THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH AND HOW TO CONTROL IT. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The brown- tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhcea L.) is a European moth 

 of the f amity Liparidse, accidentally introduced into New England 

 about fifteen years ago, and which has rapidly spread until at the 

 present time it covers a large extent of territory and threatens still 

 further rapid spread. It is an injurious enemy of orchard, forest, and 

 shade trees and of ornamental shrubbery. It is being strenuously 

 fought in Massachusetts under a large appropriation devoted to its 

 suppression and to that of the gipsy moth (Porthetria dispar L.). The 

 other New England States in which it occurs are also beginning or 

 about to begin the enforcement of remedial measures, and much intel- 

 ligent work has been done by communities in the State of Maine dur- 

 ing the past } 7 ear. During the last session of Congress a sum of money 

 v was appropriated to be expended under the Bureau of Entomology in 

 preventing the further spread of the gipsy and brown-tail moths, and it 

 is in furtherance of this end that the present bulletin is published. 

 Actual antispreading work can be done to advantage against the gipsy 

 moth, since the female of this insect does not fly and the species is 

 spread only in the larval or caterpillar stage, when it spins down 

 from roadside trees and alighting upon some vehicle or person is thus 

 carried for long distances. With the brown- tail moth, however, the 

 case is entirely different. As will be shown, the female flies readily 

 and is carried during its period of flight b} T the prevalent winds for 

 very long distances. It is therefore much more difficult to prevent 

 the spread of this insect than of the other, and in fact the only effect- 

 ive measures are those of actual work in the extermination of the 

 insect wherever it occurs. To attempt such work as a Government 

 measure and with the funds appropriated by Congress would be futile. 

 It is safe to say that to effectively check the further spread of the 

 brown-tail moth would require its complete extermination; and to 

 bring this about millions of dollars would have to be spent. Plainly the 

 thing to do, therefore, with regard to the brown-tail moth, is to secure 

 the active and intelligent cooperation of all property holders thruout 

 the infested district. This must be done primarily by a campaign of 



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