ENTOMOLOGY. 269 



senting the mignint forms, since there is no migration from the apple 

 tree to other food plants. Sexed individuals appear in October, egg 

 laying begins about the tenth of the month and continues mitil the 

 latter part of No\eml)er or first part of December. 



Among the natural enemies of this insect observed by the author 

 may l)e mentioned the following: Ladybirds, S3a'phus flies, lacewings, 

 parasitic H^mienoptera and Diptera, and a fungus disease. As artifi- 

 cial remedies against the apple plant louse the author recommends 

 spraying with the following insecticides: Kerosene emulsion mixed 

 with 12 parts of water; a 5 per cent mechanical mixture of kerosene 

 with water; fish-oil soap at the rate of 1 1)). in 6 gal. of water, or a 

 tobacco decoction in a strength equal to an extract of 1 lb. of tobacco 

 in 2 gal. of water. The insects are most vulnerable soon after hatch- 

 ing from the eggs, and the author recommends at this time a treatment 

 with tobacco soap made by adding tobacco to a potash soap. Tobacco 

 combined with fish-oil soap also gave satisfactory^ results. If the trees 

 should become badly infested in summer, they ma}" be sprayed with a 

 strong solution of any of these substances late in September or during 

 the first part of October. 



Since the distriljution of the insect is largely accomplished in the egg 

 state on nurser}" stock, it is recommended that such stock be fumigated 

 with h3^drocyanic-acid gas before being sent out. 



The forest caterpillar, G. H. Perkins {Vermont Sta. Bnl. IG^jrp. 

 111-137^ Jjgx. LI). — The ravages of the forest tent caterpillar began to 

 attract attention in Vermont in 1895. Serious outbreaks also occurred 

 in 1896, 1898, and 1899. The author states that in many localities the 

 damage of maple trees was not entirely due to the forest tent cater- 

 pillar, but that Plagionotus speciosics and the fall cankerworm com- 

 mitted serious depredations. It is stated that the forest tent cater- 

 pillars were so numerous in Montpelierthat one man was able to col- 

 lect 10 bu. of the caterpillars in 2 weeks' time. The author gives a 

 description of the insect in its various stages, together with notes on 

 its feeding habits and life history. Quotations are also given from 

 letters of correspondents which show the great ravages committed by 

 this insect upon shade trees and sugar maples, the damage to the latter 

 being so severe that the customary amount of maple sugar will proba- 

 bly not be produced in Vermont for several years to come. Brief 

 notes are given on the bird and insect enemies of the forest tent cater- 

 pillar. Of several hundred caterpillars collected in Addison County 

 only one-third developed moths, the remainder being destroyed by 

 Plmpla conquisitor. In another lot of 200 cocoons hatched in the 

 laborator}", onl}" 30 produced moths. A disease, apparently of bac- 

 terial origin, has also been observed among caterpillars. 



Notes are given on the most approved methods of destroying the 

 eggs, spraying, banding the trees, destruction of cocoons, and capture 

 of moths. 



