REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1/9 



THE GIPSY MOTH IN MAINE. 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE MOTH. 



The gipsy moth was known in Europe as far back as the year 

 1752, probably much earlier, but history does not record the fact. 

 Since the above date, constant reference has been made to this 

 pest in the history of insect invasions throughout the countries 

 of Central Europe, portions of Asia, and Northern Africa. 

 Large tracts in Russia have been entirely devastated in a single 

 year. The caterpillars stripped the foliage of all kinds of trees 

 and shrubs and caused the destruction of all field and garden 

 crops. They were a menace to the health and comfort of the 

 people in the infested districts. Several instances are on record 

 in foreign countries where the caterpillars have actually driven 

 people from their own homes. We have a similar record in 

 several localities in Massachusetts. 



This pest was first introduced into this country at Medford, 

 Mass., in 1868 or '69 by a French Naturalist, Prof. Leopold 

 Trouvelotte, for experimental purposes. Some of the caterpil- 

 lars escaped from their confinement and spread to trees near by. 

 The authorities were notified of this fact, but not realizing the 

 full danger of their presence paid but little attention to the mat- 

 ter, and for twenty years they were allowed to spread unmo- 

 lested save through the efforts of a few public spirited citizens 

 who did what they could to stay their progress. By that time 

 they had become such a menace that the attention of the State 

 legislature was called to the situation and an urgent appeal made 

 for state appropriation. This was finally granted and what is 

 now known as the first commission was formed, and com- 

 menced work in 1890. This work was continued for ten years. 

 During that time the state appropriation amounted to about one 

 and a quarter millions of dollars, and probably nearly a like 

 sum was expended by cities, towns and private individuals on 

 their own property. There is no doubt that if the work could 

 have been continued the ultimate extinction of the moth would 

 have been accomplished ; but for reasons best known to the legis- 



