384 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



EEPORT OK THE BROWISr-TAIL MOTH. 



To the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. 



While the same employees that are engaged in combating 

 the gypsy moth carry on the work against the brown-tail 

 moth, the wide difference in the habits of the insects and in 

 the methods of destroying them renders it advisable to make 

 a separate report on this part of our work, in order that there 

 may be no confusion of the subjects treated. 



By the action of the Legislature in 1898 the work of com- 

 bating the brown-tail moth was placed in charge of the Board 

 of Agriculture, and |10,000 of the sum previously appropri- 

 ated for work against the gypsy moth was set aside for use 

 asrainst the brown-tail moth. Similar action in regard to the 

 appropriation was taken by the Legislature of 1899. 



An examination of the region occupied by this insect, com- 

 pleted in December, 1898, showed that the brown-tail moth 

 was then disseminated throughout an area extending at least 

 from Gloucester to Scituate, and westward as far as \Valtham. 

 This area has greatly enlarged during the past year. The 

 rapidly increasing distribution of this insect is well shown by 

 the accompanying map. As the female moth flies vigorously 

 and is often carried long distances by the wind, there is every 

 reason to expect that notwithstanding the efforts now made 

 to control it, in a short time this insect will become widely 

 disseminated. 



While your committee is willing to accept the responsibility 

 placed upon it by the Legislature, it holds that expenditures 

 of pul)lic funds in combating insect pests are scarcely justifi- 

 able in those cases where the extermination or control of the 

 pest is an obvious impossibility. The possibility of exter- 

 minating the gypsy moth has been repeatedly and convinc- 

 ingly demonstrated by the complete eradication of hundreds 

 of colonies under the most difficult conditions. On the other 



