& 



THE SPRUCE BUDWORM. 



The spruce budworm (Tortrix fumiferana Clemens) is with 

 small doubt the most destructive enemy of the spruce, fir and 

 hemlock in Maine. It is probably native to this country al- 

 though it is well known in England. An account of the earliest 

 known injuries by the budworm is given by Dr. Packard in 

 which he establishes the probability that the wide spread de- 

 struction of spruce in the Casco Bay region in 1807 was due to 

 this insect pest. However this may be, it is certain that it was 

 responsible for the death of a large percentage of the red spruce 

 in this same region and also in many other localities along the 

 coastal area of Maine from Portland to Rocklaiid, in an infesta- 

 tion which reached its apex in 1878 and 1879. This outbreak 

 so far as we know, was; confined to the islands and coastal area 

 and did not extend inland any great distance. Following this 

 great destruction, the insect seems to have disappeared so far as 

 attracting any general attention is concerned for a period of 

 more than thirty years. However, since 1911 numerous enquir- 

 ies and complaints of its depredations have been received both 

 by the Entomologist of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion and by the Department of Forestry. 



The present outbreak seems to be a much more serious and 

 destructive one than that of thirty years ago, for its extent com- 

 prises not only the coast regions but practically every wooded 

 area of the state. Indeed, by far the greatest amount of damage 

 has occurred in the inland portions of the state, especially in 

 Somerset, Piscataquis, Aroostook and Washington Counties in 

 regions remote from the coast and covered with dense forests 

 of spruce, balsam, fir and mixed hardwoods. From enquiries 

 sent in to the Experiment Station and the Department of Fores- 

 try, from reliable information from various sources, and from 

 personal observation, it is certain that the insect was present to 

 an alarming extent in Franklin, Cumberland, Lincoln, Piscata- 

 quis, Penobscot, Waldo, Knox, Aroostook, Washington and Han- 

 cock Counties. It is also certain that it was to be found in Ox- 

 ford, Somerset and Sagadahoc Counties, and almost as certainly 

 in the remaining three counties of the state. However, the 



^95952 



