8 



has been found in Gey 'on. In a large portion of its European lange 

 the gipsy rnoth is occasionally abundant and injurious; but these inju- 

 rious outbreaks occur only at intervals, and in many portions of its 

 range it becomes noticeable only very rarely. For the most part, it 

 is satisfactorily held in check by its natural enemies. 



INTRODUCTION INTO AMERICA AND SUBSEQUENT SPREAD. 



Unlike the brown-tail moth, the precise time and method of intro- 

 duction of the gipsy moth is well known. Prof. Leopold Trouvelot, 

 in 1869, was connected with the astronomical observatory at Harvard 

 University, and, for his pleasure and interest, was engaged at odd 

 times in the study of wild silkworms, with the idea that species of 

 commercial value might be found, and that perhaps something might 

 be done in the way of cross breeding to produce a hardier insect than 

 the silkworm of commerce, and one which, perhaps, might prove to be 

 resistant to the pebrine disease which at that time was playing havoc 

 in the silkworm establishments of Europe. He imported different 

 silk-spinning caterpillars in different stages of existence, and among 

 others egg clusters of the gipsy moth. He lived at 27 Myrtle street, 

 Medford, and raised caterpillars on a shrub in his dooryard, inclosing 

 them with a net. During a gale the net was torn and the insects scat- 

 tered. He searched for them, and destroyed those found; he also 

 gave notice of the probable escape of the species, but the affair was 

 soon forgotten. For many years the insect was not noticed by the 

 people of Medford, and it probably increased very slowly. It is sup- 

 posed that it was gradually accommodating itself to the climate, and 

 it is known that the neighborhood abounded with insectivorous birds 

 and that adjoining wood lots were frequently burned over. Even- 

 tually the insect became noticeable, and by the summer of 1889 had 

 multiplied to such an extent as to become a notorious pest; then for 

 the first time specimens were sent to the State agricultural experi- 

 ment station at Amherst and determined by Dr. H. T. Fernald as the 

 well-known gipsy moth of Europe. 



The town of Medford raised a sum of money to fight the insect, 

 and in the spring of 1890 the State appropriated $25,000, an addi- 

 tional $25,000 being appropriated early in June. Other appropria- 

 tions followed from year to year with gradually increasing amounts, 

 and admirable work was done under the Massachusetts State board of 

 agriculture by Mr. E. H. Forbush in charge of the field operations, 

 and Prof. 0. H. Fernald in charge of the scientific and technical work. 

 The last appropriation was expended in 1899, and the legislature 

 refused to vote further sums for 1900 and the following years. In 

 1905 the appropriations were renewed, and the work has since been 

 carried on under a well-founded State law, the provisions of which 

 are summarized in the concluding section of this bulletin. 



275 



