THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH 



127 



Fig. 18i— Pimpla fly on cocoon of tent 

 caterpillar. One of the native par- 

 asites of the Brown - Tail Moth. 

 Twice natural size. (After Weed.) 



Fig. 19.— a predaceous bug {Brachy- 

 mena 4-pustulata), such as feed 

 upon the Brown-Tail caterpillars, 

 seen from below, and showing the 

 long, sharp beak between the legs, 

 upon which the caterpillars are im- 

 paled. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



A number of parasitic insects which commonly live upon 

 our native caterpillars attack the larvae and have been bred 

 from the pup^e (Fig. 18) of the brown-tail moth. Preda- 

 ceous bugs (Fig. 19) also appear in numbers on infested 

 trees and devour large numbers. Toads and bats eat the 

 moths as they fly to electric lights. The worst enemy of the 

 moths, however, is the English sparrow, which attacks them 

 eagerly and consumes large numbers, as well as killing 

 many not eaten. All of the common birds which feed upon 

 our native hairy caterpillars feed upon those of the brown- 

 tail, particularly the Baltimore oriole, cuckoos and yellow- 

 throated vireo. When the moths commence to emerge they 

 join with the sparrows in the slaughter and between them 

 large numbers are destroyed. But as yet the native ene- 

 mies have not shown ability to materially check the increase 

 of the pest. 



It is well known that in Europe the insect seems to be 

 largely controlled by its natural enemies, so that serious 

 outbreaks occur but once in a number of years in any one 

 locality, in the same manner as do outbreaks of our native 



