REPORT OF FIELD AGENT, GYPSY MOTH WORK. II7 



twice the work this year as far as numbers go. We have suc- 

 cessfully bred large numbers of the Apanteles lacteicolor and 

 Meteorus versicolor, parasites of the brown-tail caterpillars ; the 

 Compsilura concinnata and Calosoma sycophanta, parasites of 

 the g>'psy moth caterpillars ; also two small colonies of the tgg 

 parasite of the gypsy moth, the Shedius kuvanse, were reared 

 and liberated as an experiment. 



I firmly believe that the results of the parasite work will be 

 easily recognized by all before another year has passed. I also 

 believe that the parasite method of combating our two pests is 

 far more effective than any other method and should be encour- 

 aged by the people of the state to a greater extent. 



As to the field work, crews have been stationed this year 

 throughout the most heavily infested parts of the state, and the 

 fight has been waged by every known method of hand work. 

 Beginning in the winter the tgg clusters of the gypsy moth were 

 found in quantities and destroyed by painting with creosote. 

 Millions of the pests were thus exterminated. Then an early 

 spring spraying was accomplished which further depleted the 

 numbers of both the brown-tail and gypsy moths and prevented 

 their further distribution. A little later trees were burlapped 

 and the caterpillars of the g}'psy moth were hunted down and 

 destroyed by thousands by cutting and crushing. 



During August a great deal of spraying was done which de- 

 stroyed millions of both the gypsy and brown-tail caterpillars. 

 I wish to lay particular stress upon the necessity of public coop- 

 eration in this branch of the work. I have already cited the 

 reasons for spraying and it is now the duty of every property 

 owner to do his share. 



One more phase I have not touched as yet. During the sum- 

 mer months the bacterial disease Flacherie, better known as the 

 wilt disease, was found to be working in the western part of 

 the state among the gv'psy moth caterpillars. Millions of cater- 

 pillars have been killed by this disease, especially in York, 

 Kittery, Eliot and South Berwick. Plans for another year are 

 not yet formulated owing to the change which will occur in the 

 field agent's position, but with the right kind of support from 

 the legislature and public in general, there is an excellent chance 

 of having the brown-tail and gypsy moth problem well under 

 control before this year's work and unusual success has passed 

 from bevond our memory. 



