154 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



DESIRABLE SHADE TREES. 



Since the gypsy and brown-tail moths have been allowed 

 to multiply unrestrained throughout the district, certain 

 natural preferences of the insects in the way of food plants 

 have been noticed which had hitherto escaped observation. 

 It has been found that certain species of trees are to a 

 notable extent fairly exempt from damage by these moths. 

 Thus it is apparent, therefore, that in planting such trees 

 it is possible to select several species which will be less 

 troubled by these insects than those commonly in use. 



Perhaps the most notable example of relative freedom from 

 damage by the moths is found in the case of the white ash. 

 The leaves of this tree do not lend themselves readily to the 

 construction of brown-tail moth webs, while the gypsy moth 

 does not feed upon it to any extent so long as other trees 

 are available. In fact, in the badly stripped woodland areas 

 last summer the comparative exemption of the white ash 

 from damage was very noticeable. It was found that in 

 areas of several acres the only trees retaining even a part of 

 their foliage were those of this species. Since the white ash 

 makes a rapid growth and is otherwise desirable as a shade 

 tree, it seems advisable to make a more liberal use of this 

 tree for planting purposes along streets, in parks and on 

 private estates in the infested district. 



The soft maple, or, as it is more commonly known, the 

 red maple, also shows a considerable degree of freedom from 

 attack by both insects. While it is not uncommon to find 

 the nest of either species of moth on this tree, yet at the same 

 time it deserves to stand in the second rank. The smooth 

 bark of this maple offers but little shelter to the caterpillars, 

 particularly on the younger trees, while the brown-tail moth 

 webs are not easily formed in its foliage. 



Various species of hickory are but little sought by the 

 gypsy moth caterpillars, and are practically free from brown- 

 tail moth webs as well. It is to be stated, however, that in 

 the case of the older trees of this class the rough bark offers 

 an excellent hiding place for gypsy moth caterpillars, and the 

 latter insect pupates freely under the shelter of the bark. 



