96 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc, 



that just yet. My opinion is that there may be a few isolated 

 colonies here and there outside the known territory, and 

 there are fifteen or twenty towns in which the insect may be 

 found in small numbers. We expect to find it in other 

 places, but we do not expect to find enough to make the 

 work of extermination there very difficult. The main 

 expense will be incurred in finding the eggs. 



Governor Hoard. Do they fly by night? 



Mr. Forbusii. They do not fly late at night, they fly 

 by day. Thus they are not attracted to light, as all 

 night-flying insects are. The female does not fly at all. I 

 will not say that she cannot fly, because she has plenty of 

 wings to fly with, but she does not. We have never known 

 one to fly. The main function of the insect in the moth stage 

 is to reproduce its kind. It does not feed. Its digestive 

 organs are atrophied, and it is not attracted by any food. 

 The only way we can attract the males is by exposing 

 females in localities where males are known to be. 



Question. Does the commission experience any incon- 

 venience from interference with its work ? 



Mr. Forbush. We have not experienced any serious 

 interference, but on one or two occasions we have been 

 attacked by people. One young man had trouble ; an 

 old lady thrust a rake at him as he was climbing up into 

 a tree. At another time our men were assaulted by a 

 man, and we had to bring the case into court. There are, 

 however, a great many people who do not believe in the 

 work ; but when we go into the country among farmers they 

 want us to go into their orchards, and spray their trees, 

 whether there are any gypsy moths on them or not. They 

 appreciate the work we are doing. They have had to fight 

 these insect pests all their lives, and they do not want to 

 have another get into their orchards. 



Mr. Lynde. I think it would be a good thing to have the 

 statement that has been made to us published, so that the 

 public may know more about this insect. I have obtained 

 more information from what has been said here to-day 

 than I have ever had before. 



Mr. Forbush. I am very glad to have you bring up 

 that point. We have, I think, some two hundred written 



