THE GYPSY MOTH. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 



Massachusetts. 



In presenting the report of the gypsy moth department of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of 

 chapter 210, Acts of 1891, tlie committee desires to call attention 

 to the fact that this effort to exterminate the Ocneria dispar is the 

 first attempt on a large scale ever made in this Commonwealth to 

 destroy a species of insect, consequently there was no trustworthy 

 experience to guide the work. As it was an imported insect, its 

 habits and peculiarities in this country had to be ascertained 

 before the most effective methods of destruction could be deter- 

 mined. 



Much of the work that has been done may be considered as in a 

 measure experimental. As we have become more familiar with 

 the extent of the territory invaded by the moth, the magnitude of 

 the task has become more apparent. When the Legislature made 

 the first appropriation, it was supposed that the moth occupied but 

 a small part of one town. Careful inquiry has shown that it 

 infests thirty cities and towns. From our observations we have 

 no doubt that it was in nearly every one of these localities in 1890, 

 when the campaign of extermination was commenced. 



The field work during the past year has been in charge of E. H. 

 Forbush, and Prof. C. H. Fernald has been the entomological 

 adviser of the committee. 



As experience has been gained, methods of attack have been 

 changed. Compartvtively little spraying with Paris green and 

 water has been done the past year. This spraying is effectual in 

 reducing the number of the caterpillars, but will not exterminate 

 them, consequently it has been undertaken only in a few localities, 

 where but little work was done last year. 



