will be more fully treated 

 in another place. 



