THE BROWN-TATT. MOTH. 25 



It is commonly called the brown-tail moth (^Euju'octiH chrysor- 

 rhoea), and is so destructive in its habits, having so wide a range 

 of food, that in European countries it is one of the few insects for 

 the suppression of which laws have been enacted. 



The centre of the infested district in this State appears to be in 

 Somerville, though how widely the insect is dispersed we have been 

 unable to determine in the short time intervening since its appear- 

 ance. In an examination of the district by our entomologist, 

 Prof. C. H. Fernald, and Dr. L. O. Howard, chief of the Division 

 of Entomology, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, 

 the insect was found feeding on the pear, apple, cherry, straw- 

 berry, raspberry and rose bushes. The trees were entirely stripped 

 of their leaves, and the trunks, fences and sidewalks were swarm- 

 ing with the caterpillars. 



The side of a house in the vicinity was covered with them, and 

 they had even pushed their way into the interior. The most seri- 

 ously affected point is immediately around the depot and railway 

 tracks, increasing greatly the risk of dispersion. 



The caterpillars are just finishing their feeding state, and will 

 soon go into the pu^a condition. The time to attack them is now, 

 by contact insecticides, and in the late summer when they emerge. 



Dr. Howard, government entomologist, now here inspecting our 

 work on the gypsy moth, has kindly consented to give the benefit 

 of his advice. 



To meet this sudden emergency, a special appropriation of 

 $10,000 from the Legislature seems absolutely necessary, and we 

 therefore beg Your Excell,eney to take such steps as seem in your 

 judgment best. 



E. W. Wood, 

 Augustus Pkatt, 

 S. S. Stetson, 

 John G. Avery, 



F. W. Sargent, 

 Wm. R, Sessions, 



Committee of the Board of A(jnritllure 

 on Gypsy Moth, Insects ami Birds. 



Henry II. Goodell, 



Director Hatch Experiment Station. 



The matter was also presented to the Governor orally by 

 the gypsy moth committee, Messrs. Fernald and Kirkland, 

 with Dr. L. O. Howard, entomokigist of tiie Fnited States 

 Department of Agriculture, who fortunately was in Boston at 



