REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1898 Lt 
CLISIOCAMPA DISSTRIA Hiibn. 
Forest tent caterpillar 
Ord. Lepidoptera: Fam. Lasiocampidae 
This species is closely allied to the preceding in structure and habits, 
as might be inferred from the similarity of their names, and like its con- 
gener is frequently very destructive. From the fact that this insect is 
confined largely to the forests, as indicated by its common name and the 
scientific one bestowed by Harris, its operations are more rarely brought 
to notice, and then only when it has committed extensive ravages. 
Injuries the past two years in New York state. The ravages 
of this insect in New York state this year and last have been unprece- 
dented in the annals of our state. In fact, there appears to be no record 
of injury earlier than 1857, when it was reported to Dr Riley as quite 
destructive in certain parts of western New York. 10 years later Peter 
Ferris (see citation) reported that this insect had been troublesome in 
western New York for 12 years or more. The next serious outbreak was 
brought to the attention of Dr Lintner in 1889 from Kingsbury, Wash- 
ington county, N. Y., where about 10 acres were defoliated. These dep- 
redations, however, sink into insignificance compared with those reported 
to Dr Lintner last year and the more wide spread injuries brought to my 
notice the present season. In £897 this species was reported by Prof. 
John Mickleborough as very destructive to maples and other forest trees 
at Jewett, Greene county. At Andes, Delaware county, its ravages were 
complained of by Barton Jackson. ‘The most serious injuries reported 
that year were in the vicinity of Margaretville, in the same county. The 
following excerpts from a report made by Henry B. Ingram, of Kingston, 
N. Y., will give an idea of their abundance and the extensive depreda- 
tions committed: 
The cocoons of this insect in the infested district fairly whitened the 
places where they were attached. Under the eaves of buildings, under 
the lower edge of every clapboard on buildings, in piles of brush, under 
every loose stone, piece of bark or board, in the crevices of the bark on 
trees and every place where a worm could hide and undergo its transfor- 
mations—all these were found crowded with cocoons. 
The part of Delaware county visited by me on Thursday, July 8, 
1897, was Arkville and Margaretville along the Ulster and Delaware 
railroad. The first place I visited was what is known as Ely Swart’s 
sugar bush, one mile and a half east of Margaretville village. This 
sugar orchard, or rather, sugar maple forest, comprises about 60 acres. 
Then the maple trees continue in a dense forest through other farms up 
and over the mountains for several miles. It is about half a mile wide, 
and begins in the valley near along siding half a mile from Arkyille, 
