234 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



from every large colony. As has been well established, the 

 insects spread chiefly in the caterpillar stage, when they 

 drop on passing vehicles and are carried from place to place. 

 As soon as a moth colony near any of the main roads reaches 

 the swarming stage, distribution from that point is bound 

 to occur. It is indeed a serious question if the neglect of 

 the large moth colonies and the consequent swarming of 

 the caterpillars in them during the past few years has not 

 resulted in a notable dispersion of the insects throughout 

 a large area of territory heretofore free from the moth. 

 There can be no more successful way to bring about the 

 dissemination of the gypsy moth throughout the entire 

 State than to continue the policy of non-action which has 

 prevailed in recent years. 



The Parasite Question. 



It has been hoped by many that if the gypsy moth was 

 allowed to increase, its natural enemies, of which a large 

 number occur in this State, would also multiply to a point 

 sufficient to check or control the pest. This question has 

 received careful attention, and it is apparent that at the 

 end of five years the gypsy moth has multiplied at a much 

 greater rate than its natural enemies, increased in severity 

 of damage to property and spread outward over an enlarged 

 area. From this condition of affairs it is evident that but 

 little help may be expected from our native parasites, and 

 that whatever is to be done for the immediate relief of our 

 citizens must be accomplished by human efforts. 



Your committee has borne in mind the fact that the gypsy 

 moth, while a serious pest in Europe, has there its years of 

 activity, alternating mth those of non-action. This condi- 

 tion of affairs indicates that in Europe the combined action 

 of its numerous natural enemies under the climatic condi- 

 tions prevailing there is sufficient to check the increase of 

 the moth. While it is known that there is no single para- 

 site notably effective in controlling the moth in Europe, we 

 have thought it possible that there might be several para- 

 sites whose combined effort might be sufficient to check its 

 increase. Without going into details, it is well to state 



