392 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the outlying sections of the infested area. In certain sections along 

 the seacoast area in New Hampshire and in the Merrimack Valley- 

 considerable defoliation was caused by this insect. 



A high percentage of parasitism was found in all localities where 

 sample collections were made, and in a few places the brown-tail 

 moth fungus was present and destroyed large numbers of the full- 

 grown caterpillars. 



The gipsy-moth work in New Jersey has been carried through in 

 cooperation with that State and excellent results have been secured. 

 The number of localities where infestations have been found is less 

 than during the previous year and the area infested has been mate- 

 rially reduced. 



In New England weather conditions immediately following the 

 hatching period this year were not favorable for the spread of the 

 gipsy moth to new territory. Plans have been made for a thorough 

 scouting of the Hudson Valley by the State of New York, and an 

 additional area between this strip and the infested territory' in New 

 England will be inspected by the bureau. From the information se- 

 cured from this work it will be possible to determine the most favor- 

 able area in which to locate a barrier zone against spread toward the 

 west between Long Island Sound and the Canadian border. 



CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECT INVESTIGATIONS. 



W. R. "Walton has continued in the leadership of this section of the 

 bureau's work. 



European corn borer. — There have been no developments of great 

 importance in the European corn-borer situation during the past 

 year. The extent of the infestation in northwestern Pennsylvania^ 

 northern Ohio, and southeastern Michigan has remained substantially 

 as reported at the corresponding season last year. In the areas men- 

 tioned a slight spread into contiguous territory has been noted, but 

 the intensity of infestation in these regions has not increased ma- 

 terially and amounts on the average to about 1 and not to exceed 3 

 per cent of the corn plants grown within the areas. The highest in- 

 festation noted was in the immediate neighborhood of Ashtabula^ 

 Ohio. As yet, the insect has done no perceptible damage throughout 

 this region. 



As noted in the last report, a field laboratory has been located at 

 Sandusky, Ohio, where investigations are being carried on in co- 

 operation with the Ohio State Experiment Station for the purpose 

 of collecting seasonal biological data, determining the most imme- 

 diately effective measures for control, and the varieties of corn best 

 suited for culture in that region under conditions of corn-borer 

 infestation. 



In the area of infestation immediately surrounding Buffalo, N. Y., 

 a very considerable spread eastward was noted during the summer 

 and fall of 1922. This has been largely in the direction of the pre- 

 vailing winds, and probably was due to the migration of moths either 

 from the Canadian area or perhaps from the Indian reservation 

 which forms a part of the American area of infestation, and where 

 it has not been possible to induce the corn growers to make any effort 

 to control the pest. Although this area of infestation has increased 

 materially in extent, the amount of damage inflicted has been com- 



