I 



'yHE GIPSY MOTH and the brown-tail moth are among the most 

 serious and destructive of the insects injurmg tree growth that 

 have been introduced into the United States. 



About one-third of the area of New England is now infested with 

 these pests. 



Marked progress in checking their spread has resulted from the field 

 and quarantine work now being carried on and from the introduction 

 of pcirasites and natural enemies, and the increase in the diseases that 

 attack them has served to lessen the damage. 



The work of combating these insects is being carried on by each of 

 the New England States and by the United States Bureau of Ento- 

 mology. 



Hand methods generally employed against the gipsy moth are 

 treatment of the egg clusters with creosote, banding the trees with 

 burlap or a suitable tree-banding material, and spraying. These are 

 described on pages 15-19. 



Hand methods applicable against the brown-tail moth consist in 

 cutting off and burning the winter webs before the caterpillars emerge 

 in April and spraying with arsenate of lead, as described on pages 14-1 5, 

 before the middle of August. Where the infestation is very slight the 

 cutting and burning of the webs will be nu)re satisfactory than spraying. 



Orchards can be protected fully from these pests by a system of 

 management that will cost very little in addition to the expense' required 

 for protection against other orchard insects. See pages 19-21. 



The expense of caring for infested city and park trees is somewhat 

 greater than for orchards, but practical measures can be adopted, as 

 shown on page 21, and their cost will not be prohibitive. 



The control of the gipsy moth and the brown-tail moth in forests is 

 extremely difficult, owing to the relatively small amount of money that 

 any owner can afford to expend in protecting his woodland. He should 

 accept the advice of a State, local, or Federal official familiar with 

 these insects and their control, who, after an examination, would be 

 able to suggest the measures most applicable in the particular case. 

 The general principles involved in woodland control of the brown- 

 tail moth are explained on page 24, and those for the gipsy moth on 

 pages 22-24. 



