94 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
INJURIOUS INSECTS 
Euproctis chrysorrhoea Linn. 
BROWN TAIL MOTH 
Ord. Lepidoptera: Fam. Bombycidae 
Introduced or foreign insects have played a very important 
part in earlier years, and, if we may judge from recent develop- 
ments, this leading role will be continued for some time. Our 
report for the year 1900 contains a summary notice of one of the 
most injurious foreign insects which have become established 
on our shores in recent years; and this occasion is taken advan- — 
tage of to notice in a similar manner a more recently established 
species, which promises to be of considerable economic import- 
ance as a destroyer of fruit trees and also as a most serious 
annoyance to man in all localities where it becomes established 
in numbers. It is not often that an insect is destructive to 
vegetation and also markedly injurious to man, and yet this is true 
of the above named species. The hairs of the caterpillar of this 
species, coming in contact with the human flesh, produce “ a fierce 
and enduring irritation,” as characterized by Mr A. H. Kirkland; 
and so annoying and prevalent was this that the board of health 
of the city of Boston gave a public hearing on the subject in 1901. 
Not in New York. This species does not occur in the State of 
New York; but, as both the male and female moths are provided 
with serviceable wings, and as they are readily carried by the 
winds and with household goods and probably other merchandise, 
it. would not be surprising if the species became established in 
some locality in New York State in the near future. It was 
originally located at Somerville Mass., and in 1901 was known 
to have made its way nearly 30 miles west to Hudson Mass. 
This species, like some others, is readily controlled when present 
in small numbers; and, for this reason, we have deemed it advisa- 
ble to illustrate the insect in color in its various stages, so that 
it may be readily recognized and promptly checked in any locality 
where it may obtain a foothold. 
Distribution. Messrs Fernald and Kirkland state that the 
brown tail moth occurs in all parts of Europe, except the extreme 
north, and also in northwestern Africa and in Asia Minor. 
