February, '10] BURGESS: insecticides, gypsy moth 39 



females. The best method of destroying the eggs is by saturating 

 the masses with crude coal tar creosote. To this material is usually 

 added a small amount, about 5 per cent, of coal tar so as to discolor 

 the treated clusters. 



In parks and on city streets, where valuable shade trees have been 

 planted, this method might be employed in treating egg-clusters of 

 the white-marked tussock moth, Notolophus leucostigma, as this insect 

 sometimes becomes a great nuisance in such places. 



As an illustration of some of the methods that have been employed 

 it might be stated that during the present year many of the shade 

 trees in Washington, D. C, which were badly infested with egg- 

 masses of the insect, are being treated by the workmen employed by 

 the District of Columbia. The egg-masses are being burned off the 

 branches of the trees by using a gasoline torch. If it is desirable to 

 destroy these eggs the creosote method would seem to be preferable. 

 It is a well-known fact that the eggs as well as the pupae of the insect 

 are sometimes attacked by hymenopterous parasites, and in cases of 

 heavy infestation it might be desirable to collect these masses, place 

 them in suitable outdoor cages for the purpose of rearing of para- 

 sites in order that these beneficial insects could be liberated, after 

 which the young caterpillars should be destroyed. 



Treatment of Larvae, Most of the members of this association are 

 probably familiar with the burlap method used in the gypsy moth 

 work. Trees are banded with strips of burlap cut about eight inches 

 wide. The burlap is fastened with a string at the center and the 

 top turned dowTi in such a manner as to make an excellent hiding 

 place for caterpillars. A large number of different species of insects 

 frequent these burlaps, and in some sections quantities of such injuri- 

 ous species as the elm-leaf beetle in the larval and pupal stages are 

 often found beneath them. An adaptation of this method might be 

 used in the fall of the year on the base of the trees, for the purpose 

 of furnishing hibernating quarters for injurious insects. I have been 

 informed by Mr. C. W. Prescott of Concord, Mass., that he has been 

 able to capture and destroy large numbers of hibernating asparagus 

 beetles by using this method. It is cheap and in some cases may be 

 used to good advantage. 



Banding trunks of trees with tanglefoot, a sticky material which 

 prevents caterpillars from ascending them, is being used more exten- 

 sively each year in the gypsy moth work, and although a method 

 involving a similar principle has been used for many years, viz. : band- 

 ing apple and elm trees with tar or printers' ink for the purpose of 

 preventing female canker worms from reaching the small twigs or 



