54 



BULLETIN 286 



In his report for 1908, Dr. Felt says that the Forester, E. S. Woodruff, 

 reports the beeches on a tract of over two square miles as completely 

 defoliated. The caterpillars seem to attack the beeches first, but finally 

 spread to the birches and maples. (Fig. 54). 



One of the most remarkable phases of this pest were the flights of 

 great swarms of the snow-white moths in cities and towns throughout 

 the eastern part of the State and in New Jersey. In New York City 

 the effect was compared to a snowstorm in mid-summer. Myriads 

 of the moths fluttered about the electric lights. Dr. John B. Smith 



FIG. 54. Caterpillars of the snow-white linden moth on maple 



says that on the evening of July ryth, Newark, Elizabeth, and Pater- 

 son, N. J., had the same experience. On the morning after the flight, 

 however, nothing remained except great numbers of snow-white wings 

 without bodies, showing the work of the English sparrow, and probably 

 of other birds and destroyers. These flights are remarkable since the 

 presence of the caterpillars had not previously been noticed in these 

 towns and cities. It seems probable that the moths must have flown 

 long distances from the feeding places of the caterpillars in the forests. 

 During the latter part of July, 1909, Ithaca and several other cities 



