Report of the State Entomologist 189 



larvae, the bands can only be detrimental, in interfering with 

 descent from the tree for pupation and thereby inducing the 

 spinning of the cocoons upon it. 



The apple tree tent caterpillar of Clisiocampa Americana 

 Harris, was observed in large numbers in Westchester county at 

 the time of the appearance of the blossoms, May thirteenth. It 

 was also reported as abundant in Dutchess county the latter part 

 of May, and in Cortland county in early June. It is 

 fortunate that the apple orchards of New York, however, so far 

 as known to me, have not been subjected to visitations of this 

 notorious orchard pest at all comparable to those experienced in 

 Massachusetts — particularly in its northeastern portion — during 

 the past few years. In riding through several of the towns 

 surrounding Boston, in the month of June, the almost entire defo- 

 liation of orchards that arrested the attention was a sad and 

 painful picture of destruction, as the thought arose of how easily 

 it might have been averted. It fully justified the comparison 

 often made of other insect devastations — " appearing as if a fire 

 had swept over the trees." There was evidence that a consider- 

 able portion of the defoliation had been caused by the canker- 

 worm, Anisopteryx vernata (Peck), but the unsightly presence of 

 numerous large web nests in the forks of the branches bore 

 ample testimony to the operations of the pestiferous tent 

 caterpillar. 



Regretting the necessity that compels the presentation to your 

 board of so imperfect and brief a report as the above. 



Respectfully submitted. 



J. A. LINTNER. 

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