28 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



become established in two Massachusetts localities within fifty miles of our 

 line. The control of this insect is of great interest to all States liable to 

 become infested. It would be a rash individual who would dare to say that 

 any locality in the Northeastern United States or in a territory adjacent to 

 the north might not be invaded by this insect within a decade. Defoliated 

 woodlands are characteristic of a bad infestation by this species. The cater- 

 pillars not infrequently become so abundant as to form large clusters 

 at the base of trees, sometimes fairly covering the trunks as they 

 range themselves side by side. The caterpillar itself is an inch and a half 

 to two inches long, hairy, dark grayish, with a double row of warts down 

 the middle of the back, the ten anterior blue, the twelve posterior red. The 

 insect is also easily recognized by the heavy bodied, dingy white female 

 lightly and irregularly streaked with black and gray, in connection with the 

 conspicuous yellowish or buff colored, oval egg masses about an inch in 

 diameter and appearing much like a section of a sponge. 



The Brown Tail Moth (Euproctis chrijwrrha'a, Linn.) though a more 

 recent introduction, has become much more widely disseminated than the 

 preceding. It has not yet become established in New York State, though it 

 occurs in Nova Scotia. The winter nests of this species are very familiar, 

 while the snow white, brown-tailed moths and the orange brown caterpillars, 

 with a conspicuous row of white spots on either side and two bright red 

 spots near the posterior extremity, are easily recognized. This insect is not 

 nearly so injurious in Massachusetts as the Gipsy Moth. 



The control of these two introduced species is of great importance to all 

 residing in territory likely to become infested, .since the more thoroughly 

 the inscet is kept in check, the less chance there is of its becoming estab- 

 lished, in new territory. Massachusetts authorities are using thoroughly 

 uD-to-date power spray apparatus for the application of arsenical poisons 

 to shade and forest treees. Recent improvements have resulted in greatly 

 increasing the capacity of the ordinary spraying outfit by replacing the 

 usual six horse power gasolene engine, weighing some 1,800 pounds, by a 

 ten horse power engine made especially for automobiles and weighing only 

 400 pounds. Furthermore, a heavier and more pow^erful pump has been 

 employed, the whole weighing no more than the usual spray outfit. The 

 machinery is mounted upon a stout wagon with a 400 gallon tank, and a 

 heavy inch and a half hose some 400 to 800 feet long, with a smooth quarter- 

 inch nozzle, is employed. A pressure of 200 to 250 pounds is maintained. 

 The hose is handled much as fhough a fire was in progress. Ten men, at 

 intervals of six or eight feet, carry the end of the hose, the nozzle being in 

 charge of a superior man, with instructions to keep it moving all the time. 

 The pressure is sufficient to throw the insecticide 40 or 50 feet and the 

 resistance of the air breaks it into a fine spray. The foliage is well cov- 

 ered if the nozzle is handled intelligently. This giant outfit is particularly 

 adapted to work in woodlands. It usually requires four horses and is cap- 

 able of spraying 14 to 16 acres a day, much depending upon conditions. The 

 cost of treatment in this manner is reduced to about |10.20 per acre where 

 the woodland is fairly clear of underbrush. An interesting modification of 

 this apparatus has been employed for spraying strips along the road side, 

 and it could probably be used, under some conditions at least, upon shade 

 trees. It simply consists of a giant extension nozzle mounted on a universal 

 joint so that the tip may be lifted 40 or 50 feet from the ground. This last 

 named apparatus with a favorable wind, can cover a strip 400 feet wide. 



The work with parasites of the Gipsy and Brown Tail Moths, con- 

 ducted by the State of Massachusetts in co-operation with the Federal Gov- 



