376 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



Another method by which the numbers of our insect enemies 

 might be greatly lessened, is to employ the children in the work of 

 their destruction. In Germany and other countries of Europe, 

 school children are taught to distinguish the most common bene- 

 ficial and injurious insects, and to collect and destroy the latter. 

 The last season the reported destruction of the May beetle alone 

 in the district of Segeberg, amounted to fourteen thousand one 

 hundred and ninety-six kilogrammes, or about thirty-one thousand 

 two hundred and fifty pounds, and also five hundred pounds 

 weight of the grubs or larvre of the same insect. Placing the 

 number of beetles in each kilogramme at nine hundred and 

 twenty, which is a fair average, the total number of this pest de- 

 stroyed will amount to over thirteen millions. In addition to the 

 direct benefit arising from the destruction of so many of our foes, 

 this practice would create an interest in their young minds in the 

 study of the wonderful and mysterious phases of insect life, which 

 would lead to a better appreciation and knowledge of this im- 

 portant subject. 



Forest Tent Caterpillar. 



Clisiocampa sylvatica. — Harris. 



This insect, in form, habits and general appearance, resembles 

 very much the orchard variety. In fact, so close is the resem- 

 blance, that those unacquainted with their habits and history often 

 regard them as identical. As their depredations are mainly con- 

 fined to the forests, they are not so generally known, FlG - 6 * 

 and are not considered very injurious, or as suffi- 

 ciently numerous to require much attention. But in 

 certain portions of our state they have appeared in 

 great numbers for the past few years, and done much 

 harm. In some instances they have stripped hundreds 

 ■of acres of their foliage, so that for miles in our 

 heavy timbered lands the trees have been as bare of 

 leaves in July as in midwinter. In size the worms 

 are about the same as the Clisiocampa Atn, but sur- 

 pass them in voracity. They soon devour all the ver- 

 dure of the trees where they first appear on the stage of 

 action, and march on from tree to tree, leaving nothing 

 ibut bare limbs in their track, and often finish their uaterpilTar!* 

 career a long distance from the starting point. 



