98 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



dation. He also records the destruction of the caterpillars by a 

 soldier bug, Podisus serieventris Uhl.; states that the 

 Baltimore oriole, black-billed cuckoo, crow, bluebird and English 

 sparrow have also been observed feeding on these insects, and 

 quotes Mr Kirkland to the effect that the birds eat not only the 

 moths, but their young, and that it was no uncommon sight at 

 Somerville to see flocks of 20 or more sparrows collect the 

 moths from a picket fence. In addition to the above mentioned 

 birds, Mr E. H. Forbush has recorded the robin, bluejay, black and 

 white warbler, the rose-fcreasted grosbeak, the chestnut-sided 

 warbler, the scarlet tanager, redstart, chickadees, red-eyed vireos, 

 the yellow-throated vireo and the male indigo bird as feeding on 

 the caterpillars. The records given by Mr Forbush include the 

 number of larvae eaten by each bird and the time occupied. None 

 ate less than nine, and one as many as 57 caterpillars, the 

 latter operation occujjyiog 20 minutes. These observations show 

 that our native birds will undoubtedly prove to be very efficient 

 aids in checking this pest. Professor Fernald has also recorded 

 bats as feeding on the moths at night, and he states that toads 

 devour the caterpillars duriug the early sumuier and the moths 

 later in the season. 



Remedial measures. The conspicuous hibernating nests [pi. 1, 

 fig. 7] of this species are easily detected at any time when the 

 foliage is off the trees, and one of the most effective methods of 

 checking this pest is to cut them off and burn them. This can be 

 very easily done with the aid of long handled pruning shears. 

 The insect is also readily controlled with arsenical poisons; and 

 Professor Fernald reports experiments in spraying with arsenate 

 of lead, in which 1 pound to 150 gallons, killed 50;^ of the 

 caterpillars in four days, 90;;^ in seven days and all in 13 

 days. Treatment with the same insecticide, 2 pounds to 150 gal- 

 lons, gave similar results, and, when 5 pounds were used to 150 

 gallons, 80$^ were dead within four days and all in nine days. 

 The use of 10 pounds to 150 gallons resulted in the destruction of 

 all the caterpillars in six days. 



Spraying with paris green, 1 pound to 150 gallons, killed 4;s 

 in four days, 70;^ in six days and 90^ in nine days, all being dead 

 in 12 davs. 



