THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 2*79 



THE GYPSY MOTH IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



[A discussion on the work of its extermination, at tlie eighth annual meeting of the 

 Association of E'conomic Entomologists, Buffalo, August 22nd, 1896.] 



REPORTED BY A. H. KIRKLAND. 



At the eighth annual meeting of the Association of Economic 

 Entomologists, held at Btiffalo, August 21st and 22nd, 1896, a part of one 

 session was devoted to the consideration of the work of exterminating the 

 gypsy moth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The subject was 

 presented for discussion by the President, Prof. C. H. Fernald, at the 

 morning session of the second day. Prof. Fernald referred to the action 

 of the Association at its Springfield (1895) meeting, and stated that at 

 the legislative hearings of the past spring, held with reference to deter- 

 mining the size of the appropriation to be granted for continuing the work 

 of exterminating the gypsy moth, no representations made by the Gypsy 

 Moth Committee, the Director, or himself, carried a fraction of the weight 

 that the endorsement of the Association afforded. The legislators recog- 

 nized the Association as a body of eminent scientists, and accordingly 

 valued the opinion of its members. 



In speaking of the present condition of affairs brought about by the 

 failure of the Legislature to provide sufficient funds for the continuance of 

 the work in the most approved manner, the Professor stated that future 

 action must be along one of three lines : 



(i) To continue the work with a view to extermination. This can 

 be done, but will involve a vast outlay. 



(2) To attempt the control of the insect, but with no idea of its 

 ultimate extermination. This means a great annual expenditure that must 

 be continued indefinitely. 



(3) To abandon the whole work, " let the insect spread at its own 

 sweet will," and trust to the property owners to care for their own estates. 

 Should this latter course be adopted, it would be impossible to say how 

 long a period of time would elapse before the pest would spread over the 

 whole of New England and into adjacent territory. The insect is now in 

 a condition to spread rapidly through avenues of traffic, and its diffusion 

 over the whole country would probably be a matter of comparatively 

 short time. 



The committee in charge, and those directly connected with the 

 work, have been criticised because the importation of parasites has not 

 been attempted. This, the Professor explained, had not seemed wise 

 while the work has been carried on with a view to extermination, since 



