EXrKKMMKXT STATIOX KEPOl^T. 527 



It is in the nnrsorios that the cat(M']Hllars cause the grcntCvSt inis- 

 chieif, the hirge brooils of eaterpiHars, luiiutticed in their early 

 stages, eonipletely defoliating small or even large blocks in a few 

 davs before the nnrservnian recognizes their presence or realizes 

 the danger it involves. Smaller shade trees or larger single trees 

 Avheii infested by a sufficient numl>er of specimens arc stripped 

 ■clean in less than a week, and the sjwcimens disap'pear before the 

 owner g"ets ready to take active measures against tliem. The ex- 

 planation of this sudden a})pcarance is that the broods are large, 

 iind the caterpillars from one egg-mass, 200 to 300 in uuuiber, feed 

 in company on a few leaves until tliey are nearly one-third grown, 

 and tlie loss of thesie few U'a\-es isi not noticed ; then they separate 

 somewhat and the individual eating is small until tJie caterpillar 

 is nearly half groAvn. At that time the insects feed most vora- 

 ciously and continue until they reacli their full growth, each de^ 

 Touring several of the large leaves in the course of a week. It is at 

 this time, when the leaves disappear so rapidly, that their ]u-csenee 

 is usually noticed. 



As to remedial measures, these are simple and effectual. In 

 nurseries a sharp lookout will detect the colonies soon after they 

 are out of the egg and before they have done much feeding. Pick- 

 ing O'ff a few leaves and crushing tl>em under I'dnt will then serve 

 to destroy the entire brood, leaving the ]>Iants free until indi- 

 viduals of the next brood are on the wing. On shade trees and on 

 nursery trees, if the cateriullars have begun to si)read, spraying 

 ■with arsenate of lead at the rate of five pounds to one hundred gal- 

 lons of water should be resorted to, and will prove effective if 

 thoroughly done and if the larva^ are not too nearly full grown. In 

 every case the application sIkuiKI be made as soon as possible after 

 the insects are discovered. 



The so-called ifclloir-n.eelrd ca'ferpiUars. the larva^ of Datmm. 

 species, have been rather jlentiful on a \'ariety of sliadt^ and other 

 trees, and their occurrence has given rise to one report of the occur- 

 rence of the Gypsy ]Motli. These insects feed in companies, closely 

 packed, and can devour an enormous amount of foliage in a very 

 short time. They have one peculiar feature in common : when at 

 rest the middle legs only are used to hold on, while the head and 

 posterior end of the body are elevated or held at an angle, free from 

 the surface on which the insects are restino'. 



