M 



FRUIT INSECTS 



and federal governments, the gipsy moth has gradually ex- 

 tended its range over eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 

 the southeastern part of New Hampshire and has invaded 

 southern Maine. Isolated colonies have also been found in 

 Connecticut, western Massachusetts and New York. It has a 

 wide range of food-plants, including most forest and fruit trees, 



with the exception 

 of ash, juniper and 

 red cedar, and the 

 maples are rarely 

 attacked when other 

 food is available. 

 The caterpillars 

 seem to prefer oak, 

 willow and apple, 

 but will eat almost 

 any kind of foliage 

 whe,n driven to it. 



The winter is 

 spent in the egg 

 state. The egg- 

 masses are roughly 

 oval in outline, 

 al)out an inch in 

 length, light brown 

 in color and covered 

 with hairs from the moth's body. They are attached to 

 the trunk or branches of trees, or are placed in cavities in 

 the tree (Fig. 141), in piles of cord wood, lumber piles, 

 stone walls and stone piles, or in any conveniently sheltered 

 place. Each mass contains normally 400 to 500 eggs, but in 

 cases where the larvae have been starved they are small and 

 sometimes contain only 50 to 75 eggs. The eggs hatch in the 

 spring just as the buds are bursting and the young, reddish- 



FlG. 



142. — Full and partly grown gipsy moth 

 caterpillars. 



