REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 111 



probably destroyed them.: The May beetle, sjphinx moth, mason wasp 

 and some cicadas are all known to succumb, while larvae, to various fungus 

 clubs (Cordycepssp.y. <r;M 



Attempts by V. Tubeuf to infect caterpillars with Cordyceps militaris 

 failed of success,^ as did those of Franz Tangl with the nun moth in 1892, 

 when tried in the field, The work of Billings and Green Glenn (1911) on the 

 white fungus disease of chinch bugs, and of Morrill and Back (1912) on 

 three fungus parasites of the Florida citrus grove white fly, show that 

 spraying the crop with spore emulsions has little more effect than intro- 

 ducing the fungus, and fails to spread it. 



More hopeful results obtained by Speare and Colley (1912) in spreading 

 the brown tail fungus show it to be a factor in the control of brown tail 

 moth. As in the case of the chinch bug and white fiy diseases, favorable 

 weather is required. This is found in Massachusetts in spring, early summer 

 and fall. On warm moist nights favorable results may be expected. The 

 autumn seems from experience the best time for infection. The brown tail 

 fungus is said to be "used effectively in the spring and early summer, when 

 the larvae have left their nests and in the autumn for several weeks before 

 the webs of the new broods are closed for the winter. During both of these 

 periods the rapid spread of the disease is largely dependent on weather 

 conditions, and when these conditions — warm nights and damp atmo- 

 sphere — favor the growth of the fungus, artificial distribution yields truly 

 satisfactory results, and may bring about enormous and widespread 

 destruction." As much as 63 to 100 per cent of the brown tail caterpillars 

 may be destroyed, and though no "cure-all," a useful means is here indi- 

 cated for checking the brown-tail moth. Further work may show that other 

 fungal diseases may be spread among destructive insects. 



REFERENCES 



^ Cook, M. C. Vegetable Wasps and Plant Worms. 

 iiGlaser, R. W. Jour. Econ. Ent. 7, pp. 473-476, Dec, 1914. 

 => Thro, W. C, Bull. 209, Cornell U. Agr. E. S. 



