FOREST INSECTS AND FUNGI 121 



nearly full grown they may be seen in great numbers crawling 

 over walks, piazzas and the sides of buildings. The insect 

 remains in the pupa stage about two weeks, and emerges as 

 moth about the last of June or in July, when the eggs are depos- 

 ited. 



Natural Enemies. This insect is sometimes attacked by a 

 fungous disease. It is also a favorite item of diet for robins, 

 orioles, chipping sparrows, catbirds, cuckoos, cedar birds and 

 nuthatches. 



Treatment. Something can be done by collecting and burn- 

 ing the egg masses in winter, but the method is of no great 

 value. Many of the caterpillars can be brushed off the trees 

 and crushed, or burned on the trees with a torch. Bands of 

 tar paper or fly paper tied around the trees prevent the cater- 

 pillars from ascending. The masses of caterpillars on the 

 trunks can also be killed by spraying with kerosene emulsion, 

 whale-oil-soap solution (one pound to four gallons), or with the 

 ordinary poisonous insecticides, as the arsenical sprays. In June 

 great numbers of cocoons can be collected with little trouble. 

 In some New York towns rewards have been paid the school 

 children for collecting these cocoons. These methods are too 

 expensive for use in forestry, except in the care of valuable sugar 

 orchards. 



THE JUNE BUG (Lachno sterna) .* 



The June bug as a forest pest has gained prominence in New 

 England only in the last few years since forest planting has been 

 started on a large scale. For years it has been recognized as 

 injurious to certain crops, particularly grass, its ravages being 

 much worse in some localities than in others. During the last 

 three years the attention of foresters has been directed to this 

 bug because of the havoc it has wrought in certain nurseries. 



Appearance. The June bug in the pupa stage, as a whitish 

 grub, eats the roots and bark on the roots of seedlings, trans- 



1 This is the generic name. There are ten or more species of the genus found 

 in New England. 



