INSECT NOTES FOR 1906. 



EDITH M. PATCH. 

 BROWN-TAIL MOTH AND GYPSY MOTH. 



Since 1903 the brown-tail moth has become established 

 throughout the Southern and most of the coast counties of 

 Maine. In December, 1906, egg clusters of the gypsy moth 

 were found in Kittery and Elliot. The caterpillars of the 

 brown-tail moth are capable of ruining orchard, shade, and 

 many woodland trees. They are also a dreaded nuisance 

 because their hairs break off and on coming in contact with the 

 human skin, cause extreme irritation and often illness. The 

 caterpillars of the gypsy moth attack nearly every kind of vege- 

 tation and their work is especially fatal to pine and other ever- 

 greens since these trees always die after being once defoliated. 



BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 



So serious a pest should be known by every one in the State, 

 because although extermination of this insect may not be pos- 

 sible, much practical and effectual work can be done in holding 

 it in check and reducing its numbers to such an extent that 

 damage to orchard and shade trees may be very slight. 



For the past two years the State Department of Agriculture, 

 the State Pomological Society, the Maine Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, the town and city officials, and the citizens of the 

 infested localities have worked in unison against the brown-tail 

 moth. As a result this insect has not yet done very serious 

 damage in this State, and the cases of poisoning have been very 

 few. This is cause both for congratulation and encouragement 

 for it shows that even if the brown-tail moth cannot be extermi- 

 nated, its ravages may be in a large measure controlled. But 

 the same distressing conditions threaten the State this coming 

 year, and over a much larger district, and to be met successfully 

 these conditions must be met as vigorously and as earnestly as 

 they have been previously. 



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