BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 265 



Comipsihira concinnata Avas slightly less abundant than has been 

 the case for the past three years, but in some localities it was present 

 in satisfactory numbers. The species is widely distributed, having 

 been recovered durino- the present summer in the Annapolis Valley 

 in Nova Scotia. It attacks many species of native caterpillars and 

 is particularly valuable on that account. This habit also makes it 

 possible for the species to maintain itself in territor}^ which is not in- 

 fested with the £i"ipsy moth or the brown-tail moth, 



Blepharipa scvteJlata has been found more widelj^ distributed this 

 year than heretofore, and in some locations a fair degree of para- 

 sitism has been recorded. In the territory as a whole it probably 

 has not reached its maximum numbers. Field collections indicate 

 that Ajyantele!^ meJanoscelis is not quite as abundant as was the case 

 last year. This is evidently due to the work of secondary parasites, 

 as many of these have been reared from cocoons of the second genera- 

 tion of Apanteles. This species probably has not increased to 

 maximum numbers. 



Calosoma sycophanta was not as abundant this j^ear as heretofore, 

 and tliis was particularly true in some localities Avhere it had been 

 very numerous during the past two or three years. The wilt disease 

 was not nearly as common as usual and this condition seems to be 

 rather universal throughout the territory infested with the gipsy 

 moth. Further studies are being conducted relative to the Japanese 

 disease of the gipsy moth {Strepfocorcus cUsparis), and more colonies 

 are being liberated in order that a thorough study of its value may be 

 made in the field. 



While the area infested Avith the brown-tail moth was considerably 

 reduced during the past year, the insect seems to be increasing 

 slightly in the eastern part of the territory. Collections of brown- 

 tail moth webs from 100 towns were made during the winter by State 

 and town authorities and forwarded to the laboratory. Dissections 

 of about 10,000 larvae taken from these webs indicate that Apanteles 

 Icicteieolor was present in small numbers, while Meteorus versicolor 

 Avas much less abundant. The most common parasite found in these 

 collections was Zygohothria nklicola ; 20 per cent of the caterpillars 

 in the entire lot Avere parasitized by this insect. 



Only a fcAV localities liaA^e been found this summer Avhere brown- 

 tail moth caterpillars are at all abundant, and the fungus disease 

 {Empusa auJk-eie) has not been reported. 



Work on a more effective material for banding trees is under Avay 

 and preliminary tests to determine the relative value of dusting with 

 arsenate of lead A'^ersus spraying have been started. 



Tlie study of the gipsy moth problem on cranberry bogs has been 

 nearly completed and much valuable information secured. 



The work of securing data on the mortality of different species of 

 trees that haA^e been defoliated is being continued and sihdcultural 

 iuAestigations are being carried on principally on the sample plots 

 established some years ago. 



Quarantine avork. — The quarantine of the areas infested Avitli 

 the gipsy moth and the broAvn-tail moth made necessary during the 

 fiscal year the inspection of 29,394 shipments. These consisted of 

 forest, nursery, and quarry products; also Christmas trees and 

 greens. 



1G1352°— 19 18 



