June, 08 J JOURNAL OP ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 329 



Reviews 



Third Annual Report of the Superintendent for Suppressing the 

 Gipsy and Brown-tail Moths, by A. H. Kirkland, January, 1908, 

 p. 1-228. 



This report is a State document of more than ordinary interest, since it 

 deals with two insect pests of national importance. The local authorities 

 have concentrated their efforts upon keeping the insects in control in the 

 residential sections, while agents of the Federal Bureau of Entomology have 

 given special attention to trees along some 8,000 miles of streets and those 

 overhanging railroads and other lines of travel. The special purpose of this 

 latter line of work is to prevent further spread by means of automobiles. 

 Mr. Kirkland reports a most hearty cooperation as a whole on the part of 

 local officials and citizens. A feature of special interest to entomologists is 

 the condensed data respecting the cost of spraying operations under varying 

 conditions, together with observations upon the adaptability of various forms 

 of spray outfits. The cost of application ranged from $36.25 per acre or 

 approximately 76.3 cents per tree in a woodland consisting of pine and hard 

 wood ranging from 30 to 50 feet in height, and where it was necessary to 

 climb 80% of the trees, down to $2.46 per acre or 3 cents per tree in a woodland 

 along a roadside, with the trees ranging from 20 to 60 feet in height. The 

 first treatment was under adverse conditions, while in the second instance 

 there were comparatively few hindrances. Obviously it will be necessary to 

 continue extensive sprayings for several years at least, and an investigation 

 of the best and most efficient methods is of utmost importance, particularly in 

 woodlands. The report shows that woodlands present a serious pi'oblem owing 

 to their low valuation and to the difficulties incidental to treatment. The 

 desirability of more economical methods of fighting the pests in such situa- 

 tions is obvious to all familiar with the conditions. Some interesting data 

 is given concerning the effect of spraying upon bird life, and also the 

 danger to stock where large amounts of poison are applied, particularly with 

 a coarse spray. The ability of the young gipsy moth caterpillars to live 

 upon white pine has been the subject of careful investigations and the indi- 

 cations are that in woodlands where there is a considerable proportion of 

 pine, important modifications in methods may be introduced and the insect 

 controlled with a resultant large saving in the cost of control. 



The importation of parasites has been vigorously pushed and a larger 

 number and greater variety obtained than in any preceding year. Large num- 

 bers of parasitized individuals of both the gipsy moth and the brown-tail moth 

 were received, the parasites reared and liberated under favorable conditions. 

 This phase of the work has been aptly characterized by Mr. Lounsbury of 

 South Africa as more important than any other feature. Fourteen species of 

 Hymenoptera and twenty-four species of Diptera were bred from the ma- 

 terial, several species being liberated in large numbers and .some passing the 

 winter of 1906-07 in safety. Four species of predaceous beetles, two of Calo- 

 soma and two of Carabus, have been imported and one at least of the former 

 has wintered in safety. 



The most interesting portion of the report to American Entomologists is 

 that part giving the conclusions of various specialists invited to inspect the 



