No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 559 



During the summer Compsilura concinnata, one of the species of To.ch- 

 inid fhes wliich has become most firmly establislied in tlais country, was 

 found in many localities throughout the area infested by the gypsy moth. 

 This species seems to occur locally, and it is sometimes present in large 

 numbers in small and scattered moth infestations. One generation of 

 this parasite usually develops on the caterpillars of the brown-tail moth 

 in the early spring, and as the latter species was locally rather than gen- 

 erally common tliroughout the infested area last spring, this may, in 

 part, account for the local rather than general distribution of Compsilura. 



Apanteles lacteicolor, a parasite of both the small gypsy and brown-tail 

 moth caterpillars, was not as abundant as usual this season. The larvae 

 of this species hibernate within the small brown-tail caterpillars in the webs 

 during the ^^^nter, and as there was a heavy mortality of the brown-tail 

 caterpillars during the winter of 1913-14, the number of Apanteles was 

 seriously reduced. 



Several other introduced parasitic species have been found in small 

 numbers, but not common enough to cause any appreciable benefit. 

 Another species of Apanteles, Apanteles melanoscelus, was found in satis- 

 factory numbers in Melrose and vicinity. Only one colony has been 

 liberated in this country, and this was the last species which was imported. 

 It has survived two New England winters and gives promise of being a 

 very satisfactory enemy of the gypsy moth. Several years, however, will 

 be required for the insect to become abundant enough to spread over the 

 infested area. 



The Calosoma beetle, Calosoma sycophanta, was more abundant and 

 was found over a larger area than in any previous year. A number of 

 colonies were liberated in remote parts of the infested area. The work 

 of this insect is very striking, and enormous numbers of the gypsy and 

 brown-tail moth are destroyed by this species. 



The summer of 1914 was unusually mild, particularly during June and 

 early July. During this period the gypsy-moth caterpillars flourished and 

 their numbers were not reduced to any great extent bj^ the "wilt" disease 

 until the caterpillars were nearly full grown. During the past two years 

 the parasites and the "wilt" disease have made enormous inroads on the 

 gypsy-moth larvae during June and early July, but less reduction of the 

 caterpillars took place this year over the entire infested area as a whole. 



In many localities the gypsy-moth infestation has decreased materi- 

 ally, as a result of the work of natural enemies, but in some of the older 

 infested territory, particularly south of Boston and on Cape Cod, a marked 

 increase in infestation has been observed. 



It is believed that a reduction will be made by natural enemies during 

 the coming year, but the problem is very complex, and with our present 

 knowledge it is impossible to state definitely what will happen next sum- 

 mer. Doubtless there ^^ill be seasons when an unexpected increase of 

 the moth will take place, but the general trend for the past few years has 

 indicated that the natural enemies are JDringing about greatly improved 

 conditions. 



