39 



nomenon of a caterpillar wintering over when only one-quarter grown 

 and emerging the following spring to complete its life histor3^ What- 

 ever extremes of cold we have in Massachxasetts do not seem to affect 

 these insects adversely. They emei'ge early in the spring, eat first the 

 buds, then the blossoms, and attack the foliage of fruit trees as soon as it 

 develops. Their appetite seems to be in proportion to their winter's fast- 

 ing period. Certainly no insect could be more voracious for the time 

 spent in the caterpillar stage. The full grown caterpillar is light brown 

 with a white stripe on either side and about two inches in length. 

 Stripping the foliage of one tree they march to another, and so continue 

 until full grown, when the cocoons are spun within the leaves at the 

 ends of the branches, or sometimes on the tree trunks. The pupation 

 usiially takes place the latter part of June, and the moths emerge from 

 the first to the twentieth of July. The snow 



white female moth is conspicuously marked ^^^^^^D^i^-ViXl^ 



with an enlarged tuft of brown hair, wiiich ^V/ jf^^M,$'fl^.- 



ffives to the insect its common name. 



Nettling by the Caterpillars. 

 The damage by the caterpillars to the fruit 

 trees is only a part of the story. "Whenever 

 these insects come in contact with human 

 flesh they produce a most severe and painful 

 nettling. This is apparently not due to any 

 poisonous material in the hairs but rather 

 to the finely barbed and brittle hairs them- 

 selves. So severe is this affection that in 

 many cases people have lieen made seriously 

 ill by it. The best remedy tor it is the liberal 

 use of cooling lotions, or, what is moi'e satisfactory, even if less pi 

 the free use of common vaseline. 



Fig 9. I'luniDs; sheiirs 

 for removal of wiiuer 



easant. 



Remedies. 

 The habit of the caterpillar in wintering over in webs at the tips of the 

 leaves gives a key to the simplest and cheapest remedy, which is merely 

 to cut off and burn the w'ebs during the fall, winter or spring. This 

 preventive means is most effective, and gives such excellent results that 

 in Germany, France and Belgium there is a law making it obligatory 

 on property owners to destroy the webs during the winter season. 

 Where citizens neglect to carry out this work it is done for them, and 

 the sum thus expended added to their tax levy. 



Winter Work. 

 The work of removing the webs is best done by the use of a long- 

 handled tree pruner or similar device. Particular jxiins should be given 

 to gathering the webs and burning them, as any lett on the ground will 

 yield caterpillars and continue the infestation locally. As showing how 

 cheaply the webs may be gathered where a general campaign is made 

 the figures of work done by employees of the gypsy moth committee in 



