October, '10] FISKE AND BURGESS: HETEROCAMPA 393 



numbers of beetles which were developed from the unusual abundance 

 of larvae in 1909. It is probable that in New Hampshire these beetles 

 migrated to locaUties where other food was available and undoubtedly 

 many of the native caterpillars which occur every year in greater or 

 less numbers were destroyed by them. The investigations at the 

 gypsy moth parasite laboratory have shown that beetles of this genus 

 are able to survive for a long time wdthout food and that in case the 

 food supply is scanty only a small number of eggs are laid. This 

 probably indicates what has happened in the Heterocampa regions in 

 New Hampshire, so that on account of the relative scarcity of the 

 food supply it is probable that the reproduction of this beneficial 

 species has been greatly curtailed. Interesting information in this 

 respect has been secured from the men engaged in the gypsy moth 

 work in Maine. Capt. Philbrook states that during the summer his 

 men continually reported large numbers of Calosoma frigidum in 

 sections infested with the gypsy and brown-tail moths. The species 

 had been found in previous years, but only in limited numbers com- 

 pared with this year and it is apparent that many had migrated from 

 the Heterocampa infested region in search of food. Mr. Soule states 

 that on the Chase lot near the foot of Mount Agamenticus about 

 three frigidum beetles were found under each burlap while on the 

 Fitzgerald lot nearby the species was even more abundant. In several 

 instances this beetle has become so abundant in southwestern Maine 

 during the past summer as to cause complaint or inquiry by citizens. 

 During June one of the summer residents at Cape Elizabeth, ]\Ie. 

 sent to the laboratory specimens of this insect and a statement that 

 they were found crawling on his grounds, trees and buildings in large 

 numbers and were causing some alarm among the residents owing to 

 the belief that they might be of a poisonous nature. Early in July a 

 letter was received from Miss Harriet S. Gilbert from Front's Neck, 

 Me., together wdth a specimen of the beetle. In it she states that 

 " for the past three weeks they have been all over our house, inside 

 and out," and asked if they were beneficial or injurious, and if the 

 latter what measures should be taken to destroy them. The last two 

 instances show that there has been an enormous increase in this 

 species in southwestern Maine, and probably a general migration 

 from Heterocampa districts to gypsy and brown-tail moth regions, as 

 it has been observed that this species is capable of flight, although 

 no accurate data are at hand to show the distance to which they may 

 be dispersed in this way. 



From the habits and life history of Calosoma frigidum and Telenomus 

 graptcB it appears that they are admirably suited as a natural means 

 of controlling Heterocampa. What conditions could have brought 



