124 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



ootain a large number of therrij for liberation. From brown- 

 tail webs supplied by the United States Gypsy Moth Laboratory 

 at Melrose Highlands, Mass., a sufficient number of the para- 

 sites were bred to plant colonies of i,ooo each in the towns of 

 Buxton, Gorham, Portland, New Gloucester, Lisbon, Yar- 

 mouth, Gardiner, Wiscasset, Newcastle, Readfield, Pittsfield, 

 Dexter, Winterport and Old Town. The following year a con- 

 tinuance of this work gave a sufficient number of parasites to 

 plant colonies in Brunswick, Norway, Paris, Turner, Monmouth, 

 Warren, Camden, Knox, Belfast, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Sulli- 

 van, Cherryfield, and on Peaks Island. This spring additional 

 work with this parasite was done and colonies were planted 

 in the towns of Gilead, Bethel, Mexico, Jay, Strong, Solon, 

 Lincoln, Medford, Mattawamkeag, Danforth, Foxcroft, Colum- 

 bia Falls, Machias, Dennysville, Calais and Carmel. 



From year to year, collections of brown-tail webs from towns 

 where the colonies were planted have given some of the para- 

 sites, which show that the species has become established and 

 in a few years will be doing its part toward controlling the 

 two pests. By natural spread and the planting of colonies this 

 parasite has been distributed over the entire area occupied by 

 the gypsy and brown-tail moths, but any sudden decrease of the 

 pests from the work of this parasite cannot be looked for, as 

 under the best conditions it is only capable of doing its allotted 

 part, 



METEORUS VERSICOLOR. 



This parasite is very similar in its life history and work to 

 the Apanteles. Its cocoon, usually found hanging from the 

 trees by a fine thread, is torpedo shaped and light brown in 

 color. These cocoons make their appearance somewhat later 

 than the cocoons of Apanteles. It is about as valuable a para- 

 site as the latter and the information given under Apanteles in 

 regard to spread and colonization applies to Meteorus as the 

 two are handled together. 



COMPSILURA CONCINNATA. 



This parasite, the adult of which is a small gray fly about 

 the same size as the common house fly, attacks both the brown- 



