76 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



squash-vine borer, and pear-loaf blister mite have been iiniis- 

 uallj plenty, and the rose bug was present in considerable 

 numbers. 



In 1907 the green-striped maple worm was very abundant in 

 portions of the wooded areas west of the Connecticut River. 

 During the past summer it was several times reported, but 

 apparently was of less imjiortance. 



Early in the fall complaints began to come in of the destruc- 

 tion caused in forest areas in western ]\Iassachusetts by a cater- 

 pillar, which upon examination proved to be Heierocampa 

 guttivitta. Walk. This insect has been known for over fifty 

 years, and is generally distributed through the Atlantic States. 

 During this time, however, it has never caused any appreciable 

 injury and has therefore never received any common name. 

 Two years ago, in Maine, it became quite injurious, and this 

 year was very abundant in N^ew Hampshire and, as already 

 stated, in western Massachusetts, and it is at least probable 

 that more will be heard of it during 1909. What conditions 

 have led to the sudden appearance of this insect as a pest after 

 years of obscurity cannot be determined, but it is likely that 

 these conditions will assume control again in two or three years 

 and the insect in consequence become unimportant. 



The oriental moth is now present over a larger territory than 

 at the last report, but has not thus far shown any indication of 

 becoming an important pest. 



The discovery of gypsy moth egg clusters at two or three 

 places in the Connecticut valley last spring indicates that sooner 

 or later this insect may be found in all portions of the State. 

 With complete extermination impossible this is only to be ex- 

 pected, and hope of controlling this pest by other than pro- 

 tective measures in the residential districts depends upon the 

 success of the attempt now being made to establish effective 

 parasitic and predaceous enemies of this pest in Massachusetts. 



During 1907 the brown-tail moth seemed to be held in check 

 by a fungous disease. The warm, dry weather this last summer 

 was presumably unfavorable for the disease, as has been shown 

 to be the case with similar diseases of other insects. Whatever 

 may be the cause, the brown-tail moth was unusually abundant 



