114 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



soft scales, indicates that these pests have been as abundant 

 as ever, and that many people are still entirely ignorant of 

 the appearance of their commonest insect foes. 



The brown-tail moth has continued to spread over the 

 State, and has been found in Lunenburg, Clinton and Whit- 

 man, by the State nursery inspectors. This indicates that 

 the insect is spreading westward rapidly, and that it will be 

 present in all parts of Massachusetts within a very few years. 

 During the middle of July, while the moths were flying, it 

 was noticeable that they were attracted to light, many being 

 destroyed by flying into open arc lights on the streets, in 

 some cases fallino- to the ground below the lio-hts in such 

 numljers as to form heaps of noticeable size. 



It has usually been believed that the amount of feeding 

 done by these insects in the fall was so slight that it could 

 be ignored. This year, however, the caterpillars, after 

 hatching and even after forming their tents, fed so much that 

 where they yvere abundant all the foliage was skeletonized 

 and turned brown. This was very noticeable in parts of 

 Belmont, Arlington, Winchester and elsewhere. After the 

 pear and apple, oaks seemed to be a favorite food for this 

 insect, and the browning of the foliage in places was so 

 great that newspapers called attention to ' ' an extra brood " 

 of this pest, and in some cases discovered that it was " a new 

 and hitherto unknown insect" which was causing the injury. 



The gypsy moth is now generally distributed over its 

 original territory, and in one or two places has spread 

 beyond it. In the districts where it is most abundant, the 

 destruction it formerly caused when unchecked is again 

 seen, and the result if no means of repression or control 

 are taken can easily be imagined b}^ any one who has visited 

 these places. Local organizations in the infested districts 

 are taking action to destroy this and the brown- tail moth, 

 and are doing splendid work ; but this should be supple- 

 mented by work on broader lines and with more power than 

 local organizations possess, if lasting results are to be hoped 

 for. 



