28 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



by the application of hand methods, so-called, many of which were in- 

 vented to meet the needs of the work. In 1899 not over ten acres of Avood- 

 land were stripped in the entire infested district, which embraced some 

 360 sgiiare miles. In 1900, although it was pointed out to the Massachusetts 

 Legislature, that scattering moths remained here and there in the district, 

 that body, in its wisdom, saw fit to discontinue the work, partly from polit- 

 ical reasons, in spite of the protests of entomologists who thoroughly 

 realized the gravity of the situation, because of the prolificacy of the moth. 

 During this campaign about |1, 250, 000 was expended, and the moth had 

 been brought thoroughly under control. The insect at once began to in- 

 crease steadily, yet nothing more was done in the warfare against the moth 

 pest until 1905, when the caterpillar plague had again become such a nuis- 

 ance that the work was resumed under a co-operative plan whereby the 

 citizens directly bear part of the expense of supressing the insect, cities 

 and towns another part, and the State the major part. In other words, the 

 present scheme of work involves a direct co-operation of property OM^ers, 

 cities and towns and the State, under the general direction of the central 

 office, thus insuring uniformity of action. Under this scheme of work, up- 

 ward of 1750,000 was expended during 1906, and as much will be laid out 

 the present year. 



''The principal means by which the Gvpsy moth is spread over its 

 present area of some 2,800 square miles, is through caterpillars spinning 

 down from the trees and dropping on automobiles, teams, cars, etc. For- 

 tunately, the female moth does not fly but the insect spreads rapidly in the 

 manner mentioned. A volume might easily be written on the means by which 

 the Gypsy moth is spread. The young caterpillars spin down by thousands 

 from neglected, infested trees in May and June. Where such trees over- 

 hang highways, every milkman, every grocer, every garbage man, in short, 

 every vehicle gathers them and carries them to a greater or less distance, 

 thus founding innumerable new colonies. In the badly infested district 

 regular daily traffic of the classes m.ntioned above is most dangerous. 

 Long distance scattering of the moth is effected principally by pleasure 

 driving, electric cars, and what is most important of all, automobiles. The 

 advent of the latter class of vehicles has greatly complicated the prevention 

 of the spread of the pest, and makes it all the more imperative that we 

 should keep clean the trees that border our main roads. Other minor 

 methods of distribution are eggs deposited on barrels, packing boxes, sum- 

 mer furniture standing out of doors, etc. 



"The Brown-tail Moth found its way to Somerville in the early nine- 

 ties no doubt on rose bushes imported from Holland. The evidence in 

 this case is circiimstantial but strong. The insect is known to occur in 

 Holland, is known to form hibernating webs on roses, and the place where 

 it was discovered in Somerville, Mass.. in 1897, was direct!-- in the rear of 

 a florist's establishment, where a specialty was made of importing Dutch 

 roses, growing them for a season and then sellincr them to the Boston depart- 

 ment stores. The female moths of this species fly freely, and are often 

 carried long distances by the wind. They are also strongly attracted to 

 light. Cases are on record where these strong flying females have come on 

 board vessels some thirty miles off the New England coast. It is not sur- 

 prising then that the Brown-tail Moth has already spread to Rhode Island, 

 Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hamp.shire, Maine, New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia. The line of spread is naturally that of the prevailing winds 

 durinsr July, which in New England usuallv blow to the north-east. It seems 

 probable that in comparatively few years this insect may be found generally 

 scattered throughout New England and Eastern Canada. 



